Q&A With Adam Laws

First and foremost tell me about yourself.

My name is Adam Laws and I am 34 years old. I currently live with my step-grandfather
who is a stroke victim and have been a bit of a carer for him since I moved in back in
September 2015, liaising with his actual carers and others within the healthcare sector to
ensure he is comfortable given the fact he is housebound. I enjoy listening to a variety of
music, particularly the 80s and enjoy movies of all genres which I often like to treat as
research for my own screenwriting.
I began writing when I was around 14 years old, having had a lot on my mind – a typical
teenager going through his own personal turmoil, which I began to express poetically. By
the time I was 19 and in my final year of college, I had written my first screenplay – I
wanted to branch out with the writing and at the time felt a novel would have been too
much to write whereas a script is much more spaced out. I feel having Asperger’s
Syndrome kind of hindered my own comprehension of my writing ability at the time.
Being the artistic/creative type, writing has been therapeutic for me over the years and
has become such a huge part of my life – it is who I am, a writer.
After having a breakdown in late 2017 due to personal reasons and the fact an indie film
I had written had flopped during production, I lost a lot of faith in screenwriting and
returned to my roots as a poet where I began compiling my first collection “MORGUE”
which I self-published in October 2018. At the time, already having a diagnosis of
Asperger’s Syndrome, I was also diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia, and began
taking an anti-psychotic medication called Aripiprazole which had alleviated my
symptoms of delusional beliefs, paranoia, and voice hearing, but I also felt it interfered
somewhat with my creativity… so the usage of the medication ended up being on and
off.
I decided self-publishing, though a difficult route to take, was best for me – given that I
had the self-belief in myself, and I know a lot of writers are also taking that route – the
marketing side is difficult, but I stay true to it being all about putting myself out there and
hoping for the best. I am currently learning more about the marketing side of it. Along
with returning to poetry, I decided to finally try my hand at novel writing – realising I could
adapt some of my script work into such. I have self-published 5 novellas since 2019. I
like to explore a range of genre, and as a fan of psychology and philosophy, those two
are like an underlying foundation for anything I put together – be it about romance,
drama, thriller, etc. I am also a bit of an artist, mostly doing sketch work whenever I feel
like it.

What inspired you to become a writer and how did you get started in the industry?

I realised when I first put pen to paper that I have a knack for stringing lines and verses
together. I figured I have a way with words – I love using alliteration to carry my lines
across more effectively. I have always had a longing to do something a littler larger than
life, some form of self-drive spurs me on whereby I feel I have a message to get across.
I mentioned about being a teenager with a lot on my mind which went hand in hand with
a lot of philosophical thought – which is what made me decide to study philosophy in
college… so I think the fact I’m looking for answers in life alongside the mishaps I’ve
faced in life is what gave me real inspiration to explore and question the meaning of life,
presenting it for potential readers to hopefully relate to.

Can you tell us about your writing process and how you develop your characters and
storylines?

Having lost faith in screenwriting back in 2017/18, I had already written a share of
scripts, roughly 10, and I decided while they’re likely to never take off, they can still be
put to another use. I didn’t simply want to give up with writing, I felt there was another
way to get my stories across… so I adapted 5 of those screenplays into novellas which
range from psychological thriller to everyday drama… they were written and self-
published at separate times in the space of the past few years since 2019. It was a real
challenge to turn each of them into novellas, but it was a great decision having done so.
With character development, I do think it comes somewhat naturally and was especially
made easier while I was more into screenwriting, so from there I think I gained
something from starting out with that medium which has ultimately helped with my
novella writing – especially given the fact I can put together a script and have the
description down a certain way, the scenes in which the characters go about, and of
course the characters themselves – their traits and own personal dilemma – I tend to
draw a lot on character flaws if anything to build the character up in my mind and then
display it in the project.
I’ve always been observant, while being quite antisocial and pondering people’s actions
and in turn putting them to some use… I seem to be able to put myself in the shoes of a
character, whatever gender or traits they hold because I’ve observed over the years
which has built a greater understanding. Having an artistic background outside of writing
I suppose has built and brought a greater visual aspect to the writing in that I can picture
the moment and situations with that much more ease to be able to identify with my
characters.
Regarding the storylines, I mentioned a need to explore any genre, I’m currently trying
my hand at a good-humoured novella (also adapted from a screenplay I wrote). I like to
challenge myself with each new project and find it exciting to try something new with
regards to genre and theme. As a male writer, I’m sure to raise a few eyebrows having
written THE WORLD HERSELF where the protagonist is a young, artistic, bisexual
female. I think male writers in general are called out for not being the best at writing
female leads which is fair enough… that particular story is loosely based on a girl I knew
during my teens who had her own personal anguish at the time, and I felt some
connection to her story and to this day I still do. So, she was the motivation behind the
story because I felt I wanted to do her justice somehow.
I like to instil some of myself into the characters created – IN MODERATION was the
first script I wrote in college, which is in novella form now and is loosely based on myself,
but I decided to make the protagonist an older version of myself (I was 19 at the time
and made him 32 years old). It is about a drinker who has a possessive nature which
ultimately brings about the breakdown of a relationship, and he along with his peers
must overcome their share of daily dilemma.

How do you approach research for your novels and how do you incorporate it into your
work?

I base a lot of the initial research on my own personal experience and memory because
I suppose it’s the first thing I’m faced with when having a story in mind, a whole heap of
self-reflection springs to mind – basically, the foundation must come from my own soul at
first. I’ll be thinking to myself ‘where have I been in life so far, and how did it affect me?’
Both mentally and physically – I once went to France as a child, so with THE WORLD
HERSELF, I incorporated a trip to Paris into the story and while instilling my own artistic
streak into the female protagonist, I also implemented certain personal traits into a
young waiter she meets and briefly falls in love with while staying at a hotel – in real life,
the girl in question at the time as a teenager was curious about her sexuality, so I built
that into her character too, which may seem a little cliché, but it’s about how you tell the
story that may have been told time and time over. If you’re to make something your own,
it should first come from within, from your own – from your own experience.
THE FAITHFUL MAY GO is more of a period piece set in a village, so I had to grasp
some level of understanding of what such a world would be like and I envisioned it a little
like SLEEPY HOLLOW in that they both share a haunting theme… though with my own
story I wanted to incorporate my own experience of voice hearing into that story which
tells of a lost soul communicating with a strife ridden protagonist as I also did with
BROKEN MENACE and HEATED HALLS which are similar stories only they’re set in
modern day. I was once a student so HEATED HALLS is loosely based on that
experience – I even applied my own breakdown into the male protagonist, something he
goes through which carries the story across, even though it’s not a real account of what
really happened, you can kind of twist things and bring a killer into the story.
Regarding the more spiritual and psychological aspect I put into my projects, I am
conscious of other dimensions and realms and often think about such phenomenon to
the extent of exploring it further through my writing and being a little open minded about
it and how it affects mentality which has inspired the poetry work as well. I think I do go
by a recurring theme about inner demons and personal turmoil and BROKEN MENACE
and HEATED HALLS both exhibit that concept… I wrote a poetry collection called
COATED REALMS which also explores this sinister flipside to life. Overall, the concept
of my projects stem from personal experience and I am able to stretch the narrative
somehow and build a more elaborate and effective story.

Can you speak to any challenges or obstacles you’ve faced while writing and how you
overcame them?

When trying to piece together MORGUE (my first publication, October 2018), I was
being told by voices to get the project done, it has something to offer, and to take my
mind off other perils which I was overthinking about far too much at the time which had
been with me since the initial stages of my breakdown back then, but at the same time
said voices wouldn’t leave me alone, they’d be distracting my writing efforts – which led
to me seeking professional help from a mental health team and taking medication. There
has been a lot of conflicted feelings throughout my writing journey so far, mixed with
some self-doubt, but I manage to keep pursuing my passion.

At this point in time, I’ve learned to deal with it all a lot better and understand the voice
hearing phenomenon and have even learned to use my mental illness to my advantage.
I have grown more passionate with regards to getting as much written as I possibly can,
trying out new themes and concepts.
Every project has differed with regards to motivation – I’ve been at my lowest and not
been able to put things in writing at times, which was so frustrating, but then at this point
in time I can’t seem to stop batting out projects and being more prolific – mostly with
poetry collections. This is why I’m currently undertaking a more light-hearted novella,
something fresh for a change to lighten the mood.

How do you handle writer’s block and maintain creative inspiration?

I think it mostly fluctuates between whether I’m in a depressive state or an excitable
state, (alcohol helps too to be honest to make the ideas flow easier, as daft as that may
sound). I think I’ve learned to push through writer’s block a little easier given the years of
writing and honing my own style to pair with my thought process with regards to how I
undertake a project. I think you simply grasp your own technique over time in that it
shapes itself and merges well with your line of thinking for you to better address your
style, knowing what works for yourself. I guess I’ve developed a way around it and have
matured somewhat with regards to having a more balanced structure.
It can be frustrating when you can’t find the words to write. I think over time though each
writer learns time and time again, since their last project, how to regain and maintain
their momentum and be in their element. I’m 34 now, so 20 years of writing, although at
times something I write may be forced at the time of penning, it can be returned to in a
short space of time to amend and elaborate on with better ease compared to back
then… I do prefer the editing stage as opposed to the initial penning stage because new
ideas always spring to mind – and you can reword and enhance what was initially jotted
down on paper from what is then brought to the computer screen.

How do you handle criticism and negative reviews of your work?

So far I haven’t received a real bad review, on the Goodreads website I have had two
low ratings without a review for my poetry collection RISE which at the time did kind of
put a downer on my writing ability – I felt bad in myself in that I hadn’t lived up to the
process as I initially thought I would – which I guess says something about a writer’s ego
coming into it. Since then, I’ve developed a thicker skin and so I think bad reviews are
meant to enable that in time, for to be aware that not everything you write will be that
good which is absolutely fine, and back then I wouldn’t have thought to express that but
over time it is all down to the learning experience, those bad ratings and reviews are
what in turn help you improve.
I’d rather have a stranger point out the flaws of my work than a family member or friend
tell me ‘oh, it’s really good,’ because they think it will dishearten me and my efforts. With
regards to RISE, at the time I improved on the collection and rectified it… which is the
good thing about self-publishing, you can still go back and amend the project. Overall,
I’d rather people just be honest about my work, everyone has different opinions and

since then I’ve grasped that not everyone will like what I’ve put together – so I think that
adds to the challenge of improving next time around.

Can you talk about any particular themes or messages you hope to convey through your
writing?

I like to address failed romance in particular; a lot of spirituality goes into what I try and
convey as well, despite regrets we hold there is some reconciliation I feel can be thought
about. Alcoholism has played a big part of my life thus far, so I tend to use that as a
theme of how we get by our daily struggles – however others deal with their own
dilemma in their own way. I address dark times but only to try and conjure up a sense of
self-belief and growth from the darker side of life – trying to shed light on our situations
and predicaments. I think if you’re trying to bring some greater understanding into the
minds of readers, you have to address the dark side of things which is what we all go
through and in turn face the opposition of emotion to gain better reflection and
perspective.

How do you balance the creative and business aspects of being an author?

I self-publish using KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), which gives me the freedom to get
across what I want to get across. I do need to learn more about the marketing side of it,
which for any writer is difficult. Although I write mostly for my own therapeutic reasons
and get a great deal of joy from being creative, it’s nice to see when someone
particularly from another part of the world decides to give it a read and hopefully review it
to perhaps pique the interest of other potential readers.

How do you see the publishing industry evolving in the future and how do you adapt to
changes in the market?

I once read someone mention on Twitter how self-publishing is becoming the way now
for a lot of authors, it just allows them the freedom and to be their own boss. It’s a
difficult question to answer as I do have a lot to learn on my own writing journey. The
way I think of it personally is that I don’t have time to wait for a professional to say ‘yes,
your work is good enough,’ I feel if any upcoming writer now and in the future has that
drive and determination and self-belief, they can go about the publishing process their
own way, however they want, but must also have a talent for marketing their work(s).

Can you recommend any books or authors that have influenced your writing or that you
currently enjoy reading?

I studied Ken Kesey’s ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST in college, and that
particular book has always stuck with me and remains an inspiration – I enjoyed the
movie too though the book is a much stronger and more vivid work. I enjoyed VURT by
Jeff Noon – another intriguing read which sees the characters explore other dimensions

due to being on a certain high while searching for the protagonist’s lost sister. I love
Plato’s THE REPUBLIC, in particular the section called THE SIMILE OF THE CAVE
which I think THE MATRIX movies are somewhat based on. In school I enjoyed studying
A KESTREL FOR A KNAVE by Barry Hines – being British, that particular book is a bit of
a staple I think in our education.