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Hey, Mr. Coville!
I love all of your books (the ones iv'e read anyway) and I was wondering where you get your inspiration from. Do you have a carefully thought-out plan when you write something, or is your writing spontaneous (do you make it up as you go along)?
I love all of your books (the ones iv'e read anyway) and I was wondering where you get your inspiration from. Do you have a carefully thought-out plan when you write something, or is your writing spontaneous (do you make it up as you go along)?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Peyton -
Thanks for this message. As to inspiration . . . well, honestly, that is overrated. If I only wrote when I was "inspired" I would have published maybe 3 things overall. Mostly you have to work with your imagination, and be alert and alive to the world around you.
The question about being spontaneous is interesting. I have written tight outlines, and mostly stuck with them. I have also written tight outlines and then totally thrown them away when I realized they weren't working and gone on by the seat of my pants.
I think the most important thing to know about writing is this: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!
All best
BC
Thanks for this message. As to inspiration . . . well, honestly, that is overrated. If I only wrote when I was "inspired" I would have published maybe 3 things overall. Mostly you have to work with your imagination, and be alert and alive to the world around you.
The question about being spontaneous is interesting. I have written tight outlines, and mostly stuck with them. I have also written tight outlines and then totally thrown them away when I realized they weren't working and gone on by the seat of my pants.
I think the most important thing to know about writing is this: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!
All best
BC