Benjamin Percy’s superpower might be his proficiency. From his home in Northfield, the 45-year-old writer churns out novels, screenplays, TV scripts and comic books with Flash-like speed.
Percy is working on a TV adaptation of “Urban Cowboy,” as well as more adventures for Deadpool, Wolverine, Red Hulk and Predator. He spoke last week via Zoom about his work ethic and favorite characters.
Q: Are you in your office?
A: Yes. I call it the dungeon because I’m in the basement. I’ve got a view of a woodpile and a forest behind me. It’s a little bit dank and shadowy down here, but I can’t beat the commute. I pour my coffee and walk down the stairs.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: I have a set schedule. I start around 7:30 a.m. and work until 4:30 p.m. or 5. I take a break to have lunch and walk the dog. Otherwise, I’m just hammering away and playing with my imaginary friends.
Q: Do you ever suffer writer’s block?
A: Sometimes I have roadblocks, but I don’t have the luxury of just pausing my work. If I get stuck on a plot point or a character’s motivation, I just turn my attention to another project. Ideally, I’m in just one imaginative space a day and, if it’s a novel, I’m in that same space for weeks. But the way comics work, there’s interruption after interruption. Sometimes, I’ll get 100 emails a day from Marvel with pressing requests. Being a comic book writer is almost like being a film director. You’re part of this team of people all trying to put the story together.