Jason Letts is the author of Powerless, about a girl fighting to get her family back despite being the only one without a special power. He sits down with fellow StoryBundler Geoff Morrison to discuss writing, the Lorax, and George R.R. Martin.

How did you approach your first book? Is that different from how you approached the next?

I approached the story based on a few ideas I had about YA Fantasy, mostly that it was dominated by male characters who discovered a special advantage that made it easier to succeed, rather than harder. I continue to write based on things I’d like to see in my genre.

Your most recent?

One key thing was that I needed to condense things down more. But in my most recent, I needed to elaborate more. I guess I swung a bit too far the other way!

How do you approach writing characters?

To me, characters service the dual purpose of being necessary components of the plot, pulling it in different directions, and being the focus of attention for readers, for whom they are an extension.

How do you give individual characters their own “voice.”

A lot of it is just my impression of what a character would sound and talk like, but some stylistic cues often help.

How do you decide on pacing?

Pacing is one of those things that I think is inherent in an author’s style. Pacing is just a byproduct of how the story is built.

How do you decide what to reveal to the audience, and when?

A tough question. The best books are like sleight of hand, making you rethink things you read earlier with each passing revelation.

When it comes to description, do you think there’s such a thing as too much? Too little? How do you decide what’s your “right” amount.

I think it just has to do with how much “weight” I want to add to a particular detail. The number of words should say something about the importance of the subject.

Do you listen to music as you write?

No music.

Do you finish, then edit, or do you edit as you go?

I generally write first and then edit later, but I usually do read and edit a bit before I begin writing again to get into the flow of the story.

Do you wait until you have an idea, or do you sit down and write every day no matter what?

They say professionals don’t wait for lightning to strike; they sit down and get to work. If I sit down and reach into the imagination, I’m going to find something.

What’s your biggest hindrance to finishing a book?

I hope it’s not gaudy of me to say nothing. When I start something, I finish it.

How many people get to read your unfinished, or recently finished, work?

I’ve got a few special readers who help me in the early stages before the book is finished. I’m eternally grateful to them!

What do you feel are your strengths as a writer? What advice would you give for someone who wants to improve that aspect of their writing?

Hard to say, but I really enjoy coming up with intricate plots with a lot of moving characters and pieces. When you boil it down, books are really just mind puzzles. And I do think plenty of plotting beforehand helps with that.

What would you like to improve with your writing, and how would you go about doing it?

I think everyone could use a little more genius. For me, I’d like to imbue characters with more interesting tropes, sort of like George R.R. Martin in A Song of Ice and Fire.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out, trying to finish (or start!) their first novel.

If you’re just starting out writing, it has to be fun. Sitting down and aiming to publish or profit from your very first piece of creative writing is unlikely to turn out well.

Who are your favorite authors?

George R. R. Martin, J.K. Rowling. Tim O’Brien, Joseph Heller

If you could ask your favorite author one question, what would it be? What would you like to learn from them?

When did you know that you’d created something incredible?

What’s your favorite book of all time?

The Lorax

Have you read any useful books that helped you with story, characters, or writing in general?

There are lots of great books on writing out there: The Elements of Style, On Writing by Stephen King, and there was one I read by Ray Bradbury that was great, though the title escapes me at the moment.

How did you approach your cover artist, and what was that experience like?

I’ve worked with a number of cover artists, and it’s always usually a fraught experience. Stunning images are so hard to come by or create on demand.

Any tricks you’ve learned in eBook formatting?

I did get good with Mobipocket and Calibre, but unfortunately Mobipocket has been discontinued.

Do you sell across all eBook platforms? Has one done better for you than others?

Yes, my books are on most platforms. I’ve seen some results on BN and Apple, but nothing has come close to Amazon for me.

How do you feel about KDP Select (i.e. Kindle Owners' Lending Library)?

KDP Select has its uses, but for my primary works the exclusivity is too much of a barrier.

Do you sell print versions of your books? If so, what company do you use, and why?

I try to sell print versions, but mostly the sales are for ebooks.

Do you do any marketing? If so, what works for you, what hasn’t?

Marketing has always been tough. There used to be a lot of places online to promote, but now the environment is mostly pay-to-play.

Did you enjoy being a part of your StoryBundle? Have you seen an increase in sales separate from the Bundle?

I did…and I did! Obviously the sales have been great, but I’ve heard from a number of new fans as well, which is always nice. StoryBundle has definitely evolved into an impressive operation and has made a niche for itself in the ebook marketplace.

Aside from battling it out on the keyboard, Jason Letts is an endurance athlete and World's Toughest Mudder competitor, and he has the scars to prove it. He enjoys running forest trails, cycling winding back-country roads, and exploring rivers and lakes in a kayak. He reads mostly fantasy and has all his life, not because it's trendy or violent, but because good fantasy always speaks to something essential about the human condition.

You can find him at his website and on Facebook.

Geoffrey Morrison is a freelance writer and editor. His first novel, Undersea, was featured in the first StoryBundle. You can follow him on Twitter @TechWriterGeoff.