I started my writing journey to tell the stories that were cluttering my head. Stories float and flit through my mind as numerous as fireflies on a summer’s night. But I shared Tony’s concern. Would there come a time when I ran short of ideas? Where would I get new ideas? How could I continue writing if the well ran dry?

Despite my fear, I write stories, flash fiction stories, short stories, and novels. I started with ideas for two novels and now have ideas in various stages of development for four novels. Writing stories is like cutting the head off a Hydra. Each story I write creates more story ideas, and my idea list grows exponentially longer.

Does your writing inspire more stories?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I enjoy writing flash fiction and short stories. Attempting to write a story with a beginning a middle and an end in 100 words, is a real challenge. Every word must pull its weight, helping to develop the setting, mood, plot, character arc and everything else that makes a story successful. Concise, compact writing is the order of the day.

Like William, I use my daily flash fiction to try new things, explore the art of storytelling, test genres and have fun. I take the germ of the idea, write freely, then edit, edit, edit. I spend more time editing than I do writing the piece. Once my warm-up flash fiction is complete, I can start the days writing goals.

How do you structure your writing day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I have learned I am not a morning person.  Early morning quiet, the new day’s stirrings, the first bird calls, the gradual coloration of the night’s black sky is my favorite time of day. I don’t attempt to string conscience thoughts into meaningful prose. It is too tortuous. Ideally, those early hours are better left to strong coffee and morning chores. It is also time for my morning characters meetings which is often a melee of conversational snippets, random impressions, and implausible situations.

With morning chores done, I have a primed pump, and I can spend several hours writing, transcribing the morning’s words and ideas. I take a break, waiting for my second wind, sometime around 9 or 10 pm., and I work until midnight.

When is your best writing time?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Leave it to the chattering voices droning in my head. They destroyed a wonderful plan, a plan filled with rest, relaxation and fun. No writing, no lists, no alarm clocks, no worries. Morning coffee, a deep breath, the voices saw an opening and jumped.

“Hello?” they said. “You’ve had your coffee?  Awake? Feeling rested?  You’re always saying you’re busy, you don’t have time. We see you’re not busy right now. Is it a good time? Nothing major. A few words perhaps?”

Can you say “Guilt” with a capital “G”? Well played voices. How can I say no? Yeah, okay, a few words. They are a sneaky bunch, you must watch them, anticipate their subterfuge. A few words, then a few words more, became filled pages. Devious, they are. They artfully derailed my plans, advanced their agendas, and made sure I had a fun day.

Do your voices interrupt your plans?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Lately, life has been a flurry of activity, appointments, deadlines, and demands. I rush from task to task, hurrying to complete each item by its appointed deadline. I pivot, twist, change directions and comply with new requests, additional information, and tactical adjustments.  Even my writing time has become one item to cross from my list, morphing and threatening to become more work than fun.

This is not acceptable. Time for a reset. Today I will take a break, breathe, and clear my schedule. No writing, no lists, no alarm clocks, no worries. A morning coffee, open space, a change of venue, and an opportunity to let my mind run wild. Today, it is dedicated to fun.

How do you remember why you started writing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer