Ask the Author: Darren Blake
Answered Questions (5)
Darren Blake
Paul annoyed the horror writer. They never found the body.
Darren Blake
This is a contentious question. There are some camps that don't believe this exists as anything other than an avoidance mechanism.
I'm about 55% in that camp. I believe there are people out there who genuinely get blocked, but no matter the reason, I do firmly believe that it's all in the writer's mind. (Heh.) My 55% anti-existence stance is strictly my own experiences with the phenomenon. This means that FOR ME, "writer's block" is nothing more than putting off writing that next book, that next chapter, or even that next paragraph. So... how do I deal with it?
I write anyway.
Every writer has different ways of dealing with different things, and this is not going to be your end-all, be-all solution to the problem. However, for me, I combat writer's block by writing that I don't know what to write next. Eventually my brain gets tired of regurgitating the same, tired complaints and actually starts writing story.
And of course, once the writing session is done, I delete that initial section where I'm writing about an inability to write.
This is a contentious question. There are some camps that don't believe this exists as anything other than an avoidance mechanism.
I'm about 55% in that camp. I believe there are people out there who genuinely get blocked, but no matter the reason, I do firmly believe that it's all in the writer's mind. (Heh.) My 55% anti-existence stance is strictly my own experiences with the phenomenon. This means that FOR ME, "writer's block" is nothing more than putting off writing that next book, that next chapter, or even that next paragraph. So... how do I deal with it?
I write anyway.
Every writer has different ways of dealing with different things, and this is not going to be your end-all, be-all solution to the problem. However, for me, I combat writer's block by writing that I don't know what to write next. Eventually my brain gets tired of regurgitating the same, tired complaints and actually starts writing story.
And of course, once the writing session is done, I delete that initial section where I'm writing about an inability to write.
Darren Blake
Not sure this is advice, per se, but a word of caution/wisdom when it comes to writing advice:
All writers, including me, are full of it. Sure, we all have our things and we'd like to believe that our way is the "one true way," but when it comes right down to it, my way works for one person: Me. What ends up working for you is your way.
Yes, listen to others. Read what works for them. Absorb it, adapt it to fit into your style where possible/appropriate.
But in the end, we're just full of it. Just do you.
All writers, including me, are full of it. Sure, we all have our things and we'd like to believe that our way is the "one true way," but when it comes right down to it, my way works for one person: Me. What ends up working for you is your way.
Yes, listen to others. Read what works for them. Absorb it, adapt it to fit into your style where possible/appropriate.
But in the end, we're just full of it. Just do you.
Darren Blake
The book is called Comedy of Terrors.
Short answer / Elevator Pitch:
Summer Camp for fans of slasher movies. All the fun and tension of your favorite horror films without that pesky "dying" thing mucking it all up.
Only... someone forgot to tell the killer.
Short answer / Elevator Pitch:
Summer Camp for fans of slasher movies. All the fun and tension of your favorite horror films without that pesky "dying" thing mucking it all up.
Only... someone forgot to tell the killer.
Darren Blake
The inciting incident for Seeing Red is a true story. I was walking to the grocery store, and I got egged. It took a moment to register what had happened, and by the time it did, it was all over. The laughing kid was already gone.
In my mind, I wished I'd thought to pick up a rock and throw it at him*.
And an idea was born.
*NOTE: I would not really have thrown it even if I had thought about it -- As much as I enjoy hurting people in games and fiction, I don't think I could ever do it in the world most people know as reality.
In my mind, I wished I'd thought to pick up a rock and throw it at him*.
And an idea was born.
*NOTE: I would not really have thrown it even if I had thought about it -- As much as I enjoy hurting people in games and fiction, I don't think I could ever do it in the world most people know as reality.
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