Ask the Author: B. Lynch
Answered Questions (6)
B. Lynch
I try to leave myself open to new ideas and new approaches, and break up longer projects (like the second novel in Callie's Saga) with short stories - or to just read articles in the paper, or watch movies, or listen to music, and see what captures my attention.
Then, I ask myself what I liked about it, to get my brain thinking about how it could be used... and then, my brain puts it together with something else. And then, I have an idea. Then it's a matter of putting fingers to keyboard and ass in chair, and hoping that the idea has enough fire and passion behind it that I can keep coming back until it's done.
Case in point: I've got a YA fantasy novel on the back-burner that - no joke - was inspired by a line in Amy Grant's "Grown-Up Christmas List", a failed writing project about the Singularity, and faerie bargains. It was a crazy enough idea to work. And it did. And one day, you'll get to read it.
Then, I ask myself what I liked about it, to get my brain thinking about how it could be used... and then, my brain puts it together with something else. And then, I have an idea. Then it's a matter of putting fingers to keyboard and ass in chair, and hoping that the idea has enough fire and passion behind it that I can keep coming back until it's done.
Case in point: I've got a YA fantasy novel on the back-burner that - no joke - was inspired by a line in Amy Grant's "Grown-Up Christmas List", a failed writing project about the Singularity, and faerie bargains. It was a crazy enough idea to work. And it did. And one day, you'll get to read it.
B. Lynch
Be diligent. Push yourself as a writer, produce work, and keep to as much of a schedule as you can.
Also, spellcheck is your friend.
Also, spellcheck is your friend.
B. Lynch
Thorough outlines, butt in seat, occasional dose of caffeine, a good night's rest, and a nose-to-the-grindstone attitude. Writer's block is easily circumvented by planning, good sleep, and elbow grease.
B. Lynch
The reactions from people who've read something really, really good you've written. When your art can make people laugh, or recoil in horror, or become emotionally devastated... that's when you know you've done your job.
B. Lynch
I'm taking a quick break from Book 2 of Callie's Saga (which is 75% done) to hammer out a quick middle-grade fantasy novel inspired by Attack on Titan, Pacific Rim, How To Train Your Dragon, and Gundam Wing. It's sorta-steampunk fantasy, with radioactive goat poop-powered mechas. I guess you might call it... goatpunk?
B. Lynch
It was two things; I had a good idea for an opening (which is the prologue), and I wanted to write a TV series that was the natural progression of young women being badass to young women actually running something akin to a modern corporation, or a country, in a typically male leadership role. And the title had to be catchy.
I took an early version of King Callie to a pitchfest out in California, and despite interest, nothing happened. I decided the story had to be told, so I pushed on, and here it is.
I took an early version of King Callie to a pitchfest out in California, and despite interest, nothing happened. I decided the story had to be told, so I pushed on, and here it is.
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