Ask the Author: D.C. Sheehan
Answered Questions (4)
D.C. Sheehan
I was born in Stratford, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Stratford is a very small town and dominated by a huge mountain Mount Taranaki (Taranaki Maunga in te reo/Māori). Taranaki Maunga is incredibly special to me. Every time I see it I know that I am "home" and I've included it in some way in every single one of my books.
Stratford (originally Whakaahurangi in te reo which means "look to the sky') was named after the English town and, due to the Shakespeare connection 67 streets in the town are named after Shakespearian characters!
Stratford is a blueprint for the town of Lumley in my first novel, Finding Home.
Stratford (originally Whakaahurangi in te reo which means "look to the sky') was named after the English town and, due to the Shakespeare connection 67 streets in the town are named after Shakespearian characters!
Stratford is a blueprint for the town of Lumley in my first novel, Finding Home.
D.C. Sheehan
Struggling with a doughy plot can feel daunting. I typically hit a few problem patches each novel, areas where the plot around them is working well, but that bridging plot is muddled or, sketchy at best.
When I am mired in plot-quicksand these can assist (depending on what the issue is):
Get clear. Write down the key plot points that MUST happen. Once you clear the clutter and weed out all the fancy ideas that are nice-to-haves the necessary plot points will expose themselves.
Re-write the story beats in the problem area. Actually write or type them out. Sometimes the physical act of putting them into print can assist. Do this as many times as you need to. I often redraft beats three, four, five times during the rewrite process. Look to other areas of the story. Like a puzzle you've actually fitted in the wrong slot, sometimes plot fixes are sitting in another part of the book.
And remember—no matter what the problem, you will come to know the answer. You might not know it right now. But you have solved seemingly unsolvable story problems before and you will solve this one.
This last piece of self-comfort has gotten me through some very dark rewriting times. The answer isn't necessarily within you the whole time, but give it time and the solution will eventually appear.
When I am mired in plot-quicksand these can assist (depending on what the issue is):
Get clear. Write down the key plot points that MUST happen. Once you clear the clutter and weed out all the fancy ideas that are nice-to-haves the necessary plot points will expose themselves.
Re-write the story beats in the problem area. Actually write or type them out. Sometimes the physical act of putting them into print can assist. Do this as many times as you need to. I often redraft beats three, four, five times during the rewrite process. Look to other areas of the story. Like a puzzle you've actually fitted in the wrong slot, sometimes plot fixes are sitting in another part of the book.
And remember—no matter what the problem, you will come to know the answer. You might not know it right now. But you have solved seemingly unsolvable story problems before and you will solve this one.
This last piece of self-comfort has gotten me through some very dark rewriting times. The answer isn't necessarily within you the whole time, but give it time and the solution will eventually appear.
D.C. Sheehan
Know your character's star sign!
Read up on the different astrological signs (Western and Eastern, the more you know the better) then assign a sign to each of your main characters. It will help you define their personality and how they might interact with others.
Recommended reading: Love Signs (Linda Goodman)
Read up on the different astrological signs (Western and Eastern, the more you know the better) then assign a sign to each of your main characters. It will help you define their personality and how they might interact with others.
Recommended reading: Love Signs (Linda Goodman)
D.C. Sheehan
I'm currently publishing The Mythic and the Rosetta Engine, the fifth book in The Mythic Series.
I've chosen to publish this book in parts for two reasons.
One, it's taken longer than expected to finish (full time work isn't conducive to writing novels, who knew?) and I wanted to get at least the start of it to readers who've been waiting long enough.
Two, it's a long book and carving it into sections has made the rewriting far more manageable.
In the background I am always working on the following books in the series.
I am also working on the audiobook of The Mythic, the first in the series.
I've chosen to publish this book in parts for two reasons.
One, it's taken longer than expected to finish (full time work isn't conducive to writing novels, who knew?) and I wanted to get at least the start of it to readers who've been waiting long enough.
Two, it's a long book and carving it into sections has made the rewriting far more manageable.
In the background I am always working on the following books in the series.
I am also working on the audiobook of The Mythic, the first in the series.
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