From The Author:
For those who are interested...I have been asked numerous times to answer the following questions, so I thought I'd post them here on my site for all inquiring minds out there in cyberspace.
Q: How did you get started writing?
A: It all began with a poem I wrote about nude sunbathing, back when I wasn’t ashamed to flaunt the ol’ bones, and also when I had a private, secluded, backyard pool area in which to practice this brave new lifestyle. One day, a friend – who happened to be a practicing nudist – challenged me to compose a rhyming poem. This was after he let me read his collection of poetry, which he had turned into a book and ultimately self-published. I gave it a shot, showed it to him, and he praised me so highly that I wrote another, and another, and another, until I had written approximately fifty poems within the space of about three months.
During that time, I managed to confront and write about all the frustrations of my life through poetic verse, getting them out of my system for good. I honestly found poetry to be the perfect vehicle to express all those bottled up feelings. After writing all those poems I also came to the realization that I was quite suited to writing. Plus, it was fun! With a childhood background of “Spelling Bee Champ” all through elementary school, along with a junior high school course in Semantics, as well as having the honor of learning from the most fabulous high school English Literature teacher, I realized that I had inadvertently developed all the basic skills that a writer needs to have in their repertoire. Then, suddenly, at the ripe old age of 46, after surviving the “mothering years”, I took a night course in Creative Writing, and I discovered the wonderful world of authoring novels. Numerous books later I am still hooked on the art.
Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: That’s a difficult question to reply to because there isn’t just one answer. Ideas come to me from many different avenues. A storyline suggestion from a friend or acquaintance, hearing an off-the-wall phrase from any number of sources (e.g. TV, radio, everyday conversation), or just drawing from real-life situations can prompt a story idea. Having a bit of a twisted mind helps, too. I’m not sure if creativity is an inborn trait or a learned response from being challenged to think. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. I also listen…a lot! Eavesdropping, if you will. I observe my surroundings and I take mental notes. I usually try to carry a notebook with me at all times to jot down all those tidbits, lest I forget a really fantastic idea. Some of my greatest thoughts have come to me in the shower. I can’t explain that one!
Q: How do you find time to write when you also work a full-time job?
A: Ahhh…it’s called passion. You have to want something so bad that you find the time or even make the time when there’s no time to steal from. I get up in the morning earlier than my neighbor’s chickens and I hit the keyboard. I drink a lot of coffee, smoke a lot of cigarettes, and I take frequent breaks when I hit that proverbial wall, in order to recharge my brain. I’ve been known to venture to the beach when the walls start closing in around my creativity, and that seems to be where I get many of my fondest inspirations and brainstorms. Aniratak was inspired from a visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Just goes to show you…vacations away from home are a necessity!
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
A: Yes! Writers write! If you want to become a writer, you have to sit down in a quiet place, pick up a pen and pad, or start pounding that keyboard. Get all those thoughts and ideas down on paper or on your hard drive. Start writing that novel! Also, read…a lot! Not only fictional stories and books, but also writing instruction books. One of the best books I ever read was “Stephen King On Writing”. Another essential tool is "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White, which every writer should have on their bookshelf next to their thesaurus and dictionary.
One thing you must do if you want to be a successful writer is to find your voice. I can’t describe “voice”, nor can I intelligently explain what it is, but when you find it, you’ll know…and, perhaps, you’ll understand what it is, and why it’s so crucial. Most important of all, in my humble opinion, is learning the art of writing dialogue. It’s not as easy as one might think. Truthfully, it can either make or break your story. Oh, and don’t trust “Spell-check” on your computer. It’s not always correct! Last, but not least, practice, practice, practice! Just as with any other hobby, sport, or venture of any kind, the more you write, the better your writing becomes.
