How do you get inspired to write/stay inspired to finish a book? Do you have a writing routine? A place where you write, or a certain amount of time you write per day?

I believe in inspiration, but I don’t believe it’s that important. People are inspired all the time — by a book, a movie, a snatch of a song, a sunset, an image, whatever. Most of those moments of inspiration never add up to anything beyond a pleasant moment. Inspiration has to be noted, then expanded on and shaped and turned into something interesting or important through lots of hard work — developing a learned set of skills, and applying them, and not expecting it to be easy. To quote Picasso, “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.” My much longer essay on this topic, and on the topic of not giving up on your book in the middle, is here.

As for where I write, I have a little office, just big enough to turn around in. One wall is books, the other is my computer, and I keep fan letters and fan art of the characters pinned to the other for encouragement. That’s if I’m writing at home. Usually I write in coffee shops with friends. Since the pandemic, I’ve made use of this writing hut on occasion, to accommodate friends safely and enjoy the view.