Ask the Author: Richard McClellan
Answered Questions (8)
Richard McClellan
My first book was published when I was 74.
Richard McClellan
In 1979, I lived in London with my family, while I worked for a North Sea drilling rig design contractor. One lunchtime, I was out doing errands and took the tube (the underground subway in London). Most of them were underground, some rather deep, which in those days meant long stairs to get back to the surface level. While walking up the tile and steel stairway with thousands of other travelers, a young lady was pushed or some fell. I was right behind her and only my presence kept her from tumbling all the way down. Her back was hurt, so I sat there and let her lean against me to support herself. We spoke only a few words, and soon the ambulance service arrived to take her away. Since I was married with two kids, that was the end of the encounter.
I've thought recently, what if the young man in the story was another guy who was single, perhaps a US Navy officer working at the American embassy? THAT will be the plot of a novel for me someday, his quest to find the lovely but mysterious young lady.
I've thought recently, what if the young man in the story was another guy who was single, perhaps a US Navy officer working at the American embassy? THAT will be the plot of a novel for me someday, his quest to find the lovely but mysterious young lady.
Richard McClellan
The mixed blessing of having many story ideas defined allows me to work on another one if the current story is at a standstill. I find that time, and perhaps a different perspective, helps define how the story moves forward.
Disclaimer: I am a "pantser," one who writes by the seat of my pants without the aid of an outline (usually). I know, that seems at odds with my analytical, technical background, but it is what it is. Don't look to me for explanations why.
I also am in the habit of writing scenes when I get an idea for one. It may not even be used in the current story, but the inventory of ideas, especially dialogue, has proven invaluable.
Another benefit is that I can write out events from the back story that do not even appear in the book but are referenced. Knowing exactly what happened and when, who did what, is helpful in writing about it from a character's perspective years later. It also helps to define their motivations and goals for the story.
Disclaimer: I am a "pantser," one who writes by the seat of my pants without the aid of an outline (usually). I know, that seems at odds with my analytical, technical background, but it is what it is. Don't look to me for explanations why.
I also am in the habit of writing scenes when I get an idea for one. It may not even be used in the current story, but the inventory of ideas, especially dialogue, has proven invaluable.
Another benefit is that I can write out events from the back story that do not even appear in the book but are referenced. Knowing exactly what happened and when, who did what, is helpful in writing about it from a character's perspective years later. It also helps to define their motivations and goals for the story.
Richard McClellan
I love creating happily-ever-afters for my characters. Maybe that's nto realistic in today's world, but it doesn;'t mean it shouldn't be put into words as a goal in our lives. Love is not all you need, but it's a pretty good start.
I like putting some of myself in each story, subtly I hope. Much of my inspiration comes indirectly from my teen years, high school and college. I would NEVER put actual people or events into my stories, but . . . or maybe they're there and no one else can tell. I can tell, though.
I LOVE doing research, to the point that I have to watch that it doesn't become the end rather than the means. Since I'm a trained, detail-oriented, analytical engineer that can be a challenge at times, I'll pursue details of my characters and stories that never appear in the book, just so I'LL know what and who they are. I want the characters to be real, four-dimentional people in my mind so I can hopefully transfer some of that to my stories.
What writing is NOT about for me is the fame or fortune. I know full well neither are going to happen for me, and that's just fine--I'd rather have it that way.
What I DO want it for people to read my stories, the more the better.
I like putting some of myself in each story, subtly I hope. Much of my inspiration comes indirectly from my teen years, high school and college. I would NEVER put actual people or events into my stories, but . . . or maybe they're there and no one else can tell. I can tell, though.
I LOVE doing research, to the point that I have to watch that it doesn't become the end rather than the means. Since I'm a trained, detail-oriented, analytical engineer that can be a challenge at times, I'll pursue details of my characters and stories that never appear in the book, just so I'LL know what and who they are. I want the characters to be real, four-dimentional people in my mind so I can hopefully transfer some of that to my stories.
What writing is NOT about for me is the fame or fortune. I know full well neither are going to happen for me, and that's just fine--I'd rather have it that way.
What I DO want it for people to read my stories, the more the better.
Richard McClellan
If you want to write a book and publish it, then do it. The good news is that ANYONE can self-publish a book these days. I've spent very little to get my first book published, but I also did a lot of the work myself. It's taken a lot of time and effort to finally achieve it. I've learned a lot.
The downside of the ease of self-publishing is that not everyone is so diligent in creating their books. sometimes it's about the money and not the art. My advice is to learn your craft, Not just the technical stuff--grammar, plot structure, formatting, etc., etc., but also what makes a good story. That means learning from what others have done. That's a double-edged sword, so be wary of acceptiong everything you're told or that you read as the "right" way to do it. I believe in the art lies in the finished product, regardless of how it was created.
Write YOUR story, YOUR way. But don't re-invent the wheel. Writing ois very much an iterative, learn by doing art. And accept that at some piont, it will be done. Accept that it will not be perfect, and hopefully will be inferior to all the other books you will write from then on (hopefully). How can you tell when? Ah, therein lies the secret, one I'm still figuring out.
The downside of the ease of self-publishing is that not everyone is so diligent in creating their books. sometimes it's about the money and not the art. My advice is to learn your craft, Not just the technical stuff--grammar, plot structure, formatting, etc., etc., but also what makes a good story. That means learning from what others have done. That's a double-edged sword, so be wary of acceptiong everything you're told or that you read as the "right" way to do it. I believe in the art lies in the finished product, regardless of how it was created.
Write YOUR story, YOUR way. But don't re-invent the wheel. Writing ois very much an iterative, learn by doing art. And accept that at some piont, it will be done. Accept that it will not be perfect, and hopefully will be inferior to all the other books you will write from then on (hopefully). How can you tell when? Ah, therein lies the secret, one I'm still figuring out.
Richard McClellan
This may be a trick question for me. I'm an engineer by education and experience, and have been a project manager on top of that, so I'm well-trained in the multi-tasking methodology. That doesn't always serve an author well, but it's hard to undo. The formal answer is I'm working on my second book, Rule Number One, a Second Chance Romance about childhood friends who are re-united after fifteen years, when she's the flight nurse who rescues him after his involvement in a traffic accident. Since nurses aren't suppose to fraternize socially with patients (hence Rule Number One), the story is all about their resistance to their obvious mutual attraction, what it will take to overcome obstacles, real or imagined, and whether they should even try. I have a number of relatives and friends who are nurses or have worked in a hospital, which helps a lot with details and backstory. and as always, there are elements of my own experience sprinkled throughout, hopefully not too obviously.
The real answer is that I'm also pursuing other ideas all the time. I've formulated a first series of Second Chance Romances where the four male leads are ex-college room-mates, and how their individual struggles to find, or re-capture love, intertwine with each other as well as encountering the girls that got away. I'm always looking ahead to those other books and developing them in my mind.
The real answer is that I'm also pursuing other ideas all the time. I've formulated a first series of Second Chance Romances where the four male leads are ex-college room-mates, and how their individual struggles to find, or re-capture love, intertwine with each other as well as encountering the girls that got away. I'm always looking ahead to those other books and developing them in my mind.
Richard McClellan
I have no more clue than anyone else how I get the inspirations. I must admit, I watch way too many Hallmark movies now, since they have similar "clean" storylines. But it can come from anywhere. I'm especially drawn to "second chance romance" plots for some reason.
Often I get an idea and the title is the first thing I visualize. I like to keep the titles simple and interesting. The actual story ideas-- you'll have to ask God about where He gets them to put in my head and heart.
Often I get an idea and the title is the first thing I visualize. I like to keep the titles simple and interesting. The actual story ideas-- you'll have to ask God about where He gets them to put in my head and heart.
Richard McClellan
MY most recent published book, Return to Raonbow Ridge, as morphed through several version over the past few years. It started with some autobiographical influences, but those are gone now. I figured it wasn't fair to the characters to limit them by my pown actual experiences. I grew up in Southern California and went to college at U.C. Santa Barbara, so I'm somewhat familiar with the central California environment and ambiance. As for the actual plot, I guess you'll have to look to God for giving me the ideas. I wanted something that my grand-daughter could read, but still dealt with real-world issues.
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