Roswell 10/2/00 wrote:
I have always wanted to be a writer from as long as I can remember. It has always been a dream of mine. Even since I was little I was always writing stories or making up stories and telling them to people. So in a way I knew I was meant to be a storyteller. I have always have had a very vivid imagination and have always have had a strong love for the craft of writing.
I have been a member of Roswellfanfic for close to 3 years now and I have to say it was the best thing for me. It allowed me to tape into my creative side and craft for writing again and help me to develop my writing in the areas I think I need the most help in.
I think fanfic is such a great way to jump into writing, then slowly begin creating a world of your own. You have the opportunity for feedback and to learn what your readers like! This is a great place for you to be!
However writing has never come easy for me. I am dyslexic and well it can hold me back in someway. I have tried to over come this hindrance and go on with my craft. But it is not easy especially when it comes to grammar and spelling. But I know despite this I am a good writer.
I'm incredibly impressed! You obviously have the heart of a storyteller. I honestly believe that craft issues, grammar and so forth, can ultimately be learned. But having the heart of a storyteller is so important!
I also find that sometimes I get too caught up in the world of Roswell fanfic that I have trouble breaking away when it comes to trying to develop and write my own story. I was wondering if you have faced this problem as well and if it was hard for you when you developed the idea and concept of The Parallel series. Also where do you get your inspiration from for your writing? I would love to know.
Such great questions, Erin!! Okay, well it IS a big shift to start writing your own world if you're used to fanfic, but I think the way to make that transition is to begin introducing more of your own ideas and world. The PARALLEL series did begin as fanfic, though it's changed A LOT. There's nothing really that ties into Roswell at all, in fact, and the hero/heroine aren't Max and Liz. But that's now. In the original version, I did have a lot of Max/Liz in the story--yet Marco was my own guy. Totally mine. So try to really begin intro'ing your own stamp on these stories, that would be my advice!
As for inspiration, I'm constantly coming up with story ideas. I have a lot of things in the hopper, including another sci-fi series that I cannot WAIT to write!!!! I actually have to rein myself in. I guess what I'm saying is that I keep my internal ear open at all times for story ideas. Keep a notebook! That way, as title ideas or dialogue bits or any of that come to you, you can jot them down.
I still remember that one of my fave scenes in ANTARIAN SKY was written on the back of a throw away paper b/c I just started HEARING it in my head. I scrambled for the page, then began making notes like crazy.
Also how hard was it for you to go about the whole process of getting the idea to the page and then to the printer and publisher? I figure I would ask you being you have first hand experience with how this process works. Was it hard did you ever feel like you couldn't do it or face writers block? And if so how did you get through it.
I'm really lucky in that I've had a core group of writer friends--people I met here on this forum in 2001--and a number of those writers gave me great feedback on my proposal for PARALLEL series. And, YES, I totally felt I couldn't do it at times. In fact, on the second book, PARALLEL HEAT, I was practically in tears over this one story issue. But finally it got resolved!! Bouncing ideas off trusted readers/critiquers is very impt. Doing that helped me through my book two crisis!
HUGS! D