Ask the Author: Dean Robertson
Answered Questions (10)
Dean Robertson
I have no idea. I get up and I write. From the very recent moment when I discovered, by accident, that I could write and, subsequently, that I could write fiction, my challenge is how to get inspired to take a break.
Dean Robertson
I am completely reworking a novel I wrote a year ago, turning it into a murder mystery. It's the hardest writing I've ever done.
Dean Robertson
Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison, but I don't think that book was ever digitized. I've never checked, which is odd, because I really enjoyed doing that one.
Dean Robertson
I got up as usual and shuffled into the kitchen to make coffee. It took a minute before I realized I had heard the familiar creak of the door opening behind me.
Dean Robertson
The world of Anthony Trollope's Barsetshire novels. Oh, I expect I would spend a great deal of time doing nothing more than breathing deeply and watching the lives of my fellow human beings unfold in a world that, for good and no doubt for not-so-good, imposed limits and a clear order on their days and decisions. I would sit in the cathedral close and write notes about their efforts to ignore, resist, or circumvent as much of that order as possible. I honestly can't think of doing anything there, other than loving every minute until the cracks started to show.
Dean Robertson
Hi, Colleen, First let me tell you that one of my very favorite cousins is named Colleen. Then, my answer is that I do have an idea of how you can find a publisher but making a deal depends on a lot of things--the quality of the writing, of course, and your track record with the sales of your first two books. All of us want a traditional deal; few of us get it--even with independently published books under our belts (unless, as I say, we have an impressive number of sales and/or a really dynamic marketing plan. It's just very rare in today's publishing industry. I would be happy to talk with you further about this. My email address is pdroberts1@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me. I published my first book last year, decided to go with a hybrid deal rather than self-publishing, spent some money, and got exactly what I wanted.
Dean Robertson
Hi, Judy, No I am not back in Grand Rapids. I will be there for a book signing at Schuler Books later this month. That's scheduled for Wednesday October 28 at 7:00--with a couple of local writers. I'm actually doing a much longer presentation that same day at 2:00 at Beacon Hill, a retirement community. If you're interested I'm sure they would be happy for you to join us. The chaplain there seems really nice. If you want more info about this book, check out the various pages on the menu bar on my website, pdrobertson.com.
It is very good to hear from you and I am thrilled to hear you're writing. I'm finding the weekly "blog" writing an intriguing thing, too. Can I find your blog with your name and topic or do I need the URL? Also take a look at the blog on my website; so far the topics are all over the place. Can I interest you in doing a guest blog? I'd be happy to return the favor :-)
It is very good to hear from you and I am thrilled to hear you're writing. I'm finding the weekly "blog" writing an intriguing thing, too. Can I find your blog with your name and topic or do I need the URL? Also take a look at the blog on my website; so far the topics are all over the place. Can I interest you in doing a guest blog? I'd be happy to return the favor :-)
Dean Robertson
That's a hard question because every writer is just slightly different from every other writer. That said, I think I would have two imperatives that I always gave students through thirty years of teaching and I find also are essential for my writing.
1. For your first draft, write everything. Pack it with detail; overwrite; put in way too much; put in everything you can think of. Part of your editing process will be to take some of it out, but having too much is way better than not having enough.
2. Don't write alone. I know many writers prefer to write in private; no one sees their manuscript. I tapped every person I knew to read, comment, critique. My cousin and I actually spent hours on the phone for several months going over it again and again, line by line, reading out loud. I have a better book because of that.
1. For your first draft, write everything. Pack it with detail; overwrite; put in way too much; put in everything you can think of. Part of your editing process will be to take some of it out, but having too much is way better than not having enough.
2. Don't write alone. I know many writers prefer to write in private; no one sees their manuscript. I tapped every person I knew to read, comment, critique. My cousin and I actually spent hours on the phone for several months going over it again and again, line by line, reading out loud. I have a better book because of that.
Dean Robertson
I have loved the independence of writing, being able to make my own schedule, being able to work in my pajamas, being able to mix it up and write a while, do laundry, make a couple of phone calls, vary my day.
Dean Robertson
I have a terrible confession here. I have spent the past year writing, editing, reading, rereading, rewriting, submitting, and - the miracle-finding a publisher for my first book. I think I had the opposite of writer's block. I simply could not stop writing. I wrote all day; I wrote in the middle of the night. I was consumed by it. I neglected my health, my family, my friends (but not my cat). So, we'll see what happens with the next book.
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