James King keeps positive.
Last week we celebrated the release of James King's debut novel, BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE, which PEOPLE MAGAZINE is selecting as a Great Read for its August 23, 2010 issue. This week Jim joins us for a conversation about his writing journey and dream come true.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? DID YOU EVER DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD BE ONE?
I remember quite clearly the day I announced to my mother that I was going to be writer. I had seen an announcement in a magazine for a writing contest. The contest was sponsored by Highlights for Children magazine. I was six years old.
From that moment on, I never doubted that I wanted to be a writer. There were plenty of times I doubted that I would actually be one.
BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE IS YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL. COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION?
This is actually the fourth complete novel I've written. The first one I wrote soon after college. I did the whole starving artist routine: studio apartment, waited tables, blah blah blah. That didn't go anywhere. I wrote the second novel a few years later. Strike Two. With my third novel, though, I thought that my dream was finally going to come true. I was in my 40s by now, and an agent claimed to love the book and offered representation. After a nearly complete revision of the novel, she ended up passing on the project.
I have to say that I've run the gamut, writing-wise, thanks to agents. One said one of the books would make a great Young Adult novel and he'd consider taking it on, so I rewrote it accordingly. No sale. Another potential agent with one of the other books said it would make a great movie, so I rewrote it as a screenplay. Needless to say, I never heard from Francis Ford Coppola.
When I turned 53, I wanted to give the whole idea of writing a novel one more try. But I wanted more feedback as I went along. So I enrolled in a Masters of Writing program at Manhattanville College. I wrote the bulk of BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE while I was earning that graduate degree. I finished the novel the year after I graduated, and was fortunate enough to have an editor at Viking read it, like it, and want to buy it. Which they did. So ... I'm a debut novelist at the age of 55. It only took me about 30 years or so to get there.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? DID YOU EVER DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD BE ONE?
I remember quite clearly the day I announced to my mother that I was going to be writer. I had seen an announcement in a magazine for a writing contest. The contest was sponsored by Highlights for Children magazine. I was six years old.
From that moment on, I never doubted that I wanted to be a writer. There were plenty of times I doubted that I would actually be one.
BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE IS YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL. COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION?
This is actually the fourth complete novel I've written. The first one I wrote soon after college. I did the whole starving artist routine: studio apartment, waited tables, blah blah blah. That didn't go anywhere. I wrote the second novel a few years later. Strike Two. With my third novel, though, I thought that my dream was finally going to come true. I was in my 40s by now, and an agent claimed to love the book and offered representation. After a nearly complete revision of the novel, she ended up passing on the project.
I have to say that I've run the gamut, writing-wise, thanks to agents. One said one of the books would make a great Young Adult novel and he'd consider taking it on, so I rewrote it accordingly. No sale. Another potential agent with one of the other books said it would make a great movie, so I rewrote it as a screenplay. Needless to say, I never heard from Francis Ford Coppola.
When I turned 53, I wanted to give the whole idea of writing a novel one more try. But I wanted more feedback as I went along. So I enrolled in a Masters of Writing program at Manhattanville College. I wrote the bulk of BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE while I was earning that graduate degree. I finished the novel the year after I graduated, and was fortunate enough to have an editor at Viking read it, like it, and want to buy it. Which they did. So ... I'm a debut novelist at the age of 55. It only took me about 30 years or so to get there.
James King's debut novel arrives at the bookstores.
DID YOU START THE NOVEL KNOWING HOW IT WOULD END?
No, I didn't. I've heard of writers who outline every last detail, right down to the final sentence. But I make too many changes during the course of the writing to be able to know or even accurately predict how the story will end. The characters tend to take over. In a very real way, the characters and the writing process itself decide where things end up, and when enough is enough. If I try to lock them into a predetermined fate ... well, it just doesn't work. Not for me, anyway.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR WRITING JOURNEY? WHAT HELPS YOU MEET AND OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE?
Probably the same challenge all writers must deal with: Rejection. And I don't know any other way to overcome that challenge except through dogged determination. Keep writing, keep sending out your work. Keep thinking positive.
A new challenge we face these days is the Internet. In many ways, the Internet has been an incredible gift to writers. But it is also a huge distraction. I used to be extremely disciplined about my schedule, getting up early to get my fiction writing in before I had to turn my attention over to my freelance business writing. Now, it's way too easy to sit down and think, "Before I get started on the fiction, let me check my email, or take a quick look to see if anyone has posted anything interesting on Facebook." In no time at all, I've lost a half-hour ... or more ... of undistracted writing time.
I read somewhere recently of an author who had the computer he uses to write his novels "spayed"; in other words, he had a techie remove his wireless card and ethernet capability so that there was no way he could access the Internet while working on that computer. Good strategy.
No, I didn't. I've heard of writers who outline every last detail, right down to the final sentence. But I make too many changes during the course of the writing to be able to know or even accurately predict how the story will end. The characters tend to take over. In a very real way, the characters and the writing process itself decide where things end up, and when enough is enough. If I try to lock them into a predetermined fate ... well, it just doesn't work. Not for me, anyway.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR WRITING JOURNEY? WHAT HELPS YOU MEET AND OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE?
Probably the same challenge all writers must deal with: Rejection. And I don't know any other way to overcome that challenge except through dogged determination. Keep writing, keep sending out your work. Keep thinking positive.
A new challenge we face these days is the Internet. In many ways, the Internet has been an incredible gift to writers. But it is also a huge distraction. I used to be extremely disciplined about my schedule, getting up early to get my fiction writing in before I had to turn my attention over to my freelance business writing. Now, it's way too easy to sit down and think, "Before I get started on the fiction, let me check my email, or take a quick look to see if anyone has posted anything interesting on Facebook." In no time at all, I've lost a half-hour ... or more ... of undistracted writing time.
I read somewhere recently of an author who had the computer he uses to write his novels "spayed"; in other words, he had a techie remove his wireless card and ethernet capability so that there was no way he could access the Internet while working on that computer. Good strategy.
BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE on the shelf.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT WRITING, WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVORITE THING TO DO?
I love to read. If the Yankees are playing, I'll watch them. If the weather's nice, I'll play and lose a couple of sets of tennis. I also love to wander the aisles of bookstores. I can do that for hours.
WHAT'S ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Sadly, I can't think of anything. This leads me to believe I talk about myself too much.
HOW WOULD YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU?
Stubborn. Not a bad trait, in my opinion, for a writer.
I love to read. If the Yankees are playing, I'll watch them. If the weather's nice, I'll play and lose a couple of sets of tennis. I also love to wander the aisles of bookstores. I can do that for hours.
WHAT'S ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Sadly, I can't think of anything. This leads me to believe I talk about myself too much.
HOW WOULD YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU?
Stubborn. Not a bad trait, in my opinion, for a writer.
THIS WEEK'S TREASURE
* Continuing and celebrating James King's writing journey at THURSDAY TREASURES. Reading BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE and enjoying a wonderful story. Sharing our thoughts on Jim's debut novel here at four days a week. Being part of a community inspiring, encouraging, and believing in our dreams.*
* Continuing and celebrating James King's writing journey at THURSDAY TREASURES. Reading BILL WARRINGTON'S LAST CHANCE and enjoying a wonderful story. Sharing our thoughts on Jim's debut novel here at four days a week. Being part of a community inspiring, encouraging, and believing in our dreams.*
