Ask the Author: Brian McMahon
Answered Questions (8)
Brian McMahon
1. People will tell you to "write every day." If you can, do it. If you can't, you're like most of us, and I would encourage you to simply take advantage of the days (or hours or minutes) when you do have the time, energy, or ideas. On the busier or more frustrating days, try to find a few minutes to jot down ideas and set goals for the next "good day." There are plenty of days when my brain refuses to be as productive as I want, but I always try to set myself up for whenever it decides to cooperate by laying out a scene I want to finish, a character I want to outline, etc.
2. Set small goals first. If you want to get in shape, you're not going to wake up tomorrow and run ten miles. Start small, embrace manageable goals, and let them grow naturally. Your daily output will increase as you get acclimated to your routine. You'll run ten miles a day in no time, and you'll produce a whole bunch of good stuff on the way.
3. Value feedback. The obvious part of this is to embrace criticism, to seek out honest responses from people you respect as readers and writers. The less obvious part is to absorb the praise, too. If you're doing something that really works for readers, you should know that -- and be happy about it! Ask questions of your readers and critics. Learn what moves them and confuses them.
2. Set small goals first. If you want to get in shape, you're not going to wake up tomorrow and run ten miles. Start small, embrace manageable goals, and let them grow naturally. Your daily output will increase as you get acclimated to your routine. You'll run ten miles a day in no time, and you'll produce a whole bunch of good stuff on the way.
3. Value feedback. The obvious part of this is to embrace criticism, to seek out honest responses from people you respect as readers and writers. The less obvious part is to absorb the praise, too. If you're doing something that really works for readers, you should know that -- and be happy about it! Ask questions of your readers and critics. Learn what moves them and confuses them.
Brian McMahon
It depends on what stage of the writing process I am in (drafting, revising, general brainstorming, etc.), but for the most part I try to step away from the work.
If I need a full-on break, I'll read or go for a run. If I feel like I need to stay engaged with my work and wait for ideas to flood back in, I like to go back to my "background" documents. These aren't even outlines; I use them as a space to fill in details about characters and settings: what school someone went to, what shows they like, what the menu board looks like in the local deli. A lot of these details won't even find their way into the story, but they help me process how characters move through their given world -- and how that world affects them in return.
If I need a full-on break, I'll read or go for a run. If I feel like I need to stay engaged with my work and wait for ideas to flood back in, I like to go back to my "background" documents. These aren't even outlines; I use them as a space to fill in details about characters and settings: what school someone went to, what shows they like, what the menu board looks like in the local deli. A lot of these details won't even find their way into the story, but they help me process how characters move through their given world -- and how that world affects them in return.
Brian McMahon
I'll let you know when I find out.
Brian McMahon
In addition to making sure Seaview Road enters the world as smoothly as possible, I am working on a number of other projects. I have a few screenplays in various stages of done-ness, and I am in the process of refining what I hope will become my second novel. I think I have some good content in place. Now it's all about trimming the fat!
Brian McMahon
I don't have a specific, reliable source of inspiration. For the most part, I find myself thinking of little snippets -- of a conversation, of a character's story -- and trying to build from there. Sometimes real life inspires those snippets, and sometimes my weird brain generates them on its own.
Nice, long runs are always helpful. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at completing them.
Nice, long runs are always helpful. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at completing them.
Brian McMahon
Too many! I have a big pile staring me down in my office. The pile includes some Celeste Ng, John Irving, Colson Whitehead, Jennifer Egan, Jhumpa Lahiri, James Baldwin, and more. Tell me what to add to it!
Brian McMahon
It's hard for me to say anything other than Hogwarts. I also wouldn't mind attending a Gatsby party (amazing hors d'oeuvres).
Brian McMahon
Where is the dog? What's that smell?
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