Ask the Author: Debora Dyess
Answered Questions (14)
Debora Dyess
Don't wait for a muse. Work your ass off. Use discipline as a tool and sharpen it daily. Inspiration isn't as important as dedication.
We all love it when we sit at a keyboard and words flow. But, honestly, if it was that easy, it wouldn't be special or valuable.
Muses don't make it happen. YOU make it happen through the decision to work harder than the other folks.
We all love it when we sit at a keyboard and words flow. But, honestly, if it was that easy, it wouldn't be special or valuable.
Muses don't make it happen. YOU make it happen through the decision to work harder than the other folks.
Debora Dyess
Tough quesiton!
I was an art major in college for a few weeks but, during that time, discovered I have a rare, genetic eye disease. I was told I'd be totally blind by the age of 25. Distraught? Um... Yeah. I got rid of my art supplies, changed my major and went on with life.
By 25-years-old, my vision was pretty terrible (and it still is) but not gone. My husband took me into a Michael's Store on Mother's Day and filled our little cart iwth paints, brushes, canvases... the works! I asked him why. His response has become an defining moment in my life.
"You can't do this professionally. But if God gives you a gift, you have to learn to use it in whatever capacity you can. And I odn't want our baby to give up on any of its gifts just because it's hard." He patted my still-flat abdomen as he spoke and smiled.
While the baby wasn't born for another 7 1/2 months, it was my first Mother'sDay gift. And it's still giving. Oh, the paints and canvases are long gone. But the attitude, the sentiment... Those still help me every day.
Not much of a mystery, I guess, unless you look deeply. But hey... It's all I'vegot! lol
I was an art major in college for a few weeks but, during that time, discovered I have a rare, genetic eye disease. I was told I'd be totally blind by the age of 25. Distraught? Um... Yeah. I got rid of my art supplies, changed my major and went on with life.
By 25-years-old, my vision was pretty terrible (and it still is) but not gone. My husband took me into a Michael's Store on Mother's Day and filled our little cart iwth paints, brushes, canvases... the works! I asked him why. His response has become an defining moment in my life.
"You can't do this professionally. But if God gives you a gift, you have to learn to use it in whatever capacity you can. And I odn't want our baby to give up on any of its gifts just because it's hard." He patted my still-flat abdomen as he spoke and smiled.
While the baby wasn't born for another 7 1/2 months, it was my first Mother'sDay gift. And it's still giving. Oh, the paints and canvases are long gone. But the attitude, the sentiment... Those still help me every day.
Not much of a mystery, I guess, unless you look deeply. But hey... It's all I'vegot! lol
Debora Dyess
Ah, the dreaded 'white page' ... Yikes!
I usually have two or three projects going at one time in different genres. Besides writing, I also illustrate and compose music. So if I'm stumped on one project, I move to another. (That's where all those diaries and journals came into play. I found creating a 'blank book' usually helps me with my blank brain!) The 'block' almost always crumbles within the day (normally as soon as I quit worrying about it!) That's not always the case, of course. There are things I've been stuck on for much longer, and a few I simply set aside to work on at a future date.
If I'm on a deadline, that's different, of course. When I was ghostwriting or writing for textbook publishers, the deadlines were quite tight. One teacher's manual had to be completed in one week -- start to finish -- and it was comprised of12 chapters. I worked like I hadn't worked since college! If I got writer's block in that one, I referred to notes, took a quick walk around the block, and got back to work.
My husband is a great source of breaking through barriers for me, as well. I read aloud to him and he puts his two cents worth in. I don't always use his idea,s, but his input joggles my brain out of neutral and I can move forward.
I usually have two or three projects going at one time in different genres. Besides writing, I also illustrate and compose music. So if I'm stumped on one project, I move to another. (That's where all those diaries and journals came into play. I found creating a 'blank book' usually helps me with my blank brain!) The 'block' almost always crumbles within the day (normally as soon as I quit worrying about it!) That's not always the case, of course. There are things I've been stuck on for much longer, and a few I simply set aside to work on at a future date.
If I'm on a deadline, that's different, of course. When I was ghostwriting or writing for textbook publishers, the deadlines were quite tight. One teacher's manual had to be completed in one week -- start to finish -- and it was comprised of12 chapters. I worked like I hadn't worked since college! If I got writer's block in that one, I referred to notes, took a quick walk around the block, and got back to work.
My husband is a great source of breaking through barriers for me, as well. I read aloud to him and he puts his two cents worth in. I don't always use his idea,s, but his input joggles my brain out of neutral and I can move forward.
Debora Dyess
Hmm...
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of the perfect night. In one hand, he held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose and fingered the syringe full of Ketamine he'd hidden in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can get. Don't shame me! I'm not condoning this situation.
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of the perfect night. In one hand, he held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose and fingered the syringe full of Ketamine he'd hidden in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can get. Don't shame me! I'm not condoning this situation.
Debora Dyess
Hmm...
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of the perfect night. In one hand, he held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose and fingered the syringe full of Ketamine he'd hidden in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can get. Don't shame me! I'm not condoning this situation.
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of the perfect night. In one hand, he held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose and fingered the syringe full of Ketamine he'd hidden in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can get. Don't shame me! I'm not condoning this situation.
Debora Dyess
I'm in the process of reading two pretty different series:
The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson (forgive the probable misidentification of the series title!)
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan ... um ... Jonathon ...
I'm also reading a list of marketing books that are far less interesting and am planning on reviewing a few books here. As for reviews, I'm reviewing 'Betrayal' by Sandra Mithell, a great and surprising read!
The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson (forgive the probable misidentification of the series title!)
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan ... um ... Jonathon ...
I'm also reading a list of marketing books that are far less interesting and am planning on reviewing a few books here. As for reviews, I'm reviewing 'Betrayal' by Sandra Mithell, a great and surprising read!
Debora Dyess
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of a perfect evening. He held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose in one hand and fingered the syringe of Ketamine in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can imagine. Don't shame me - I'm DEFINATELY not condoning this behavior!
That's about as 'horror' as I can imagine. Don't shame me - I'm DEFINATELY not condoning this behavior!
Debora Dyess
He rang the doorbell, smiling in anticipation of a perfect evening. He held a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose in one hand and fingered the syringe of Ketamine in his pocket with the other.
That's about as 'horror' as I can imagine. Don't shame me - I'm DEFINATELY not condoning this behavior!
That's about as 'horror' as I can imagine. Don't shame me - I'm DEFINATELY not condoning this behavior!
Debora Dyess
I'm planning on reading the series by Dee Henderson about the O'Malley clan. I'm on book one now and have read the prequel.
Also hoping to read all of the Rot and Ruin series. I know, I know ... I'm about a decade behind on this but ... life goes on.
I"m also looking at a list of books on marketing and promotion that I've purchased. Not sure about the order yet.
Also hoping to read all of the Rot and Ruin series. I know, I know ... I'm about a decade behind on this but ... life goes on.
I"m also looking at a list of books on marketing and promotion that I've purchased. Not sure about the order yet.
Debora Dyess
I'm planning on reading the series by Dee Henderson about the O'Malley clan. I'm on book one now and have read the prequel.
Also hoping to read all of the Rot and Ruin series. I know, I know ... I'm about a decade behind on this but ... life goes on.
I"m also looking at a list of books on marketing and promotion that I've purchased. Not sure about the order yet.
Also hoping to read all of the Rot and Ruin series. I know, I know ... I'm about a decade behind on this but ... life goes on.
I"m also looking at a list of books on marketing and promotion that I've purchased. Not sure about the order yet.
Debora Dyess
Perfect your craft and LEARN TO MARKET!
Join a good writing community and listen closely to their critiques. Read, read, read works from excellent authors and use them as your teachers, too. Listen to the flow of the language and mimic it in your work. . That part is the easy part.
Marketing is tough and so necessary. Any advice? I'll take it!
Join a good writing community and listen closely to their critiques. Read, read, read works from excellent authors and use them as your teachers, too. Listen to the flow of the language and mimic it in your work. . That part is the easy part.
Marketing is tough and so necessary. Any advice? I'll take it!
Debora Dyess
Perfect your craft and LEARN TO MARKET!
Join a good writing community and listen closely to their critiques. Read, read, read works from excellent authors and use them as your teachers, too. Listen to the flow of the language and mimic it in your work. . That part is the easy part.
Marketing is tough and so necessary. Any advice? I'll take it!
Join a good writing community and listen closely to their critiques. Read, read, read works from excellent authors and use them as your teachers, too. Listen to the flow of the language and mimic it in your work. . That part is the easy part.
Marketing is tough and so necessary. Any advice? I'll take it!
Debora Dyess
Inspiration comes in so many forms! Dreams, phrases, conversations (No, I"m NOT an eavesdropper - I'm a writer!), random thoughts. I think that, for writers, inspiration is all around us.
Debora Dyess
I write in multiple genres and usually have 2-3 books going at the same time. I write just the way I read, and it suits my ADD just fine. :)
I'm currently working on Looking for Orion, a Christian thriller. It deals with life-and-death struggles, really evil bad guys, rediscovering faith, and family.
I'm also working on Ms. Slitherington: The Tale of the Evil Substitute. It's a wacky story for middle-grade readers about a wicked witch-snake that trades places with Elliot and Todd's favorite teacher. The two boys determined to find their teacher-turned-snake and restore her to humanity. There are only a couple of things in their way: how to do it and the evil substitute, who is determined to remain a person.
Flights of Fancy - a collection of poetry for kids, the book starts with the story of Fancy, who decides she wants to fly. It includes 'Jack O'Leary's Jack-o-Lantern', 'The Heebeller's Footsmellers' and more. It will be illustrated and a fun read for young poetry lovers.
I'm currently working on Looking for Orion, a Christian thriller. It deals with life-and-death struggles, really evil bad guys, rediscovering faith, and family.
I'm also working on Ms. Slitherington: The Tale of the Evil Substitute. It's a wacky story for middle-grade readers about a wicked witch-snake that trades places with Elliot and Todd's favorite teacher. The two boys determined to find their teacher-turned-snake and restore her to humanity. There are only a couple of things in their way: how to do it and the evil substitute, who is determined to remain a person.
Flights of Fancy - a collection of poetry for kids, the book starts with the story of Fancy, who decides she wants to fly. It includes 'Jack O'Leary's Jack-o-Lantern', 'The Heebeller's Footsmellers' and more. It will be illustrated and a fun read for young poetry lovers.
Debora Dyess
I"m releasing Escape from Zombie Island 4/1. A friend challenged me to write a book about something I knew nothing about. Cocky to the end, I asked, "Well, what do I know nothing about?"
"Zombies," she answered. (She'd gone with me to my one-and-only zombie movie and knew it.)
I even had to look up with zombies look like to describe them correctly! Escape ... turned into a fast-paced, character-driven story for 8-12-year-olds. It was a blast to write. And, yes, my friend is pretty impressed. 😉
"Zombies," she answered. (She'd gone with me to my one-and-only zombie movie and knew it.)
I even had to look up with zombies look like to describe them correctly! Escape ... turned into a fast-paced, character-driven story for 8-12-year-olds. It was a blast to write. And, yes, my friend is pretty impressed. 😉
Debora Dyess
I"m releasing Escape from Zombie Island 4/1. A friend challenged me to write a book about something I knew nothing about. Cocky to the end, I asked, "Well, what do I know nothing about?"
"Zombies," she answered. (She'd gone with me to my one-and-only zombie movie and knew it.)
I even had to look up with zombies look like to describe them correctly! Escape ... turned into a fast-paced, character-driven story for 8-12-year-olds. It was a blast to write. And, yes, my friend is pretty impressed. 😉
"Zombies," she answered. (She'd gone with me to my one-and-only zombie movie and knew it.)
I even had to look up with zombies look like to describe them correctly! Escape ... turned into a fast-paced, character-driven story for 8-12-year-olds. It was a blast to write. And, yes, my friend is pretty impressed. 😉
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