Ask the Author: Dean Baker
Answered Questions (7)
Dean Baker
Two word modern day horror story: No.WIFI!!!!!!!!
Dean Baker
My most recent work was an ebook in aid of Great Ormond St Children's Hospital. Unfortunately, soon after birth, my daughter required the dedicated care and specialist treatment of the wonderful team at Great Ormond Street. So to not only thank GOSH for all they did for my daughter, but to help them to continue to help other children, I wanted to do something to raise money for the great work they do. If anybody is interested in supporting the charity, you can do so here: https://profile.justgiving.com/deanba...
Dean Baker
Everyday chance happenings, people you observe in the street, the news, conversations with loved ones and work colleagues. My historical fiction comedy is a parody of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. It came to me when discussing Sharpe's Waterloo which had been shown on TV over a bank holiday. A guy I worked with thought it was a documentary and said something to the effect 'At school they tell you the Duke of Wellington won Waterloo, but it turns out it was mostly down to this guy Sharpe,'. That made me laugh so much it sowed the seed of inspiration for a parody or Sharpe.
Dean Baker
Several concurrent projects (see answer to writer block question!). I'm slaving over Mr 80's, the sequel to The Big R (More Evan and Barry comedic disasters!) a Victorian era spy novel, a fantasy novel, and a fictional historical comedy novel.
Dean Baker
1.)Write. 2.) Read. Reading books and seeing how they're constructed and put together is one of the best and cheapest ways to learn. For instance if a writer really brings a character to life in your head, try to see how he does it, and use that in your own writing.
Dean Baker
The uplifting experience of expressing your ideas, coupled with the effect that can have on others. Hearing feedback from your readers (I hope to have some one day!) is extremely rewarding.
Dean Baker
I know people are usually looking for a new and interesting response like 'I sky dive over active volcanoes' or 'I construct a full scale replica of the Pentagon from matchsticks' or 'I hang out in my secret underground lair on my private island and raise pygmy Hippos,'. However, I'm sorry to say I do none of those things. My formula is the tried and tested (yet boring) taking a rest from the troublesome project and working on something else. A little distance does do wonders for inspiration. The other thing is to read copiously in your genre and hopefully pick up tips and tricks from other writers. I put a lot of stock in the old saying 'If you steal from one source, it's plagiarism. If you steal from many, it's research,'
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