Author Interview With C. Lloyd Brill
So, what exactly do you write? I write science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. The short stories I write are usually preludes to full length novels.
How would you describe yourself in a short third person bio? Clint is an introverted, creative person with a big heart. He enjoys helping others whenever possible and rarely expects anything in return. He enjoys reading and writing as much as possible and is an avid cat lover.
What made you initially want to write? Has your motivation changed since then? I’ve been an introvert most of my life. It was, and still is, hard for me to make friends. Writing was, and still is, an escape for me. I’ve always had a good imagination and used that to create worlds and friends I felt comfortable with.
What do you think is the most important part of writing? Getting the first draft down. Too many people never finish a story because they continuously edit or rewrite previous chapters and scenes. When you sit down to write, you have to focus on getting the story out of your head and onto paper. Don’t worry about how well written it is. Once the first draft is completed you’ll have time to go through it again and fix anything that needs attention.
What is your favourite part of writing? Having the characters come to life and take on a personality of their own. It’s always a thrill when the characters begin to do unexpected things that make the story a better experience for everyone.
Tell us an interesting fact about you. One thing that a lot of people find interesting is the fact that I currently live with TEN cats and I love each and every one of them like they’re my children.
Do you have a day-job, (other than writing)? No. I’m what would be considered a “house-husband”. I stay at home, writing and taking care of the house while my fiancee works.
Do you prefer a physical book or an ebook? Why? I prefer physical books and always will. There’s nothing like the feel of holding a book in your hands and turning the pages. Besides, with a physical book it’s much easier to flip back to a previous page to re-read a passage when you get confused about something, especially if that passage is several chapters back.
Tell us about your novel, Pure Control. Pure Control started as a basic idea I had while working several years ago. I jotted down a few ideas on a scrap piece of paper and set it aside. In November of 2013 I decided to try NaNoWriMo and used the idea for Pure Control for the novel. It’s listed as science-fiction but it’s really more about how a group of people deal with an unusual situation.
So, how long does it take you, on average, to complete a first draft? It usually takes me 2 or 3 months to get a first draft written. I could probably get first drafts done sooner if I spent more time writing but there are days when I don’t feel like writing at all.
Which projects are you working on at the moment? I’m currently working on a fantasy novel called Wynter’s Song. I also have a science-fiction novel started about a mercenary officer trying to get her life back together after a disastrous mission.
How do you come up with the titles for your books? And do you have the final title before completing your book, or after? Titles are a fickle thing. Sometimes I have an idea for a title before I write the first word but other times I finish a first draft before a title comes to mind. I usually try to get a feel for the story as I write it and a title will usually suggest itself. Pure Control started life as The Ship but while writing the first draft I felt that title gave too much away so I changed it to The Room. That title stuck until it got to my editor. She felt the story was about more than the room the characters get trapped in and, after a back and forth with her, I decided to change the title to Pure Control. That title has multiple meanings related to the story and I’m happy with it.
How has writing changed your life? Since I started writing seriously, i.e. since November of 2013, I’ve made a lot of friends on Facebook that I never would have met if I hadn’t started writing.
Where do you get inspiration for writing from? Do you listen to music whilst writing or have a ‘writing cave’? I don’t recommend to anyone to follow my example. When I get stuck for an idea of where a story should go, I go outside and smoke. It’s a bad habit but it works for me. It helps me clear my mind and I can usually get at least an inkling of what should happen next.
Is there a particular form, style or genre that you’d like to have a go at writing? Why? I’ve been considering trying my hand at the Romance genre. There are far too many “romance” books out there that confuse “love” with “lust” and it sickens me. Romance isn’t about sex but people don’t seem to understand that. Either that or I have the wrong idea about what romance really is.
Favourite book and/or author(s)? Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks were my favorite authors when I was growing up and I still read their books to this day. They’re the reason I chose Fantasy and Science Fiction as my genres. Every couple years or so I’ll re-read Anthony’s Bio of a Space Tyrant series and his Incarnations of Immortality series, as well as Brooks’s Shanarra novels.
Do you think it’s necessary to have a degree (of any sort) in order to be a successful author? No. Some people say it helps but it isn’t necessary. All you really need is a passion for writing. Editors and Beta-readers are there to make your story better so they can get the degrees while you concentrate on getting your stories down on paper.
What would you say to those who want to become a writer? Any advice? As I said earlier, the key is to find a story idea you’re passionate about and write it down. Concentrate on the first draft and don’t worry about how well it turns out. Worry about fixing it later. Don’t get caught up in rewriting earlier scenes or chapters because you can get caught in a loop until you lose all desire to write. Another piece of advice for beginning writers: Start building a following early. Start before you write the first word of the first draft and keep building. You’ll have better success if you have a fan base eager to read your work before your book even comes out. I made the mistake of releasing the book and THEN building a following. It’s a mistake and it’s easily avoidable.
Facebook Author Page: http://on.fb.me/1kZ2NVc
Twitter: @CLloydBrill
Blog: http://clloydbrill.wordpress.com/
Book Link: http://amzn.to/1h4fIPz
