Freud, Faulkner and Leonard Cohen. When I started writing I was trying to re-create their style – their use of language and subject matter …
William Bishop – 21 September 2019
About the book
What is the book about?
The book is about the creative process in general – how works of art and literature are expressions of an artistic process, which is in turn a way of coming to terms with individuality.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing the book about four years ago.
How long did it take you to write it?
I wrote for about a year and then stopped working on that particular piece of writing to focus on other less creative pursuits, and then came back to the book last year, so two years.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea came from reading a few authors who write in different disciplines, English literature, psychology and 17th century alchemy but who were all focusing on the same ideas and I wanted to bring that out in the one text.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Writing comes quite easily to me so I didn’t find any part of the book more difficult to write than any other.
What came easily?
The initial idea came to me quite easily.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The book isn’t a work of fiction so there aren’t really any characters as such.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Freud, Faulkner and Leonard Cohen. When I started writing I was trying to re-create their style – their use of language and subject matter but later I realized it’s enough to write with an author in mind rather than like another author.
Do you have a target reader?
The readership I had in mind was quite broad, anyone interested in the Renaissance, philosophy or psychology.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I don’t have any particular writing process, I’ll write when I feel like writing.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I don’t outline, the book as a whole came as one idea.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I wait until I have finished writing, otherwise the train of thought is interrupted.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I do the editing myself.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I don’t because I find it easier to concentrate without.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I looked at the different options for publication and gradually realized that it would be easier for me to self-publish.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did the cover myself.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I plan to market the book on the internet, and on radio.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Don’t be discouraged by anything anyone else tells you.
End of Interview:
Get your copy from Waterstones.
