Ask the Author: Michael Moreci
Answered Questions (4)
Michael Moreci
Right now, I'm in the middle of the sequel to Black Star Renegades, my space adventure novel coming out with St. Martin's January 2, 2018. I've had an absolute blast writing these characters, and I'm thrilled that I'm able to continue their story in a second novel (hopefully a third, and a fourth!).
Other than that, I'm also working on proposals for new stuff, and I'm about to resume scripting on a sci-fi comic series that is slated to come out in the spring of 2018. Very, very excited about that.
Oh, and I'm wrapping up my co-writing duties on The Flash!
Other than that, I'm also working on proposals for new stuff, and I'm about to resume scripting on a sci-fi comic series that is slated to come out in the spring of 2018. Very, very excited about that.
Oh, and I'm wrapping up my co-writing duties on The Flash!
Michael Moreci
This is a great question, and my advice is simple:
Don't give up.
There's two parallel tracks that you have to conquer, and you have to understand that it takes a long, long time for both (or either) to happen. First, you have to get good. You have to hone your craft, discover your voice, and build up the mental longevity it takes to put pen to paper every single day. Second, you have to find ways to get your writing out to people--readers, agents, editors, whoever--as you create it. To achieve even a modicum of success at either takes a long time, it really does. You have to look at becoming a writer as a marathon, not a sprint.
Also, READ. Read, read, read. And read everything. It's great if you want to write, for example, YA sci-fi. You should devour as much of that as you can. But, read other stuff as well. Literary fiction, fantasy, thrillers. There's also something to learn (and enjoy) by having a broad palette. Not only that, but read non-fiction. Read comics. Read magazines. It's so important to consistently be engaged in a conversation with the written word, I cannot stress that enough.
But again, most of all, know that this takes time. I wrote my first novel (unpublished, mercifully) over ten years ago, and I'm finally seeing a novel of mine published--Black Star Renegades--in January 2018. So, go easy on yourself. Celebrate whatever successes you achieve, no matter how big or small (and celebrate the successes of others as well) and use your failures, your rejections, as fuel for your determination. Use it to make sure you never--never evereverever--give up. The only one who can stop you is you.
Don't give up.
There's two parallel tracks that you have to conquer, and you have to understand that it takes a long, long time for both (or either) to happen. First, you have to get good. You have to hone your craft, discover your voice, and build up the mental longevity it takes to put pen to paper every single day. Second, you have to find ways to get your writing out to people--readers, agents, editors, whoever--as you create it. To achieve even a modicum of success at either takes a long time, it really does. You have to look at becoming a writer as a marathon, not a sprint.
Also, READ. Read, read, read. And read everything. It's great if you want to write, for example, YA sci-fi. You should devour as much of that as you can. But, read other stuff as well. Literary fiction, fantasy, thrillers. There's also something to learn (and enjoy) by having a broad palette. Not only that, but read non-fiction. Read comics. Read magazines. It's so important to consistently be engaged in a conversation with the written word, I cannot stress that enough.
But again, most of all, know that this takes time. I wrote my first novel (unpublished, mercifully) over ten years ago, and I'm finally seeing a novel of mine published--Black Star Renegades--in January 2018. So, go easy on yourself. Celebrate whatever successes you achieve, no matter how big or small (and celebrate the successes of others as well) and use your failures, your rejections, as fuel for your determination. Use it to make sure you never--never evereverever--give up. The only one who can stop you is you.
Michael Moreci
That's a question I get a lot, and it's an important one. My answer, always, is this: You work through it, the key word being "work." The thing is, I don't really believe in talent. Like, there's nothing magical about me that grants me the ability to write fiction. I'm not Harry Potter. What I do believe in is determination, dedication, and diligence. Writing is a job, it's a career and a profession, and if you want to make a living at this, you have to treat it as such--there's no waiting around for the muses to tell you it's time to write. If you're blocked, then you still be sitting at your desk, thinking your way through it. Believe me, I've been there plenty, and I'll be there again. But you can't let it stop you from doing your job. Take a walk if you have to, clear your head, whatever it takes. But then, get back to it. Somerset Maugham said "I write when inspiration strikes; thankfully, it strikes every day at nine a.m. sharp." That's how writing gets done.
Michael Moreci
Black Star Renegades is a product of a few things. First and foremost, it's a result of my love for Star Wars and other similar sci-fi adventures and pulps. Anyone who knows me is well aware of this. And one person who knew this is the man who became my editor at St. Martin's. I'd been pitching him books for some time, never with success, and he called me up one day and said "you love Star Wars, you love sci-fi adventures; pitch me that." It just so happened that I had n idea for this exact type of book, a book I wanted to read but couldn't find too many places--a sci-fi story that was just plain fun. I took that idea--inspired by Star Wars, wanting to write something fun--and crafted it into what eventually became Black Star Renegades. It evolved and grew a ton from those origins, but that's where it all began.
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