Ask the Author: Chuck Miceli
Answered Questions (5)
Chuck Miceli
From real life experiences. Much of my current novel, "Amanda's Room," comes from my career in the criminal justice system and several chapters relate directly to those experiences. Almost all of "Injured Angels" is based upon the lives of real people I have known who have faced the loss of a loved one and came away believing that their lives were also over. Those feelings can block a person from responding to new opportunities, including a second chance at love.
Chuck Miceli
"Injured Angels". It is completely different than my current novel. "Amanda's Room" is a paranormal mystery / thriller. "Injured Angels" is a literary novel which deals with the feelings of loss and hopelessness associated with the death of a loved one, the inability of those closest to you to help overcome those feelings and the miracle a very odd friendship can bring to your life.
Chuck Miceli
Master the basics. It is often easy to determine writing by a new author. We all seem to make the same mistakes. I find myself frequently referring them to Noah Lukeman's excellent book, "The First Five Pages." It covers so many of the basic mistakes new writers make and offers solid advice for overcoming them. Then it goes on to explain many of the techniques experienced writers use to make the book a worthwhile read.
Chuck Miceli
Outlining. I often use Stephen King's approach to writing by letting the story unfold as I write. That's great when it is working, but when the characters stop acting out the next scenes in your sleep, the direction of the story can get lost and can be almost impossible to determine. That's when I start outlining where the story will go. Once this is done, I start filling in the blanks.
Chuck Miceli
Fulfillment. People often ask if I am happy being a writer. I answer that writing isn't easy for me. I am a perfectionist and getting it right is work, but when I write something I am truly proud of, I find that very fulfilling.
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