Ask the Author: Dan Morales
Answered Questions (4)
Dan Morales
The second book in The Scouts of St. Michael series, as of yet untitled. I have draft one about 1/3rd of the way completed.
Dan Morales
I heard an interview of a man who became a character featured in my book, Capt. Eric Brown, of RAF fame. In his youth, through some extraordinary events, he became friends with a famous World War I pilot who invited him to spend some time in Germany. While he was there he spent time at a Hitler Youth summer camp, and compared it to his own British Boy Scout experience. The idea hit me like a slap in the face: Boy Scouts vs. Hitler Youth. I had never seen a story like that, so I let my imagination run wild for a bit and one page turned into five that turned into 30 that turned into 100 and before I knew it, I had the novel. Granted, I did have a lot of work to do when it came to creating the actual story, but that's the fun of being a writer.
Dan Morales
I write my way out of it. Sometimes the good stuff is hidden inside the bad stuff that you just have to get out of your head. Research also helps me. If I get stuck on a plot point or can't figure out where the story should go next I dig into what I already know, and try to find out more about my story, settings, locations, characters, etc. I can't wait to be "inspired" or I might wait forever, but digging into the research always works to inspire me in some way or another. It's about finding what sparks your creativity, having faith in your talent, and moving through your process. If you don't have a process, develop one, because sometime the process alone can push you through a rough spot.
Dan Morales
Write. Read. Write some more. Read some more. Write. Never give up. Ignore the haters. Ann Rice says in the fiction game "There are no rules." That's a good one to follow. Measure your progress, the more you make, the more inspired you will become. Remember that not everything you write is ready for a book. J.K. says "You have the write the rubbish out of your system." Don't fall in love with your work, but love your work.
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