I began my first novel when I was 15. It went through three drafts, of around 40,000 words each. If I find it, I'll burn it.
Charles StrossThe one thing that does happen, every time, though, is that I never get to write a book until I've already been thinking about it for a period of months to years.
Charles StrossWriters block: when I get it, it's because my subconscious spotted that I'd make a huge structural mistake in constructing a novel before my conscious mind became aware of it, and threw on the brakes. So I've learned not to sweat it: take two days off, then back up a chapter, read through, and try to work out why I'm suddenly uneasy about continuing.
Charles StrossWhile writing a novel I almost completely stop reading books in the same sub-genre for the duration.
Charles StrossI have no policy, for or against: only a personal style. Which is to say, I use them when I think it's appropriate to; for example, an internal monologue by a locquacious and verbose narrator is more likely to be larded with adverbs than an exchange of instant messages between cops at a crime scene.
Charles Stross