Ask the Author: J. Elliott
Answered Questions (9)
J. Elliott
I love the creative process. I'm mostly a pantser. Jiko Bukken was the most linear project I've ever written and that came fairly easily as it only a few characters. I challenged myself with dropping episodes weekly on Vella, imagining each section was set in stone once it dropped. I was about halfway through when the ending became clear to me. I loved that discipline. The Haint Blue books are pure chaos. So many characters and little details. I start with a basic prompt and let it grow organically by asking what if questions. Even with short stories, sometimes it takes a lot of percolating to see the whole thing. So much of writing is thinking, not typing. I've had some great ah-ha! moments while doing yard work. Once, I was so excited I turned the mower off and ran inside to type out the ending. I trust the process and the characters.
J. Elliott
Some days, the muse is not with me so I do something tangential: work on marketing, design related art, post to the blog or research. I find listening to the orchestral horror channels is terrific for writing spooky stories. For Haint, usually a scene comes to mind that I want to write. Writing a Christmas book in spring and summer is tough! I listen to Christmas music and stare at wintery landscape pictures, hot cocoa steaming in mugs, look up ads for flannel shirts and cute hat and mitten sets to trick me into thinking winter thoughts. Keep reminding myself it's cold and gets dark early.
J. Elliott
This is not mine and I wish I could recall whose it was. Brilliant!
Four word story winner: Buried Monday; died Tuesday.
Four word story winner: Buried Monday; died Tuesday.
J. Elliott
A friend loaned me The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter. By Chapter 2 I had ordered myself a copy. It is perfection in every category and the standard for how to plot and pace fiction. Funny, engaging, it was just what I needed to blast the blahs.
J. Elliott
I just got Uncanny Stout published in paperback and am working on the ebook version. This is the third collection of spooky stories-- a little different from the last two, Ghost Lite and Tales from Kensington-- I surprised myself-- I don't really like monsters, but realized about halfway through writing the stories that so far I'd written about killer plants, a sea monster, a vampire and a magical Wiccan teapot who coaches a college student about clearing the ghosts in her dorm...
My plans for this year (2020) are to get the sequel to Monkey Mind published by this summer. Monkey Heart is written, it just needs heavy editing. There will be a third book, Monkey Soul, but before that happens, we'll have a Haint Blue Christmas book. Maybe even in time for Christmas this year. Sure hope so. I heard so many funny family disaster stories over the holidays, I'm inspired to have Haint host a Christmas gathering.
Somewhere down the road, God willin' and the creek don't rise, I'm also scribbling notes for a memoir--a Polaroid collections of memorable moments from my life to date. It'll be called Carrying the Wheelbarrow.
My plans for this year (2020) are to get the sequel to Monkey Mind published by this summer. Monkey Heart is written, it just needs heavy editing. There will be a third book, Monkey Soul, but before that happens, we'll have a Haint Blue Christmas book. Maybe even in time for Christmas this year. Sure hope so. I heard so many funny family disaster stories over the holidays, I'm inspired to have Haint host a Christmas gathering.
Somewhere down the road, God willin' and the creek don't rise, I'm also scribbling notes for a memoir--a Polaroid collections of memorable moments from my life to date. It'll be called Carrying the Wheelbarrow.
J. Elliott
I have let the fix-it technical team know that you have a paperwhite. Believe me when I say that I am irked beyond reason about this-- it's annoying and embarrassing for one, plus I also have a ghost story collection with the same problem... October is the worst possible month to have a download issue for a ghost story collection! At any rate, I will stay on top of this and see it to resolution. Please shoot a quick email to me at hedonistichoundpress@hotmail.com.
J. Elliott
Oh, good grief. I'm so sorry to hear this. We had a formatting issue before, and it was supposed to be resolved. I will contact Kindle Direct... what version of Kindle do you have? How old?
J. Elliott
Keep in mind that tastes vary. If you are passionate about your book, don't be defeated just because your friend or your partner doesn't share that excitement. I once was shot down by a visiting professor who covered my work in red ink. I was mortified and gave up writing for some time. Later I realized two things: 1) he just didn't get my stuff because it wasn't his thing. When I finally read his stuff, I didn't like it either! We had nothing in common. 2) He had taken the position during a divorce and didn't really want to be there in the first place. He was in a bad mood at the time and just wasn't receptive to anything! I should never have let one person cow me like that. That being said, if several people read your work and make the same comments, pay attention. Keep at it, don't give up.
J. Elliott
I have various tactics. If the inspiration to write is not upon me, I do something related: research or artwork related to the story. When I first began Monkey Mind, I decided on cute little doodles as something to put in the time gaps besides a boring space. Then when I began writing ghost stories, the little space fillers soon became half-page fillers. While working on the art, I was thinking about the story. I don't write every day, but I'm thinking out plots, characters, locations and such every day.
If I truly can't figure out where a story is going, I keep asking questions. What if? Knowing your character well, you will know how your character will react in any given circumstance- run away or fight? Tell the truth or lie? There must always be tension, something that challenges the main character. "Ratchet the tension" is a mantra... throw obstacles, puzzles, problems at your character. Does your character make the right decisions about solving the problems? What would be funny? What would really surprise the reader here? What supporting characters can I use? Keep asking questions.
If I truly can't figure out where a story is going, I keep asking questions. What if? Knowing your character well, you will know how your character will react in any given circumstance- run away or fight? Tell the truth or lie? There must always be tension, something that challenges the main character. "Ratchet the tension" is a mantra... throw obstacles, puzzles, problems at your character. Does your character make the right decisions about solving the problems? What would be funny? What would really surprise the reader here? What supporting characters can I use? Keep asking questions.
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