Ask the Author: Paul MacAlindin
Answered Questions (5)
Paul MacAlindin
I lived it. To find out more, check out one of my TED talks on this page, or visit:
www.youtube.com/user/nyoiinfo
http://issuu.com/nyoiraq/stacks
www.youtube.com/user/nyoiinfo
http://issuu.com/nyoiraq/stacks
Paul MacAlindin
I inspire me to write. This is pretty egotistical, but unless I can see a possibility to change or evangelise about something, I don't get worked up enough. My inner conviction that people, given a snowball's chance in hell, can be wonderful, and that I can help a little, is what matters. I am also an advocate of trying, however painfully, to extract nuggets of wisdom and insight from life. There are too many people who bumble through life without ever having done the hard work of acquiring either.
Paul MacAlindin
Don't stop aspiring. This means IT'S THE JOURNEY, STUPID!
Honestly, I don't know, but two things helped me:
1. reading my book out loud to myself, I automatically found a more authentic voice, changed adjectives, nouns, grammar, and avoided showiness.
2. avoiding the words "was" and "were". Whenever I caught myself writing those, I immediately reformulated the sentence with a richer verb, which often led to more interesting grammatical constructs and colours. These two words felt heavy and dull.
Honestly, I don't know, but two things helped me:
1. reading my book out loud to myself, I automatically found a more authentic voice, changed adjectives, nouns, grammar, and avoided showiness.
2. avoiding the words "was" and "were". Whenever I caught myself writing those, I immediately reformulated the sentence with a richer verb, which often led to more interesting grammatical constructs and colours. These two words felt heavy and dull.
Paul MacAlindin
The broad church of opinions in the world of books, and the essentially humane and humanist act of writing about people, life and truths. Classical music, on the other hand, is a highly abstract form of art, and can hide behind all manner of human dreadfulness or elevation.
Paul MacAlindin
If the voice inside me is being fed enough with details, facts, feelings, reflections, then the words will pour out. What matters is that you keep feeding yourself with inspiration, and if you really are an artist, you will transform it all in your gut and, like indigestion, it bubbles up to the surface to demand your attention. Starving artist syndrome is so unnecessary. The art of entering deep concentration to work must be accompanied by the art of returning safely to the surface, perhaps in a different place from where you dived in, but nevertheless ready to live life and nourish yourself again.
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