Ask the Author: Denise Drespling
Answered Questions (4)
Denise Drespling
I try to read widely and deeply. I go for whatever book looks good, sounds good, or someone tells me is good. I've found some of my favorite books in genres I never would have otherwise chosen, so I've learned not to judge a book its genre. (But by its cover--totally.)
Ah, but all minds are mysterious. The joy is in finding your path through your own internal world and learning how to navigate it, seeing what makes you tick and tock, what fires you up and powers you down, and then transforming it all into art. Then, if you're real lucky, you'll help others avoid the pitfalls in their own mind dungeons by opening your own thoughts and dreams and showing them to the world. You can do that with a pen or brush or many other mediums!
Ah, but all minds are mysterious. The joy is in finding your path through your own internal world and learning how to navigate it, seeing what makes you tick and tock, what fires you up and powers you down, and then transforming it all into art. Then, if you're real lucky, you'll help others avoid the pitfalls in their own mind dungeons by opening your own thoughts and dreams and showing them to the world. You can do that with a pen or brush or many other mediums!
Denise Drespling
I don't. I don't believe in writer's block, so therefore, I don't suffer from it. I think that the idea of not being able to write is a cop out on some level. Unless you are physical unable to type or write (even then, if you can speak, you can dictate), you CAN write. What people really mean when they talk about writer's block is an inability to come up with words that they like or a scene/story line they deem worthy. The best way to get past that is just to write.
Not every word is going to be gold. Sometimes you have to push a story forward--even if you hate where it's going, even if you sense it's utter crap, even if you know that you're going to cut every word you're typing--just to find out which direction you DON'T want to go. I like to brainstorm. If I don't know what should happen next, I will take a few minutes to write down every possible scenario I can think of, even impossible ones.
If I'd been writing The Hunger Games, it might have been something like this. Prim's name is pulled for the games. What happens next? It could be: Katniss volunteers, Katniss volunteers but they reject/don't allow it, Madge volunteers, Gale volunteers, Prim volunteers back to take Katniss's place, their mother volunteers, some random person Katniss doesn't know volunteers, someone shoots Effie, an explosion destroys the stage, aliens land suddenly, the wall falls down and they discover they actually live inside a giant box and are being watched like rats in a cage.
It goes from possible to impossible to just plain whaa? But it gets your mind working. You quickly see that maybe this isn't an alien story, so that possibility is out, and by eliminating possibilities--no matter how out there--you start to give yourself direction. The story would have been quite different if anything besides Katniss volunteering took place. Imagine what would happen in each scenario and see which direction you like best.
Other than brainstorming, get inspired. See some movies, gawk at some art, write a poem (especially if you're not a poet), write some flash or short fiction, write a journal entry, do something you've never done before. Just write something. The way to move beyond not being able to write is to just write.
Now, if you don't WANT to write, that's a different problem. In that case, see Depression.
Not every word is going to be gold. Sometimes you have to push a story forward--even if you hate where it's going, even if you sense it's utter crap, even if you know that you're going to cut every word you're typing--just to find out which direction you DON'T want to go. I like to brainstorm. If I don't know what should happen next, I will take a few minutes to write down every possible scenario I can think of, even impossible ones.
If I'd been writing The Hunger Games, it might have been something like this. Prim's name is pulled for the games. What happens next? It could be: Katniss volunteers, Katniss volunteers but they reject/don't allow it, Madge volunteers, Gale volunteers, Prim volunteers back to take Katniss's place, their mother volunteers, some random person Katniss doesn't know volunteers, someone shoots Effie, an explosion destroys the stage, aliens land suddenly, the wall falls down and they discover they actually live inside a giant box and are being watched like rats in a cage.
It goes from possible to impossible to just plain whaa? But it gets your mind working. You quickly see that maybe this isn't an alien story, so that possibility is out, and by eliminating possibilities--no matter how out there--you start to give yourself direction. The story would have been quite different if anything besides Katniss volunteering took place. Imagine what would happen in each scenario and see which direction you like best.
Other than brainstorming, get inspired. See some movies, gawk at some art, write a poem (especially if you're not a poet), write some flash or short fiction, write a journal entry, do something you've never done before. Just write something. The way to move beyond not being able to write is to just write.
Now, if you don't WANT to write, that's a different problem. In that case, see Depression.
Denise Drespling
I think this is mostly a personal thing, though some elements are universal. Something has to draw you into the story, whether it's action or a character. I respond mostly on an emotional level. How much do I want to hang out with these characters? How much do I care about what's happening in their world? I rarely give out 5 stars ratings, but when I do, it's because a book has the elements of an amazing story, which is: characters to root for, good writing that doesn't distract me with errors or poor word choices, a conflict keeping me awake at night wondering how they'll come out of it, an emotional reaction that makes me think about the story all day and long for it like I long for coffee in the morning. It's this sense that nothing is right in the world until I know that Katniss will make it out of the arena alive (or whatever applies to that story).
Beyond that, it's personal. Some people love mysteries, some people hate them. Any book out there that's being read will have both 1-star reviews from people who think it's compete rubbish and 5-star reviews from people who think the author is a god who delivered an eternal holy relic upon the earth. I think mostly, though, we love or hate something based on how it makes us feel. And a good story is one that makes you feel something.
Beyond that, it's personal. Some people love mysteries, some people hate them. Any book out there that's being read will have both 1-star reviews from people who think it's compete rubbish and 5-star reviews from people who think the author is a god who delivered an eternal holy relic upon the earth. I think mostly, though, we love or hate something based on how it makes us feel. And a good story is one that makes you feel something.
Denise Drespling
Just write. That's how you be a writer. How you be a good writer is totally different.
Get critique partners and read blogs and books on writing. Learn and follow all the rules before you think about breaking them. Read everything. Try every method and suggestion out there until you know what works for you in your writing life. Write and write some more. When you're done, edit it until you can't stand the sight of it anymore. Put it aside, then edit it more.
Get critique partners and read blogs and books on writing. Learn and follow all the rules before you think about breaking them. Read everything. Try every method and suggestion out there until you know what works for you in your writing life. Write and write some more. When you're done, edit it until you can't stand the sight of it anymore. Put it aside, then edit it more.
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