Ask the Author: Joe Westbrook
Answered Questions (4)
Joe Westbrook
The advice I would give is probably the advice I least follow, which is to write often. There is a lot to be said for daily writing habits such as a set time and location where you focus on writing. It doesn't even necessarily have to be tied to a specific story or what you wrote yesterday, although eventually you have to continue with a story in order to finish it.
I've participated in a couple of NaNoWriMo events, and while they are exciting, I tend to burn all of my creativity within the first two weeks and struggle to get through the second half of the month and it takes me several months to revive. Setting deadlines is important, but pacing can be equally important.
I've participated in a couple of NaNoWriMo events, and while they are exciting, I tend to burn all of my creativity within the first two weeks and struggle to get through the second half of the month and it takes me several months to revive. Setting deadlines is important, but pacing can be equally important.
Joe Westbrook
I find inspiration in everyday things, as well as the books I read, movies I watch, and songs I hear. My faith plays a large part in writing, and there is much inspiration to be found in matters of faith.
Joe Westbrook
Hi!
I apologize that I didn't see this question earlier; I haven't totally figured out the Goodreads system.
Anyway, Tim and I are always open to the possibility of revisiting The Truth Chronicles if we can find a compelling story to tell, but we do not have any concrete plans at this time.
While I have not put anything out myself, I would encourage you to check out Tim's new series, The Remnant Trilogy. This series focuses on Noah and how he developed into the man who would eventually build the Ark. Book One, Noah: Man of Destiny, is available now. The second book should be available within the next few months.
Thanks for your interest in The Truth Chronicles!
I apologize that I didn't see this question earlier; I haven't totally figured out the Goodreads system.
Anyway, Tim and I are always open to the possibility of revisiting The Truth Chronicles if we can find a compelling story to tell, but we do not have any concrete plans at this time.
While I have not put anything out myself, I would encourage you to check out Tim's new series, The Remnant Trilogy. This series focuses on Noah and how he developed into the man who would eventually build the Ark. Book One, Noah: Man of Destiny, is available now. The second book should be available within the next few months.
Thanks for your interest in The Truth Chronicles!
Joe Westbrook
My writing, unfortunately, has been progressing at a snail's pace. I have probably close to a dozen book ideas that are in various stages of development, but only three of them have any meat.
I have two science-fiction pieces in the works. One involves a group of telepaths who are incorporated into the justice system in order to obtain more certain convictions in court and drastically reduce the crime rate. However, one of the telepaths discovers a conspiracy that makes him question all that he has known. The second science-fiction story is somewhat akin to Star Trek, although I have not decided if I will include alien societies since I don't personally believe aliens exist; I can't be dogmatic about this since the issue does not appear to be directly addressed in Scripture, but because this story may end up in the "Christian Apologetics Fiction" category, I don't know that I want to deal with that can of worms just now.
The third story, which I actually drafted in its entirety during NaNoWriMo 2015, is a straight-up detective story. It was a stretch for me to write a story entirely in the first-person (from the point of view of the detective), and it was a lot of fun, but because of the nature of NaNoWriMo and the fact that I didn't create a detailed outline, there is a lot of material that is unnecessary, and I would prefer to consult with at least one actual police detective to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of this book.
Other ideas include various fantasy stories, but again I go back and forth on whether or not I should write such stories as a Christian author, especially since I don't feel particularly gifted at writing an allegory like C.S. Lewis' Narnia series.
I have two science-fiction pieces in the works. One involves a group of telepaths who are incorporated into the justice system in order to obtain more certain convictions in court and drastically reduce the crime rate. However, one of the telepaths discovers a conspiracy that makes him question all that he has known. The second science-fiction story is somewhat akin to Star Trek, although I have not decided if I will include alien societies since I don't personally believe aliens exist; I can't be dogmatic about this since the issue does not appear to be directly addressed in Scripture, but because this story may end up in the "Christian Apologetics Fiction" category, I don't know that I want to deal with that can of worms just now.
The third story, which I actually drafted in its entirety during NaNoWriMo 2015, is a straight-up detective story. It was a stretch for me to write a story entirely in the first-person (from the point of view of the detective), and it was a lot of fun, but because of the nature of NaNoWriMo and the fact that I didn't create a detailed outline, there is a lot of material that is unnecessary, and I would prefer to consult with at least one actual police detective to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of this book.
Other ideas include various fantasy stories, but again I go back and forth on whether or not I should write such stories as a Christian author, especially since I don't feel particularly gifted at writing an allegory like C.S. Lewis' Narnia series.
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