Ask the Author: Stephen Bradford Marte
Answered Questions (4)
Stephen Bradford Marte
Hi Noam, glad to here you're enjoying the series! I've spent the last year working on a contemporary novel that I am putting the finishing touches on right now. Once that is done I will go back to work on the adventures of Euryanax. I have Book 3 outlined, just needed to start filling in the blanks. Though I hate to promise a completion date, my guess is that it will take at least 2 years to complete. As I wrote in the Epilogue of Book 2, barring me getting hit by a bus, I am fully committed to completing the series. All the best, Steve
Stephen Bradford Marte
Usually I get drunk first. Then I run around the house naked and bang my head against a stone wall three times. That gets the creative juices flowing.
Kidding, of course.
I don't wait for inspiration. Any time to write is a good time. Maybe I just came out of the box pre-inspired. Sitting around waiting for a light bulb to go off over my head all seems like a tremendous waste of time; time that could have been spent crafting a good paragraph.
Rather than inspiration, I believe in research. Whether it's by reading a biography of Pythagoras, climbing around the ruins of an ancient Greek city, or having a conversation with my 94-year old friend Jim - those are the types of activities that help generate material.
Whether I'm working on a novel, short story, magazine article or space ad, I usually start by gathering information. That could mean reading or interviewing someone. Once you've compiled your information, you sift through it, make sense of it, and start writing.
Don't know how other writers work, but doing my homework first is what provides me with all the inspiration I need to put pen to paper. That, a vodka tonic and a good kick in the head always seems to kick start my engine.
Kidding, of course.
I don't wait for inspiration. Any time to write is a good time. Maybe I just came out of the box pre-inspired. Sitting around waiting for a light bulb to go off over my head all seems like a tremendous waste of time; time that could have been spent crafting a good paragraph.
Rather than inspiration, I believe in research. Whether it's by reading a biography of Pythagoras, climbing around the ruins of an ancient Greek city, or having a conversation with my 94-year old friend Jim - those are the types of activities that help generate material.
Whether I'm working on a novel, short story, magazine article or space ad, I usually start by gathering information. That could mean reading or interviewing someone. Once you've compiled your information, you sift through it, make sense of it, and start writing.
Don't know how other writers work, but doing my homework first is what provides me with all the inspiration I need to put pen to paper. That, a vodka tonic and a good kick in the head always seems to kick start my engine.
Stephen Bradford Marte
Get a job in the writing field.
I suppose it's possible to become a writer by being an auto mechanic or dentist during the day and writing at night, but if you spend your days working with the tools of your trade you'll become a better writer.
Though the job market is tight, from my experience, there are jobs out there for writers. Whether it's in journalism or in advertising, everything you see in print or on the web has to be written by someone. When I've been laid off or wanted to switch companies, I've never had a problem finding employment. My sense is that if you're a good writer, people see it in your work, value it, and will hire you.
Here's the downside. The pay is horrible. Sadly, companies like the one I work for depend on me to come up with all of their ideas for their advertising campaigns, and yet place no monetary value in what I do. Back in the 80's when I was in my 20's and worked at a sales job I made 3x the salary I make today. When my brother, who is still a salesman asks me if I miss selling, I tell him, "Only when I look at my paycheck."
What it comes down to is: satisfaction versus bank account. Which is more important to you? If it's the type of car you drive or the value of your house, don't become a writer. It's like being a rock star. Only one in a million get to become John Lennon or James Patterson. If you're in it for the money, become a salesman or a business owner. As my father used to say, "No one ever got wealthy working for someone else."
If you can survive without owning a Mercedes, then by all means, get a writing job. I've done both, worked at jobs I hated for big bucks and worked as a journalist and an advertising copywriter for bread crumbs. For me, being a starving writer is more satisfying. Of course, what you want out of life is something that only you can determine.
I suppose it's possible to become a writer by being an auto mechanic or dentist during the day and writing at night, but if you spend your days working with the tools of your trade you'll become a better writer.
Though the job market is tight, from my experience, there are jobs out there for writers. Whether it's in journalism or in advertising, everything you see in print or on the web has to be written by someone. When I've been laid off or wanted to switch companies, I've never had a problem finding employment. My sense is that if you're a good writer, people see it in your work, value it, and will hire you.
Here's the downside. The pay is horrible. Sadly, companies like the one I work for depend on me to come up with all of their ideas for their advertising campaigns, and yet place no monetary value in what I do. Back in the 80's when I was in my 20's and worked at a sales job I made 3x the salary I make today. When my brother, who is still a salesman asks me if I miss selling, I tell him, "Only when I look at my paycheck."
What it comes down to is: satisfaction versus bank account. Which is more important to you? If it's the type of car you drive or the value of your house, don't become a writer. It's like being a rock star. Only one in a million get to become John Lennon or James Patterson. If you're in it for the money, become a salesman or a business owner. As my father used to say, "No one ever got wealthy working for someone else."
If you can survive without owning a Mercedes, then by all means, get a writing job. I've done both, worked at jobs I hated for big bucks and worked as a journalist and an advertising copywriter for bread crumbs. For me, being a starving writer is more satisfying. Of course, what you want out of life is something that only you can determine.
Stephen Bradford Marte
Can't say this has ever been a problem. Started out working for my local newspaper when I was young. When you have a daily deadline - maybe only an hour to crank out a news story - you don't have time to sit around waiting for inspiration. You just sit down and write.
Today I work as an advertising copywriter. Though I might have 1-5 days to complete an assignment, the process that works for me is to write a rough draft immediately. Then I use every day prior to the deadline to re-write. One of my mantra's at work is: the more time you give me, you'll receive a more polished end product. Give me just a day, and you're getting a rough draft.
Writer's block has always sounded like an excuse given by writers who simply don't have the discipline to sit down and write every day. In truth, it's actually not that hard. All you have to do is dedicate the time. It's that easy.
Today I work as an advertising copywriter. Though I might have 1-5 days to complete an assignment, the process that works for me is to write a rough draft immediately. Then I use every day prior to the deadline to re-write. One of my mantra's at work is: the more time you give me, you'll receive a more polished end product. Give me just a day, and you're getting a rough draft.
Writer's block has always sounded like an excuse given by writers who simply don't have the discipline to sit down and write every day. In truth, it's actually not that hard. All you have to do is dedicate the time. It's that easy.
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