Author Skills | Fiction | Writing Prompts
Putting My Writer’s Hat On
Then taking it off, examining it, and putting it back on again
This article comes in response to Subhi Najar and their series of questions for writers. Thanks to Jonathon Sawyer for challenging me to have a go! Here are my answers.
- When did you start writing? Is there a specific story?
There was a lot of writing when I was in primary school — and a lot of reading! So, I would say that a love of books and reading got me started generally. I was fascinated with books from a young age, and soon considered the idea that I might like to write one.
Another key moment was when I began reading a lot of fantasy novels in my early teens, and also writing D&D adventures and locations — some of which later become part of a novel! I say more about that here:
2. Do you have rituals in writing? If yes, then please share them with us.
Many rituals are a waste of time. I know that some authors liked to spend a lot of time getting ‘in the mood’ to write. However, if you want to produce big word counts and get novels finished, that can be an indulgence.
However, one thing I have tried and liked is the use of writing sprints. This is where you set yourself a specific time limit, e.g. half an hour, and write as many words as you can in this time.
3. The ugliest monster that writers are afraid of is writer’s block. If you have a recipe to deal with it, kindly share it with us.
One thing my friend Jay C Wells and others have done is to personify and mock writer’s block and imposter syndrome. Their stories are very creative and funny!
More seriously, though —writing is a skill. It comes with practice. Any writer who thinks their work is amazing from the word go is probably deluding themselves.
Practise a lot, and seek out feedback.
I also identify strongly with Jonathon Sawyer’s suggestion of switching from one project to another if you lose motivation (answer #3 below):
4. Describe the process of finding ideas for your stories. Please elaborate.
Whoa, that’s a tough un! Do we ever really know where our ideas come from?
As it happens, I write a ton of blog posts about creativity and generating ideas, so I have given this problem a little bit of thought.
One thing I’d say is that ideas are often not as unique and special as we think. In most stories — genre fiction especially — we are drawing heavily on plots, archetypes and scenes that are written into our minds by culture. We just make a new version.
I know some people think they should never share their brilliant novel idea in case someone copies it and sells it to Hollywood. Well, in fact, if you think like that, chances are you already copied most of the idea from somewhere else (or rather, your unconscious mind did). Better to share the idea, get feedback, and become a better writer with practice.
Overall, I’d say let’s focus on craft rather than on unique ideas. The idea matters less than the execution.
5. As humans, we suffer without knowing it by choosing not to move outside our comfort zone. Do you have a “comfort zone” in writing ( i.e a topic that you always like to write about)? Have you tried to step outside your comfort zone and write something drastically different?
I write a lot of high fantasy, and a bit of historical fantasy, too — very like the fantasy and sci-fi stories that I grew up with. Then I tried LitRPG. It’s similar to fantasy, yes, but pushed me well out of my comfort zone as an author.
LitRPG involves characters having some kind of stats, for example they are living as part of a fantasy video game or simulation, or the world gets taken over by aliens that turn everything into a ‘battle royale’.
In future, I’d love to give literary magical realism a go. I enjoy reading it, and I think it appeals to the fantasy writer in me, while also challenging me in new ways as well.
6. Besides Medium, do you use other writing platforms? Please share your experiences.
Well, first off — the less said about my experience with Tapas and Simily, the better.
I have used Royal Road, and it’s pretty great for the fantasy author who is ready, willing and able to churn out a chapter per day indefinitely, and to write to the specific niche sub-genres that the audience there are looking for.
I personally don’t have time to maintain that, but still… I learned a lot from my experience there, and some authors make good money.
Medium works for me because it is flexible and fun, and there’s no pressure, really. I can just enjoy writing. There are plenty of Medium publications that take fiction — check out this list of 35 publications, shared by Fiction Friends:
7. Have you published a book?
I have written multiple novels, non-fiction books and novellas. Some are published, some are still en route to the printer’s press. I write academic(ish) non-fiction under my actual name, and fiction under this pen name. In total, about 20 books so far.
It sounds a lot, but I think it’s just a matter of setting a target and being consistent. I’ve done most of the above in the past 5 years.
I managed to get one of the Medium “blue book tags” for Sparta Online (see below), though it’s not my only series; the first was The Druid Stones Saga, and some of my Royal Road writings are novel-length.
8. You write because writing provides you with something special. Could you share your experience?
That’s an interesting question. I guess there is a real thrill to the blank canvas, especially in something like fantasy where you can create absolutely anything — any world, any magic, any creature.
The challenge, of course, is to convey that in words. A movie can use CGI and show us what a monster or character looks like, but we authors have to describe it in words, and using the mind’s eye.
I like the challenge, and I like playing with words (yes, even editing!).
Oh, and I hear it’s good for you…
9. Do you write a paragraph, a chapter, or a story with the end in mind or not?
At least in recent years, I have a pretty good idea of the destination when I set out on a story (with the exception of the collaborative Choose Your Own Adventure stories I share on Medium, because other authors contribute part of the plot to those).
I do have flexibility in how I go about it, though. More of a ‘plantser’ overall.
10. Every writer has an idol. Who is yours? And what do you find inspiring in her/his trajectory?
I mentioned reading a lot of fantasy as a kid, so that, together with RPGs, got things going for me. Tolkien blew my mind, certainly. So did Feist’s ‘Magician’, Hugh Cook (see below), David Gemmell.
Even further back, it’s hard to under-state the influence that Star Wars had on me as a kid. It’s imprinted in my mind, and I often find myself referencing it in my writing.
Besides the famous names, it’s true to say that I feel regularly inspired to write by others on Medium who share funny, heartfelt and curious stories. I love collaborating on stories, and talking about them. And I love responding to writing prompts and to challenges, such as this one.
11. Does being on a writing platform like Medium help your writing plans?
In some ways, no.
I began here as a way of sharing my non-fiction about writing (a few examples above already), and have switched to something like 90% fiction. None of this is really helping me establish a career as a novelist. In fact, I’d probably have finished Sparta Online 3 if I hadn’t spent so much time on here.
Still, I’m proud to be part of the community here, and feel a deep gratitude to the many people around the world who read and comment on my stories. I genuinely get a lot from it as a person and as an author. It’s not all about MPP pennies, after all.
Talking of community, a shoutout and a challenge before I go. Perhaps the following authors (all published in The Fiction Writer’s Den in recent weeks) would like to give these questions a try? Molly Miller, Ulf Wolf, Nevena Pascaleva, Eta George, Rena Aliston, Andrew Crocker, Philip Charter ✍️, Elara's Love, Kelly Ronayne, Alec Zarenkiewicz, Rob Jackson, T. H. Merlin, Luis Rosa, Ben Ulansey, Samuel Kenneth Kauffman, Emerald Mone, Dana Daley.
And if not, well — at least now you know one of your editors a little better 😅
Psst… before you go, you can find my fiction and poetry here, as well as my articles about creativity writing and author skills right here. Or simplify things by getting my posts direct to your inbox. Do that here! 🧠 Thank you! 🌟
