PETER McCOLLUM
PETER McCOLLUM
Books
PETER McCOLLUM
Q. DO YOU WRITE EVERY DAY? HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?
A. All writing is done in bursts. I often try to set aside time, but I have so many other things going on. I just put as much down when I can, and get back to it when the opportunity arises.
Q. HOW MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE DO YOU INCORPORATE INTO YOUR WRITING OR DO YOU MAKE UP EVERYTHING?
A. Everything I write is based on truth. Sometimes the facts may be slightly altered, but my life has been too crazy to have any need to make anything up. I fictionalize events to keep everyone out of trouble, but my stories are absolutely real.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AUTHOR? CAN YOU TELL US WHY? EVERYTHING?
A. Hunter S. Thompson. He was a maniac, but he had great stories. He also had a vivid way of describing things. I love his commentary on politics.
Q. WOULD YOU GO BACK AND REWRITE ANY OF YOUR BOOKS? WHY?
A. Actually, I’d rather rewrite my thesis. It was a great idea, but I needed more time.
Q. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE TYPES OF MUSIC? DO THEY HELP YOU WITH YOUR WRITING?
A.
1 – Punk rock.
2 – James Brown.
3 – Moby.
Q. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING?
A. Honesty. I have always held back what I really felt. I have also held back a lot of traumatic events. Writing humorously helps me work through my past, but it’s still a rough road when you’re writing. All of my books have involved reliving some traumatic things, and there are times that I actually have to stop, because the emotions are building up too much.
Q. HOW DO YOU MARKET YOUR BOOKS? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY? WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE WAY?
A. My favourite way is letting other people do it for me. My least favourite way is doing it myself.
Q. DO YOU OUTLINE YOUR BOOK BEFORE WRITING IT OR DO YOU JUST PLOT ALONG AND HOPE FOR THE BEST?
A. No outlines. Completely freestyle. I only outline after I hit a wall. Rinse and repeat. It’s just how I roll.
Q. HAVE YOU PUBLISHED IN A TRADITIONAL WAY, OR SELF-PUBLISHED OR BOTH? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
A. Traditional.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON PROFANITY IN BOOKS TODAY? IS IT OK TO USE? WHY?
A. Profanity is like garlic: it’s very easy to add too much.
Q. WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
A. I wrote my first short story in the 1st grade. It was based off of a television show called “Tour of Duty.” I also wrote my first poem that year to my crush.
Q. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
A. It is a collection of letters that explain not just how I see the world, but how I see myself. Since the letters were written over the course of 16 years, their tone, style, and content change drastically. It’s satire and humour, but there are a lot of small points and ideas that should make a person stop and reflect.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR WRITING KRYPTONITE?
A. Deadlines.
