David Wing is a former English language teacher and currently a Creative Writing student, reading for a Masters degree at Anglia Ruskin University. He has been published on a variety of sites and was happy to win a couple of flash fiction competitions recently.
1. How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I first started writing when I was around seven, I guess? I have strong memories of using my two forefingers and stabbing away on my Mum’s old typewriter. I started because I saw my Dad’s books on the shelf and thought they looked like fun.
2. What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
Find a Muse and a Rock and if they’re the same person, all the better.
3. Are there any writing resources, such as books or websites, you’d like to recommend?
I use a thesaurus – helps when I’m stuck for a fancy word. I also liked Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’.
4. What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I’d still say that Sci-Fi is my favourite genre, and my favourite authors could fill a page, but here’s one or two: Kurt Vonnegut, Robert A.Heinlein, Greg Bear, John Scalzi, Joe Haldeman, Neil Gaiman, Raymond Chandler and right now I’m on a Jasper Fforde kick.
5. What tips do you have for finding time to write?
Make it! It’s an old piece of advice. I use my notepad function on my phone for quickly typing down moments of inspiration and then I bash out a very very rough version at home on the computer and then sigh.
6. Do you prefer to outline a story in advance or write on the fly? Why?
I tend to write on the fly. As I’m more drawn towards short stories I can often get away with that, but it still takes 2 or 3 drafts to be happy with the piece. But, as I’m trying to write a novel now, planning is key.
7. How do you deal with rejections?
I’m often just happy they responded. This is my second acceptance and I couldn’t be happier. I dread the day when acceptance becomes par for the course. Pepper my days with acceptance and rejection and I am happy.
8. What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
Finish the novel. Get more A’s and R’s. Finish my Creative Writing Masters.
9. For the next five years?
Get published and keep writing.
10. Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
I wrote a a children’s Christmas book called The Night the Llama Saved Christmas. Feel free to follow me on my twitter @djwing_wing or on my site: http://davidjwing.wordpress.com/
