Reading time: About 2 minutes
So many great works have been written under harsh circumstances, says writer J.T. Siemens, it should be seen as lame to look for excuses not to write….
J.T. Siemens is a Vancouver-based personal trainer, but his true love is writing crime fiction. To Those Who Killed Me, the first book in the Sloane Donovan series, was released by NeWest Press in April 2022, and went on to win the inaugural Mystery and Thriller Book of the Year Award at the 2023 Alberta Book Publishing Awards. The sequel, Call of the Void, was released this spring.
I was excited to talk to J.T. about how he approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day?
Two hours, often more. I thrive on the momentum of consistent work, and everything in my day flows smoother after a decent writing session.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer?
Vigorous exercise really helps settle down my squirrelly mind, and solid nutrition keeps me positive and cognitively sharp. And I am certainly not the first writer to say that many a good idea has come during a walk (especially in nature).
Q. What interferes with your writing?
I’d like to say nothing. However…when stresses are mounting and the world is throwing curves, the quality of writing can certainly be affected. Then again, given that so many great works have been written under the absolute harshest of circumstances, excuses seem rather lame.
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it?
I write first thing in the morning, so I often DON’T feel like doing it. That’s where the discipline has to kick in, and I remind myself that it’s really only the first fifteen or twenty minutes that’s tough. Failing that, there’s always coffee.
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing?
Write the kind of book you want to read.
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why?
First draft, hands down. Venturing into the unknown is scary, but exciting. I write fast-paced crime novels, inhabited by some wild and unpredictable characters. Once I unleash these people on the page, there’s no telling what they might do. It’s great fun.
Q. What’s the best book you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years?
Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane. This book transcends the crime genre and to me represents the pinnacle of writing excellence. I’ve read it over and over, and it contains such deep human truths that I am altered every single time.
Q. What book are you reading right now?
The Searcher, by Tana French. Another author who transcends genre. Such effective storytelling and such elegant prose. I’ve read all her books and am continuously wowed.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing?
That one must wait for inspiration to strike before they can sit down and write. The inspiration comes from the work itself.
