Ask the Author: D.S. Cahr
Answered Questions (8)
D.S. Cahr
My favorite fictional couple is (without question) Nick and Norah from "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." Their story captures the intensity, longing, and immediacy of a real emotional connection - not the fake ones we fantasize about. The fact that this budding romance is between teenagers strips away our worldly cynicism; we aren't just watching people fall in love, we're watching them learn how to be authentic. A really wonderful story on every level. Of course, the fact that I so closely identify with Nick (down to the bass playing) may have added to the resonance....
D.S. Cahr
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
D.S. Cahr
A sequel to The Secret Root, and four other novels that are distracting me. Too many ideas!
D.S. Cahr
I had an image in mind of a family disappearing, for reasons that could not be explained, and the rest of the story revealed itself while I wrote the first draft. Plus, time has always been an obsession of mine, and thinking about the ways that it frames our reality is endlessly interesting.
D.S. Cahr
There are so many good stories to write, the problem isn't inspiration it is narrowing down your choices. The lie that all good stories have been told is ridiculous - whether you write science fiction or contemporary romance or literary tales of post-graduate boredom. If you look at the world, and travel around, you can find inspiration - you just have to listen.
D.S. Cahr
The best ways to deal with writers block are either (a) to simply sit and not get up until you write something, even if it is horrible, just to get something down, and/or (b) try writing something entirely different.
D.S. Cahr
The best advice I ever received about becoming a writer was to write - as much as possible, and all the time. Writing is the type of skill that you only develop through practice, and there are almost no examples of writers who didn't spend a long time as poor or mediocre writers before they refined their abilities. And be patient - it doesn't happen overnight.
D.S. Cahr
The best thing about being a writer is finding out that someone enjoyed your book - there is no better feeling. Spending years on a book is difficult and solitary, and when you find that your work has connected with someone you never even met, it's magic.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more