Ask the Author: D.J. Renner
Answered Questions (3)
D.J. Renner
Read! Start with books or magazines about writing. I read a book called, Is There a Book Inside of You and got a subscription to Writers Digest. Learning about writers and the their processes changed the way I read books. I started paying attention to dialogue, character development, and other aspects I had never appreciated. I found the Story Board fascinating. Although I use a notebook with a page dedicated to each chapter that is constantly being added to and altered, rather than a big board.
D.J. Renner
All of my books have been inspired by teaching and the subject I teach. As a middle and high school history teacher, I am introduced to 80-100 characters per year and plenty of content. Some of this content inspires me to research time periods in American History more deeply. The idea I am currently working on is a follow up to my first historical fiction book The Adventures of Silas Freethorn: A Puritan Tale. It would be set around 1680 in the colonial era.
D.J. Renner
I have never had writer's block when working on my books. I use a notebook to map the chapters, constantly adapting the themes of each chapter as the story evolves. I never put pressure on myself to sit and write. Instead, I work through a chapter in my head at the very minimum for days and sometimes a week or two. Being a teacher and coach, writing is a side job and this process has been a wonderful way to fill free moments. When the chapter gets worked out in my head it usually flows onto paper in a day or two. Then the process starts again for the next chapter.
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