Who are you?
Hi there! My name's Justin Colón. I'm a professional, NY-based actor, children's author, and small business owner offering critiques, consultations and classes through my website.
What do you write?
I write stories for children, with a focus on picture books (though I like to think picture books have no age limit and can be enjoyed by all). My stories often feature a high concept, humor, spookiness, mischief, and a comedic misunderstanding or two. And with books such as The Quacken, The ZomBees, and Vampurr, I suppose you could say I enjoy coming up with silly creature features. My goal is to write stories that entertain children, stories they request to read over and over. Even better if I can get them to laugh.
Where do you write?
I do most of my writing from the kitchen table. It provides the largest work area, a nearby outlet for all my electronics, and a constant supply of coffee to keep me caffeinated. But sometimes I can be found working from the couch, my bed and, on occasion, my home office. I wrote the opening scenes of my upcoming rhyming picture book, The ZomBees (illustrated by Kaly Quarles, publishing July 15th with Simon & Schuster) from the shower. Usually, when I'm in writing mode I'm pretty scrubbed out, so it's best I don't make an appearance at the local library, otherwise I might scare their patrons away. And while I sometimes work in silence, I usually like background noise, such as ambient sounds, instrumentals, songs with lyrics, television shows and movies, etc.
I draft and revise my manuscripts in Google Docs. This allows for critique partners to make suggestions and me to consider and discuss their feedback almost immediately. For me, this streamlines and speeds up the process. Sometimes my critique partners and I will even communicate through audio recordings shared back and forth through WhatsApp. Once the manuscript is polished, I'll convert it to a Word document and submit it to my agent and/or editor.
When generating ideas and working through a story's logistics, I often write on sheets of computer paper. It's not precious, so I'm free to scribble all over the place and toss it when I'm done. If I'm not near any, I'll send myself an email with notes that make sense to nobody else but me. I'll also jot down ideas and map out stories in notebooks. Sometimes I even dummy the stories out in them, sketching out the scenes to help me better visualize the overall story and its visual momentum.
When do you write?
I don't have a set writing routine, but I do my best writing between 4am and early afternoon. I also don't write every day, even though I try to. Most of my time is spent brainstorming rather than actual butt-in-chair writing. And that brainstorming is an ongoing process that's always happening. Sometimes I'm actively trying to generate new ideas and stories. Other times I'm passively sourcing potential ideas and stories while doing non-writing activities (this tends to be the most successful for me). And when I do feel I have something to work with, I then spend time mentally developing the premise and plot, character arcs, theme, takeaway, hook, etc. Once I have specifics and more answers than questions, it's time for drafting. I find this strategy more effective because it provides me with greater clarity and intention. But each story is different, and that means the process can vary, too. Sometimes I dive into the manuscript and write in circles until something clicks (or doesn't). Drafting is an important time of exploration, but my favorite part of the process is revision, deconstructing and rebuilding the story into something stronger. For me, that's where the magic really happens.
Why do you write?
I write because I am a storyteller. And storytelling sustains my inner child. It keeps my imagination, curiosity, and sense of wonder alive. And what better format to do that with than the picture book? It provides the perfect medium and audience for me to connect with. Writing for children is an honor and incredibly fulfilling.
How do you overcome writer's block?
Writer's block isn't something I often experience. Instead, I deal with idea overload. For each of my ideas, I often have what feels like an exponential number of options for how I could tell the story in terms of the various story elements, the direction I could take them, and how they might play out. Especially when I think of all the different combos I can create with each option if I pair them together differently. Usually, I'll write down and map out the different options, brainstorm the pros and cons, and try to think of the endgame. I'll often do brainstorming sessions with critique partners and present all these ideas, as well as the issues I'm facing, and together we'll work through them. In-person chats, Zoom, WhatsApp, and Google Docs are great for this sort of thing.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
My days vary. Some days I'm doing a last-minute acting audition through my on-camera or voiceover agents. Other days I'm doing an author school visit. And some days, I'm working with my own editorial clients to help them on their publishing journey. But when I'm not doing any of those things, you might catch me taking care of my beehives in the backyard, developing my illustration skills, practicing a new classical piano piece, walking the dogs, or spending time with my family. Lately I've enjoyed binging Bob's Burgers, which I only just got around to watching in the last year or so. And I'm also looking forward to skydiving again soon, so that should be fun.
My thanks to Justin Colón for today's interview.
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