Wanna write that novel? You can do it... says Walter Mosley! Easy for him to say... he's written twenty-five. But he's got some good advice for all you aspiring writers, and some of it is as simple as just do it. Please... if you've got writer's block, ask your questions here... we'll bring them to the master.
2:00 PM ET | 04-17-2007 | permalink
Why a novel?
Do you recommend getting a contract with a publisher first or write the material and deal with publishing later? Also, if it is the latter, is it suggested to spend money having it edited for grammar, etc to have it "presentable" to a publisher, or just wait and let the publishing company do it.
Nanette Sagastume
A writing a novel, the temptation is to emphasize the thinking--rather than the actions--of characters. Please comment on this. Is it possible to over-emphasize thoughts?
the writer needs to strike a balance between the thoughts and the actions of the characters.
What do *you* do when you get stuck in the middle of a scene and can't figure out how to get your character(s) out of a jam?
I wrote a novel last year and stopped in the middle of revisions. I felt I had the action of the story down but that I had not sorted out the deeper currents in the story - because I didn't understand them yet. In the past year I've progressed in my thinking, but have a hard time pulling out the old draft. How do I productively restart?
I once wrote a novel about a guy who fell into currency trading. The "drama" resulted from daily price movement in the markets.
Is that a plausible idea for a story, or fatally flawed?
I really like listening to books on tape. I listened to your book Fortunate Son and the story was gripping and also very sad.
Is there a strategy for writing a book that will eventually be recorded?
Mr. Mosley:
Thank you for your book, I suspect I'll refer to it for years to come, like Strunk and White's Elements of Style.
May I ask if you ever took a course in fiction writing? Or were you ever in a writer's critique group?
Thanks!
I would like to write a novel from the perspecive of members of the five generations of my family. I am the in the fourth generation, my sons in the fifth. Do you have an suggestions to make it flow together?
Doesn't one need some formal training to be a writer? I always wanted to write a book but feel discouraged by that thought...
I started off a story teller. Have tried many times to transition to writing. Any advise on telling/writing transition?
I think you are absolutely right about the fear factor - keeping folks away from the keyboard. Attitude is the key...how do you personally set an attitude - what have you learned about attitude as you have grown as a writer.
To my fellow writers, another good book on this subject is "No Plot? No Problem. A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days," by Chris Baty
Is anyone else tired of people calling in saying that they just loved the author/singer/etc? It doesn't add anything to the conversation.
Thank you so much. I have been thinking of writing a novel for 6 years. I bought your book in March 2007, read it the same day. Now I'm done with the third draft.
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