Ask the Author: Don Gillette
Answered Questions (7)
Don Gillette
Great question, Jim. The characters in that story are based on myself and one of my oldest friends. I pulled bits and pieces from both of us and created two new characters out of the mix.
The dialog between these two characters is a fairly accurate transcription of the thousands of conversations we've had during our many adventures through the years.
I saw your review--thanks for that. Dark and Stormy may make it to a novel someday and if that happens, an autographed copy will be headed your way.
The dialog between these two characters is a fairly accurate transcription of the thousands of conversations we've had during our many adventures through the years.
I saw your review--thanks for that. Dark and Stormy may make it to a novel someday and if that happens, an autographed copy will be headed your way.
Don Gillette
I never need inspiration, never had writer's block, never needed any outside stimulus. I'm a story-teller.
Don Gillette
My most recent book is a collection of short fiction. Some of the stories were published years ago in magazines that are now defunct; some of them were never submitted, and some of them are new for this collection. I had a lot of fun updating the older stories, but I really enjoyed the new stories. I also found that I've gotten a lot "windier" with age. In my early years, I'd write the foundation and say, "Okay, there it is..." Now, I find myself filling in the blank spaces and developing character and plot much more. I used to have this elitist attitude that the reader needed to fill in the blanks and that's bullshit. Reading is for enjoyment--you shouldn't have to work too hard at it.
Don Gillette
I'm currently working on a novel, Dark Voices, that began germinating more than 20 years ago and has been on my mind ever since. The outline is almost done and now the fun begins.
Don Gillette
Imitate. Hunter Thompson typed The Great Gatsby word for word to get the feel for what it's like to write a classic and while I wouldn't suggest you go that far, try a few short stories that imitate the style of your favorite author. You'll be surprised when, in the middle of the story, you find your own voice. And once you've found it, start over.
Don Gillette
The best thing is when you're on a roll--deep into the story. The worst thing is editing and promoting.
Don Gillette
I grab a guitar, plug it into Guitar Rig 5, turn up the volume, and experiment with the effects. There must be 10,000 different effects on that program--everything from Van Halen to Van Gogh. After half an hour of that ear-bleeding rock, I'm good to go.
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