Ask the Author: S.Z. Attwell
Answered Questions (6)
S.Z. Attwell
Hello! Sorry, just saw your question from last year - as you can see, I haven’t been on this site much recently!
Thank you - that means a lot! I am hoping to extend the series (maybe 3-4 more books?) but I’ve had trouble with the plot, so as of now it’s a “complete” duology as-is: the story wraps up and it technically can be said to end. That said, I had originally intended to continue it and I have some next steps worked out in my head, so there’s room for more left in there.
Thank you - that means a lot! I am hoping to extend the series (maybe 3-4 more books?) but I’ve had trouble with the plot, so as of now it’s a “complete” duology as-is: the story wraps up and it technically can be said to end. That said, I had originally intended to continue it and I have some next steps worked out in my head, so there’s room for more left in there.
S.Z. Attwell
I was standing in the underground bus station on a horribly hot and humid late afternoon just as a thunderstorm was rolling in. It was miserable and the air was all but drenched and I was standing there, annoyed, waiting for the bus to show up, with fans blasting in the background. It occurred to me that if (God forbid) the planet were to ever reach severe climate change, this might be our reality - and that we might have to, for example, retreat underground to escape the heat...so I started thinking, what if I were waiting on my end-of-day work bus to take me DOWN into the Earth? What might happen on the way down? That became the beginning (chapter 2) of Aestus.
S.Z. Attwell
Select-all + delete, then accidentally save...and close. 90 pages of notes.
S.Z. Attwell
I'm working on editing book 2 of Aestus, and I have a couple of projects in mind (and partly down on paper): a speculative-fiction near-future sci-fi project (can't reveal anything, but think wide-scale ecological disaster) and, in a totally unrelated genre, a kids' mystery somewhat similar to The Sandlot.
S.Z. Attwell
See my blog! I've written an entire guide on how to write a novel (based on my own experience over the past year - I wrote two novels in four months!).
Other than that: Write. Every day.
Blog link: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Other than that: Write. Every day.
Blog link: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
S.Z. Attwell
I just start writing. Something. Whatever I can manage to get down on paper/the screen. I imagine where the story/scene left off last time and try my best to continue it. Sometimes it's really clunky and awful, but generally speaking I picture my work like a movie in my head, so it's not hard to imagine what's going on in the background, for example, and describe aspects of the scene to myself until the logical next piece of dialogue or action becomes clear. Once I understand my characters and their internal/external influences, it's not hard to guess what would make sense for them to do, say, think, etc.
When I really just can't write anything, I step away: go for a walk, clear my head, etc. I also consume a lot of caffeine - masala chai plus chocolate is extremely helpful to me.
When I really just can't write anything, I step away: go for a walk, clear my head, etc. I also consume a lot of caffeine - masala chai plus chocolate is extremely helpful to me.
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