Ask the Author: Lorin Neikirk
Answered Questions (5)
Lorin Neikirk
The book I'm currently working on is a relationship, and it sprung from a conversation I had with someone I was seeing at the time. A conversation most men and women can relate to, he thought he couldn't please me, and I tried to explain why he could, and that it is also a fairly simple task. During that conversation, I fortunately was able to convey some pretty complex data (how and why women respond to a man's efforts) using a metaphor that was rich with logic and familiarity. When I realized this information would help other men, I extrapolated the metaphor to help explain how a man can manage his end of the relationship in a way that not only makes sense to him, but is easy and keeps her happy.
Lorin Neikirk
I'm usually working on several things at the same time, several different things. Around my home we have a running joke, "hurry up and be creative!" Creativity can't be forced, although skill can be refined and enriched by developing positive habits (such as writing every day), That creativity is, by nature, inspired. The way I overcome issues with writers block is having several things in the works that touch on different interests I have or areas of my life. In this way, if I don't feel inspired to work on, say, the relationship book, I can work on the memoir or whatever else is sitting on the desk, so to speak.
That said, there are times that I don't feel like writing, which is very different from writers block. I suffer from PTSD, so sometimes the important task at hand is simply living my life. When you have the level of flexibility that being a writer affords, it's important to remember to take care of yourself when you need to. The wonderful thing about writing being an art is that often it is the act of writing, expressing, which can improve our lives.
That said, there are times that I don't feel like writing, which is very different from writers block. I suffer from PTSD, so sometimes the important task at hand is simply living my life. When you have the level of flexibility that being a writer affords, it's important to remember to take care of yourself when you need to. The wonderful thing about writing being an art is that often it is the act of writing, expressing, which can improve our lives.
Lorin Neikirk
Writing is it's own reward, so the best thing about writing is the act of writing. Writing is an art, and like a painter, it's the process that brings the most joy and the rest is icing on the cake.
Aside from that, for me the best thing about being an author is being able to help more people by reaching a larger audience. I love to give personalized assistance, but it's also quite humbling when you can take the knowledge and expertise that you have and touch many more people. Along a similar vein, receiving positive feedback for what I write is extremely rewarding. It can be a little daunting too! When your words have a profound effect, your responsibility grows. Positive feedback is another person's acknowledgment that you did a good job. And that is something that I truly love.
Aside from that, for me the best thing about being an author is being able to help more people by reaching a larger audience. I love to give personalized assistance, but it's also quite humbling when you can take the knowledge and expertise that you have and touch many more people. Along a similar vein, receiving positive feedback for what I write is extremely rewarding. It can be a little daunting too! When your words have a profound effect, your responsibility grows. Positive feedback is another person's acknowledgment that you did a good job. And that is something that I truly love.
Lorin Neikirk
I've been asked this several times before and my answer is always the same. The first and most important thing is you have to love to write. Writing needs to be something that you feel like you have to do. I've met some people who say "maybe I should try writing" and my response to those people is typically "If you're wondering if you should write, the answer is that it's probably not for you."
It's an extremely rare phenomenon that someone writes a book becomes rich and or famous overnight. It's a little like teaching in that it has to be your passion and you have to be compelled to write. Some teachers began their career because they wanted summers off or they are empty-nesters, so teaching might not be their passion. Really great teachers are the ones who feel like they have to teach. Like teaching, writing is its own reward.
But to aspiring writers who are already in this position, they have a passion for writing in our compelled to do it, my advice is to find, and use, every vehicle at your disposal to write. This not only helps you refine your craft but it also works to cultivate an audience.
Another important piece of information is to think about your brand. Have a good idea of who you are and what you want to present. Look at the more successful authors out there and you will see that they have a common thread throughout many or most (if not all), of their works that says "this was written by me." Michael Chrighton, John chrism, Stephen King, Sue Grafton, Patterson... You could probably read a book by any of these and not know who the author is, rather guess with excellent accuracy. They make effective use of their brand.
A note about on-demand or self publishing... The technology that exists now, compared to a couple of decades ago, really opens the door for new and aspiring writers. It's often more efficient, cost-effective, and affirming to go the on-demand or self publish route, than to go through a publishing house. If you try to "sell your book" to a publisher, you are spending time and energy on and effort that may or may not work out for you, when you can spend that energy doing it yourself. But there is a serious caveat there... While on-demand publishing opens the doors to new and talented authors in what can be a very effective way, it also opens the floodgates for writers who might not have the ability. Literally anyone with the will to write something can "have a book". The hard part for the talented author or rider is to gain that audience through loyalty and consistency and an established audience. (Which is why it's important to use every vehicle at your disposal to gain an audience in the first place! Those who love your blogs and love your radio show and love your public speaking, are probably going to love your books too.) As readers wade through a sea of good and bad books, the good books are harder to find.
Lastly, if you are like most writers, you're probably extremely self-critical! If this applies to you then you should know that exposing your work, being vulnerable and sharing it, will go a long way. Well it's hopeful that your work is marketable, it shouldn't outweigh the authenticity of your voice. Don't be shy about letting your voice be heard because what you might not know is there people out there who want to hear what you have to say.
It's an extremely rare phenomenon that someone writes a book becomes rich and or famous overnight. It's a little like teaching in that it has to be your passion and you have to be compelled to write. Some teachers began their career because they wanted summers off or they are empty-nesters, so teaching might not be their passion. Really great teachers are the ones who feel like they have to teach. Like teaching, writing is its own reward.
But to aspiring writers who are already in this position, they have a passion for writing in our compelled to do it, my advice is to find, and use, every vehicle at your disposal to write. This not only helps you refine your craft but it also works to cultivate an audience.
Another important piece of information is to think about your brand. Have a good idea of who you are and what you want to present. Look at the more successful authors out there and you will see that they have a common thread throughout many or most (if not all), of their works that says "this was written by me." Michael Chrighton, John chrism, Stephen King, Sue Grafton, Patterson... You could probably read a book by any of these and not know who the author is, rather guess with excellent accuracy. They make effective use of their brand.
A note about on-demand or self publishing... The technology that exists now, compared to a couple of decades ago, really opens the door for new and aspiring writers. It's often more efficient, cost-effective, and affirming to go the on-demand or self publish route, than to go through a publishing house. If you try to "sell your book" to a publisher, you are spending time and energy on and effort that may or may not work out for you, when you can spend that energy doing it yourself. But there is a serious caveat there... While on-demand publishing opens the doors to new and talented authors in what can be a very effective way, it also opens the floodgates for writers who might not have the ability. Literally anyone with the will to write something can "have a book". The hard part for the talented author or rider is to gain that audience through loyalty and consistency and an established audience. (Which is why it's important to use every vehicle at your disposal to gain an audience in the first place! Those who love your blogs and love your radio show and love your public speaking, are probably going to love your books too.) As readers wade through a sea of good and bad books, the good books are harder to find.
Lastly, if you are like most writers, you're probably extremely self-critical! If this applies to you then you should know that exposing your work, being vulnerable and sharing it, will go a long way. Well it's hopeful that your work is marketable, it shouldn't outweigh the authenticity of your voice. Don't be shy about letting your voice be heard because what you might not know is there people out there who want to hear what you have to say.
Lorin Neikirk
Currently I'm working on a relationship book for men! It's a bit off the beaten path for me, but still consistent with my interests since I have this profound fascination with interpersonal relationships. I'm excited about this book because it's written specifically to be comfortable for men to read.
I've heard many times over from men that I'm very easy to talk to, and I think that has a lot to do with my logic and conversational style. I'm using that skill set, as well as other strategies, in this book. I really think it will help men be able to manage their relationships in a way that is more logical to them... The female brain is a shape shifting enigma, and this takes the mystery out of that, not by trying to explain women in relationships but relating how men can logically manage the relationship, to get the most of what they want, using information they are already very familiar with.
I'm not sure when it will be completed but hopefully sometime before July 1, 2015.
I've heard many times over from men that I'm very easy to talk to, and I think that has a lot to do with my logic and conversational style. I'm using that skill set, as well as other strategies, in this book. I really think it will help men be able to manage their relationships in a way that is more logical to them... The female brain is a shape shifting enigma, and this takes the mystery out of that, not by trying to explain women in relationships but relating how men can logically manage the relationship, to get the most of what they want, using information they are already very familiar with.
I'm not sure when it will be completed but hopefully sometime before July 1, 2015.
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