Ask the Author: Bill Ransom
Answered Questions (6)
Bill Ransom
Lower anxiety by not worrying about first draft. Only Sister Rosetta Stone in 7th grade says first draft has to be in order. I write the part of the story that I see today. I don't start thinking about order until I'm at least 100 pages in (novels). The beginning never turns out to be the beginning, so don't rewrite it every time you turn to the manuscript. Just keep piling up pages, all will become clear. Practice patience. Forgive yourself often.
Bill Ransom
Sequence of short stories, single point of view. Unusual for me, I usually have multiple point of view--I think of it as the jury experience in novels.
Bill Ransom
Do something else, something physical and not another writing project. Take the time.
Bill Ransom
Having written.
Bill Ransom
Hearing a unique turn of phrase while eavesdropping.
Bill Ransom
"Brother Blood Sister Death" came after a haircut when I was invited to stay after hours to watch a sales demonstration of a new kind of face pack. Several volunteers received them. I asked the stylist "What's so special about this stuff?" She: "It's human placenta extract."
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more