Ask the Author: Fred Venturini
Answered Questions (11)
Fred Venturini
Kind words, and I'm glad you liked that particular character. I always have further adventures in mind for characters that I like, but sequels are a tough sell unless the initial book is a runaway hit. I like to think of him now as a samurai of sorts, wandering the landscape, looking for meaning, sticking his nose into constant troubling situations with a supernatural lean to them. Perhaps one day I'll get to explore those ideas further, but for now, it's not in the cards. Thanks for asking!
Fred Venturini
I've got a stack of non-fiction I want to get to, including THE WILLPOWER INSTINCT and CREATIVITY, INC.
I also have GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX (just downloaded today), the new Paula Hawkins, a re-read of the original GUNSLINGER, finishing up the RED RISING trilogy, Drew Magary's THE HIKE, and some room to browse and add to the summer stack.
I'm editing a novel, and when I'm in that mode, I also like to re-read Sol Stein's writing books. They're comprehensive and incredibly useful.
I also have GWENDY'S BUTTON BOX (just downloaded today), the new Paula Hawkins, a re-read of the original GUNSLINGER, finishing up the RED RISING trilogy, Drew Magary's THE HIKE, and some room to browse and add to the summer stack.
I'm editing a novel, and when I'm in that mode, I also like to re-read Sol Stein's writing books. They're comprehensive and incredibly useful.
Fred Venturini
Great question! Each time I walk out of the grocery store where I live, I see a flyer concerning a man who went missing. It's been about five years now, maybe more. I saw it in the local news, and have heard people theorize about what happened at local watering holes. No one knows what happened to him. Sometimes I wonder about just that, and when my imagination gets to acting up, I write out some notes and wonder if I could find a way to explore the mystery myself, in a fictional sense. Perhaps the reason I don't have this idea higher on my list is because it's just a mystery, not a plot, and it really takes a detailed approach to create a satisfying story from something so nascent.
Fred Venturini
This answer may be a cop out, but it's Romeo and Juliet. Any couple that works on screen or in books has me comparing them to the original star-crossed lovers. Anytime you can take a couple, put a huge wedge between them, and let the drama play out, it owes a tip of the cap to R+J, and I still find myself making that comparison constantly. I think the most effective update of a doomed, dramatic relationship that is ripped straight from the R+J mold is in Brokeback Mountain, and my favorite, recent fictional couple is in Joe Hill's THE FIREMAN.
Fred Venturini
I would probably give all ten spots to Robinson Crusoe. I read it when I was pretty young and revisit it from time to time; it's one of those works that is formative and entertaining. It really stayed with me.
It's not a book but Stephen King's short story "Survivor Type" is probably the most fun, gruesome deserted island story you're ever apt to come across.
It's not a book but Stephen King's short story "Survivor Type" is probably the most fun, gruesome deserted island story you're ever apt to come across.
Fred Venturini
For THE HEART DOES NOT GROW BACK, I think my personal relationship with pain and healing and friendship really fuels that novel. There's some real childhood demons exercised on those pages. I was lit on fire when I was ten years old and not long after my recovery was over, I broke my neck. My perpetual state of healing got me intimately familiar with the plight of Dale Sampson.
Fred Venturini
I don't know, how does someone get inspired to go out to eat or play video games or go to the movies? It's like that to me, something I've loved to do for a long time that has never really felt like work. Some days are definitely more inspired than others. One trick I like to use in my writing sessions is putting on a nice Spotify list with trailer music and movie scores. Hans Zimmer is probably my favorite.
Fred Venturini
I'm currently working on the first novel in a potential series called THE GATES. Rough and raw at this point. I'd tell you more if I knew more.
Fred Venturini
You're going to hate this cliche and much-spouted answer, but FINISH. Finish everything you start, and then rewrite it if it has potential.
The road from writer to published author is paved with pages and pages of rewrites. Trust me on this.
In a world when you're a few clicks away from self-publishing that first draft, resist the temptation. Not that I'm against self-publishing, but it requires discipline to make sure your stuff is great before you put it for sale. Learn your craft. Gain a network of trusted readers and mentors who can help you learn the most valuable skill, the ability to self-edit, and help you evaluate what is good writing and bad writing, even when it's you putting it on the page.
The road from writer to published author is paved with pages and pages of rewrites. Trust me on this.
In a world when you're a few clicks away from self-publishing that first draft, resist the temptation. Not that I'm against self-publishing, but it requires discipline to make sure your stuff is great before you put it for sale. Learn your craft. Gain a network of trusted readers and mentors who can help you learn the most valuable skill, the ability to self-edit, and help you evaluate what is good writing and bad writing, even when it's you putting it on the page.
Fred Venturini
Easy. Getting occasionally paid to make stuff up. What's not great about that?
Fred Venturini
I choose to view writer's block as a non-existent condition, one fabricated mostly for dramatic purposes in movies where the main character is a writer. Writing is like working out. Those days you just don't feel like doing it or come up with reasons to skip are "writer's block" days. Just like you can have a crappy workout, you can have a crappy writing day. You just work through it, and refuse to believe you're "blocked" and attack that blank page. Also like working out, once you start, it gets easier as you go through the session. You'll always feel great for grinding through it and you'll always feel lousy for skipping.
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