- an author, bard, and lover of food and drink. Part hobbit, part dwarf.
Readers, thanks for checking out another Author Spotlight Interview. Let’s give a good, hearty welcome to this week’s guest!
J.Z. Pitts’ journey into the world of words began at the cusp of his teen years. One day he opened a book and was sucked into a portal, transporting him to far-off lands and thrilling adventures. It was addicting. Inspired by the fantastical worlds and thrilling adventures between the pages of his favorite books, he soon began to craft his own stories.
After a brief stint at his high school newspaper, where he honed his skills writing everything from news copy to opinion pieces to book and movie reviews, Pitts turned his attention to short stories. His writing soon became known for its vivid imagery, empathetic characters, and thought-provoking themes.
Pitts enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, or watching movies when he’s not writing.
J.Z. Pitts, thanks for agreeing to be here today. Most author spotlight interviews start off with the boring stuff, but I know what readers REALLY want to know.
If you could have any pet (real/fantasy/no-allergies/no worries about feeding it) what would it be?
This will be a boring answer, but a cat. I like how low-maintenance they can be, their purring is therapeutic, and the occasional snuggles are nice.
There is a reason cats are popular with people!
What do you write? And how did you get started?
I have a variety of short stories in different genres, from Crime to Horror. But my debut book is science fiction.
I got started when I was 12. I wasn’t a big reader until my mom got me a series of books that I tried and couldn’t get enough of. Soon, I had stories of my own filling my head, and I knew I had to get it down on paper. It was all downhill from there.
What a great mix of genres. Sometimes, I would think, it sometimes feels like it was all UPhill from there. I know writing can be a hard journey.
What do you like to read?
Lots of different things. Depends on my mood. Fantasy, scifi, horror, crime, bios, comedy, action. Not so much romance or general fiction. But I mainly stay in scifi and fantasy.
They say a wide-read reader makes a well-rounded author! And hey, romances got me hooked through the urban fantasy gateway drug. Never say never. *winks*
What do you drink when you write/edit?
I don’t do it so much anymore, but I would have a beer or some wine while writing. Kind of loosens things up a bit. But you gotta keep a clear head when editing, so if I have anything, it’s water then.
It sounds like you’re familiar with the adage “write drunk, edit sober”! Although, a soft buzz is all that I think is actually recommended.
Do you snack when you write/edit? What are your favorites?
Not really. I’m terrible at multitasking, so snacking and writing don’t mix well for me. I love to achieve a flow state, and snacking would just get in the way.
Totally understandable. Means more snacks for me! Although, you might lose your ‘half-hobbit’ for that.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that doesn’t work for you
Write what you know.
I think the advice is more misunderstood than anything, but what a way to dampen someone’s imagination to just tell them to write what they know.
I think a better, though less pithy means of communicating the original intention behind the advice is…ground your story. By all means have your story take place in a fantasy land, or among the stars, with technology or magic systems that are mind-blowing. But ground all that in relatable emotions, characters, and drama that readers can empathize with. I think if you do that, you’ve won half the battle of getting your readers to suspend their disbelief.
One-hundred percent. I always hedge that advice, too. Most of our stories are exploring humanity in all its various forms.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice they can pry out of your cold, dead hands
Butt in chair, writing implements at hand, doing the work.
Whatever your style or method, you have to do the work. Don’t wait for something as fleeting as inspiration. There’s been many times I’ve sat down to write, not feeling it. Yet as the session goes on, an idea strikes, or inspiration arrives. Maybe not all the time, but a lot of the time. The satisfaction of having written something, even when you weren’t feeling it, is great.
It’s true. Inspiration can only get me about 20,000 words in, and that’s not even 100 pages. It’s persistence that finishes a manuscript.
Shameless Self-Promotion time!
Virtual Rebel (The Haven Trilogy #1)
I’m Ava McNealy, and I’m addicted to The Haven, an immersive virtual reality program. Who cares if tyrannical aliens rule the Earth when there are endless digital worlds to explore, monsters to fight, and team-ups with friends.
But when my father is arrested as a rebel, everything changes. Desperate to save him from execution, I embark on a perilous journey through treacherous levels and uncharted realms within The Haven, where everything is not as it seems.
Will my audacious quest be successful? Can I unravel the secrets of The Haven in time? The fate of my father, and perhaps the course of history itself, hangs in the balance.
WRITING TIPS & WRITERLY MUSINGS 
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