Ask the Author: M.K. Martin
Answered Questions (6)
M.K. Martin
I love apocalypse and post-apocalypse stories, but I find that in most either the apocalypse has happened so long ago it's just "the event" and no one really knows what happened, or it's so bad that most of the characters die at the end of the story. I wanted to write the entire apocalypse cycle - sort of a modern take on Ragnarok - yes, the world as we know it ends, but all is not lost and a new version of the world begins with characters who still remember what happened before and hopefully, have learned from the mistakes that caused the world to come to a grinding halt.
M.K. Martin
Staring at a blinking cursor helps. I swim and I find that the space between turns is a great place to find story ideas. I also do as much RGPing as I can. Many of my stories have grown from games I've played. I owe much to Steve Jackson and the D&D team.
Mostly I find that inspiration won't take me as far as it used to. These days, it's the hard work that gets the story done, but that's its own kind of inspiration.
Mostly I find that inspiration won't take me as far as it used to. These days, it's the hard work that gets the story done, but that's its own kind of inspiration.
M.K. Martin
Editing "Ashfall" (Book 2 of Survivors' Club) and finishing first draft of Book 3.
M.K. Martin
Write!
And drop the "aspiring". If you're writing, then you're a writer. That's the beauty of it. No one has to come around and dub you Lord or Lady Writerly Writerton of Writingford by the Glen.
On a practical note - be gentle with yourself. Your dreams are ephemeral and cannot stand up to much scrutiny at first, so write with tender love. Editing is where you weld the unforgiving pen of critical thought and call in the grammar police. For your first draft, just let it be what it is and love it, warts and all. And finish the dang thing!
And drop the "aspiring". If you're writing, then you're a writer. That's the beauty of it. No one has to come around and dub you Lord or Lady Writerly Writerton of Writingford by the Glen.
On a practical note - be gentle with yourself. Your dreams are ephemeral and cannot stand up to much scrutiny at first, so write with tender love. Editing is where you weld the unforgiving pen of critical thought and call in the grammar police. For your first draft, just let it be what it is and love it, warts and all. And finish the dang thing!
M.K. Martin
I'm never bored or lonely for long!
M.K. Martin
Three things:
One - I turn on a program which allows me to block certain "blacklisted" sites, apps and program. Top of the list: Facebook, Twitter... No matter what I do I can't access the blacklist until my time is up.
Two - I set my wordcount to 500. I find I can get to 500 even on bad days if I get started.
Three - I get started.
One - I turn on a program which allows me to block certain "blacklisted" sites, apps and program. Top of the list: Facebook, Twitter... No matter what I do I can't access the blacklist until my time is up.
Two - I set my wordcount to 500. I find I can get to 500 even on bad days if I get started.
Three - I get started.
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