Ask the Author: Sacha Jones
Answered Questions (6)
Sacha Jones
As mentioned, this is my first book and a childhood memoir, so my life gave me the main idea for writing it. People used to say 'You should write a book about it', whenever I talked to them about my childhood and family, so eventually I did. My counsellor also thought it would be a good idea, though that was twelve years ago, so I didn't take her advice directly.
Sacha Jones
Well, like I said, I was late (late forties) to come to creative writing but my previous work (academic) involved a lot of writing, just not creative writing, which I consider my memoir to be, though it is technically non-fiction. I like to say that life itself is the inspiration for a life writer such as I consider myself to be, but beyond that there are always great books, including memoir, and the odd compliment about your writing along the way, which gets a girl to thinking: maybe. But I write a lot of poems for my blog (OWW: One Woman's World) and the inspiration for those comes from anything at all, from the smallest thought -- hey it's cold -- to the most complex -- will I have regrets when I die? Anything can inspire the switched-on muse. So stay switched-on, I say, keep all the senses turned to 'On' and you'll never be short of inspiration.
Sacha Jones
That's kind of top secret. Hilary Mantel says never to reveal your writing before it is completely ready. But there are two more volumes of my memoir in the pipeline, one fully drafted, as well as a travelogue set in the more recent past; I won't say where. But it keeps me busy. One day I am going to get back to my bird fable. That was such a lot of fun to write.
Sacha Jones
As a budding writer we are bombarded with tips from published and established authors. I am hardly that. I have been a published author for all of four weeks, not quite. But the journey getting here has taught me quite a lot. I would say to those contemplating, literally don't make another excuse for not doing it. And, once you commit to starting until you get to the end of your first draft, then REWRITE, REWRITE, REWRITE. I wrote six or seven drafts, beginning to end, of my first book, and that is a memoir. I had history itself as my structural guide. If your book is pure fiction then you will need more rewrites. Finally, always expect you can do better. It's amazing what you can do if you just try -- corny but true.
Sacha Jones
I've been a lot of other things, I am late to try my luck at a career in creative writing. So far the advantage of 'being a writer' (I was probably always a writer) as far as I can tell (been published for three and a half weeks) is the excitement of the journey, from the first sentence to signing the contract, to launching the book, signing copies and beyond. It is meeting new and interesting people. It is not having to fix my hair for work. But most of all, it is getting to create every day. Not being confined to imposed parameters for speech and behaviour. Of course my first book is a memoir, so their were some constraints, but I am also working on a fable for adults that is about a family of birds. That is entirely make believe. If you can make a living in make believe, do, I say. Do.
Sacha Jones
I don't have writers block in a major way, but some days it feels like I've been flogging the same point, trying to get it right, without success. On those days I find it is beneficial to get up and take a walk. Do a Sudoku or another sort of puzzle. I have jigsaw-puzzle binges. I'm on one right now. Very therapeutic, finding piece after piece and seeing the image emerge. It's something I can control and achieve perfectly -- unlike with creative writing. For a perfectionist (most writers), that's healthy. A healthy kind of perfection.
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