Ask the Author: John G. Doherty
Answered Questions (6)
John G. Doherty
Fortunately, this has not yet been a problem. My writing is a sideline for me, and the Mad Men series grows out of observation of the show, which is almost always very good. If I am watching a show and my writing is not "popping", I'll take a break and come back to it a bit later. Inevitably, there is some recapping in my work. If I have something to tell you about the first scene, and another "reveal" in scene 4, I have to give my readers some idea about what happened in scenes 2 & 3 to make sense on the printed page. But in reading one of my chapters on a given episode, I think I will give even close observers of the show a few things to think about that not occurred to them previously.
John G. Doherty
My work as an artist has given me some ready opportunities to find an audience. Some nights I will be working in a room with 30-75 people and I will send them home with portrait drawings, and I will receive lots of great feedback (ironically, more than when I published in a Sunday newspaper with a readership of 750,000. Writing affords a different connection. I have readers on several continents, and it is very gratifying to find that my insights on this show are being shared with fans from all corners of the globe.
John G. Doherty
"Write what you know" is a cliche for a reason, and a good one. Technically, I think Stephen King's "On Writing" is a very good manual no matter what you think of his horror work. Reading is also key for any writer. At the risk of being obvious, have a passion for your subject. Even though the genre is "criticism, I don't have much to criticize about Matt Weiner's show Mad Men. I could not write this series of books on Mad Men if I were not a devoted fan.
John G. Doherty
My ebook for the last half of the final season is being edited (along with the season three ebook). I am putting final tweaks on the Season Two ebook, and about to dive into Season Four of Mad Men, to write that last book in the series.
John G. Doherty
I have always enjoyed writing, and I have had both writing and drawing credits in The Boston Globe, and the Salem News, to name two outlets. With my current series of deep looks at Mad Men, the process is a bit like free association in therapy. I will review a scene closely and note all the peripherals: books the characters are reading, new artwork in their offices, plays they have gone to, new cultural trends, etc. If I notice a reference to another piece of art, I will note that. And if there is an obscure reference to another episode several seasons ago, I will note that, too.
John G. Doherty
My recent series of ebooks is "Don't Look in the Mirror: Reflections on Mad Men". I started blogging the show "The Sopranos" during its run, and I had a regular following of readers who enjoyed my analyses on the newsgroup "alt.tv.sopranos". When Mad Men started, I enjoyed it and noticed it was like The Sopranos in its richness of storyline. There are so many things in each episode that these are the two shows , in my opinion that should never be "marathoned" (if you will forgive my verbifying!). An episode of these shows is ideally watched once, and discussed with many, and then watched at least once more. My books are intended for fans who have watched a particular episode once, and want to get more out of it. Everyone involved in "Mad Men", from writers, directors, set designers, and the costumers have done amazing work that merits a very close look, and I hope to provide it.
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