Ask the Author: Simone Martel
Answered Questions (2)
Simone Martel
I think most writers would agree that the story chooses you. Inspiration follows obsession. Maybe something as simple as a single word catches your attention. Your mind keeps returning to an idea, a subject, a character. Something has happened. You’re not sure what, but you want to find out. That’s inspiration.
Simone Martel
To me, writer’s block is about getting stuck at a roadblock. I know where I want to go, but I can’t get there, yet. When this happens, I’ll switch to something else and return to the obstacle when I see some way forward. My first novel, “A Cat Came Back,” was in progress for a long time before I was satisfied that it’s the way it’s meant to be. Chiefly, that meant putting the story in the present tense, with nothing to separate the reader from the experience in real time. For example, “Lisa comes to the door” became “The doorbell rings. It’s Lisa,” to better capture the point of view of someone trapped in the body of a cat. It can take time to see the way clear around the roadblock!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more