Ask the Author: Matthew Mercer
Answered Questions (6)
Matthew Mercer
Being able to come up with a story from my own imagination and having people take the time to read my work is a feeling that I cannot even begin to explain. That would be the best thing.
Matthew Mercer
Take some time off. Not too long, but focus on something else and the ideas will come when they are ready. Wait until you are in a positive or open head space to start thinking about your work.
Matthew Mercer
Just write. Honestly, if you don't ever write anything, you will not learn how to properly do it. I spent too many years trying to develop the perfect story when I had zero experience in the field. Write something and understand that it will likely be trash, but at least you've done something. You can figure out the perfect story later, but at least figure out the basics first.
Matthew Mercer
I am publishing my first novella "It Came From Above" this Halloween! It is apart of an anthology series where I give my own spin on various creatures or urban legends that are already well-known, and I turn them into nostalgic slasher stories that resemble 80s horror films. That's the idea, at least. I've already got the second story in the series written through the first draft, and I am currently working on the third.
Matthew Mercer
I don't spend as much time searching for inspiration as I do just writing. Once I come up with a basic concept, I think of some character ideas and I just start typing. Some things work, others don't and are later removed. Putting words on paper usually gets the ball rolling, so long as you do it.
Matthew Mercer
In a literal sense, I was in my car when I got the idea. I was spending too much time trying to develop the perfect book when I realized that no matter what I write, it would have flaws. It was going to be my first book, after all! When I was in High School, I fell in love with 80s slasher films, and while binge watching the Friday the 13th franchise for the third time, I realized that the genre wasn't necessarily well-written. I decided to dive head-first into this book with the idea that I would be practicing my writing and learn how to develop characters in the progress. I didn't need some crazy concept, I just wanted something that would be fun. After months of writing and even more months of revising and editing, I believe that I have come up with something that other people can enjoy as much as I did while I was writing it.
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