Ask the Author: Justin Doyle
Answered Questions (8)
Justin Doyle
Hi Marjorie - no I do not have a pen name. My email is darynnmark@gmail.com. Darynn Mark is the name of my main character in Embargo on Hope and Assassination of Hope.
Justin Doyle
The embargo around South Africa in the 80s was fascinating to me. The world came together to agree that apartheid was unacceptable. When does the world ever have that kind of unity? What if you applied that same concept to an entire world in a science fiction setting?
So you have an embargo - now what? You need a reason for the embargo - an unacceptable socioeconomic situation. You need other spacefaring planets.
You need a protagonist, and of course you need him/her in the worst situation - so the object of the embargo.
So it just grew from there. It took a very unexpected direction once I got into it!
So you have an embargo - now what? You need a reason for the embargo - an unacceptable socioeconomic situation. You need other spacefaring planets.
You need a protagonist, and of course you need him/her in the worst situation - so the object of the embargo.
So it just grew from there. It took a very unexpected direction once I got into it!
Justin Doyle
I'll start with Robert Heinlein's first two tips: You have to write, and you have to finish what you write.
Next something from David Farland - escalate escalate escalate! I've put that at the top of my notes before as a reminder.
Take classes, read advice from writers. I was able to really bring my writing up to another level just by listening to Masterclasses and classes on youtube and buying Infostacks with advice from writers.
Next something from David Farland - escalate escalate escalate! I've put that at the top of my notes before as a reminder.
Take classes, read advice from writers. I was able to really bring my writing up to another level just by listening to Masterclasses and classes on youtube and buying Infostacks with advice from writers.
Justin Doyle
Sometimes you just gotta write through it. Stop checking twitter or Instagram or whatever and just focus on the last thing you wrote, and where you want to go.
Other times you just have to do something else and let your mind wander. I've had a lot of ideas in the shower, when I'm going to sleep, or when I'm mowing the lawn.
Other times you just have to do something else and let your mind wander. I've had a lot of ideas in the shower, when I'm going to sleep, or when I'm mowing the lawn.
Justin Doyle
Making up stuff. You have to make it make sense, and get the key details right, but otherwise it comes straight out of my head and onto the page.
Justin Doyle
Usually true events give me some part of inspiration, like "ooh I can use this aspect of that." The embargo around South Africa in the 80s and 90s was the major inspiration behind Embargo on Hope.
Justin Doyle
Right now, The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.
Justin Doyle
The sequel to Embargo on Hope, tentatively called Demise of Faith. I'm also working on some short stories in the same universe, including Memoirs of a Mad Priest, which gives some of Kirstos's back story.
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