This is a strange topic to blog about, but I’ve got to start again somewhere. Since becoming published several years ago, there are a lot of standard questions or comments I hear from readers or other authors. They’re not always bad or good, sometimes just food for thought. Things like, ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ or ‘Are your characters people you know?’
The answer to the first one – ideas come from everywhere. Today I opened up my browser and the first two headlines I read were something about a Granny drug kingpin being arrested in Oklahoma, and brides using feeding tubes to lose weight for their weddings. It’s not a tough search for ideas these days.
The answer to the second one – absolutely not. Ever. Mostly because I can never get real people to behave in ways that would suit my plots on a consistent basis.
My personal favorite, which I heard again this weekend is, ‘Well if you can get published…I’ve got an idea for a book. Maybe I should write one too.’
Never quite sure how to take this one. Does that mean they think I’m a blithering idiot, and if I can do it anyone can? Or maybe it’s meant to be complimentary, and if I can find time in my harried schedule to write, they can too. Most likely, I should just take it with a grain of salt. And perhaps slice of lime…
Heh. This reminds me of a new author on FB the other day, asking everybody if they thought being published was a big deal, because her husband doesn't.
ReplyDeleteAnd all I can say is, until you've tried to publish, you have noooo idea the creativity, work, courage, work, talent, chutzpah, work, time managing, work, guts, and work it takes to achieve it. Oh, and then once you're contracted it's a ton of work. ;)