Eric Witchey
Eric Witchey has made a living as a freelance writer and communication consultant for over 24 years. In addition to producing many corporate non-fiction titles, he has sold more than 90 short stories and four novels. His stories have appeared in nine genres and on five continents, and he has received recognition from New Century Writers, Writers of the Future, Writer’s Digest, The Eric Hoffer Prose Award program, Short Story America, The Irish Aeon Awards, and other organizations. His how-to articles have appeared in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest Magazine, and other print and online magazines. When not teaching or writing, he spends his time fly fishing or restoring antique, model locomotives. See more at ericwitchey.com.
What’s your creative process? Night owl or early bird? Writing group or lone wolf?
I always have trouble describing my creative process because every story is different. My creative process reflects that fact. If I have to draw generalizations about how I work, I can safely say that I’m a quota-driven morning person. My quotas are based on time—hands on keyboard and eyes on page. I don’t pay much attention to word count or page count. And, because any time you tell the universe you’re “this” or “that,” the universe laughs at you, I’m also prone to waking up at one in the morning, rolling out of bed, and recording thoughts or dreams on my white board. At times, I even sit down to the keyboard for an all-night session. The “to group” or “not to group” question is equally problematic. I have belonged to many writing groups. Some have been terrible. Some have been amazing. Occasionally, I take a contract to help train people to create or improve their groups. I like groups. I hate groups. Personally, at least at this point in my life and development as a writer, I have to say that I do like writing in the company of other writers who are also writing. In fact, I host writing days at my house, but most of the time my process is solitary.
What are you reading right now?
People often ask me what I’m reading, and I always want to laugh because the question assumes that the list is short, or maybe even one book. Currently, I’m reading two student manuscripts, two novels I’m doing small press production for, a collection of short stories, a couple of science fiction novels, and a fat fantasy. I’m also rereading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as part of my research for a novella I’m writing. Of course, the above list doesn’t include the non-fiction. Please don’t make me go there. The list is long enough without all the books and articles on UFO conspiracies, military history, cartography, physics, archeology, natural science, resource management, infrastructure management, fishing, and, of course, how to write. Good lord, I have to stop. I’m already wanting to go back and add things to both lists. Help! Ask a new question! Quick!
Favorite book?
It’s easier for me to tell you which molecule I liked best in my last breath than to pick a favorite book. Here’s a list of a few favorite authors, in no particular order: Tolstoy, Shakespeare, Henry James, H.G. Wells, Ursula Le Guin, Dante Alighieri, Ray Bradbury, Gorge Luis Borges, Tim Powers, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, Marques, Cuelho, P.K. Dick, Orson Scott Card, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Zelazny, Simak, Asmiov, Samuel Clemens, Theodore Sturgeon, Damon Knight, Laurel Winter, Kate Wilhelm, Jerry Oltion, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, William Porter, Devon Monk, Leslie What, Ray Vukcevich, Pat Conroy, Robert Coover, Jane Austen, Dickens, Faulkner, Koontz, King, Jim Butcher, Kerri Vaughan…