Goodreads asked James Frazee:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

James Frazee The best advice I can give to aspiring writers is the same advice given to me…Write about people and places that you know and are familiar with; also something that you have a real passion. Wherever possible weave personalities of people you know into your characters. It will give them life. Guide the reader through the book but don’t give him the answers. Let them figure it out themselves through your clues.

Some writers make detailed outlines and end up just converting the outline into words. That doesn’t work for me. I do have an outline so I know where I am heading, but it only serves as a guide. As I write I discover new areas and directions the characters need to take. A detailed outline is too constricted for me, but it may work for you. Every writer is different.

Also, when writing don’t stop and correct and re-read paragraphs over and over again. It will never be perfect in your mind. Start writing and continue writing until you reach the end of the chapter or section of your book. Once you have finished a major section, then go back and re-read it. You will be surprise that this method will help you build your characters better and also highlight areas you need to change or modify. Our mind works faster than our fingers can type.

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