Interview with Ben Jacobs

Could you share some of your challenges as a writer?

I would have to say that one of my biggest challenges while writing is concentration. There are times when my mind can become scattered quickly and I will find myself spacing out or lost in thought when I had a goal of being productive.

Do you have a routine you follow when writing?

In terms of routine, I make a point to begin writing within an hour of arriving home from work on the weekdays, and devote at least a quarter of the day to it on the weekends. I have a daily goal of completing 5-10 pages a day.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I would inform my young self of the phenomenal quote by Stephen King that is what lead to me no longer being deterred by a creative block: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”

What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you?

My preferred method for readers that want to get in touch with me is to email me: bsjwriting@gmail.com

How did you become a writer?

I became a writer through consistent amounts of practice. Through my childhood, I’d frequently write stories and ask educators and family for notes and feedback. Reading the works of all different authors introduced me to a world of varying writing styles, which inspired me to expand the types of writing I did in a search for my “voice.”

What inspires you to write?

I write because being able to tell a story that can be so interesting, emotional or meaningful to others—being able to see readers relate to my characters and feel emotionally touched or moved by their thoughts, feelings and actions—is absolutely magical to me.

Tell me about your protagonist. What is your favorite trait and/or weakness?

Adrian Cohen is a 14-year-boy that feels as though he is a sociopath. My favorite trait of Adrian’s is his ability to adapt to the people around him and gage their perceptions of who he is as a person.