Ask the Author: Dick Pirozzolo
Answered Questions (7)
Dick Pirozzolo
Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund in "Casablanca"
Dick Pirozzolo
The way to be inspired is to not wait for inspiration.
W. Somerset Maugham, author of "The Razor's Edge" and "Of Human Bondage," allocated a certain number of hours a day to writing (not many) and then spent his afternoons relaxing at the neighborhood bistros. He never broke sweat, pulled an all nighter or stressed. Just steady dedication to his craft.
It worked. He is probably one of the most prolific and financially successful authors of the 20th century. Here is what Wikipedia says:
By the time of his death in 1965 Maugham was widely judged to be one of the most commercially successful and gifted writers of the twentieth century.[1] The Times obituarist called Maugham "the most assured English writer of his time", and wrote that "no writer of his generation ... graced the world of English letters with more complete or more polished assurance".[3]
W. Somerset Maugham, author of "The Razor's Edge" and "Of Human Bondage," allocated a certain number of hours a day to writing (not many) and then spent his afternoons relaxing at the neighborhood bistros. He never broke sweat, pulled an all nighter or stressed. Just steady dedication to his craft.
It worked. He is probably one of the most prolific and financially successful authors of the 20th century. Here is what Wikipedia says:
By the time of his death in 1965 Maugham was widely judged to be one of the most commercially successful and gifted writers of the twentieth century.[1] The Times obituarist called Maugham "the most assured English writer of his time", and wrote that "no writer of his generation ... graced the world of English letters with more complete or more polished assurance".[3]
Dick Pirozzolo
"Escape from Saigon - a Novel" was based on real events that occurred throughout the last month of the Vietnam War and led to the fall of Saigon and unification of Vietnam.
The authors Mike Morris and Dick Pirozzolo are both decorated Vietnam veterans who joined forces to write this novel. For us it was a personal journal back in time to the pivotal event of our lives—indeed the lives of our generation.
Speaking for myself, I had returned from Vietnam in '71 and got a job at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. By 1975 I was focused on my career and thought I had put Vietnam in my past and locked the door on the memories of that experience. I later returned to Vietnam many times to work on US-Vietnam reconciliation and to cover changes that had taken place since the war ended. But the novel proved to be a much more emotional journey down the rabbit hole than I had expected—in particular I relived the sense of aloneness that I felt when I came home to a lukewarm reception from a nation that simply did not understand or care.
The authors Mike Morris and Dick Pirozzolo are both decorated Vietnam veterans who joined forces to write this novel. For us it was a personal journal back in time to the pivotal event of our lives—indeed the lives of our generation.
Speaking for myself, I had returned from Vietnam in '71 and got a job at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. By 1975 I was focused on my career and thought I had put Vietnam in my past and locked the door on the memories of that experience. I later returned to Vietnam many times to work on US-Vietnam reconciliation and to cover changes that had taken place since the war ended. But the novel proved to be a much more emotional journey down the rabbit hole than I had expected—in particular I relived the sense of aloneness that I felt when I came home to a lukewarm reception from a nation that simply did not understand or care.
Dick Pirozzolo
"Escape from Saigon - Novel" will be available on Amazon December 16. I've already started the sequel -- actually two sequels that will take us to modern day life and troubles in Southeast Asia.
Dick Pirozzolo
Get paid for what you write. Even it is only four cents word get paid.
It gives you the discipline you need to treat your writing professionally, like it's your job and not something you do for ego, creative satisfaction, or having something you made to share with your friends.
It gives you the discipline you need to treat your writing professionally, like it's your job and not something you do for ego, creative satisfaction, or having something you made to share with your friends.
Dick Pirozzolo
Every once in a while something ends up in print, it might only be a line or two that makes you all tingly. Other than that it's a job that is terrific by default, beats being an entomologist.
Dick Pirozzolo
Same answer I give to my dog. Sit. Stay.
Seriously folks...
Read poetry -- it's like lubrication for the language part of your brain
Turn off the screen on your computer and write for a few minutes without looking at that blank screen.
Start with something already down "on paper" from a previous work, having one or two sentences makes that big white screen less formidable.
Make circle diagrams on paper -- write down the name of your main character(s) and then create other circles containing the names of characters who interact with that character. Join them with arrows. Then write down a line of dialogue along the arrow. Get's out from in front of the blasted computer screen.
Take the advice of Lowney Handy who mentored James Jones "From Here to Eternity"-- copy the work of others. Typing every word focuses your attention much more sharply than merely reading on what the author is thinking and why he or she handled a passage in a certain way.
And if all else fails. Walk the dog.
Seriously folks...
Read poetry -- it's like lubrication for the language part of your brain
Turn off the screen on your computer and write for a few minutes without looking at that blank screen.
Start with something already down "on paper" from a previous work, having one or two sentences makes that big white screen less formidable.
Make circle diagrams on paper -- write down the name of your main character(s) and then create other circles containing the names of characters who interact with that character. Join them with arrows. Then write down a line of dialogue along the arrow. Get's out from in front of the blasted computer screen.
Take the advice of Lowney Handy who mentored James Jones "From Here to Eternity"-- copy the work of others. Typing every word focuses your attention much more sharply than merely reading on what the author is thinking and why he or she handled a passage in a certain way.
And if all else fails. Walk the dog.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more