Ask the Author: Joseph Rauch
Answered Questions (6)
Joseph Rauch
Right now I am spending most of my free time promoting my debut novel, "Teach Me How To Die." Once I see a significant number of sales, I might begin writing my next novel, "The Last of the Mentally Ill." I have an outline for it but haven't started writing the book yet.
Joseph Rauch
Painful experiences, existential anxieties, interesting topics and great stories usually inspire me to write.
Joseph Rauch
Try to collaborate with experienced writers and editors. Seek feedback from them. People who know what they're doing can teach you more than any class or book.
Joseph Rauch
I love telling stories that make a difference, writing pieces that help people learn something or see a new perspective. It is so satisfying to write something, finish editing it, publish it and then watch the reactions trickle in.
Joseph Rauch
I do a lot of pacing. Any kind of exercise helps. Sometimes my best ideas incubate during a run. Reading great literature is useful, too.
Joseph Rauch
The idea for my debut novel, "Teach Me How To Die," came to me during a series of nightmares I had when I was enduring the worst of my clinical depression. Most of the outline unfolded in one dream.
I had been depressed to the point of wanting to die, but not considering suicide. Many years of repressed emotions and frustrations will spilling out. Because of my intense psychosomatic symptoms, I physically felt like I was dying, like my body was shutting down.
If you read the book, you will see how my struggle inspired many aspects of the story and Walter's character. Obviously I hadn't thought about assaulting anyone, though. That's one of the big differences.
I had been depressed to the point of wanting to die, but not considering suicide. Many years of repressed emotions and frustrations will spilling out. Because of my intense psychosomatic symptoms, I physically felt like I was dying, like my body was shutting down.
If you read the book, you will see how my struggle inspired many aspects of the story and Walter's character. Obviously I hadn't thought about assaulting anyone, though. That's one of the big differences.
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