Ask the Author: David Farrow
Answered Questions (5)
David Farrow
I've always loved the sound of "The Neverglades Trilogy," so hopefully there'll be three volumes when all is said and done! Stay tuned for news on the release of Volume Two this fall.
David Farrow
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David Farrow
First and foremost, put the pencil to the paper and just write! If you've got a story inside you, you should tell it. Don't worry about making your first draft perfect, because it never is. Don't even worry if you feel like you're missing some fundamentals of creative writing. You never get better if you don't practice, just like any skill in life.
That being said, you won't see much improvement if you're writing in a vacuum. It's important to read what other writers are putting out there, especially in the genres you prefer to work in. Try to read their stories through the lens of a writer, focusing on the craft elements they use: how do they structure dialogue? How do they employ or subvert genre tropes? How do they make characters feel complex and interesting? Most beginning writers start off by imitating the writers they admire, and there's nothing wrong with practicing another author's style until you develop your own voice. (Please don't plagiarize, however.)
It's also important to find the writing methods that work best for you. Every writer tackles their projects differently, and one writer's advice may not fit your own personal work ethic. You may find that it's more helpful for you to plot out your story in advance, working through each part of the narrative and ironing out subplots and character motivations. If so, outlines are your friend. Or you may find that you work best by just starting from page one and working out the plot as you go. You may even be a nonlinear writer who jumps around, working on whatever parts are inspiring you at that moment. There's no "one right way" to write a story, so experiment with different styles and find the method that helps you be the most productive.
That being said, you won't see much improvement if you're writing in a vacuum. It's important to read what other writers are putting out there, especially in the genres you prefer to work in. Try to read their stories through the lens of a writer, focusing on the craft elements they use: how do they structure dialogue? How do they employ or subvert genre tropes? How do they make characters feel complex and interesting? Most beginning writers start off by imitating the writers they admire, and there's nothing wrong with practicing another author's style until you develop your own voice. (Please don't plagiarize, however.)
It's also important to find the writing methods that work best for you. Every writer tackles their projects differently, and one writer's advice may not fit your own personal work ethic. You may find that it's more helpful for you to plot out your story in advance, working through each part of the narrative and ironing out subplots and character motivations. If so, outlines are your friend. Or you may find that you work best by just starting from page one and working out the plot as you go. You may even be a nonlinear writer who jumps around, working on whatever parts are inspiring you at that moment. There's no "one right way" to write a story, so experiment with different styles and find the method that helps you be the most productive.
David Farrow
The sheer act of creating something new. Don't get me wrong - writing absolutely requires hard work and discipline, but it's also an immense playground where anything is possible. Sometimes you can get so engrossed in a story that it starts to surprise you and take on a life of its own. There's something thrilling about letting your characters take you down a path you might never have expected before, and it can open up so many interesting avenues for your story.
I also love forming connections as a writer. Stephen King describes writing as "telepathy," in that a well-crafted story can put images and emotions in your mind simply by reading the words on a page. It's exciting to get swept up in a story and know that readers will feel the same excitement about it. It's a special bond between writer and reader, and I love when people reach out to me to share what they felt while they were reading. Every reader response makes all the hard work worth it.
I also love forming connections as a writer. Stephen King describes writing as "telepathy," in that a well-crafted story can put images and emotions in your mind simply by reading the words on a page. It's exciting to get swept up in a story and know that readers will feel the same excitement about it. It's a special bond between writer and reader, and I love when people reach out to me to share what they felt while they were reading. Every reader response makes all the hard work worth it.
David Farrow
The seed that would grow into "The Neverglades" was actually planted as part of a college research fellowship. I decided to look into the stories of Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as works inspired by their writings, to examine how they tackled the issues of their time period. Then I set out to write my own literary "remixes" that brought the characters and themes from these writers into a more modern context.
"Lost Time" (the first Neverglades Mystery) was written as part of this fellowship. It was my attempt to blend the supernatural darkness of Poe with the investigative sleuthing of Sherlock Holmes. The character of the Inspector is a reimagining of Sherlock himself, and his partner-in-crime, Mark Hannigan, is a modern day Watson. The series eventually grew from there and found a voice of its own, but the fellowship is where it all began.
"Lost Time" (the first Neverglades Mystery) was written as part of this fellowship. It was my attempt to blend the supernatural darkness of Poe with the investigative sleuthing of Sherlock Holmes. The character of the Inspector is a reimagining of Sherlock himself, and his partner-in-crime, Mark Hannigan, is a modern day Watson. The series eventually grew from there and found a voice of its own, but the fellowship is where it all began.
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