Ask the Author: Rutherford Rankin
Answered Questions (6)
Rutherford Rankin
I really feel like when I have writer's block it's because I'm not ready to write that part yet. Something about it needs something that I don't have at that moment. I move on to the next thing and come back to it later. Also, I have a journal that I write in on a regular basis. Most of it is silly nonsense stuff that I write based on a prompt like, "There's an empty room; describe what it looks like and what happens in it." You'd be surprised what those journal entries can morph into when you're trying to write a scene in a book.
Rutherford Rankin
I think the best thing is that you get to tell the story YOU want to tell. You're totally free to say and do what you want with your story and characters. I love that!
Rutherford Rankin
Don't feel like you have to sit down and write for long periods of time. Write a little each day to start out and eventually, it will come to you. Also, keep a journal and get some journaling prompts. When you have writer's block get out the journal and skim through journal entries you wrote previously to get some ideas for your book. This helps me tremendously when I'm stuck.
Rutherford Rankin
I'm currently writing a very unique story with a close friend about two people suffering from PTSD. There's a lot more to the story, but I don't want to give it away because the plot is still really evolving. I am also writing a story based on my ancestors during the Dust Bowl as they each prepare for the upcoming county fair at a time when nothing would grow, livestock didn't survive, and money was scarce. I'm also working out a thriller concept about a campground that's much different from the typical "killer in the forest" idea most camping plots follow.
Rutherford Rankin
I really just pay attention to the world around me. I always see or hear things that I think, "Hey, that would be great in a book." I like to have a notebook around as much as possible to write down ideas. If I don't have a notebook I usually just send a quick email to myself. Ideas come from the strangest places. One day I was making a fruit smoothie and noticed how purple my hands got from some blueberries and how hard it was to wash off. It gave me an idea that I'm putting in my next book.
Rutherford Rankin
I got the original concept about eight years ago when I was at a store and overheard a conversation between a mother and son. The son was probably about three and wanted a girl's toy. The mother was having a fit and said something about how she wouldn't buy it for him because it would make him a sissy. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard and I got the idea to write a story about a child who wanted to play with girls' toys. The book morphed a lot from that original idea, but it still incorporates the original idea.
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