Ask the Author: Jack Probyn
Answered Questions (5)
Jack Probyn
My most recent book is STANDSTILL. It's about a terrorist-hostage situation on three airport-bound trains. It may come as no surprise to hear that the inspiration came to me while I was on my daily commute to work during my placement in 2016. That was when I started to take writing seriously.
Jack Probyn
At the time of writing in March 2018, I'm working on the release of my debut Jake Tanner novel, STANDSTILL, and I'm also writing the second novel in the series, with a few other smaller, novella-sized projects running in the background. I've got the series planned out in my head, all I need to do now is make it happen.
Jack Probyn
Just do it. What have you got to lose? If it's something you *really* want to do, then why aren't you? Surely if you love it enough then you'll find the time, you'll cut the excuses, and actually get on with it. Time's short, people.
Jack Probyn
The freedom to do what I want, when I want. It also helps being a university student, but still.
I also enjoy telling stories. I've got a lot of them in my head that are just waiting to get out and be put on the page. And I want to share that same excitement, that same buzz, that I get when reading a good book - or in my case, writing one.
I also enjoy telling stories. I've got a lot of them in my head that are just waiting to get out and be put on the page. And I want to share that same excitement, that same buzz, that I get when reading a good book - or in my case, writing one.
Jack Probyn
As cliche as it may sound, I just sit down and write. If I don't know where to begin, then I grab a pen and paper and begin writing long hand, spilling everything that is my brain onto the page. It doesn't have to make sense - and most times it doesn't - but it's good to see where my thoughts lead me. I find that this helps clear the useless things in my head that are prohibiting me from writing.
If that fails, then I usually think about why I can't write, what's holding me back? Is it the opening chapter? How to start it? What should happen next? And then I plan a response to those questions, gradually breaking down the wall in my way until I feel confident enough to begin.
The best thing to remember as well is that it's a first draft. No one but me should be the one reading it, so if it's crap, then that's OK. It just means that you can make it even better during the second and third revisions.
If that fails, then I usually think about why I can't write, what's holding me back? Is it the opening chapter? How to start it? What should happen next? And then I plan a response to those questions, gradually breaking down the wall in my way until I feel confident enough to begin.
The best thing to remember as well is that it's a first draft. No one but me should be the one reading it, so if it's crap, then that's OK. It just means that you can make it even better during the second and third revisions.
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