Ask the Author: David McPherson
Answered Questions (4)
David McPherson
For me, music is the elixir of life. I've always loved music and a passion for history is not far behind. In the past 20 years, I had visited The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto many times and I had read, on every major anniversary it celebrated, how iconic this live music bar was. Just like the ghosts that live inside these four walls on Queen Street West in Toronto, I felt the tug to dig deeper into the history of The Shoe and share these findings with like-minded music lovers. With the legendary tavern celebrating 70 years in 2017 and still going strong, it was the prefect time to write this tale.
David McPherson
No different than advice I've read and received from other writers. Don't let rejection get you down. It's going to happen and it makes you and your writing stronger. Find a good writing mentor or editor and learn from them. Read, read, read. As Stephen King always advocates, reading is one of the best ways to improve your writing. Read your favourite authors, learn from their styles, their syntax, their storytelling techniques and eventually you will discover your own voice. Finally, write for the love of it, not for the money. The latter will come, but if your passion is not there, it will probably come through in your final published words.
David McPherson
The best thing about being a writer is the variety of people I get to meet and the experiences I have on a daily basis. As a journalist, I've written on hundreds of subjects over the past 20 years. By researching, writing, and documenting other people's stories, I've learned a lot about so many industries and been taken to new places. Each day, the writing journey is different. That's the other thing I love - not knowing, when I roll out of bed in the morning, where my muse will take me. Finally, getting to do what I believe is my true calling and following my passion, there's nothing better than that.
David McPherson
Writer's block is rare for me. When it occurs, it's usually tied to my mental state; it also happens most often when I'm procrastinating and not wanting to start a project because of the subject. The best way to deal with this unwanted friend is to just write. Sounds simple, but it usually works. You write your way through the block. If this is still an exercise in futility, I'll go for a long bike ride, play some guitar, or listen to some of my favourite music. Any of these activities usually get the creative juices flowing again.
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