Interview with Jonathan Shaw on WHOHUB

What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

The first things I read were "BANANA BOOKS," things like, Yummy Yuck and Freckle Juice, from school. But my main interest were just the pictures. The first few things I wrote when I was five years old, were adventure stories; buried tresure, police, rescue. And it was mainly my teachers and parents who read them. I didnt get much attention from it. It wasnt till is was fourteen that I was inspired to write when South Park fan fiction came along.

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

Yes. this is my website: www.thelonelywalk.com

And here you can find an extract: http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/book_excerpt.asp?bookid= (...)

And here are my blogs: http://ww2.yuwie.com/profile/?id=809056

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll& (...)

http://jif-thelonelywalk.blogspot.com/

And here are some video's I made for the book: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=08Wkdgp1arw

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

I often think or walk around with ideas in my head for days at a time, composing dialogue and actions, like a caseete tape in my head. Then I write it when I can; sometimes it just spills out faster than I can handle. I take alot of ideas from books and television; and I get very frustrated when a central charcter does something really stupid, like holding back information which is known to be crititcal, or overlooking a problem, or gettting into a situation which is clearly dangerous or a trap with no visible positive outcomes. I want to see characters who know when it is right not to do anything. People who are intelegent and not stupily-heroic. And I don't want to do the same old plots in the same old way; I like to make as many twists as I can withoiut getting repetetive. And I don't like too much tension! So, after watching a TV show, I think of ways as to how to make it better. I write somehting that I will enjoy first, and hope the next person will be into. And I try at things that I havent encountered before.

What type of reading inspires you to write?

Its was Lee Child's first book KILLING FLOOR that got me started on writing as a carear. I enjoy the detective, action adventure thrillings mainly, but I need abit of romance too. My favourite authors are ANDY MCNAB, LINDA FAIRSTIEN, LYNNE HEITMANN, PETER JAMES, JOHN GILSTRAP and PACTRICIA CORNWALL. On a subnote, my father is into IAN RANKIN.

What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?

The first things to sort are characters. Then, a plot. Then locations. But it doesnt address the real problem; how to begin and end the story. I try writing a begining, then decide later if it needs changing. Then I decide an ending. Then I do what I can in between, to fill the middle and complete the plot.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

I do prefere first person, because in third person quite often the suprise is given away. In first person, you feel you are in the book, feeling what the character feels. Although for my first book,THE LONELY WALK, I thought it best to use thrid person naration; I intend to make a series out of the characters.

What well known writers do you admire most?

LEE CHILD, PATRICIA CORNWALL, LINDA FAIRSTIEN, LYNNE HIETMANN, ANDY MCNAB, PETER JAMES, VAL MCDERMAD, JOHN GILSTRAP, FREDRICK FORSYTHE, ROYLD DAHL.

What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?

I look for examples in modern day characters, like politisions, actors and singers. Infact, Jif Kitchen was losly based on John Prescott and Sir Les Patterson. I often "borrow" lines that celebrities use, or employ referances to current affairs. Or I use my friends and family as a template for a character.

Are you equally good at telling stories orally?

Not as good as I used to be. But I can still keep and audeicne captivated.

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

I write for myself. Then I hope upon hope that someone else will enjoy it.

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

It is a reliefe at times. I can be as insulting as I like on paper. I have to be so polite where ever I go, I just wanto to scream at times.

Does reader feed-back help you?

Yes, it would. But I havent had much.

Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?

No, not yet.

Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

Only my author representative.

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

I do believe I have found my voice.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

I don't. Other than creating a good story. Unless time is of the essence, then I set time limits for each chapter.

What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?

I surround myself with novels with useful lines, similar locations or excelent scenes to give ideas in the story. I also use reference manuals and pictures to picture the scene.

Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?

I write on computer, but when unavailable I use paper and type it in later. I try not to print too much anymore. I correct with the PC.

What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?

Yuwie and LinkedIn.

What has been your experience with publishers?

I havent had much, but not too well. The publishers I did contact did not reply. Only XLIBRIS started contacting me after i downloaded thier broucher. So far they have been really good.

What are you working on now?

A teenage story, a childrens story, and a series of prequals to THE LONELY WALK.

What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?

Take them out again, look over them, do some corrections, and if need be, blend some of them together. Ask for a mate to look at it, or if your confident enough, send it straight to a publisher.