Ask the Author: Steven C. Nelson
Answered Questions (4)
Steven C. Nelson
Evangeline and Gabriel from Longfellow’s Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie. Gabriel being torn from Evangeline's life the day after they are wed, not to be reunited with her until years later when she finds him on his deathbed, is heart-wrenching. But how her heart impels her to continue her assiduous yet ever disappointing search for him—stating, “Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, and not elsewhere.”—reminds us that a love strong enough can empower us to overcome even the seemingly impossible.
Steven C. Nelson
If you’re working on a piece and the next great line or scene randomly pops into your head, stop what you’re doing and write it down. So many magnificent combinations of words have been supplanted by the introduction of some trifle into my consciousness before I've had a chance to record them, never to be woven into the tapestry of a good story. To quote E.B. White, writing is about “bringing down the bird of thought as it flashes by,” a unique perspective on writing that has spared me much regret.
Steven C. Nelson
Creating something from nothing. I’m always fascinated by watching painters start with a blank canvas and end with a masterpiece—I can watch Bob Ross for hours! But since I can barely make stick figures look like stick figures, I sensed painting wasn’t the vocation for me. I discovered that you can do that with writing, though not quite as literal, and it continues to exhilarate me to this day.
Steven C. Nelson
Cognitive Debris actually grew out of my dislike for reading. I always found it time-consuming and dull, but through the efforts of some influential (and persistent) family members, I discovered that it can be exciting and fulfilling. This made me want to create a book that would be approachable and appealing to those teetering between wanting to read and fire up Netflix. In order to achieve this, I made it a collection of short, disparate passages so that readers' interest would be continually piqued and they could feel a sense of accomplishment after just a few pages. It's also a mix of memoir, fiction, and poetry, not just because they were the best formats for telling the story, but so that it would have something for everybody.
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