Ask the Author: Jack Slater
Answered Questions (6)
Jack Slater
The best thing about being a writer is being a story-teller. And the best thing about being a story-teller is getting to share stories and things that interest me with other people all over the world.
The second-best thing about being a writer, though, is seeing your books in a bookshop! That feels really good.
The second-best thing about being a writer, though, is seeing your books in a bookshop! That feels really good.
Jack Slater
There are several ways. Sometimes I just let it stew for a day or two. Sometimes I come up with a series of alternatives and get out the tarot cards to pick which one to go with. And sometimes I talk it through with my wife and do as I'm told!
Jack Slater
The main thing is to keep writing and get as much feedback as you can. Friends and family are rarely useful in this way, so if you are a club type person, join a writing circle. If not, use one of the services that advertise in the writing mags. Waylon Jennings wrote in one of his songs, 'We all got where we are as fast as we could.' By which he meant, we don't get anywhere until we're ready to. So keep plugging away, improving your product until it's ready for others to want to read. Then find your outlet.
Jack Slater
That's complicated. I was working on a thriller which included, as one of the secondary characters, a police detective and the editor I was working with said, 'You should write a crime novel.' So we talked it over. She threw out some ideas. I thought this was the best of them, but it didn't go anywhere for a while because it didn't feel like it was mine until I came up with Pete Gayle as a character. Then everything started to fall into place.
Jack Slater
Inspiration for stories comes from all over the place - the news, true crime shows, personal events and history. Inspiration to write comes from... who knows where? There is rarely a day when I wake up and don't want to write. Some days its harder to actually write - to find the inspiration/muse - but the desire is always there. That is what being a writer is. Its not something you do, it's something you are.
Jack Slater
I am currently editing the second Pete Gayle story and planning the third.
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