Ask the Author: Matthew Bruce Alexander
Answered Questions (9)
Matthew Bruce Alexander
The advice seems sound, but it is not what I did. I did write a few novels as a child and young adult, so I certainly got my practice in, which is, I think, what they are going for.
To be honest, I have written very few short stories. I don't seem to have the knack. Every time I get a story idea that I pursue, it just grows during the planning stage. I don't want to write any throwaway stories, which means developing interesting characters. If I am going to spend the time developing interesting characters, I'm going to want a novel out of it.
I suppose I could write a series of short stories, Poul Anderson style, but I don't seem to have any little ideas. I never read many short stories and I just don't write them.
To be honest, I have written very few short stories. I don't seem to have the knack. Every time I get a story idea that I pursue, it just grows during the planning stage. I don't want to write any throwaway stories, which means developing interesting characters. If I am going to spend the time developing interesting characters, I'm going to want a novel out of it.
I suppose I could write a series of short stories, Poul Anderson style, but I don't seem to have any little ideas. I never read many short stories and I just don't write them.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
I have had about a half a dozen readers ask me to write a sequel. I have a basic idea for what it would be and even a title, but right now I have no plans to write it. When I finish my current novel, I already have the next two pretty much prepped for writing, and I am very excited to get started on them. The sequel to Withur We might come after them, or I might get seized by another idea. We'll have to see...
I also have an idea for a prequel to Withur We, about Alistair's time on Kaldis, but that project, if it is ever realized, will be very far off.
I also have an idea for a prequel to Withur We, about Alistair's time on Kaldis, but that project, if it is ever realized, will be very far off.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
I love the direction I see the industry heading in and I wanted to be a part of it. I have read so many horror stories about agents and publishers that I just wanted to skip all that drama - which can drag out for years - and see my words in an actual book. I regret nothing. My book is 320,000 words, and is a radical libertarian sci-fi novel... I just didn't see many publishers wanting to take a chance on it. But I wanted to write a very long, involved novel. As Thomas Sowell says, there are no solutions, just trade offs. I am happy with the trade offs I made.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
I have read about lots of ways to deal with writer's block, but the only way I deal with it is to force myself to sit down and write. For this reason, I advocate preparing your story in advance, at least to some extent. There may be times when your artistic flame is sputtering; happens to everybody. But the technical aspect of making enjoyable prose really has little to do with artistry. It's simply about knowing how to fashion it. The brilliant turn of phrase or apt metaphor might have to come in the second draft, when that flame is burning strong, but you can relate a story, even if you have no ideas at the moment, if it is planned or semi-planned out beforehand.
I also often warm up to write by reading something I have written, preferably from the same story I am currently engaged with. Sometimes that is sufficient to remind me that I can do this, I can write good prose and even come up with a creative idea now and then.
I also often warm up to write by reading something I have written, preferably from the same story I am currently engaged with. Sometimes that is sufficient to remind me that I can do this, I can write good prose and even come up with a creative idea now and then.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
Writing fiction is controlled dreaming.
If I become a best seller and filthy rich, I may change that answer. ;-)
If I become a best seller and filthy rich, I may change that answer. ;-)
Matthew Bruce Alexander
Read GOOD literature. Think about what makes it work. Read bad literature and think about what makes it not work. Maybe read a little bit of the philosophy of storytelling.
Then sit down and write.
Then sit down and write.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
It's called The Preferred Observer, and I am so close to finishing I can taste it! It's another science fiction novel, though it has nothing to do with Withur We. It is smaller in scope (and length), with 95% of the action taking place in the same city about 100 years in the future. The theme of the novel is "Believing Is Seeing". It has multiple POV characters, whereas Withur We was 90% Alistair Ashley 3nn. Shockingly, it features more government malfeasance! :-0
And I need to finish it, because I already know the next TWO novels I am going to write! A Bubble in the Stars and ...As if by an Invisible Fist. I am very keen to get to work on these, which I will be writing concurrently, but I won't let myself start until I get TPO finished.
And I need to finish it, because I already know the next TWO novels I am going to write! A Bubble in the Stars and ...As if by an Invisible Fist. I am very keen to get to work on these, which I will be writing concurrently, but I won't let myself start until I get TPO finished.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
Whenever I have a good idea, I get inspired to write. Of course, at least half of my ideas come as I am writing, so sometimes you just have to sit down and write and trust that things will happen. And sometimes I need someone to smack me so I'll take my own advice.
Orson Welles told a story of when he, his wife, Hemingway and EH's wife went to a ballet. Apparently, it was, for the men, a very boring ballet. At one point, Hemingway muttered, "Christ, I'd rather be writing!" A lot of authors really struggle with a blank page.
My experience is more mixed. There are times when I feel compelled to write, times when I want to do anything but, times when I don't want to but really get into it once I start. There's a joke about sex and the stereotypical housewife in there somewhere.
What I do find, though, is that even on days when writing feels like pulling teeth, when I'd rather be kneeling on a hard floor in church, I produce stuff as high of quality as anything else I do. Reading afterward, I can't tell the difference between my enthusiastic writing and my grimly dutiful writing. I never have any truly great ideas if I'm not in the mood, but as long as I have a plan for where I'm going, I can do good work - by my standards at least - any time I muster the discipline to write.
Orson Welles told a story of when he, his wife, Hemingway and EH's wife went to a ballet. Apparently, it was, for the men, a very boring ballet. At one point, Hemingway muttered, "Christ, I'd rather be writing!" A lot of authors really struggle with a blank page.
My experience is more mixed. There are times when I feel compelled to write, times when I want to do anything but, times when I don't want to but really get into it once I start. There's a joke about sex and the stereotypical housewife in there somewhere.
What I do find, though, is that even on days when writing feels like pulling teeth, when I'd rather be kneeling on a hard floor in church, I produce stuff as high of quality as anything else I do. Reading afterward, I can't tell the difference between my enthusiastic writing and my grimly dutiful writing. I never have any truly great ideas if I'm not in the mood, but as long as I have a plan for where I'm going, I can do good work - by my standards at least - any time I muster the discipline to write.
Matthew Bruce Alexander
I shall assume this refers to Withur We, my only published book, and not to the one I am working on now, which will be talked about in another answer.
I decided to write Withur We when I had the abrupt realization that I simply was not constituted right to make independent films, the main reason being I hated asking people for money, which is 90% of independent filmmaking. I was, however, quite happy to sit by myself in my computer room and write scripts. I had always been a book reader, and my interest in cinema and movie making was sort of a sidetrack from literature. When I realized that I was not - at least at that time - going to be directing independent films of any length or importance, I knew I had to do something with storytelling.
This moment in my life also coincided with the completion of my conversion to libertarianism. While I had been a libertarian for a number of years, it had only been for the last year or so that I had been a closet anarchist. It seems strange to me now, but I was leery of coming out and declaring my opposition to all government everywhere. When I finally came out of that closet, and realized that I was not going to be making films any time soon, the decision to write a libertarian novel was made as a fait accompli.
The book evolved in my mind over time. I spent five or six months prepping for it. From the beginning I knew it was going to feature a rebellion. Other elements and new directions were added later, and even as I was well into writing it my understanding and appreciation for libertarianism was growing and gaining nuance and perspective. I clearly remember the moment when I had an idea for how I was going to tie everything together at the end. I knew the basics of how it was going to end, but I had a eureka moment and the jubilation I felt I can remember quite clearly.
I decided to write Withur We when I had the abrupt realization that I simply was not constituted right to make independent films, the main reason being I hated asking people for money, which is 90% of independent filmmaking. I was, however, quite happy to sit by myself in my computer room and write scripts. I had always been a book reader, and my interest in cinema and movie making was sort of a sidetrack from literature. When I realized that I was not - at least at that time - going to be directing independent films of any length or importance, I knew I had to do something with storytelling.
This moment in my life also coincided with the completion of my conversion to libertarianism. While I had been a libertarian for a number of years, it had only been for the last year or so that I had been a closet anarchist. It seems strange to me now, but I was leery of coming out and declaring my opposition to all government everywhere. When I finally came out of that closet, and realized that I was not going to be making films any time soon, the decision to write a libertarian novel was made as a fait accompli.
The book evolved in my mind over time. I spent five or six months prepping for it. From the beginning I knew it was going to feature a rebellion. Other elements and new directions were added later, and even as I was well into writing it my understanding and appreciation for libertarianism was growing and gaining nuance and perspective. I clearly remember the moment when I had an idea for how I was going to tie everything together at the end. I knew the basics of how it was going to end, but I had a eureka moment and the jubilation I felt I can remember quite clearly.
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