Ask the Author: Alon Shalev
Answered Questions (6)
Alon Shalev
When you write a series, you discover threads and offshoots from the previous books that need to be developed and help you think ahead. What sparks a new book for me is imagining the opening scene.
Without wanting to offer spoilers, the teacher and lover of one of my characters dies in the previous book. I imagined a very emotional scene where my character is mourning and the book just took off from there.
Hint: Keep a notebook or your phone near so that you can jot down as much detail as possible. When the inspiration hits you, it might not stay with you.
Without wanting to offer spoilers, the teacher and lover of one of my characters dies in the previous book. I imagined a very emotional scene where my character is mourning and the book just took off from there.
Hint: Keep a notebook or your phone near so that you can jot down as much detail as possible. When the inspiration hits you, it might not stay with you.
Alon Shalev
I started the Wycaan Master series for my sons (then 11 and 7). Every year for six years I have read them the first draft while on our annual summer camping trip.
I wrote the series for them and six years later, still remain anxious to hear their incisive comments.
I wrote the series for them and six years later, still remain anxious to hear their incisive comments.
Alon Shalev
I just sent Book 6 of the Wycaan Master series to the editors. I wanted to avoid feeling like an empty-nester and am deep into writing a magical realism novel.
Also toying with another trilogy in Odessiya. Can't really leave them behind, I think.
Also toying with another trilogy in Odessiya. Can't really leave them behind, I think.
Alon Shalev
Read everything in your genre and most of everything not in it. Read it to learn the craft of these authors.
Write with wild abandonment. Break all the rules, and pour scorn on squiggly red and green lines. There is plenty of time to edit later.
Write every day - on the good ones and the hard ones.
Write with wild abandonment. Break all the rules, and pour scorn on squiggly red and green lines. There is plenty of time to edit later.
Write every day - on the good ones and the hard ones.
Alon Shalev
When you are writing the story and it just flows out onto the screen. There is something very special when the story is bursting to come out. You can't stop writing and you wake in the middle of the night afraid for a character or crying for killing one of your heroes.
The second best thing is being ever so slightly crazy!
The second best thing is being ever so slightly crazy!
Alon Shalev
I'm one of those annoying authors who has not encountered writer's block, but here is why I think this is so ... for me, at least. Writing is like working out. It is a discipline and you need to have your writing muscles toned. You do this by writing every day. Stuck? Go back and 3-4 chapters leading up to where you are. But you can only do that when you are sit in the chair and grind it out.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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