Ask the Author: Skylar Hamilton Burris
Answered Questions (7)
Skylar Hamilton Burris
They mystery of life...
Skylar Hamilton Burris
When I have writer's block, I concentrate on other priorities (my editing, my literary magazine, housework, etc.) and simply wait for it to go away. I'd need a different approach, I'm sure, if I relied on a steady stream of writing for my primary income source.
Skylar Hamilton Burris
Going to work in my PJs.
Skylar Hamilton Burris
1. Persist. Publication is about 40% talent and 60% persistence.
2. Read. The more you read, the better a writer you will become.
3. Daydream. Daydreaming can be the source of much inspiration.
4. Write for fun. Not everything has to be a project. If you write for fun, eventually, you may be able to turn one of your pieces into a work worthy of publication. Even if you don't, you will at least have enjoyed yourself!
2. Read. The more you read, the better a writer you will become.
3. Daydream. Daydreaming can be the source of much inspiration.
4. Write for fun. Not everything has to be a project. If you write for fun, eventually, you may be able to turn one of your pieces into a work worthy of publication. Even if you don't, you will at least have enjoyed yourself!
Skylar Hamilton Burris
I'm not writing anything new at the moment, though I hope inspiration will hit soon. I'm currently concentrating on my freelance editing business and my online literary magazine, Ancient Paths. As a freelance editor, I work with businesses most of the time (writing and editing content), but I also take on the occasional book editing project. I like to help self-published authors prepare their books for publication. Most professionally published books are raked over by a team of editors. I am only one set of eyes, but I try to catch as many mistakes and inconsistencies as a single person can. As editor of Ancient Paths, I maintain a regularly updated Facebook page that publishes fresh new voices in poetry and flash fiction at least once per week. You can check it out at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ancien...
Skylar Hamilton Burris
I am sometimes inspired to write by reading, or, similarly, watching television dramas. I will start to think about a particular character and wonder about his or her untold backstory, which will lead me to a chain of speculations and the invention of new characters that develop stories of their own in new (if similar) worlds. It's quite obvious what story inspired my Pride & Prejudice sequels, but I don't always like to say what match ignites the chain reaction that ends in other stories and books, because the end product often bears so little relation to the inspiration.
Skylar Hamilton Burris
My most recent book, When the Heart Is Laid Bare, was inspired by a combination of real-life experiences, television shows, and other books. The characters (Coach Calder Johnson and Father Jacoby) took on a life of their own and lead me through the book.
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