Member Spotlight: JT Hine

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing is simply something I must do every day, whether it’s answering this questionnaire or drafting a novel. A shout out to Anaïs Nin for articulating that. “Tell me the story again, please?” Writing makes that possible, to more people, more times, farther into the future, arguably into infinity.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Not something I’m familiar with. I start writing, aimlessly at first if necessary. Then, like the fletches of an arrow, the writing finds direction and moves.

What is your favorite time to write? Unfortunately, at night, when I should be sleeping.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? I like Arthur Miller’s ten commandments, especially, “Don’t start ___ until ___ is finished.” By the time I finish a first draft, I have dozens of notes for the next book or another littered about, but I must resolutely ignore them or the work in progress would never be born.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? The ability to reach readers by so many channels.

JT Hine’s Art to Die For is out now.