Interview with L.J Ferrari [tyler306]

What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?

I read quite a bit but I'd rather listen to books on CD. I’m into spy and crime stories. I especially enjoy James Lee Burke and his New Orleans detective stories. I started writing one day about 3 years ago after a partially disturbing love affair. I knew I had better keep notes because no one would believe it if I just told them about it. Its Copyrighted in book form now but is not published, in my opinion its a good story and very interesting. All I need to do is send it to someone I just don’t have the nerve…I think It has to do with ego and rejection. Maybe someday I will? Meanwhile here is a link to my Blog... http://tyler306.blogspot.com/ http://tyler306.livejournal.com/ http://ferrari33.wordpress.com/ 360

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

My Blog is mostly about me and my problems. Its kind of a daily inventory or a place to vent. I do enjoy the news and putting some people in the spotlight with my slanted opinion of their behavior. At times I will do a book or movie review and I enjoy that. It all depends on what’s on my mind at the time. Lately I can't get off the subject of the Obama Administration and our State politics. tyler306.livejournal.com http://ferrari33.wordpress.com/

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Sometimes I write the night before but mostly the morning of my blog. It depends on how I feel and what I feel like writing.. Some days I am OK with me, other days I don’t like what’s happening in the world. I try to help people with my knowledge and experience..

What type of reading inspires you to write?

Like I said, I had a love affair that can only be described as the rock fight from Hell. I simply read my notes and wrote the story. Since then reading the news has caught my attention and I tend to describe the characters and things that happen to them in a what I think is a humorous or satiric way.

What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?

I think if I created a good title to catch your eye and then a first sentence that would prompt your interest. I’ll bet you read the story just to find out why the title is what it is.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

At this point I am interested in my first person writing. I usually write about what I think about things. My writing is a really long letter to anybody who cares to read it. Usually I read it to remind myself that I am OK and the rest of the world is messed up. It’s a “Sometimes I am the windshield, sometimes I’m the bug“ kind of writing. Isn’t that neat I borrowed that from a writer friend of mine……..

What well known writers do you admire most?

Of coarse James Lee Burke then Vince Flynn, Anita Shreve, Alex Berenson, Wally Lamb, Lee Child, James Patterson, Edgar Allan Poe, Ed McBain, Carl Hiaasen, Walter Mosley, Lawrence Block, Robert Crais, Elmore Leonard and George Pelecanos, Tim Green just to name a few. I could go on and on. I wish I could peek into their creativity to see how they come up with such wonderful ideas…

What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?

I said in the past that I write true stories and that’s what I do. I have thought about fiction and lean towards murder and mayhem but I am also interested writing spy stories. I would like to write a love story so good that you can feel the pain and emotion realistically. At this point as you can see I don’t know where to start. My character would be based my real life experiences. I guess I could stretch the truth enough to make it realistic although I have been in some precarious situations.

Are you equally good at telling stories orally?

If I am in the proper frame of mind my story telling skills are fine. It seems I am more of a listener that a teller. What I think is unusual is that while listening I often think of topics to write about. My mind works like a filter receiving and deleting things at the same time. Sometimes I write things down so I will remember them for future use. I, at times like to say I told you so or point out that, “You read it here first“

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

This is one of those search my feelings questions…Deep down inside. I had to think for minute about that. To me writing is a way to share what’s going on deep inside of me. See, I’m being flip now. I really write because at times my mind dwells on certain things. No, there are too many to mention so I won’t. It could be good or happy things that happen to me, family issues, politics or any uncontrollable thing that comes to mind. It’s a way of dumping it or storing it somewhere so I can look up what was bothering me anytime I want. I write because to me its a Therapy.

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

Can you tell I didn’t read all the questions first? Yes, it is a form of personal therapy. One of my rules concerning internal conflicts is to live my life in the most peaceful way possible with a live and let live policy. In other words I don’t look for trouble. The creative force in me is honesty and patience. You would be pleasantly surprised how good that works.

Does reader feed-back help you?

Yes it does. At times a reader will comment or agree with what I say. I seldom if ever had a negative comment and I encourage people to give me feedback. What that says to me is maybe I make sense to the people that read my stuff. I don’t climb on a soap box but at times I write about alcohol and drugs. My only hope is that I can help someone with my knowledge of Alcoholism and Drug addiction. The addicts are getting younger and younger and that is my biggest fear.

Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?

No I don’t so I haven’t won any awards. “Not that there is anything wrong with that“. I don’t feel I am good enough to win anything. If I did it would be a feather in my hat and maybe to much for my ego. I don’t think it’s the right time. Maybe someday but for now I have to earn my keep or pay my dues as they say and just learn for now.

Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?

No I don’t because most of my work is done the moment I use it . Is that the right way to say that? At one time I thought I had a friend I could share with and get an opinion but that didn’t last long. It turns out this person didn’t really care and at one point I thought I had lost the story. I didn’t matter because I had a copy but at least I found out that the person couldn’t be trusted. To be honest I would like someone to proof read and I am working on that…..

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

I know my voice very well and I don’t know why but my personality shines right through. I think its part of my gift. It’s the voices of other people I am most interested in. I’d like to write with a Southern or New York accent….What does a dog or cat talk like? Can a Poodle speak French? I’m sure if they could talk they would have an interesting voice. I’d like to write like I am out of breath or looking at a beautiful woman. Is the voice I am writing in now understandable? If it is, it must be OK and I have found my voice. I will keep on looking just in case I missed something though.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

I treat writing like a job that I enjoy. It’s a rare moment that I stare at the little blinking line for more that five minutes. There are times that the lazy part of me says to do it later but I never listen. That’s first thing in the morning and for the past year it hasn’t changed. My goal is only to learn and maybe someday have enough knowledge to have some readers.

What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?

My work space is my apartment although I just made connections in my car for my lap top. I am going to the beach this summer and will try to write in my car... I am a single guy and right now I have a little old 18 inch TV with sports on mute. Baseball in baseball season, football in football season. When there are no games I turn to CNN or the Weather channel. "Willie", the cat I live with reminds me to feed him and on occasion play with him. My girlfriend works so Stephanie Abrams of the weather channel keeps me company when she’s on. Concentration has never been an issue with me. I think its because I am never in a hurry. I have no deadline. If I did I’ll bet I could get it done even with the TV on.

Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?

I mentioned the little blinking line so that means I work on my computer. I have two. As we all know spell check is a modern day miracle and I use it all the time. I have become an expert at copying and pasteing. Its been a lifesaver. I printed my story of coarse and other things I have written.

What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?

I am Blog writer and therefore I am a paid member of Live Journal and have a lot of wonderful young people as friends that show interest in my work. They are from all over the world. Some are studying to Doctors and others are just normal people with problems and issues like myself. If I can call myself normal. My readers are a eclectic group of intelligent people of my choosing and are not afraid to tell me like it is. The difference is my friends do it a nice way. I have often told them I am proud of them and encourage them to keep up the good work. I am proud that they let me mingle with them.

What has been your experience with publishers?

I wouldn’t know where to begin? I have thought about it but I have this rejection thing going on……Maybe someday? Although it would really be nice to see that copyright sentence on my work.

What are you working on now?

If this question means a book, fiction or true, at this point, I almost hate to say nothing in particular. I have a lot of ideas and thoughts but nothing that I think will work for me. I will continue working on my Blog because if I don’t I would miss it. I need an idea, do you have one?

What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?

I put my true story on the Internet on a site that I found that is somewhat private. Its like my own personal space or website. I recommend you do the same because it frees the mind of thinking about it and you can add to or correct it at will. Hey who knows someone might make a comment good or bad. I have others that I would like share but are inappropriate for younger readers, if anything today is in fact inappropriate.. I will say this much. A year or so ago I met a rather attractive 42 year old woman on the Internet who was into cyber sex. You will see why I know she was attractive in a moment. I am not kidding about the “Cyber Sex”. I am only saying this because this was a legitimate person who enjoyed writing sexual things and needed someone to write to. I met this desirable, warm, sexy person in person because I wanted make sure she was real. When she told me about the cyber sex I didn’t believe her. Would you? A lot of strange things happen to me but this was a one in a million thing. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t meet her in person first. In reality I wanted to see who I was fantasying and writing about and believe me it was well worth it. We agreed to meet for coffee and set a date to do this in a city near we both lived. I arrived a little early and as I walked in the door of the coffee shoppe. I seen her sitting at a corner table and judging by the description she gave me, I knew right away it was her. She stood as I approached the table and extended a hand towards me. I took it but held her hand for a moment before I released it. Her hand was warm and soft. Her blue eyes told me that she approved of what she what saw. She was wearing a light blue sleeveless top with a just above the knee black skirt. No nylons and her scent was light and sexy. Her shoulder length blond hair was neatly combed and clean and when she smiled it made it OK for me to be with her. She had a way about her that literally took my breath away and I had to pause before I spoke. I don't think she noticed and at that point I didn't care. It was at that moment I knew I would have no problem writing sexual things to her. My imagination was running wild just looking at her. Later and after many long conversations on the phone it was decided we would do this with an agreement not to cross any lines. We made rules. The number one rule was no real physical contact, no matter what. We were lucky we made that rule because there were times when it was very tempting to try, and we almost did try what we were writing. It still was really difficult because from that point on, I was not a real person nor was she. So after our many conversations and me telling her of my background I finally convinced her she could place her trust in me. I promised to enforce rule one. We were now ready and we started writing to each other. We became cyber lovers. I think and I can safely say, and she would agree, with what were excellent results. I have two inches thick of 8.5x11 copies of our writings. This sexual cyber experiment lasted for about six months and ended when we (she) decided that it was too much for her. There were other reasons but I don‘t want to give that away. One of these days I am going to fill in the blanks on those letters and publish them..I can see me autographing copies of my cyber sex book as it flies of the shelf at Barns and Noble. This beautiful lady and I still talk and are friends and a while ago my co-writer friend asked me, "Are you going to write a book'? I told her, half joking but sounding serious, said “Yes I was“. She said I should because I was a good writer. Then there was nothing but silence on the phone for ten long seconds, then without another comment, she very quietly wished me luck. It sounds strange but I know why there was a silence. There are many reasons why this experience happened and if I told everything here it would spoil the story… I mentioned that I like true stories and I guess this qualifies as one. You could call this a true fictional story or something like that. This book is written and all I have to do is put it together. I always say maybe I’ll do some rewriting and spell checking and print it to see what it looks like. We will see? That story was an example of my fiction. I'll bet I got you interested at the word "Inappropriate". Do you think it was believable? I'll bet you believed it?...Did you? What do you think? Do you think I could write fiction?

Ask me a question, make a comment, or request my opinion on something:

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