Ask the Author: Dave Milbrandt
Answered Questions (11)
Dave Milbrandt
Prime Directive by Davis Bunn and The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin.
Dave Milbrandt
I would go to Narnia and serve in the court of Peter and Susan and Edmund and Lucy.
Dave Milbrandt
I had a relative who died while working abroad as an engineer in the early 1900s. What was he doing there? What was his life like in the far away land? Did he really die of the cause listed on his death certificate? The questions abound (and would probably make a good novel some day).
Dave Milbrandt
I would like to answer this question in a non-traditional way. While I am fascinated by the romantic travails of James Gatz/Jay Gatsby and Daisy Fay Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby", my favorite couple is not a romantic one at all: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. While Sherlock is, indeed, way too critical of Watson, they both rely on each other's skills in order to be a better person, which is the definition of a good relationship.
Dave Milbrandt
Great question, Diana. It would be very profound to say I write because I have an important message for the world or something of that nature, but I find that I write because I have to. There is a story inside of me that I have to get out. It starts to bubble over like water boiling on the stove top and putting a lid on things really won't stop the reaction to the heat of the ideas. At times I am not sure if the ideas are any good (either fiction or nonfiction), but once I get going I can't stop until I am done. If I could forgo eating and sleeping for days on end until I finished a manuscript, I would do so. I am not saying this addiction to storytelling is healthy, I am merely describing the symptoms.
Dave Milbrandt
The first piece of advice I would give to aspiring writers is to be realistic about your writing goals. Are you writing to share with your family and friends or with the whole world? While it should not determine the work you put into the manuscript, it will definitely impact what you do when the manuscript is complete.
The second piece of advice I have comes from the publisher of "The Shack", who once said the distinction between traditional versus self-publishing should be erased in favor of the distinction between professional and unprofessional publishing. No matter whether a major house is publishing your book or you are availing yourself of the wonders of self-publishing, your book should be well-researched and written, thoroughly edited and critiqued, have a solid cover design and be well-marketed and distributed. You must realize you will do a lot of this work yourself, even if you are picked up by a major house. What you put into your work is what others will get out of it.
The second piece of advice I have comes from the publisher of "The Shack", who once said the distinction between traditional versus self-publishing should be erased in favor of the distinction between professional and unprofessional publishing. No matter whether a major house is publishing your book or you are availing yourself of the wonders of self-publishing, your book should be well-researched and written, thoroughly edited and critiqued, have a solid cover design and be well-marketed and distributed. You must realize you will do a lot of this work yourself, even if you are picked up by a major house. What you put into your work is what others will get out of it.
Dave Milbrandt
The best thing about being a writer is that you get to share with others how you see the world in the hope they will become passionate about the things that make you passionate. If you can capture their attention to the exclusion of everything else and compel them to consume your work voraciously then you have reached the pinnacle of what it means to be a writer. When I get there, I'll let you know what it feels like.
Dave Milbrandt
I write what I can when I can. Whether it is a blog, story outline or chapter, sometimes just the act of writing spurs on further writing. In the summer, I can write all day every day until I drop. During the rest of the year, Saturday mornings are usually best for me.
Dave Milbrandt
The idea for my most recent project came to me one day when I started thinking about all the things I would tell parents about the pressures their children face and how the educational system can work to the benefit of the student if they are willing to join the team of professionals focused on that goal.
Dave Milbrandt
I try to write when I'm inspired and step away from writing when I'm not. Unfortunately, sometimes I'm inspired at all the wrong times (usually when I'm knee deep in something else). That's when I make notes and get to the project when I can. Often doing something unrelated when I hit the wall of writers block helps to recharge my creativity.
Dave Milbrandt
I am stepping away from my fiction writing for a little bit to write "High School Declassified: An Insider's Guide to Helping Your Student Succeed". I am taking my journalistic skills, combined with my years of teaching, to help parents help their students do well at this level. I am writing a blog: www.highschooldeclassified.com and planning workshops as I build platform for this latest project. I'll get back to volume 2 of the Jim Mitchell Trilogy next summer.
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