Award winning ways
Panos Karnezis
In the final part of our interview with Panos Karnezis you can find some advice for new writers on how to develop good ideas and learn some ways to get noticed by publishers.
Part one - Becoming a writer, novels vs short stories.
Part two - Structure, character development, settings.
Part three - Starting a piece of writing, writing routines.
Q1.
How do you go about coming up with ideas for your work? What advice would you give writers?
The ideas for my stories can come from anywhere... It is very important for writers to read everything that falls into their hands – you don’t sit in a café and eavesdrop on people’s conversations, but unconsciously, that is what happens.
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Q2.
Do you think a good writer should be able to cross genres and write novels and short stories, or do you think most writers have one specialty only?
Many great writers write both stories and novels, screen plays, theatrical plays and so on. I don’t think they have to. It seems to have to do with the personality of the writer.
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Q3.
How do you think new writers can get noticed?
Creative writing courses are a good way for new writers to get noticed... There are agents and publishers who have connections with creative writing courses. Another way could be to try publishing stories in magazines. There is also always the internet.
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Q4.
Do you have any favourite contemporary authors?
I like Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro. I like European writers and Latin American writers.
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Q5.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have been given is to read everything – literature, poetry, even magazines at the hair dressers. Because writing is a popular art. To do that you have to be aware of everything.
Back to Part one
