Ask the Author: Will Once
Answered Questions (13)
Will Once
Mervyn - I have three different tactics that I try in turn. First, I try and write anyway, even if it means writing rubbish that I'll later have to delete. It's amazing how often this gets you back on track. If that doesn't work I'll put the writing to one side and go for a walk. This clears my head like nothing else. Finally, if all else fails I will take it as a sign that I've written myself into a dead end. I will go back over the part of the writing before the block and see if I can change that.
I once tried to work out how to get a dragon to the top of a mountain. I couldn't work out how to do it. Nothing I tried seemed to work. I could write it physically but it seemed flat and boring.
So I rewound the story. I started the scene with the dragon already on the top of the mountain. Problem solved. And I started writing from there.
The other kind of block is when we lose confidence in writing as a whole. Then I just carry on with the thought that I enjoy writing even if I never get many readers. Write for the fun of it and then see what happens.
I once tried to work out how to get a dragon to the top of a mountain. I couldn't work out how to do it. Nothing I tried seemed to work. I could write it physically but it seemed flat and boring.
So I rewound the story. I started the scene with the dragon already on the top of the mountain. Problem solved. And I started writing from there.
The other kind of block is when we lose confidence in writing as a whole. Then I just carry on with the thought that I enjoy writing even if I never get many readers. Write for the fun of it and then see what happens.
Will Once
"What was that?" she said, at the darkness cut by the silvery moon.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about what's outside, my dear."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about what's outside, my dear."
Will Once
I suppose it depends on what you are looking for. Goodreads groups are a great place to meet people and chat, but they are not necessarily the best place to sell books. There are too many authors all trying to get noticed.
So I tend to play down the book selling bit and focus on the friendship side of things. That and helping people.
So I tend to play down the book selling bit and focus on the friendship side of things. That and helping people.
Will Once
I have a love/ hate relationship with my books. I put a lot of effort into each one, but I am still learning. I suspect that none of my books will ever be as good as I would like them to be.
Will Once
Good question! I think there is something about precision in argument and in the use of language. We need to know the difference between something that I know for certain, something that I believe, something that I suspect and so on.
That's why you'll hear me say things like "nearly always" rather than "always" or that something is "likely" rather than "certain". I rarely use an absolute like "always" or "never".
So I do think there is a connection between being logical and being precise with language. Unless we are being writerly and playing with ambiguity, every word that we use should mean exactly what we want it to mean.
But it is very hard to know what someone else means. We can't climb inside their head and see the world from their point of view. Because of that I don't tend to quibble with people's emotions or meanings. There is no way that I can know someone else's feelings or emotions better than they do.
Does that help?
That's why you'll hear me say things like "nearly always" rather than "always" or that something is "likely" rather than "certain". I rarely use an absolute like "always" or "never".
So I do think there is a connection between being logical and being precise with language. Unless we are being writerly and playing with ambiguity, every word that we use should mean exactly what we want it to mean.
But it is very hard to know what someone else means. We can't climb inside their head and see the world from their point of view. Because of that I don't tend to quibble with people's emotions or meanings. There is no way that I can know someone else's feelings or emotions better than they do.
Does that help?
Will Once
Don
I have to confess I don't know his writing. Which of his books or short stories would you recommend I start with?
W.
I have to confess I don't know his writing. Which of his books or short stories would you recommend I start with?
W.
Will Once
Is billionaire a job? If so, I'd like to apply...
Seriously, my current profession is part consultant and part writer. I write when I am not being a consultant - it's a bit like Conan Doyle when he worked as a doctor. In between patients he would write his stories about the world's first consulting detective.
What I would really like to do is to be a full-time writer. Then the consultancy work can fall away like a butterfly shedding its old skin.
Seriously, my current profession is part consultant and part writer. I write when I am not being a consultant - it's a bit like Conan Doyle when he worked as a doctor. In between patients he would write his stories about the world's first consulting detective.
What I would really like to do is to be a full-time writer. Then the consultancy work can fall away like a butterfly shedding its old skin.
Will Once
James Coburn starred in a couple of films about an American version of James Bond called Derek Flint - "Our man Flint" and "In like Flint". In one of them there is a scene where the inevitable megalomaniac bad guys describe their motives for taking over the world. They want to end wars, fight poverty and pursue peace. They challenge Flint to disagree with their motives. Why not join them?
Flint, naturally, wants nothing to do with their world domination plans. And before long he has destroyed their organisation by blowing up the also inevitable volcano.
And that got me thinking. Why do we always assume that it would be a bad thing if someone wanted to take over the world? What if they wanted to do it for benign reasons? What if the James Bond or Derek Flint character was wrong to try to stop them?
So I wrote "Global Domination for Beginners" as a gentle spoof of the Bond/ Bourne/ Flint/ Austin Powers genre.
It is told from the first person perspective of the megalomaniac bad guy ... who turns out to be not such a bad guy after all.
Flint, naturally, wants nothing to do with their world domination plans. And before long he has destroyed their organisation by blowing up the also inevitable volcano.
And that got me thinking. Why do we always assume that it would be a bad thing if someone wanted to take over the world? What if they wanted to do it for benign reasons? What if the James Bond or Derek Flint character was wrong to try to stop them?
So I wrote "Global Domination for Beginners" as a gentle spoof of the Bond/ Bourne/ Flint/ Austin Powers genre.
It is told from the first person perspective of the megalomaniac bad guy ... who turns out to be not such a bad guy after all.
Will Once
It all starts with a situation or a character that sounds interesting, paradoxical, challenging. Then other ideas get stuck to it until it grows like rolling a snowball down a mountain.
Will Once
Lots of things. A non-fiction book on how to write for business. That's mostly written and just started editing.
A James Bond spoof called "Global Domination for Beginners". That's 100% written and just finished editing. Now comes publication, cover art, blurb, marketing...
A serious science fiction/ fantasy about an artificial world. I'm aiming for a plausible fantasy where the world is a utopia but the people living in it can't resist trying to destroy it. That's about one third of the way through the first draft and fighting like a swordfish playing on the end of a fishing line.
At the concept phase is a sequel to Love, Death and Tea. I'm thinking of telling the story from another character's viewpoint. Codename "Love death and two". There's precious little written on the page about this one. I find I can edit and write at the same time. I can write fiction and science fiction at the same time. But I can't write two lots of fiction at the same time.
A James Bond spoof called "Global Domination for Beginners". That's 100% written and just finished editing. Now comes publication, cover art, blurb, marketing...
A serious science fiction/ fantasy about an artificial world. I'm aiming for a plausible fantasy where the world is a utopia but the people living in it can't resist trying to destroy it. That's about one third of the way through the first draft and fighting like a swordfish playing on the end of a fishing line.
At the concept phase is a sequel to Love, Death and Tea. I'm thinking of telling the story from another character's viewpoint. Codename "Love death and two". There's precious little written on the page about this one. I find I can edit and write at the same time. I can write fiction and science fiction at the same time. But I can't write two lots of fiction at the same time.
Will Once
Seeing as I am an aspiring writer myself, I had better be careful how I answer this! If I knew all the secrets I would be the next JK Rowling...
I suppose the advice that I am trying to live by is ...
1. "butt in chair" - do the hard graft. Put words on the page. Every day. Without fail. Set yourself word targets and stick to them. You may be the best writer in the world but no-one will know this unless you have books for people to read.
2. Finish well. I'm a great starter of projects but I know I have a weakness in finishing things off.
3. Know the rules about good writing before you try to break them.
4. Be true to yourself and have fun.
5. Persevere.
I suppose the advice that I am trying to live by is ...
1. "butt in chair" - do the hard graft. Put words on the page. Every day. Without fail. Set yourself word targets and stick to them. You may be the best writer in the world but no-one will know this unless you have books for people to read.
2. Finish well. I'm a great starter of projects but I know I have a weakness in finishing things off.
3. Know the rules about good writing before you try to break them.
4. Be true to yourself and have fun.
5. Persevere.
Will Once
The absolute best thing is when you entertain someone. When someone says "this is the best book I have read this year" or "I didn't want it to end - are you going to write a sequel?" That's the biggest buzz imaginable.
The second best thing being able to do something that no-one has ever done before. Two of my books are about seeing the bad guy as a hero - first a zombie and then a megalomaniac. These are both ideas that I have rarely if ever seen done. If I wanted to read about it, I would have to write it myself. So I did.
The second best thing being able to do something that no-one has ever done before. Two of my books are about seeing the bad guy as a hero - first a zombie and then a megalomaniac. These are both ideas that I have rarely if ever seen done. If I wanted to read about it, I would have to write it myself. So I did.
Will Once
I try to do something other than writing. Going for a walk, working on another project, writing a different part of the book. That seems to let the subconscious chew on the problem in the background.
If that doesn't work, whisky.
And if that doesn't work, more whisky.
If that doesn't work, whisky.
And if that doesn't work, more whisky.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more