As a self-employed writer, I struggle to find the time, place, mood, food, music, and drink to write well. With two sons and a hardworking spouse, it’s no easy task. Gameplans shift daily, if not hourly. Up-and-coming authors all know there’s no such a thing as set schedules and routines, especially when publishing (and the economy) are in such a frenetic flux.
And so, I’m irresistably drawn to the stories behind the stories. Though I’m happy to make a decent living as a writer, with three books published and a fourth on the way, with a 15-year journalism career and scores of freelance stories behind all that, I still find myself wondering: how do they do it? How did Hemmingway awake at dawn to write a thousand words before those blissful afternoons eating, reading, drinking and fucking? How do current phenoms like Michael Chabon multi-task the role of stay-at-home dad while writing spectacular novels between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.?
This site is not just a showplace for my own work (updates on books, appearances, photos, etc.) but also a venue to share my ongoing exploration of this question: How do writers write? We’re entering one of the more turbulent and titillating periods in publishing history, with everyone nail-biting over Amazon’s Kindle, Apple’s iPad, e-books and Google and piracy. So… What does it all mean to the traditional domain of pages-between-the-hardcovers publishing? Do authors need to become more digitized and tech-savvy? Are the Kindle and iPad the future of ‘books’? Can software programs other than Microsoft Word help us become a better writers? (Um, yes.)
Ultimately, the intent here is to celebrate writing and writers, with a specific focus on how, day in and day out, we/they get the job done – the mechanics, techniques, and tools, from software to booze, Twitter to Vimeo. At times, I’ll discuss my own work, sharing anecdotes and lessons learned, along with videos, photographs, excerpts, and reviews. Other times I’ll reach out to other authors and journalists, asking (usually on camera) about their craft. HOW do you write? WHERE do you write? And WHEN? On a MAC or PC? In silence or with noise? Alone or in a crowd? Coffee, tea, or whiskey?
Answers will be featured in occasional video, audio, or print interviews and Q&As. I’ll also provide occasional book reviews and links to relevant sites and articles about writers and writing.
