Greg Hamerton | fantasy author

A question and answer session on what it’s like to write a fantasy novel (written when the first tale in the Lifesong fantasy series was released).

Q : How long did it take you to write The Riddler’s Gift?

A : Two years, full time. I find it impossible to write something with this scope in a ‘few stolen hours a day’. So I didn’t work on anything else for two years. It gets easier when you’re isolated. On a normal writing day I’m in my writing room by 8am and I don’t come out until 5pm, sometimes later. There’s no telephone in there, no internet connection. Just the white page, and the blinking cursor. If I don’t write, I know I’m in for a boring day.

Q : Does this ‘isolation style’ of writing put a strain on relationships?

A : Well, yes it does, at times I want to do nothing else than write. It’s a selfish occupation for most of the time. But my wife is my biggest fan, and she supports my writing immensely, so she’s happy to leave me alone in my eyrie. She does plead with me to read early drafts of the work in progress, but I don’t let anyone read those. It’s like showing someone a painting while you’re still mixing the colours on the canvas – it’s always going to be a poor reflection of what you’re aiming for.

Q : Where do you get your inspiration from?

A : Visions. For me it’s a process of being receptive. I meditate every morning at the beginning of my writing session, I try to dissolve my ego, to disappear as a conscious entity. It sounds kinda weird but it’s really just closing your eyes and letting go. Then I shift my awareness towards Eyri, and see where I pop up. I write what I see, no matter how ridiculous it seems.  I just try and be a witness, without judging.  Some days I’m on fire. Some days I just see the blinking cursor, and hear the rain on the roof. That’s why I’ve got to be there every day. I still don’t know when the inspiration will hit me, I can’t invoke it beyond just being in a place where I can use it when it comes.

Read the rest of this entry »