Jolie O'Dell

How did you become a writer?

I wrote my first "book" when I was six years old. It was a short story called "The Perfect Day," about a girl named Lucy. I recall that there was ice cream involved.

After that, I just assumed that writing was one of the things I was good at, so I tried to get better and better. I wrote a lot of poetry through high school, college, and young adulthood; some of it wasn't garbage. 

When I got to university, I was originally studying music -- operatic vocal performance, to be precise. But my bones didn't develop in a very operatic way, and my voice remains too "small" for opera. So at 19, I switched my major to journalism, a more interesting and practical application of my second skill, writing. It turned out to be a ball, and I was hooked.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

I steeped myself in the classics and newer classics as a moody teenager, from the Greek tragedians to Keats to the Bronte sisters to Tolstoy and Dostoevsky to the socialist writers of the 1890s-1930s. The literature was sometimes over my head and often overly dramatic, but I guess it was as good a place to start as any.

Nellie Bly really captured my imagination; she was the original gonzo journalist who got herself committed to an insane asylum in order to write an exposé on the conditions there. I also read (going back to the socialists) some Upton Sinclair and the like, which really got me thinking about how writing can be a tool for improving quality of life for all humans.

I have always really loved reading novels and plays that accurately depict dialog. Sinclair Lewis used to plant bugs in houseplants at parties and then transcribe ordinary conversations; he understood that our vocabularies and cadences of speech are fascinating and unique. It's something I try to depict faithfully in writing up interviews these days.

My writing is also full of literary allusions to two of the oldest, most beautiful, and yet most common sources: Shakespeare and the Bible. They're a huge part of Western culture, and it always surprises me when writers aren't well-versed (pun intended) in those sources.

Lately, I've been working my way through a few books for journalists/non-fiction writers. One is called Telling True Stories, on narrative journalism, and I highly recommend it to mid-career writers in danger of burnout. I've also picked up and am working on the autobiography of legendary journalist Belva Davis and a book on circular essay writing.

When and where do you write?

Since writing is my day job, I write when I have to, especially when a deadline is breathing down my neck. I can crank out 400 half-decent words about anything in 15 minutes with enough external pressure! I get especially excited about writing breaking news; you're in this invisible race with dozens of people, all of you scrambling to publish the story first, yet some of you are still trying to publish the BEST story as quickly as possible. It's a huge adrenaline rush; it's like extreme journalism or something.

Often, I'll procrastinate and do my writing late at night or on a lazy Sunday. I work on my books in the evenings and on weekends; the same goes for personal blog posts. I don't have very much energy left over for creative writing -- stories, poetry, songs. For professional writers, I almost feel like there's this unwritten rule, a daily or weekly word count that your own psyche won't allow you to exceed. I personally have to tap out between 4,000 and 7,000 words per day; I'm brain-fried.

What are you working on now?

I have two books in the works, and I'm also collaborating on an EP with my fiancé and bandmate-for-life. I'm trying to put together a magazine column for a rather reputable publication, and of course I'm a daily writer for VentureBeat, writing about all the exciting technology news happening in San Francisco and around the world. My newest project is something I'm particularly excited about: an interview series that will bring some really edgy narrative stories into our usual mix of matter-of-fact reporting. It'll also introduce a new cast of characters or archetypes beyond the usual suspects of Silicon Valley power players. Stay tuned for more! It's going to be quite different.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

HAH! Every day! It's why I procrastinate and why deadlines are so important to me. I coined a saying we have in our newsroom: "Writers' block is just laziness in a different hat." In other words, the best way to cure your writers' block is to shut up about how you can't write, sit down, and start putting ANY words onto a blank page. You can edit later, but you need to get started now. The fact that I can't really afford the luxury of writers' block is the only way I am able to churn out decent stories most days.

What’s your advice to new writers?

To new professional writers: Don't. Go into finance or law. Let writing be your hobby; you deserve to eat. To new hobbyist/side project writers: If you're new, your writing probably sucks; you'll look back in a year or two and cringe. Still, don't listen to criticism unless it comes from a true friend or someone who's paying you to write. Contrariwise, make sure your friends/teachers/mentors can give you honest crits and that you can take them well. Don't be a crybaby; aggressively work to make your writing better.

BIO: I'm a journalist currently writing about technology and finance. I'm a published poet (two self-published books and several poems published in periodicals), and I've published one book on photography. I'm currently halfway through with a new photography book, and I'm also under contract to write -- clutch your pearls and gasp! -- a "housewife" manual for the modern, single man or woman.

Dan Poynter

How did you become a writer?

Like many authors I began by writing magazine articles. Fascinated with skydiving and parachutes, I wrote a monthly column Parachutist magazine. In just a couple of years I realize that these articles could be put together into a book. The only manuals we had on parachutes were left over from World War II. They covered military parachutes only, and there were many inaccuracies. I began gathering information for my column that would fit the book. This helped me to develop my writing style, bank material, and develop a following.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

There weren't any books on how to write and publish books back in the late 60s. I don't think there were any associations or other help. In 1969, there were only 3000 book publishers in the United States; that is 1 to 2% of what we have now. I was flying blind. Using what I knew about business and selling directly to my audience (skydivers), I moved a lot of books.

When and where do you write?

My preferred method is to write straight through; day and night. That way you keep the entire project in your mind. You know where everything is. 

I love my 11” MacBook air. The 27” Thunderbolt display allows me to see several pages at one time. On the road, I will write on the same computer with the smaller screen. In the car, I scribble on a pad. It is often difficult to read my own writing but I manage to get the thoughts down. When I go for my walks and come up with an idea, I dictate them to my iPhone.

 I often wake up very early in the morning, sometimes 3 or 4 AM, my head is spinning with ideas, my eyes are wide open. Realizing that I can't go back to sleep, I get up and head for the keyboard.

Today, more and more people writing the iPad. One of the best features of the iPad is that it is instant-on. My MacBook Air takes 20 seconds to boot up, which is a huge improvement over the PCs I used to carry. But even in that 20 seconds I sometimes lose my train of thought.

What are you working on now?

Recently, I wrote 4 books in 5 weeks. Two of them were updates/revisions and two were brand-new. Book writing used to take me a minimum of 30 days. It is much faster now because I have a book template and because the ebook is less work. The template allows you to simply fill in the blanks.

You may download a free copy of the template from:

http://parapub.com/files/newsletter/P-47%20WN-Book%20Writing%20Layout%20Template.pdf

and

http://parapub.com/files/newsletter/P-47%20WN-Book%20Writing%20Layout%20Template.2.pdf

Today, you publish your ebook first; the process is faster and easier. Your table contents does not have numbers, there are no headers, no page numbers, no index. Just write straight text and insert illustrations in MS-Word. If you finish your book at 6 PM, you can upload it to Smashwords and Kindle and your book is for sale the next morning. Suddenly, you are a published author. After that, you can go back and reformat the book for printing. Printing can take 3 to 5 weeks. Meanwhile your ebook is for sale and gathering reviews. 

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

Writers block is due to a lack of preparation. I prepare and therefore I do not suffer from writer's block. Research your subject, plan your book, gather your materials, place your materials in  chapter piles, start with the chapter that's the shortest, easiest, or most fun. And write your first chapter last. To learn more about research and planning, see Writing Your Book at: 

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Your-Book-ebook/dp/B007VP66Z0/

What’s your advice to new writers?

Get as much information you possibly can. You are an expert on your subject but you are entering the publishing business. And it is a business. A different business. The most expensive parts of publishing are the mistakes. You do not have to make them. Go to conferences, purchase books, take part in publishing forums. The small investment is cheaper than a mistake. Download our free Information Kit on book writing: http://parapub.com/sites/para/resources/infokit.cfm

Dan Poynter is an author (130+ books), publisher (since 1969), and a professional speaker (CSP). His seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal and his story has been told in The New York Times. The media come to Dan because he is the leading authority on book publishing. Dan studies the industry and has been referred to as a Book Futurist. A professional speaker, he travels more than 6,000 miles each week to share his book plan. Dan is a past vice-president of the Publishers Marketing Association (now IBPA). He lives in Santa Barbara. See http://parapub.com

David Blatner

How did you become a writer?

I swear it was an accident. I admit that I wanted to be a writer when I was a child, as my father was a published psychiatrist. But when I was about 11, he wisely told me, "Don't write a book until you have something to say."

I hated writing through high school and college. If a teacher said "write a ten-page paper," I would grudgingly write eight. 

However, by 1989 I happened to know a lot about a particular piece of software and an editor I knew asked me to write a book about it. It was a fun challenge, and I ended up writing 600 pages in three months. The publisher was thrilled, the book went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, and apparently I was now a Writer.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

Certainly that first editor, Steve Roth, who somehow taught me the ropes with just a few words here and there. My high school composition teacher, who insisted I learn proper grammar. (I recall once arguing a point with her, pointing out that I had seen some crazy syntax in a book, so I should be able to write that way, too. Her reply: "Someday, when you're paid to write, you can do it any way you want. But for now, you do it my way.")

I would add to the list my math and science teachers, because they taught about logic, and I believe that an awareness of logical flow (you can't talk about this until you talk about that) is one of my most important skills as a writer.

When and where do you write?

Early in the morning, under deadline, with headphones, in a coffee shop. At least that tends to be my best writing.

What are you working on now?

I've spent the past four years researching and writing a little book called Spectrums: Our Mind-boggling Universe, from Infinitesimal to Infinity [Walker Books, due out November 2012]. The goal is to stretch our brains a little bit, to get a sense of perspective for where we are in the universe. Each chapter tackles a different spectrum, such as size, heat, sound, light, and time.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

No. I agree with Andy Ihnatko that there really is no such thing as writer's block.

That said, there have certainly been times when I can't figure out how to move forward. On Spectrums, I hit a massive roadblock when it finally dawned on me how little scientists know about our universe. I'm talking the basics here, like why does gravity work, or what is space? It's increasingly clear that whatever Reality there is, is far, far weirder than what the textbooks are telling us. Here I was, trying to figure out how to clearly explain these concepts, and I was learning that no real clarity was possible. After months of struggling, I finally found a way to balance each chapter with what I hope is the right mix of "here's the reality we know" and "here's the mystery we're left with."

What’s your advice to new writers?

If something tickles you, makes you wonder or creates a passion within you, then follow it, write about it, because it will strike a chord with other people, too. And don't write a book until you have something to say.

David Blatner is the author of 15 books that have been translated into 16 languages, including "The Joy of Pi," "The Flying Book," "Judaism for Dummies," "Real World Photoshop," and "Spectrums" (www.spectrums.com). He lives outside Seattle with his wife and two boys.