Ask the Author: Jim Davies
Answered Questions (6)
Jim Davies
Glad you liked it!
Jim Davies
For my nonfiction work, I get inspired by what I read. When I read something interesting, I think hard about why I found it interesting. Usually it's because it's related to something that I want to someday write a book about. When I figure this out I open my draft of that future book and force myself to address what I read in it.
When the draft has enough material for the book I'm writing, I then focus on making it a coherent work--cutting lots of things, moving them around, adding transitions, etc.
I call this "productive reading."
When the draft has enough material for the book I'm writing, I then focus on making it a coherent work--cutting lots of things, moving them around, adding transitions, etc.
I call this "productive reading."
Jim Davies
I'm not going to reveal the topics of my upcoming books, but I will say that I'm kind of working on about four books at once.
Jim Davies
The most important thing is to write every day, because good writing takes practice. People don't really believe this, but it's true. Writing to friends, writing fiction, essays, blog posts all counts as writing practice. If you find it hard to write every day, become part of a writing group, and the social interaction will encourage you.
I was part of a writer's group for a while when I was writing very short fiction stories. Just about everyone else in the group was a poet. So I ended up reading and commenting on all of this poetry. I got into it, and ended up writing some. Now I have a published poem.
I was part of a writer's group for a while when I was writing very short fiction stories. Just about everyone else in the group was a poet. So I ended up reading and commenting on all of this poetry. I got into it, and ended up writing some. Now I have a published poem.
Jim Davies
I've worked in lots of art forms, but something special about writing is that you have complete control over the final product. This is also true of painting and drawing, but is generally not true of choreography, screenwriting, writing scripts for plays, stage or film directing, and so on. When you write you can make it just the way you want it, and are only limited by your own abilities. It's also something you can do for the rest of your life, unlike, say, mountain biking.
Jim Davies
Believing in the concept of "writer's block" is a great way to convince yourself to stop writing. If you think you have it, you need to write anyway, even if it's garbage. If you can't write one part of your book, write another. Or edit what you have. Or start a new book.
I don't really believe in writer's block, but, then again, I've never thought I had it.
I don't really believe in writer's block, but, then again, I've never thought I had it.
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