Austin Camacho

Austin CamachoAustin Camacho is the author of the Hannibal Jones mysteries.

What is your method for overcoming writer’s block?

I don't think I've ever had writer's block. I'm a detailed outliner, so when I sit down to create, I always know what's next. I write a scene, look at the outline and move on to the next scene. Having a good outline seems to be the key for me.

What are your favorite or most helpful writing prompts?

I have a collection of one-liners that I have gathered from the internet or the bottom of other people's emails or song lyrics.I find the selected song lyrics to be great writing prompts.Who could fail to see a story in a sentence like "I try to save myself but myself keeps slipping away" (Nine Inch Nails) or "If you want to hang loose you've got to get a grip" (Aerosmith) or "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"(Bob Seger)

What is the most valuable advice you received as a young writer?

I met Warren Murphy (creator of The Destroyer series) at Book Expo America and he told me that the key is to write every day, because the brain is just another muscle and you need to exercise it every day so it gets trained to respond when you call on it.