Ask the Author: Jessica Titone
Answered Questions (11)
Jessica Titone
The hardest part of writing for me is maintaining focus. I have a natural inclination to not sit still. Add to that any number of distractions, and you have a mess. Focus seems to be an especially hard thing to achieve when editing. All the words - even simple ones - fly away and hang in the periphery, taunting me just far enough out of reach.
The easiest part is dialogue. It's always the piece that comes first when I'm writing a scene. The same goes for any internal monologues or thoughts in the character's head. A major element in Stolen came about because I was enamored with the video game Hellblade. The protagonist hears voices, and I thought it would be interesting to create a character that constantly dialogues with herself.
The easiest part is dialogue. It's always the piece that comes first when I'm writing a scene. The same goes for any internal monologues or thoughts in the character's head. A major element in Stolen came about because I was enamored with the video game Hellblade. The protagonist hears voices, and I thought it would be interesting to create a character that constantly dialogues with herself.
Jessica Titone
I was a shy kid who filled her time with elaborate solo pretend-play and reading books. Our local library was small. It wasn't long before I devoured all of the books appropriate for my age. I kept finding that the stories that I wanted to hear either didn't exist or were beyond my reach. (Keep in mind that these were the days before the internet.) So, I decided to invent my own. I wrote them longhand in the remainders of old school notebooks, by flashlight, when I was supposed to be sleeping. Things sort of just evolved from there.
Jessica Titone
When I read answers to this sort of question, I often feel that people name their most favorite of favorites as their one "thing." I'm too much of a realist for that. Being banished to some remote island is a pretty terrible punishment. Sand, heat, and loneliness - what could be worse? My choices would need to be things to make the experience bearable.
Books: I'd choose Diana Galbadon. She may not be the best writer in the entire world, but she's a fantastic storyteller and easy to read. Her book "universe" is enormous - eight novels that are 700+ pages, companion pieces, the John Grey spinoff. Hours of entertainment.
Food: Lasagna. It's a perfect food. Immensely satisfying, filling, contains multiple food groups. It's fattening, yes. But I'll burn off the extra calories by climbing trees and running from dangerous wild animals.
Music: Sleeping At Last. Honestly, I struggled to pick just one. Sleeping At Last goes the distance by having an expansive collection of songs (even covers), piano-centric melodies, and lyrics that never fail to speak to my heart.
Books: I'd choose Diana Galbadon. She may not be the best writer in the entire world, but she's a fantastic storyteller and easy to read. Her book "universe" is enormous - eight novels that are 700+ pages, companion pieces, the John Grey spinoff. Hours of entertainment.
Food: Lasagna. It's a perfect food. Immensely satisfying, filling, contains multiple food groups. It's fattening, yes. But I'll burn off the extra calories by climbing trees and running from dangerous wild animals.
Music: Sleeping At Last. Honestly, I struggled to pick just one. Sleeping At Last goes the distance by having an expansive collection of songs (even covers), piano-centric melodies, and lyrics that never fail to speak to my heart.
Jessica Titone
Book two will contain the same cast of characters and will take place ten years after the first book ends. There have been many developments within the ten years, which should make things interesting for the four of them. The big books take a while to write. I'm releasing a shorter pet project novel within the next few months and then will focus on book 2. (I'll definitely be needing readers/reviewers and will keep you in mind. Thanks for offering!)
Jessica Titone
Nice try, Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.
Jessica Titone
Life. Is there any better place to get ideas?
Watermarked, though a work of fiction, is mainly just things from my life or the life of people I know that I've twisted and given a more dramatic flair. To me, it reads like a diary. The amount of personal experience and inner thoughts woven into the novel has made me genuinely afraid to let my friends and family read it. It's my greatest secret. My parents have no idea I've written a book because I'm afraid they'll see through the guise of fiction and be disappointed in me.
Watermarked, though a work of fiction, is mainly just things from my life or the life of people I know that I've twisted and given a more dramatic flair. To me, it reads like a diary. The amount of personal experience and inner thoughts woven into the novel has made me genuinely afraid to let my friends and family read it. It's my greatest secret. My parents have no idea I've written a book because I'm afraid they'll see through the guise of fiction and be disappointed in me.
Jessica Titone
I find that reading is pretty inspiring. When you're alone with the computer, toiling away at your most recent work-in-progress, you tend to forget that input is as important as output. I'm at my best when I'm going through books like water, devouring the ideas within, and adapting them to fit my own narrative.
If you don't have the budget to be in a constant state of reading, don't forget that the public library exists and all contents within are free. Most have implemented a system of ebook borrowing accessed online or through your phone. This is a fantastic system for those of us introverts who can't be bothered to leave the house.
If you don't have the budget to be in a constant state of reading, don't forget that the public library exists and all contents within are free. Most have implemented a system of ebook borrowing accessed online or through your phone. This is a fantastic system for those of us introverts who can't be bothered to leave the house.
Jessica Titone
I'm currently working on a sequel to my first book, Watermarked that takes place ten years later. As with anything I write, progress is slow. Watermarked has a particularly hefty page count. I'm trying rein in the length of the sequel. Unfortunately, it seems my affinity for writing epics has cannot be diminished.
Jessica Titone
The idea of someone being God-ordained as a writer is a myth. There are those who are more naturally inclined toward it than others, but in general, your writing ability is a muscle. If you use it, it will get stronger through practice. If you don't, despite whatever talent God may have blessed you with, that muscle will atrophy. Therefore, always be writing something. Set a goal, or a quota, and write that many words every single day.
Write when the words come. Write when they don't and you have to force each one out singly. Write when you have time. Write in time that you steal from other things. Write even when you know what you're writing is awful and will need to be completely re-written later. Just get through it. It will get easier, and it will get better.
Write when the words come. Write when they don't and you have to force each one out singly. Write when you have time. Write in time that you steal from other things. Write even when you know what you're writing is awful and will need to be completely re-written later. Just get through it. It will get easier, and it will get better.
Jessica Titone
The best thing about being a writer is having written a book. It's loads more fun than writing the book, which can feel a lot like wading through mud.
Aside from that, the best part about being a writer is getting to talk to other writers or anyone interested in your book about the characters, places, events, etc that you've entirely invented in your head. It's like sharing a particularly delicious secret. I find these discussions give me new insight on what I'm writing and help to conjure scenes I would have never thought of on my own.
Aside from that, the best part about being a writer is getting to talk to other writers or anyone interested in your book about the characters, places, events, etc that you've entirely invented in your head. It's like sharing a particularly delicious secret. I find these discussions give me new insight on what I'm writing and help to conjure scenes I would have never thought of on my own.
Jessica Titone
I usually deal with writer's block in a three part process:
1. Slamming the laptop lid shut.
2. Angrily uttering, "I'm done. This was a stupid idea. What was I thinking?"
3. Storming away from my desk.
Executing this process effectively usually ensures that the next time I'm in a situation where I physically cannot write anything down (driving a car, for instance), the ideas will start to flow.
1. Slamming the laptop lid shut.
2. Angrily uttering, "I'm done. This was a stupid idea. What was I thinking?"
3. Storming away from my desk.
Executing this process effectively usually ensures that the next time I'm in a situation where I physically cannot write anything down (driving a car, for instance), the ideas will start to flow.
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