Ask the Author: William R. Herr
Answered Questions (8)
William R. Herr
The Professor and Mary Anne. Together, they both had the answers, and banana cream pie. Plus, Dawn Wells is hot.
William R. Herr
Short answer, ask. Long answer, track me down, find out where I am going to be, and tackle me. Then ask.
Honestly, I do not know, from one day to the next, where in the US I might end up. However, I semi-regularly return to Mechanicsburg. Coordinate with me on williamrherr.com, and maybe get a complimentary email addy, for having the right name.
Or, offer to buy me coffee at a truck-stop, and I will bring swag.
Honestly, I do not know, from one day to the next, where in the US I might end up. However, I semi-regularly return to Mechanicsburg. Coordinate with me on williamrherr.com, and maybe get a complimentary email addy, for having the right name.
Or, offer to buy me coffee at a truck-stop, and I will bring swag.
William R. Herr
I get all of my ideas from my observations of life. I live outside of society, on the whole, and human interaction fascinates me. Most everything I write comes from my own curiosity. I ask questions, and let the characters answer them for themselves. Hopefully, in the process, the reader will answer the same questions for themselves.
The object is not to provide an answer, or even to guide the reader to an answer. That would be preaching, and writers are not supremely gifted with salient wisdom. Rather, the object is to provide tough questions. Everyone gets to answer them for themselves, apropos of their own experience.
The object is not to provide an answer, or even to guide the reader to an answer. That would be preaching, and writers are not supremely gifted with salient wisdom. Rather, the object is to provide tough questions. Everyone gets to answer them for themselves, apropos of their own experience.
William R. Herr
My wife stands behind me, with a frying pan, and beats me when I stop. She wants to know what happens next, and the only way for that to happen is for me to write.
Seriously, though, whenever there is a break in my work, my conscience pushes me to make use of the time. I write because I feel guilty if I do not. I know that I have a story to tell, and I want it to be the best that it possibly can. I want to share it with the world, so that they may enjoy it as well. Everything else is bonus.
Seriously, though, whenever there is a break in my work, my conscience pushes me to make use of the time. I write because I feel guilty if I do not. I know that I have a story to tell, and I want it to be the best that it possibly can. I want to share it with the world, so that they may enjoy it as well. Everything else is bonus.
William R. Herr
Fall's End is tentatively due for release in December '14, and has entered the editing process. From a Broken Land is tentatively due for release in December '15, and has entered the editing process. Captivity of Choice is in rough. That would be my current project.
Of course, there is other work that is burning a hole in my brain. I will mention that when I actually have something to show the publisher.
Of course, there is other work that is burning a hole in my brain. I will mention that when I actually have something to show the publisher.
William R. Herr
Read 1000 words every day. Write 1000 words every day. Finish everything you start, even if you know it's schlock. Submit everything to someone (anyone!). Get feedback. Improve. Repeat.
William R. Herr
Having a good excuse for why you are staring into space, at a party. Seriously. My wife has to apologize for me, constantly.
William R. Herr
Generally, writer's block happens because I do not know what has to happen next. There is a hole in my outline that I overlooked, and I have to find a way to bridge the gap between one point and the next.
Dialogue is good for this. I can write the conversations, with only brief description of the action, and the scene will come alive. Then, upon rewrites, I can fill in the action and refine the dialogue. Then the gap is bridged, and I can continue writing.
Otherwise, writer's block is caused by a change in my routine, and that is harder to break. If I am stuck away from my normal writing environment (that is a constant hazard for me), the words flow slowly. Only force of will can break that particular obstacle.
Dialogue is good for this. I can write the conversations, with only brief description of the action, and the scene will come alive. Then, upon rewrites, I can fill in the action and refine the dialogue. Then the gap is bridged, and I can continue writing.
Otherwise, writer's block is caused by a change in my routine, and that is harder to break. If I am stuck away from my normal writing environment (that is a constant hazard for me), the words flow slowly. Only force of will can break that particular obstacle.
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