Ask the Author: Stan Sudan
Answered Questions (10)
Stan Sudan
Once upon a time in my distant youth, I was relaxing in the cool, sun-dappled shade of a gigantic, live-oak tree, eating a delectable, maple-sugar-coated, sweet-cheese-filled pastry, savoring each and every eye-rolling-into-the-back-of-my-head bite. The texture of the filling inexplicably changed in my mouth as I ate, and as I paused, the crunchy morsel between my teeth suddenly moved...
Stan Sudan
Probably to Riverworld, the series by Philip José Farmer. I'd ride for a while on Mark Twain's steamboat, die a few times, then relive my life each time as a different sentient animal. It's a crazy plot. But I loved it.
Stan Sudan
Sisters of Light. Dancers of Light. Medicine Riders. Brothers of Light. Dreamwalkers. Ring of Starstone...all by a familiar author.
When your own series takes command of your life, you're kind of stuck reading them, several times (or hundreds). But I don't mind. I love reading them. And rereading them.
When your own series takes command of your life, you're kind of stuck reading them, several times (or hundreds). But I don't mind. I love reading them. And rereading them.
Stan Sudan
The Falcon and the Snowman was a 1979 non-fiction book written by Robert Lindsey about real-life spy Christopher Boyce. When I worked at the same facility as Boyce, The Falcon and the Snowman was required reading for security indoctrination. Boyce and I were born in the same year. I worked in a building adjacent to the one in which Boyce worked. The movie starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn immortalized the two main characters. And that's all for now. Because I can't say more. But the experience would be great fodder for a potential novel. Or two. Or three. :)
Stan Sudan
A writer may be frustrated that the muses aren't dictating volumes of screaming/streaming consciousness into her or his brain, but that's not writing anyway. It's channeling. Which is ok. Just...not really writing in my opinion. I believe that writing's an art, and it has to be developed. Like any skill, if you practice it, you'll get better. Perhaps take a class. Or talk to a writer. Twitter for a writer's group. Ask a teacher for kick-in-the-pants ideas. Or, if you still think you have something called writer's block, you could even go get therapy. Really. Avoidance of writing by empowering inspiration to exclude you by labeling it as a block leaves little room for authorship and writing. There are thousands of writing exercises to stimulate a writer's creativity--even putting prepositional phrases in order does it for me! I carry a booklet everywhere I go. I do speed-characterizations of interesting people I meet. If you're truly stuck, just Google a list of fun writing activities--and actually try them. Or go fishing. Literally. Writing is generating ideas from personal life experiences, so enriching one's perspective by sitting in nature is not only good for your descriptive writing, it's great for you physically. You'll sleep better, have a better appetite, and who knows what those elementals will inspire in you.
Stan Sudan
Getting to read your own books. :)
Stan Sudan
Write. Let someone read it. Listen to them if they speak to you kindly, shrug them off if they say something ugly, lick your wounds and go back to writing. Some people are in the world to push their own agendas. They truly don't care about what you've written, only what they want to write, or think you should write. Ask questions. Honest questions. Steer clear of editors carrying a butcher knife. And love your craft enough to be passionate about it. If you can't love it, don't do it.
Stan Sudan
Final line edit on paper edition for Sisters of Light. Both eBook and print covers are done. Sending in final approval for print edition today. Soon as that's on Amazon, I'll be jumping into edits for Book Two, Dancers of Light.
Stan Sudan
I get up in the morning. Seriously. There is no other passion as great in my life, so when I wake up, I'm reminded that I'm no longer sleeping and it's time to write.
Stan Sudan
30 years ago, on a trip to Santa Fe during the Harmonic Convergence. I was visited by a Medicine Man in my dreams. I can blame it all on him. :)
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