Why I write
In order to know where you are going, you have to know where you have been and where you are now.
Why I write
Sensitivity to my environment and people’s motivations, needs and desires are useful tools in writing and come naturally to me. I have a close affinity with truth and a huge sense of fairness which are also useful when writing. When I write, I’m forced to think slower which usually leads to a more effective message.
How other authors influenced me
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is my favourite science fiction novel. Although I enjoyed the concept of Backwards by Rob Grant, I didn’t love the way it was written and I learned a lot from reading a writing-style I dislike.
The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson is my all time favourite book as it blends real life with mythical fantasy in a way that it absolutely NOT a fantasy genre!
There are plenty more books that appeal to me though, if you’d like to know more, have a look at my library collection on my Completely Novel author profile.
Advice to new writers
I’ve heard the same thing over and over again and it’s so very true: If you want to be a writer, WRITE! I’ve got so many random bits of written snippets all over the place, some perhaps I could use one day, some not, but the important part is those ideas came OUT of my head and onto a page.
Every bit of writing I’ve kept in a file for future reference. It really helps inspiration when I page through that file and read bits of ideas that I’ve forgotten about.
My writing routine
Every day I have a 2 hour window that has been dedicated to writing – and only writing. Outside of this time, I also do other less intense writing, such as writing for this website or my other websites, working on short creative assignments, doing writing exercises, or just scribbling ideas down.
I’ve also dedicated 2 hours for research / study / learning. This usually takes the form of market research, actual studying of writing-related material and sometimes catching up on reading. This can take the form of magazine articles, novels, or writing self help books. When it comes to reading, I seldom feel like reading the same kind of thing for longer than a few days in a row, or a week at the most, so I tend to switch my material regularly.
My weekends are technically free to spend quality social time with family and friends, but often ends up involving my usual weekday ‘work’ in some form or another.