Ask the Author: L. Darby Gibbs
Answered Questions (12)
L. Darby Gibbs
My dad was an electrical engineer and in the air force. The university he said he got his degree at has no record of him, and the air force has nothing on him either. Yet he worked for a defense company, and I have a news article naming him an air force pilot and commander of a civil air patrol unit. The article includes a picture of my mom in a cadet's uniform. Story material, right?
L. Darby Gibbs
I still have fond memories of reading C. S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles. I would most certainly want to hang out with Mister Tumnus, listen to Reepacheep's stories of bravery and laugh at Puddleglum.
L. Darby Gibbs
Since I go into full on writing mode during the summer, I read April White's Immortal Descendants series one book after the other. It kept me focused by not making me wonder what was going to happen next when I needed to be thinking only about my own plotting; although, it was as good as my first time reading them, so I was always looking forward to my breaks.
L. Darby Gibbs
I can't even read one. How could I possibly write one? Wait, I got it.
I can't think of anything to write! Arrrg!
Horror of horrors.
I can't think of anything to write! Arrrg!
Horror of horrors.
L. Darby Gibbs
Being there in the moment of creation, being deep inside the springing out of character, life. Okay, being God. But then I have to go in and fix it. Wait awhile and read it over and say, I wrote that? Sometimes it's "Wow, I wrote that!" Sometimes it's "Wow, I wrote that?" and Some times it's "Please, don't tell me I wrote that." But every time it's the beauty of creation.
L. Darby Gibbs
Write, write, read and write, think about story, observe, write, imagine, read and write, then write some more.
L. Darby Gibbs
A fellow writer offered me an opportunity to post an article on her blog. She gave a few topic selections and fantasy caught my attention. I had been thinking about how the rules of the world a writer works in must be consistent and help derive character. So I thought I would write about how world building is another way to view character building and conflict. I thought and example would clarify the points I was trying to make, so I began listing a set of rules for a fantasy world and then showed how they would affect a characters actions as well and determine upbringing, expectations, etc. And then there I was with a world and character and a story ready to be written and I didn't want to post it. I'd spent considerable time on the post, so I decided to let it sit for a month and decide it I wanted to write the short story and then post the article. But I had other work I was doing, and the post just sat on my computer for months. I needed to take a break from the series I was working on, and that post came to mind. I started writing figuring a weekend or two and I would have a solid draft. Hah. One month later I was 35,000 words in and not even a third through the story. Thus Sharded Boy was born. Now I am working on the second book, The Shifter Shard, in the Standing Stone series that Sharded Boy is the first book in.
L. Darby Gibbs
Amaranthe and Sicarius of the Emperor's Edge series by Lindsey Buroker. I love the undercurrents in the dialogue, the development of their characters as individuals and as a couple as the series progresses. They were original and authentic. I never felt events or actions went against their characters, and there were no easy fixes.
L. Darby Gibbs
Hello, Ivy. I have not ready any other ancient Chinese poems. Do you recommend one?
L. Darby Gibbs
For me writer's block is not a case of being unable to put word to page. It is rather a case of what is going on the page just doesn't seem to have depth or genuine feeling to it. My remedy is to keep writing and be confident that at some point something worth reading will flow once I have greased the wheel enough.
L. Darby Gibbs
I am doing research for a contemporary fiction about Alzheimer's. When not following that line of interest, I am writing the last chapters of Book 4 of my Student of Jump time travel series.
L. Darby Gibbs
Just about everything inspires me. I think it is more being ready to step along a path of interest rather than a specific thing catching my attention. All I need is the moment free to wander and consider possibilities.
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