Ask the Author: Robert Egby
Answered Questions (6)
Robert Egby
Aspire? That's a good word. In my neck of the woods it means to dream, image, create, or something like that. It's really the energy one needs to propel the would-be author to write. If you really want to write -- and it's a damned lonely job -- start dreaming. Stretch out on a bed, mat. lawn, close your eyes, focus on your breathing for two minutes, then think of the nuttiest couple of people having a weird conversation. Don't judge or criticize, just let the action flow. Then when you've had enough, say "wide awake" and spring nimbly to your writing instrument -- quill, typewriter, laptop -- and write what happened in your mind. Do not rationalize, just write. Don't read. Then go away and wash your shirt, repair the roof, talk to the cat -- anything that takes you away. Hours later return and read your opus. You may be totally surprised, even blown away. You see the whole thing about the word "aspire" --it really means point upwards, use your Mind, Higher Awareness, Right Brain. Just get away from intellectuals, academics who will teach you to write and soak your pockets. Believe in your upper storey, your Mind. Tell your Higher Self, "I love and appreciate you. Let's write!" So dream! Meditate! Enjoy!
Robert Egby
With me the idea just comes and I mull it over while walking, meditating, or just hanging out someplace. When you have an idea simply let it roll over in your mind. Let the characters develop. They do take lives of their own. With "The Guardians of Stavka" the idea came from a report that the Czar exported tons of gold to foreign banks. One gold train was caught on its way to Vladivostok. From that emerged three youngsters playing in the town of Gori, Georgia. One is the hero, the other the cop (CHEKA/KGB) and the third -- a kid known as Soso, or Little Joe who eventually changed his name to Joseph Stalin. Get to know your subject. Research until you know everything about Russia then place the gold in a remote fiord of Canada. It helps the inspiration faculty if one writes a synopsis, then re-write the synopsis, etc. Characters and plot develop the more you focus on the story. Inspiration? Just practice and let it flow. Meditate and practice imagery.
Robert Egby
I'm think of writing a comedy, a novel about some crusty old American farts from WWII, the Korean War and Viet Nam who steal a 400 year old cannon and some cannon balls and plan to sink a ship carrying high ranking dignitaries from Germany in Puget Sound, Washington State.
Robert Egby
Writer's block? Hemingway would have said "Let's have a cerveza." When one of those rare blocks occurs I look over my synopsis and pick a flashback or a chapter that supports the current plot. Case in point: PENTADAKTYLOS. Greg a British officer is wounded and loses his manhood. It's 17 years before, the evacuation of Greece, WWII. Unbeknown to him he does have a son. It's a story within a novel. When I was finished, I found my block had gone.
Robert Egby
In a word: Escapism. But that is unfair because I do love both worlds. Every morning I walk for 30 minutes at the YMCA track, meditating. My mind is with my characters working out the next chapter. Even the bad ones are fun to be with. In PENTADAKTYLOS I had the long-range Greek Assassin act as a father to a 17 year old kid who wanted to become a freedom fighter. In FOR THE LOVE OF ROSE the well know historical villain actually saves my hero's life which is far from the end of the story. Forget who you are and "live" even for 20 minutes a day with your cast and they'll help you -- the writer -- to create a good yarn. That's the best thing of being a writer.
Robert Egby
I enjoy writing heavy duty historical novels, but after four I decided to write a short story about two young lovers in the mid-1930s. America is climbing out of the Depression. Roosevelt is touting his New Deal. The young lovers create a beautiful future together -- then slap bang. Everything turns turtle. Rose gets lost in Spain where there's a bloody civil war raging and young Frank goes searching for his love and takes on the deadliest of jobs -- ambulance driver. I had to be dreaming this could be a short story!! 80,000 words. I could have made it 100,000. FOR THE LOVE OF ROSE: A Journey in Three Worlds.
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