You Asked, I’ll Answer

In today's Ask Me Anything, I’m sharing a couple of early questions posed by you. Thank you for sending in your thoughts, and keep them coming—you might just see your question answered here.

Have you really experienced everything you write about? Is your writing autobiographical? Is there a character that represents you?

Imagination is no substitute for experience. I couldn’t describe things I haven’t seen, done, or seen done. My writing is not expressly autobiographical, although I don’t quite know how an author can separate himself entirely from the work. I will tell you that if I discover my personal views creeping into my writing, I stop and regroup. I do not want to write my story. I want to write the stories of my characters. And no, there’s no character yet who is really anything like the real-life me. I find that refreshing.

What scenes do you most enjoy writing?

I enjoy writing anything that I can clearly see or hear, when the keyhole is opened and I can peer through. Then I feel as though I’m more or less taking notes as I watch and listen. If it starts to feel like I’m ‘figuring out’ what comes next, or how this person or that ‘should’ act, I stop. It’s not real then and I never like the result. My motto is ‘don’t make shit up’.

Share your questions for a future Ask Me Anything!