Do you remember the exact moment you knew you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to become an emcee when I first heard Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks". I was so enthralled with the words, the story, the rhythm, the vibe. That was what brought me to Rap and Poetry. I later wanted to try fiction when I read "Escape From New York" by John Carpenter. After I saw the "Escape...." movie, I wanted to be a composer. Since then, I have done all of the above.

What inspires you to write?

It depends on what style it is. My fiction comes from me asking "What if....". My Hip Hop comes from me living life as a black man in America. But my Poetry comes from pain and observation. Lots of times, the poetry says things that I can't express in Hip Hop, fiction or even out loud. My poetic voice allows my deepest voice to scream.

Are there any notable authors who have influenced your writing?

My fiction is influenced by Octavia Butler, James Joyce, John Faucette, Steven Barnes and C.S. Lewis. The Hip Hop is influenced by any emcee I think is good. The Last Poets are my all time favorite poets. Other influences on my poetry are Nikki Giovanni and Ogden Nash. But the people who really made me want Poetry are:

a) rap artists
b) the rural people of my childhood and people in my family
c) lesser known poets who write from the heart, like Van Jordan and Kenneth Lee
d) my grandfather, who wrote religious poetry and is probably turning over in his grave if his spirit can read what I write
e) comedians, like Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Ellen Degeneres and George Carlin.
f) old blues singers

How do you research the materials for your stories/poems?

I am constantly reading: that reading fuels fiction. The other writing comes from personal joy and pain. I'm a trip: I'll abandon poetry for years sometimes. I say I have a block, but it's really abandonment. But when life gets crazy and I need to figure things out, the Poetry and Hip Hop are the best ways to do it. Especially Poetry, because I don't have to worry about rhyming. That's not to say that I don't like to rhyme or even freestyle. But with Poetry, when the feeling is done, it's done. I am also very judgemental, sarcastic and have a biting sense of humor sometimes. You may not be able to tell that in the Romantic work, but in my angrier work, it shows.

Is there any particular target market you are trying to reach, and what do you want them to get out of your work?

This is what gets me: I don't see the angry black male or the regular black male voice in literature these days. We have gangstas, preachers and smoove bruhvas, and sometimes conscious brothers. Let's not forget the I-Was-A-Dog-But-Now-I's-Changed brother and the gay black male. But what about the regular brother who just wants to work, make love, watch tv and drink a beer in peace. The type of guy I say "what's up" to every day on the way to and from work. The man who just wants to maintain his relationships AND his manhood. If they don't read Poetry, perhaps it's because nobody is talking to them. I typically have to go to a Slam to hear anything that addresses that voice. But, when it comes down to it, if you bother to read my work, I'm trying to reach YOU.

Do you follow a strict writing schedule or just write when the spirit hits you?

I've done both. Strict schedules only work for a season: since I'm a husband, parent and have friends and relatives and a job, life gets in the way. When I have more time, I use a schedule. If I'm crunched for time, I put the poetry in anway I can. One thing that helps is since I take public transportation to work, I can write poems then. Since I've been doing it for so long, once I've written a poem in my notebook it's only a matter of time before it gets keyed into a file on my lunch hour or before I go to bed at night. Early mornings used to work, but I gained too much weight writing in the morning. Mornings are now for exercise.

What advice would you give to writers who are just starting this literary journey?

One, write the way you want to and need to write. Two, read, study, take courses, but don't let that dull your inner voice. Three, don't let anyone tell you how to be an artist. You are an artist whether you have taken the plunge to write full time and eat canned goods before you make it big or if you have a day job and family. The main thing is to keep writing or doing whatever art you pursue. When you get into the habit of writing, you don't even have to worry about your schedule: you will write because you must. The schedule is merely a tool for you to get into the habit of writing. If schedules work for you, use them, if not, don't. The main thing is to keep writing, keep submitting, keep looking for an agent, keep self-publishing if that's your thing. Keep at it.

How are you working to grow as an artist?

I work on growing as an artist by not working on growing as an artist. My art is second to my humanity.

Do you belong to any writing groups? How has that helped you?

I belong to a poetry club and have joined some online writing groups. They help me practice sharing my work with others and are good sources of information.

Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years in the future?

I see myself getting a steady stream of income from writing. I see myself with more sci-fi novels and short stories written under my real name, and with poetry anthologies and mainstream fiction published under my pen name of Paul Blakeford.