I loved ghost stories, creaky staircases, stormy nights. If it guaranteed nightmares I read it by flashlight, after midnight.
I identified in a very deep way with the individuals I was writing about because the theme that runs through this story is of extraordinary hardship and the will to overcome it.
I've been writing stories since I was 12. 'Writer's Digest' was one of my writing teachers, actually.
You have to go where the story is to report on it. As a journalist, you're essentially running to things that other people are running away from.
I read as many scripts as I can and just find stuff that I think is interesting, find stories that I think are worth telling.
In choosing any role, I ask the same questions: what kind of part is it? is the role challenging? does the director have a vision? is the story moving? etc.
why do I sleep? Because I dream, and that is where I hear the best stories and find the hidden destinations of life.
You can watch someone on-stage cry and cry - but in the audience you feel nothing. It's easy to become indulgent. For me, what's important is the story first.
Sometimes string figures were used to illustrate stories, as in the case of an Eskimo example that depicts a man catching a salmon. Sometimes they had magic or religious significance.
All writers are different, each have their own artist way they go about telling a story. The only thing they have in common, is they write.
Members of the Academy are mostly urban people. We are an urban nation. We are not a rural nation. It's not easy even to get a rural story made.
When you are working on a script, the story itself is not difficult. You say this would happen and then this, resulting perhaps in this. And the dialogue you make as true as you can.
And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.
You can read a dozen different textbooks or how-to manuals that will tell you the basic rules of what makes a story - a beginning, a middle, and an end.
I really like supernatural stories, but, to me, 'Witches of East End' is really grounded. It's not just going for the magic tricks and keeping it superficial and action-y.
I feel like it's hard to get into historical novels where you know what the story is far too well.
Just pick a political story at random and read the comments. There is no logic or reason on either side - only hypocrisy and hate.
Expand your world. (Stories about wizards and spells) are very frequently about power relationships...
I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turn into confident ducks.
If you're going on a plane journey, you're more likely to take one of my stories than 'Finnegan's Wake.'
Remember, if you don't feel passionate about the characters and subject of your story, your readers won't either.
