Author Q&A with AJ Creamer

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1. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?

Write it. Believe in yourself and make it happen. Even if the quality isn’t what you’d want or you have to use discovery writing for parts of it, get your ideas written on paper.

For my first published title I ended up cutting 1/4 off the ending (15-17000 words) and completely rejuvenated an ending which was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

In short, do it now, fix it up later if needed.

2. How do you fit writing into your everyday life?

I love writing so that’s an easy one. I look forward to writing. Usually I write of a night when my children are in bed. I work multiple titles at once so I can write to however I feel.

My titles are by definition cross genre so I can write between different fields from dystopian to political thriller to mystery to werewolves.

3. How do you approach ‘world building’?

I filter it in through observation and conversations. Example: ‘A nightmare felt in a nightmare lived,’ cool wind gushed through tall trees … and so on. I tend to use the world as we know it and play off what we already accept rather then build worlds such as fantasy authors do. My aim is always to show the feel of the situation rather then tell.

4. How do you handle criticism?

At first, badly. Now, it’s fine. Every author deals with criticism and everyone is right. Writing is art. Art is subjective. Someone may not like or appreciate your work and it’s not right or wrong, it’s an opinion. I believe in myself and I believe in my art. I love my writing so other people’s opinions are fine.

5. Tell me about your current work?

I am working three titles right now. A Decent Life 3 is a dystopian fiction following the path of a pair of vigilantes. I have written a blog explaining this series but it follows the theme of corruption, chaos and order.

I have a werewolf title following the theme of addiction and a political thriller following a man who becomes a cult leader of sorts. All in all I have 12 titles, all follow themes rather then genre which by definition makes my art cross genre.

6. Would you want your book made into a film?

Yes, that will be one of the best days in my life.

Author Q&A with AJ Creamer

Author Q&A with AJ Creamer

1. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?