Ask the Author: K.J. Bishop
Answered Questions (6)
K.J. Bishop
As far as I remember it was pretty easy and intuitive to write, and was mostly improvised -- I definitely didn't start with a plan. I may have shuffled things around a bit and written extra bits if I thought they were needed, but mostly I just went with the flow. Do check out Lautreamont's original "Les Chants de Maldoror" if you haven't already!
K.J. Bishop
If you have an idea of what you want to write, I recommend just starting anywhere with that idea. This is common advice, but allow yourself to write whatever you think of, without worrying about the quality. Then mine the result for usable material -- story, characters, images -- whatever turns up. Even if you think you're not intuitive, you might be surprised at what happens when you start work. I find that stories sometimes meet me halfway -- if I put in an effort, something responds.
If unsure of what to write, prompts from other people can be helpful. The prompt itself might be inspiring, or it might spark an idea you wouldn't otherwise have had.
Or think about why you want to write -- to say something in particular, to explore a certain idea, create an alternative world, entertain yourself and others, spend time with a character, enjoy language, or whatever it may be. That may help you get started.
An important point for me is that character suggests plot. I tend to start off without plot, just with a character (or characters) and an environment. Then sometimes the story comes intuitively, but if it doesn't, the character's situation should at least suggest things that could happen.
An alternative to the "write badly, just write" approach is, if you love carefully crafted writing, then write carefully. Don't even worry about the story to start with. Write a scene or even just a paragraph with loving attention. This was actually how I started writing. Finding I could produce words I liked made me want to try harder and make those words into a story. The danger is of getting caught up in those first few hundred words and never going beyond; after the lovely beginning you may have to start writing roughly, and you may have to change, move or even delete the lovely beginning, but I find that some care at the beginning can be like fuel for the story, even if it gets burnt up.
There are many ways to write, depending on the story and you, and you may have to try a few. Be true to yourself and good luck!
If unsure of what to write, prompts from other people can be helpful. The prompt itself might be inspiring, or it might spark an idea you wouldn't otherwise have had.
Or think about why you want to write -- to say something in particular, to explore a certain idea, create an alternative world, entertain yourself and others, spend time with a character, enjoy language, or whatever it may be. That may help you get started.
An important point for me is that character suggests plot. I tend to start off without plot, just with a character (or characters) and an environment. Then sometimes the story comes intuitively, but if it doesn't, the character's situation should at least suggest things that could happen.
An alternative to the "write badly, just write" approach is, if you love carefully crafted writing, then write carefully. Don't even worry about the story to start with. Write a scene or even just a paragraph with loving attention. This was actually how I started writing. Finding I could produce words I liked made me want to try harder and make those words into a story. The danger is of getting caught up in those first few hundred words and never going beyond; after the lovely beginning you may have to start writing roughly, and you may have to change, move or even delete the lovely beginning, but I find that some care at the beginning can be like fuel for the story, even if it gets burnt up.
There are many ways to write, depending on the story and you, and you may have to try a few. Be true to yourself and good luck!
K.J. Bishop
The underwear people send me in the mail. Sometimes it's even my size.
K.J. Bishop
Park myself up against it, cross my feet and take a nap.
K.J. Bishop
J, I wish I could tell you that there's another in the works. But there isn't. I did put out a story collection, That Book Your Mad Ancestor Wrote, a couple of years ago, but for now I'm mainly focusing on art. Thank you for the compliments, and never say never...
K.J. Bishop
Had plans, but they didn't work out; haven't made any more. There are a couple of stories in that world in That Book Your Mad Ancestor Wrote. Thanks for the question :-)
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