This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Jonathan Tropper is an American writer and a professor of English at Manhattanville College in New York state. Our review of his new book, One Last Thing Before I Go, can be found here. Jonathan has answered some questions for our readers below.
Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?
I really don’t have an average day. Because I work on books, screenplays, and television, every day is different, which was my goal when I set out to diversify beyond exclusively writing novels. But I generally try to spend the first half of the day, from 8:30 or so until 1:00 pm, working on a novel. Then I spend the afternoon on the various screenwriting projects.
When you are writing, do you use any famous people or people you know as inspiration?
Not really, no. I actually feel more in my element there than at any other time, so there’s no need to channel anyone else really.
What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?
I don’t really like classifying books in that manner. I think it does a disservice to the writer and the reader alike.
What is your writing process? Do you plan first of dive in? How many drafts do you do?
I tend to dive in, just to get the feel of the characters, the voice, etc. Once I’m fifty or sixty pages in, I tend to stop and assess. I see what’s working, what isn’t, and then I start to write a very fluid outline that tends to change on a weekly basis.
What was your journey to being a published author?
I studied writing at NYU’s MFA program. I wrote a novel that nobody wanted to represent. I regrouped and wrote another one. I queried about forty agents, two of whom expressed interest in representing me. The one I chose managed to secure me a very small deal at a very large publisher. All in all, it took quite a while. My first book was published when I was thirty years old. But I also wasted a lot of time not believing I could get published. It took a while for my ambition to grow some legs.
What advice can you give to our readers who want to write a novel of their own?
I give two pieces of advice to aspiring writers. 1. Never stop reading. 2. All things being equal, the difference between those who are published and those who are not is perseverance. Period.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently writing and planning the second season of my television show, Banshee, which is nothing like my novels. I’m also finishing up an adaptation of One Last Thing Before I Go for Paramount Pictures, and I’m just beginning to play with the idea for my next novel.
Thanks Jonathan!