Ask the Author: E.B. Dawson
Answered Questions (8)
E.B. Dawson
Thanks for the question! I'm sorry for my late reply, I didn't see the notification for this.
While I love Isabelle and Sebastian's story, some of the beauty of it (for me) lies in its simplicity. I started drafting thinking it would be more of a 7k story, and while it ended up being almost twice that length, it was very clear to me by the end that it was over. I think the beauty of shorter fiction is that there is more room for the reader to make the story their own and fill in the gaps and the before and after with their own imagination.
All that being said, I am not against ever writing more in this world. But I have no specific plans as of yet.
While I love Isabelle and Sebastian's story, some of the beauty of it (for me) lies in its simplicity. I started drafting thinking it would be more of a 7k story, and while it ended up being almost twice that length, it was very clear to me by the end that it was over. I think the beauty of shorter fiction is that there is more room for the reader to make the story their own and fill in the gaps and the before and after with their own imagination.
All that being said, I am not against ever writing more in this world. But I have no specific plans as of yet.
E.B. Dawson
Hello there! Good question. I am currently revising it so that it lines up a little better with changes I made in the second book (and I am glad I caught it early enough where I could do that!). I hope to re-release it in September!
I would recommend waiting because this first book will be important in setting up the trilogy, and I want to make sure you get the right first impression. And when the time comes I would be happy to replace your e-copy with the updated version!
I would recommend waiting because this first book will be important in setting up the trilogy, and I want to make sure you get the right first impression. And when the time comes I would be happy to replace your e-copy with the updated version!
E.B. Dawson
Probably Margaret Hale and John Thornton (North and South). But Esther Summerson and Alan Woodcourt (Bleak House) are a very close second!
E.B. Dawson
I'm pretty generous with myself when it comes to writer's block. As a self-published author at this point, I only have self-imposed deadlines. Plus, I love my stories so much that I know I will come back to them and get them where they need to go. My brain tends to function like a percolator. It takes time to get boiling. When I am struggling with a scene/character/development I retreat from it for a while. I often distract myself with mindless tasks (playing computer solitaire) that allow me to think.
When I know where I want to go but am struggling with motivation to write those dreaded transition scenes I often will skip ahead to scenes I'm more comfortable with or excited about. This gets my creative juices flowing and usually suggests more content.
But if I am really struggling on a project, I work on something else. I avoided short stories for a long time, but I've recently been enjoying them. I have found it very helpful to start an entirely new project and often I can finish it within a few hours (which is a great confidence boost!).
Other than that? I keep my senses stimulated. Hot beverages, snacks, music, new settings to write in, and reading good literature.
When I know where I want to go but am struggling with motivation to write those dreaded transition scenes I often will skip ahead to scenes I'm more comfortable with or excited about. This gets my creative juices flowing and usually suggests more content.
But if I am really struggling on a project, I work on something else. I avoided short stories for a long time, but I've recently been enjoying them. I have found it very helpful to start an entirely new project and often I can finish it within a few hours (which is a great confidence boost!).
Other than that? I keep my senses stimulated. Hot beverages, snacks, music, new settings to write in, and reading good literature.
E.B. Dawson
The excuse to drink coffee. Lol. Honestly, the best thing about being a writer is reviewing my work after considerable time has passed and thinking, "That's pretty good." Not that this happens all of the time. There's definitely bad mixed in with the good. I just skimmed through "The Creation of Jack" looking for quotations. I poured blood, sweat, tears, and an eternity into writing that novel. But I forgot how proud I was of it. It's no "Moby Dick," but it's mine. And I love it.
E.B. Dawson
Use what you know. I know it's awfully fun to write about the wacky, bizarre, unlikely, and outlandish. It's fun to explore things you don't know. But there's an honesty about drawing from your own experiences and acquaintances. This doesn't mean you have to base a novel around your life and your family. But if you add in a minor character, why not base him off that friend of yours who always made you laugh? I know it is tempting to imitate the characters you see on TV, but if you don't understand them from personal experience you may not be able to write them believably. (I myself am working on this.:)
But most importantly, push on. Write, write, write, write, write. You will get better over time. You will learn from trial and error.
But most importantly, push on. Write, write, write, write, write. You will get better over time. You will learn from trial and error.
E.B. Dawson
I am finishing up the sequel for "The Creation of Jack." It is called "Into the Void" and I am not ashamed to say it's a page turner! I am ecstatic with the way it is turning out. I attempted a sequel a number of years ago. It kept going off in all directions and I wasn't satisfied with any of them.
"Into the Void" picks up about eighteen months after we left Druce Finamore and Logan Bailey. Logan has entered an entirely new phase of her life. Without giving away too much I'll say this: she was used to being invisible for a long time. Now she is in the public eye with a boatload of responsibility.
I have had a lot of fun developing the characters more and exploring the unique relationship between Logan and Druce.
"Into the Void" picks up about eighteen months after we left Druce Finamore and Logan Bailey. Logan has entered an entirely new phase of her life. Without giving away too much I'll say this: she was used to being invisible for a long time. Now she is in the public eye with a boatload of responsibility.
I have had a lot of fun developing the characters more and exploring the unique relationship between Logan and Druce.
E.B. Dawson
I originally started writing to inspire myself. I wanted to craft a heroine that I could relate to and I wanted her to find victory in the hardest circumstances because I was feeling defeated.
I still write to inspire myself. But now I generally put to pen to paper when I want to express what I've learned. I'm not the best at communicating my emotions verbally and I'm horrible at talking about myself. But I can create a character who has gone through a similar experience and express on paper the emotional lessons he/she has learned.
Lastly, I am most inspired by people. I love meeting new people who are entirely different from me and trying to understand what makes them who they are.
I still write to inspire myself. But now I generally put to pen to paper when I want to express what I've learned. I'm not the best at communicating my emotions verbally and I'm horrible at talking about myself. But I can create a character who has gone through a similar experience and express on paper the emotional lessons he/she has learned.
Lastly, I am most inspired by people. I love meeting new people who are entirely different from me and trying to understand what makes them who they are.
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