Who are you?
44, male
What type of writer are you?
Generally, I am an impressionistic and surrealistic writer, but if I have to write liturature everyone can understand, I''ll do that. I''ve written screenplays and novels and short fiction and poetry since I was 22.
- Do you concentrate on characters, plot, worldbuilding?
All three are critical to strong story,
- When a story idea comes to you, what form does it come in?
Sometimes a dream, sometimes a daydreams, sometimes a flash inspiration, sometimes I can concentrate one up, sometimes something I see or heard or read will make me think, "hmm, that would make a good story." Then I write the elements down in a notebook and go on with my job or coffee, depending on where I''m at.
- How do you go about turning an idea into a story?
I develop the usual stuff, world description, character bio and a basic plot/conflict, then I sit down and immerse myself over time in the world, characters and conflict, and draft the first outline. Then I ponder it and stew upon it until it''s weaknesses and strengths change it''s nature. That can take several drafts. Once it is as good as I can make it, I shelve it until I haven''t thought about it for awhile, then take it down and see if it still rocks, and if so, I send it someplace to sell.
- Any tips/tricks you''d like to share?
The more you realize your characters are aspects of yourself, and the more you analyze the character and give it life, depth and reason to act, the more you will reach others and know yourself better simultaneously.
What do you write?
Anything and everything I can fit into the time I have on this planet.
- What genre(s) do you write?
Science fiction, macabre historical fantasy, contemporary fiction, comedy and dramedy.
- What are your goals in writing?
Personal artistic expression, cash, fame and huge household name awards. Oh, and finding the 96% of plot formats that did not survive the greeks.
Describe your ideal piece of fiction, and why each of its aspects are important, what you want to teach your audience.
Whew, tough question. Well, an ideal piece of fiction to me is something I wrote that so much better than the last thing I wrote (yes, even after 22 years you improve with each sortie), satisfies the part of me that motivated me to express it in the first place, taught me just a little bit more about how to be a better writer and/or storyteller, permitted me to personally grow as a result of crafting the work, and visibly moves the reader by comfortably taking them down trails of the soul rarely tread as if they knew that about themselves all along, but just couldn''t put it quite into words, and now that I have done that for them, they look forward to reading me again for the joy that discovery brings to life and mind.
- What examples of others'' writing do you think are great, ideals to be emulated?
This is kinda sad but true, many great writers insipired me when I was yourg, and almost everyone knows thier names. Now, the only writer that insipires me is myself. Once in awhile, I will see a film where one aspect of the writing, or one particular sequence was brilliant and by default inspiring, but that is rare.
- What character archetypes, tropes, motifs, themes, and character dynamics are your favorite?
Our favorites are the ones we always use, and express one aspect of ourselves through. Often times we create a narrator character to personally opine in scene, but, unless we ourselves are truly characteristic, it is literary folly.
I focus on characters that are always trying to discover something, as discovery is one of the most demanding, complex, ruled and yet rewarding things we can do. It''s also a great way for a reader trapped in a mundane life to gird the robes of adventure vicariously and escape banal mediocrity, which is out obligation as storytellers to help them to do. Mostly because they live in fear and heirarchical contraints that don''t permit them the liberty creative people know.
Thank you for responding!