Ask the Author: Ron A. Austin
Answered Questions (6)
Ron A. Austin
I got the idea for Avery Colt Is A Snake, A Thief, A Liar from a writing exercise in a pedagogy class. Truth is, I forget the prompt, but it had something to do with writing a childhood memory. I wrote about picking june berries with my granddad, and that brought on a flood of emotion and connected memories. I put those feelings and thoughts aside for another year or two while I experimented and practiced in graduate school. When it came time to write a thesis, I returned to that starting point in childhood and worked from there to synthesize everything I had learned up to that point.
Ron A. Austin
Honestly, writing acts as a tether for me; it keeps me grounded and has the added bonuses of being pretty fun, challenging, and rewarding. I guess it's like an itch that some folks might have for jogging or playing the guitar or singing. Even on days when the words don't come easily or I know all I'll get done are light edits on a few paragraphs, it still feels worthwhile to try.
Ron A. Austin
My current project is called "Catacombs Incorporated." It's another collection of linked stories that can possibly masquerade as a novel. For me, the exciting part about this project is that it is both an inversion and complement to Avery Colt Is A Snake, A Thief, A Liar. Where Avery works on a baseline of low-concept realism, Catacombs works with high-concept surrealism, magic realism, and pretty much any other tradition that allows stuff to get strange. Where Avery focuses on a central experience, perhaps to the point of claustrophobia, Catacombs explores a range of characters and settings (though it still might get pretty claustrophobic). Another goal I have for Catacombs is centering women as heroines and backbones of community.
Ron A. Austin
Ah, I might have a few thoughts:
1. The craft of writing is objective. Most folks will say art is totally subjective; even folks who have a certain amount of ability, but focusing on subjectivity will keep you from pursuing measurable goals. Focus on learning as much theory and practical application as possible.
2. Practice, practice, practice. Try to practice at least one hour each day. If you can get two or three hours every once in a while, that's even better.
3. Some stories and even novels are experiments. I probably wrote a few hundred pages of creative work before I started submitting for publication.
4. Have as much fun as humanly possible. Great writing will elicit a complex range of emotions, especially from you as you develop a project. Somewhere in there should be feelings of euphoria, joy, and satisfaction. Do not let anyone talk you out of having fun.
5. Practice, practice, practice some more. And especially if you're a prose writer, start reading as much poetry as possible. Listening to song lyrics can also do a lot for improving concision and precision!
I hope this helps!!
1. The craft of writing is objective. Most folks will say art is totally subjective; even folks who have a certain amount of ability, but focusing on subjectivity will keep you from pursuing measurable goals. Focus on learning as much theory and practical application as possible.
2. Practice, practice, practice. Try to practice at least one hour each day. If you can get two or three hours every once in a while, that's even better.
3. Some stories and even novels are experiments. I probably wrote a few hundred pages of creative work before I started submitting for publication.
4. Have as much fun as humanly possible. Great writing will elicit a complex range of emotions, especially from you as you develop a project. Somewhere in there should be feelings of euphoria, joy, and satisfaction. Do not let anyone talk you out of having fun.
5. Practice, practice, practice some more. And especially if you're a prose writer, start reading as much poetry as possible. Listening to song lyrics can also do a lot for improving concision and precision!
I hope this helps!!
Ron A. Austin
Being able to practice a discipline you love and finding lanes that support both your pursuits and the pursuits of others as well. There's a really great community aspect here, and it's always exciting when you make new connections.
Ron A. Austin
I have two remedies for writer's block: 1. I always try to generate new concepts and fantasize. I might not be capable of rendering the concept to my satisfaction or I may not even want to render the idea, but I do always enjoy the fantasizing. This keeps me primed to put energy into my current projects. 2. Basic writing exercises are always good. Drafting sentences, settings, and movement in scenes keeps the blood flowing. I also like to do "sketches," the same way a painter might sketch their environment. Go to a park and jot down what you see. Something surprising might bubble up.
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