Ask the Author: John Scherber
Answered Questions (6)
John Scherber
Often an idea is only an image. My current book on the terror attack was launched by seeing a delivery man fleeing an epidemic among thousands of other cars, not realizing that the epidemic behind him was a terror attack and in his delivery van as he fled were three packages of the disease germs destined for three other major cities in the South. I could not get that image out of my mind.
John Scherber
I am always inspired to write, and simply sitting down at the laptop sets me off. I think it's because I was blocked for 37 years that merely knowing I can now do it again makes it come easy.
John Scherber
I just finished a novel about a bio-terror attack on the US. I started it nearly three years ago, failed to get it right, returned to it a year later, improved it, sent it to a writer friend of mine for her advice, took the advice, still didn't get it quite right, and set it aside once again. Took it out early this year and finished it. The lesson is one I learned in painting--when a project fights you tooth and nail, it's likely to be successful. The book came out on Oct. 26, 2014.
John Scherber
For aspiring writers I think you should try to find your own voice. There is the temptation to mimic established writers because their path has been proven to be successful, but there can be only one Stephen King, one William Faulkner, and those identities have been taken. You won't fool anyone. Only your own voice is unique to YOU. You must develop the confidence to speak frankly and truly, and from the heart. That alone will compel people to listen to you and hear your message. Courage!
John Scherber
For me, the best thing about writing is independence. I had a very controlling parent and I grew up unable to take orders. I didn't enjoy giving them either. Writing gives me total freedom of choice, of writing and managing my 22 books, and of promoting them the best way I can. Freedom involves taking responsibility for what you do, because only if you own them can you learn from your mistakes.
John Scherber
Well, I had writer's block for 37 years, so I know something about it. That's one of the reasons I wrote the book on writing. The best answer is that what you are writing is not about you, it's about the subject and your treatment of it. Block is about your fear of failure, freezing up, it's only about yourself. I would focus on the current line, the current paragraph. Write one word. Fix it if it can be improved upon, then write the next. That's your TOTAL focus. Stop thinking of in terms of being and think in terms of doing. When people ask me what I do, I never say I'm a writer, I say I'm writing a mystery set in the horse country here in Mexico. (Or whatever the subject is.)
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