Ask the Author: David Wittlinger
Answered Questions (8)
David Wittlinger
Hi Werner! Funny, I was just thinking about that last night. I have a few chapters written but am still a bit stymied as to the main plot of the third installment. I've been too distracted by non-writing 'adulting' stuff. I wrote a non-fiction book in-between that is doing fairly well also. Sadly we're probably another year away from finding out if Brianna and Mitch become an item. Disclaimer: even I don't know!
David Wittlinger
I've done a lot of research on my family tree. There is a young Irish girl who came here alone in the late 1800s. Within a few months she married one of my relatives. There has to be a story there. Unfortunately, Ireland has little in the way of online records and Mary Fordham continues to be a mystery to me. I gave my character Brianna her surname as a means of honoring an undoubtedly tough and brave woman (who lived to quite an old age).
David Wittlinger
Story ideas come to me randomly and get jotted down for future consideration. I ponder my various ideas off and on until one of them becomes clear. Once I have a solid vision for a book the motivation to do the work comes pretty easily. It often manifests itself as a yearning to get things down on paper as quickly as possible.
David Wittlinger
Ideas frequently come from out of the blue. A spoken phrase, a news story, meeting an unusual real person...all of these things can trigger a story idea. I often can't point to a single 'event' that provides the basis for a story. Usually an idea may come from sparks noted above and then simmer like charcoal for awhile until a clear tale appears.
David Wittlinger
Nick and Nora Charles from the "Thin Man" films. The dry, sarcastic wit that lightly buffers what is a deep love between the two characters was unusual for its time and still entertaining today.
David Wittlinger
The first of two books that will make The Strong One a series of at least three volumes. Each will be a stand-alone novel, meaning you need not read them in order (though it will be better). Only when I was close to finishing The Strong One did I imagine Brianna's story could continue. She is a fun character to write
David Wittlinger
Just write. It will probably be crap at first, and you'll recognize it as such. Eventually you will write something that you absolutely love. It may be a sentence or a paragraph but you'll know it when you read it. From that, work toward bigger and better. Don't expect to write anything good your first time out. Writing is much like learning to play an instrument; only by practicing will you ever become proficient.
David Wittlinger
Creating characters you love spending time with. The best characters have interesting flaws but also the ability to overcome them. I like characters with 'pluck' who may not want to endure what I throw at them but nevertheless are able to overcome hurdles.
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Jul 20, 2020 05:38AM · flag