Jonathan Maas
How do I stay original?
I do this with a few methods:
1) I visualize two people I am writing for. The first is a small kid who is beaten up at school, the second is a woman going through an especially painful divorce.
It’s an odd trick, but it inspires me to write something better, and give it my absolute best. I want to say to these two people: A) you have value, and I am going to give you something that is worthy of your time, and B) whatever your current problems are, for the next 300-500 pages they do not apply.
Writing isn’t about the money – it’s about connecting with the reader. Whether the person is that kid/woman in my head, or anyone else - I know someone is taking three hours/three days/three weeks out of their life to read my work, and I know I must give them my best, every single time.
They deserve an original idea, and I know I must give them as many as I can, and convey these ideas in the most entertaining and accessible way possible.
2) My second method is simply asking that question to myself. How is this character/plot original? How is this protagonist/antagonist unique?
For the antagonist I have to think especially hard on this. I always try to give some unique logic to motivate their actions. The logic could be twisted, and ultimately flawed, but I have to give the reader to empathize with the villain, or at least understand them on some level.
The villain can’t just aim to blow up the world. They have to give a really good - and really original - reason why they are aiming to do so.
3) Finally, I try to read original works. If you look at my Goodreads reading list you’ll see that I’m not always going out of my comfort zone, but I try. Each time I do, I’m rewarded.
There are of course many other ways, but these three usually get me going!
I do this with a few methods:
1) I visualize two people I am writing for. The first is a small kid who is beaten up at school, the second is a woman going through an especially painful divorce.
It’s an odd trick, but it inspires me to write something better, and give it my absolute best. I want to say to these two people: A) you have value, and I am going to give you something that is worthy of your time, and B) whatever your current problems are, for the next 300-500 pages they do not apply.
Writing isn’t about the money – it’s about connecting with the reader. Whether the person is that kid/woman in my head, or anyone else - I know someone is taking three hours/three days/three weeks out of their life to read my work, and I know I must give them my best, every single time.
They deserve an original idea, and I know I must give them as many as I can, and convey these ideas in the most entertaining and accessible way possible.
2) My second method is simply asking that question to myself. How is this character/plot original? How is this protagonist/antagonist unique?
For the antagonist I have to think especially hard on this. I always try to give some unique logic to motivate their actions. The logic could be twisted, and ultimately flawed, but I have to give the reader to empathize with the villain, or at least understand them on some level.
The villain can’t just aim to blow up the world. They have to give a really good - and really original - reason why they are aiming to do so.
3) Finally, I try to read original works. If you look at my Goodreads reading list you’ll see that I’m not always going out of my comfort zone, but I try. Each time I do, I’m rewarded.
There are of course many other ways, but these three usually get me going!
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