You know, as a writer, I'm more of a listener than a writer, cuz if I hear something I will write it down.
I'm a fairly fast, but sloppy writer, so I'm a big fan of re-writing, and re-writing again.
I've always preferred writing in longhand. I've always written first drafts in longhand.
I only write in blue ink.
One of the best descriptions of the type of writer I am was given by Tom Paulin, who described himself as a 'binge' writer - like a binge drinker. I go on binges.
It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the keys. I'm doing action stories, so that's the way I like to do it.
I always have music on unless I'm reading aloud, which I always do before I hand anything in. It's the only way to know if a sentence really works, without clunks or cul-de-sac clauses.
I am never without my lyric book. If anything inspirational happens, I have it there so nothing's forgotten.
I know I have a problem with semi-colon abuse and have written page-long sentences. Nobody needs to be reading page-long sentences, at least not written by me.
I do not write by any set time schedule. I realize there are many writers who follow a daily regime where they arise at 6:00 a.m., do some sort of exercise, eat breakfast and then sit down and produce words for a three to four hour period.
I write - and then I write some more.
I write on a very strict 2-hour-a-day schedule, and I really respond to structure and invented rules. So even if I'm finding out good information on a character, I will stop when I'm set to stop.
I'm one of those writers that have always worked on multiple things.
A novelist is someone who sits around the house all day in his underwear, trying not to smoke.
I write everything in Courier 12 because I write for publication, not pleasure.
I write, I write, I always write.
I write very slowly.
I don't really revise. I tend to rewrite.
I'd rather see a writer write 15 minutes a day than save it all up for a Saturday. A work gets a coating on it when it's not been worked on for a while, makes it hard to break back in.
