Interview John Paulits

by

David Toft

1) When did you start writing, and why?

I remember writing stories as a kid, but in this adult go round, I’ve been writing for over thirty years. I’ve always been a reader and always wanted to write. Eventually, writing became a necessity. The great fun of sitting down at the computer and working on a story always adds something nice to my day.

2) You’ve been successful with both short stories and novels. Which do you prefer to write?

Early on I stuck to short stories, but now I prefer working on novels. Novels are something you can live with for six plus months at a time. They become a valued companion you miss when you send them out into the world.

3) Planner or pantser, which are you?

A planner. I can’t conceive of being lucky enough to come up with the best way forward at the drop of a keyboard key. I at least have a general idea of what’s going to happen in that day’s episode before I sit down and have a go at it.

4) Do you pluck your characters from real life, or out of your head?

Both, but anything taken from actual memory is merely a starting point and gets dusted with a heavy sprinkling of imagination.

5)What attracts you to writing for young adults?

I taught elementary school for over thirty years and read aloud daily to the kids. It was the best part of my day. At a high point of the story their little eyes would widen, they’d stare eagerly, waiting for what came next. When that happened, I told the kids they got “The Look.” I try to induce that in them when I write. Plus, I can dip deeper into fantasy and twist reality to a greater degree in children fiction, and that’s always fun.

6) Is there a particular time of day when you feel yourself to be at your most creative?

I find I need to write on a schedule and writing falls in right after the morning newspaper. If I’m re-reading, editing, or correcting a story, I can go back to it at any time in a given day, but when I’m writing something new, I’m only good for an hour or two in the morning.

7) If you had just one piece of advice to give to aspiring novelists, what would it be?

Expect rejection and ignore rejection. If you get good advice about your writing or any bad writing habits you’ve acquired, don’t be stubborn. Take the advice. Re-read what you’ve written until you’re limp and ragged. And keep writing. You never know!

8)What effect/influence would you like your books to have on your readers?

I’d like them to keep turning the pages. Laugh at the humor; ponder the serious.

9) What work do you have in the pipeline after The Director?

At things fall out, I have three books coming out this summer; another children’s novel and an adult science fiction collection of three adventures of Lanyon, a 23^rd century gun-for hire. I don’t actually write that quickly, but three publishers have appointed this summer as the time for the books to appear. Details can be found on my website: www.johnpaulits.com