Journal Entry #8: INTERVIEWS WITH ACTUAL PUBLISHED WRITERS

Basically, I got to interview via email two Actual Published Writers (Jo Knowles and Todd Strasser). Granted, my questions weren’t the best ever; but they still managed to give me valuable advice.

Mr Strasser’s answers (bolded):

1- What was the first work of yours that ever got published? (what was it about, what kind of work was it…) —  A short story called Clap Trap was published in a small literary journal.

2- Do you write in a very tight schedule (“I will write from 10 am to 11 am and I will write 4000 words”) or do you write whenever you get an idea? — Most days I get going in the morning. Take a break in the early afternoon and then see if I can write later as well. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. (The differences in response of my two interviewees for this question and question #6 show me that everybody has a different writing schedule, and I should try finding my own in order to actually get things done, and it doesn’t have to be the same as everybody else’s.)

3- In your opinion, what is the most important thing an aspiring fiction writer should know?  Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. (I do agree. I did–and finished–NaNoWriMo this year, and it was a lot of work. The idea I had was only one part of it; I had to work at developing it.)

4- Why do you write about the subjects you write about? — They interest me.

5- (this one sort of ties in with 4) Why did you decide to write fiction? I wasn’t any good at anything else.

6- Do you edit your work as you write it, or do you write it all first and then edit it? Why? Constantly editing as I write. Just the way I do it, I guess.

7- What is your favourite piece of your own work and why? The one I’m working on. It’s a challenge. (Note: This is my favourite answer out of the ones he gave me. It inspires me to think of whatever’s my newest creation as my BEST creation yet.)

8- What is the main thing that every story should have in order to be captivating? — An engaging main character?

9- Who are your main influences when it comes to writing and why? — Writers who I consider really good.

10- What is a valuable piece of advice or something that happened to you when it comes to working with publishers? — Never forget that you’re just one of many hundreds, if not thousands, of writers. (This one is also very good.)

Ms Knowles’ interview (her responses bolded):

1- What was the first work of yours that ever got published? (what was it about, what kind of work was it…)

I published a short story called “Living Room Music” in my college literary magazine, SIDELINES. It was about my parents.

2- Do you write in a very tight schedule (“I will write from 10 am to 11 am and I will write 4000 words”) or do you write whenever you get an idea?

I write whenever I have time. My life is too crazy to have a schedule but I do try to write every day Monday-Friday. (See note at #2 in the previous interview.)

3- In your opinion, what is the most important thing an aspiring fiction writer should know?

You have your own unique voice and your own road to travel. It’s up to you to make the most of it. (This is a very inspiring response, and very true too.)

4- Why do you write about the subjects you write about?

They are important to me. (So basically, I shouldn’t write about something I don’t want to write about just because people might like it better.)

5- (this one sort of ties in with 4) Why did you decide to write fiction?

My favorite classes in college were always ones that involved writing. The more I wrote, the more I loved it.

6- Do you edit your work as you write it, or do you write it all first and then edit it? Why?

A little bit of both. I really just follow my heart, not rules.

7- What is your favourite piece of your own work and why?

I could never choose.

8- What is the main thing that every story should have in order to be captivating?

Heart. (A very abstract response, but to me it means I must write about subjects that are important to me, so I can write with passion.)

9- Who are your main influences when it comes to writing and why?

I’m currently a huge fan of Marcus Zusak. My son once described his work as making the ugly beautiful and I think that’s the perfect reason why.

10- What is a valuable piece of advice or something that happened to you when it comes to working with publishers?

Listen. (Probably the most valuable piece of advice anyone has given me on this topic.)