Ask the Author: Jeffrey Cook
Answered Questions (6)
Jeffrey Cook
Habits and accountability. I still struggle with it, but first, I've tried to get used to writing at least a little on most days, even if its not on my work in progress. Secondly, I'm not shy about announcing my goals. I tell my editor, my housemate, etc., knowing they will call me on it if I fall behind, or ask if I met those goals.
Jeffrey Cook
Getting to see other people engaging with the world and the characters. I love feedback, and knowing that people are interacting with, and reacting to my stories like I have with a lot of books.
Jeffrey Cook
Write something every day. Good habits are important. Sometimes the ideas will come easily. For most people, those days aren't common, though, and you need something to carry you through the times you need to get the work done but don't feel like it.
Jeffrey Cook
I'm working on the main re-writes to Book 3 of the Dawn of Steam series. 26 pages to go, and then I'll be really digging into the edits and adding a few more letters and the like. The second draft needs to tell a complete story first, though.
Jeffrey Cook
I tend to go through bursts of creativity and inspiration. When those hit, I'll be unable to sleep, or unable to stay asleep, and words just explode onto the page. I mostly use those periods as a chance to outline the ideas while they're fresh, then develop them over time, because those easy-writing days are still the minority.
Jeffrey Cook
I woke up one morning with the ideas for two of the main characters playing through my head. Originally, Dawn of Steam was going to be a comic book, with the characters starting each comic in some improbable location, and a page with Gregory writing to Cordelia about the feat, followed by a story of how they got there.
Lacking an artist, I started doing more historical research to try and figure out exactly when to place them, and expanding on the cast as the story developed. It still started with inspiration from a waking dream, though.
Lacking an artist, I started doing more historical research to try and figure out exactly when to place them, and expanding on the cast as the story developed. It still started with inspiration from a waking dream, though.
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