J.D. Mason: You never find time. You have to make it. There is no other way.
I usually set a goal for myself, a writing goal. For instance, I might decide
that I want to write a chapter a day, which, for me, is about 1300-1400 words.
And I’ll make time to meet that goal. If I miss that goal, then I make it up
the next day and write two chapters. It’s about discipline and giving yourself
permission to let some things go. You can’t ignore the kids, but the house
work can wait sometimes or getting up an hour earlier or going to bed an
hour later.
LaCeasha Banks Turner: What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
J.D. Mason Again, discipline is everything. Set a time or a writing goal
and stick to it. Make time to write even when you don’t feel that you have
anything to write. I write something, even if it’s an idea of a story that I might
never finish, just to keep my creative muscle flexed. If you don’t write, daily,
you’ll never finish a story, a book, a blog. Just write. Those are the two most
important words of advice you will ever receive.
Christine Pauls: I was going to say I hadn’t read any of your work, but
remembered I read your story in The Funeral anthology, The Downbound
Train. Looking forward to reading this book that’s being discussed.
J.D. Mason: I loved that story. It was fun to write.
Shannan Harper: There are several mentions of Voodoo in the story. Was
that something you had to research, or something you were familiar with?
J.D. Mason: Actually, there aren’t a ton of voodoo references in the book. I
researched the parts about tossing and reading the bones, and black gypsies
mentioned about Marlowe’s aunt Shou Shou. The other supernatural elements
like Marlowe’s dreams and her intense fear are not Voodoo at all, but these
things were along the lines of instinct, warning her that he’s dangerous and
psychic, maybe even spiritual phenomenon. I made up those aspects of the
story. Marlowe is actually pretty religious, but she incorporates other things
into her spirituality that some might find confusing. For her, it’s normal.