Goodreads asked J. Elliott:

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

J. Elliott I love the creative process. I'm mostly a pantser. Jiko Bukken was the most linear project I've ever written and that came fairly easily as it only a few characters. I challenged myself with dropping episodes weekly on Vella, imagining each section was set in stone once it dropped. I was about halfway through when the ending became clear to me. I loved that discipline. The Haint Blue books are pure chaos. So many characters and little details. I start with a basic prompt and let it grow organically by asking what if questions. Even with short stories, sometimes it takes a lot of percolating to see the whole thing. So much of writing is thinking, not typing. I've had some great ah-ha! moments while doing yard work. Once, I was so excited I turned the mower off and ran inside to type out the ending. I trust the process and the characters.

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