How I Write | CONCENTR8 by William Sutcliffe

By Jen On January 20, 2016 · 1 Comment · In Author Feature, Blog Tours

Please welcome William Sutcliffe, he’s here today for a How I Write feature as part of his blog tour for his novel CONCENTR8. Check out my Q & A with William below, and be sure to enter the giveaway!

About William Sutcliffe

William Sutcliffe is the author of the young adult novel The Wall, which was published in 2013 to much critical acclaim, including being short-listed for the 2014 Carnegie Medal and long-listed for the 2013 Guardian Fiction Prize. He also wrote five adult novels, including the international bestseller, Are You Experienced, and a middle-grade novel, Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom. William currently lives in Edinburgh.

Are you a planner (outline, etc.) or do you “pants” it?

Half and half. I have a hazy outline which changes as I go. I like to know where I’m headed but not how I’m going to get there. I certainly don’t want to know everything I’ll see out of the window on the way.

Do you write daily or sporadically when you’re inspired?

I write whenever there is someone else doing the childcare.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

When was a teenager I read Portnoy’s Complaint and realized that books can be funnier than TV. I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since.

What time of day do you find you write best? Or you enjoy more?

Mornings.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Home, usually, but going to a café can help with the feelings of isolation that are part of the writing experience.

What tool(s) do you use to write? Microsoft Word, Pages, Scrivener, typewriter, pen and paper, and/or napkins/toilet paper?

Microsoft Word. Random thoughts jotted into an iPhone on the hoof.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Either by pushing on through, or by walking away and doing something else. The trouble is knowing which of the two will work.

What resources do you recommend for new writers?

Find a way to create some clear time in which no distractions (of the human or digital variety) will intrude. You have to focus.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received for writing?

To delete adverbs.

What aspect of writing is most challenging for you? Easiest?

I find that dialogue comes easily to me. Creating a sense of place is something I have to work at very hard.

What do you use as inspiration while writing? (Music, pictures, etc.)

I listen to music almost all the time while I’m writing, but nothing with lyrics – so mostly jazz, classical or electronica. It helps lift me out of everyday reality and sets up an atmosphere in my work space.

In a not-so-distant future London, riots have become the norm. But when the government suddenly stops distributing Concentr8–a behavioral modification “miracle” drug akin to Ritalin–the city’s residents rise up fiercer than they ever have before.

Amidst the chaos, five teens pick a man seemingly at random and chain him up as a hostage in a warehouse. Blaze is their leader, and Troy has always been his quiet sidekick–the only person he has ever trusted. But even Troy didn’t see this coming, and as their story unfolds over six tense days, one thing is clear–none of them will ever be the same again.

Told from the perspective of multiple characters in a world familiar to our own, this searing look at a group of teens who push back from the margins of society is perfect for fans of thoughtful fiction like Panic and The Program series.

Thank you for visiting, William! Readers, follow the tour for more chances to win, and be sure to enter the giveaway! You can find more How I Write features by clicking the image at the bottom of this post.