Ask the Author: Ned White
Answered Questions (6)
Ned White
For STRING THEORIES, there is no simple answer. I wrote this at a time in my life when certain effects converged: I was deeply immersed in quantum theory and its close relative, string theory; I had come to know people quite well who were fully absorbed in a variety of "new age" thought and practices, as well as adopting Taoist and Buddhist philosophies; and lastly, I was living in northern New Mexico, where science, faith and inspirations of all kinds start to conflate in fascinating ways. The book is predominantly a love story - a young woman on the Buddhist path, a young brilliant physicist afflicted with amnesia - but it's otherwise a mystery and adventure involving a wide range of forces ( some in the metaphysical realm) and eccentric characters. Some will say, "the book wrote itself." This is not true with STRING THEORIES. It took an immense amount of planning and design, a careful roadmap to its finale, and plenty of research into both physics and Taoism.
Ned White
When writing for hire, my main source of inspiration is the challenge itself - to take other peoples' ideas and messages and refashion them in a way that inspires an audience. In the corporate world, good writers and good writing are scarce. My clients appreciate how the innovative use of language can simplify what they're trying to say and have such a strong effect on their audience.
Fiction is another matter. I was inspired to write all my books largely by people I'd come to know - as well as my own intrinsic philosophical bent. If I don't have any particular inspiration, I won't be writing!
Fiction is another matter. I was inspired to write all my books largely by people I'd come to know - as well as my own intrinsic philosophical bent. If I don't have any particular inspiration, I won't be writing!
Ned White
I'm currently marketing the new release of my novel, STRING THEORIES. I've decided it's the best of the four novels I've written and published. I'm not sure when I'll tackle another long project like this one. I'm also making up crossword puzzles (for the New York Times and others) and working on a long corporate project for an upcoming trade show.
Ned White
This is most relevant to writers of fiction:
I've mentored more than a few young writers, and often I think their work is not very good. I try to be as constructive as possible, but in the end sometimes their feelings are hurt. Writers can't have thin skins. They should not think that they're great when they're not. Advice: write with self-doubt. Don't be too sure that your stuff is really good. Let the reader decide.
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite! If you trip over sentence while reading it, others will, too. Fix it. Listen to it - is it rhythmic, does it flow? Readers should glide through your sentences, not stumble and fall.
Read! Be very good at grammar, construction, syntax. If you don't have a solid mechanical foundation, you can't be a good writer.
Finally, expect loneliness. Writing is a one-person job. If you're writing a novel, your life will change - you'll be thinking and feeling it even when you're out to dinner with friends. Accept the isolation - it's part of the job.
I've mentored more than a few young writers, and often I think their work is not very good. I try to be as constructive as possible, but in the end sometimes their feelings are hurt. Writers can't have thin skins. They should not think that they're great when they're not. Advice: write with self-doubt. Don't be too sure that your stuff is really good. Let the reader decide.
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite! If you trip over sentence while reading it, others will, too. Fix it. Listen to it - is it rhythmic, does it flow? Readers should glide through your sentences, not stumble and fall.
Read! Be very good at grammar, construction, syntax. If you don't have a solid mechanical foundation, you can't be a good writer.
Finally, expect loneliness. Writing is a one-person job. If you're writing a novel, your life will change - you'll be thinking and feeling it even when you're out to dinner with friends. Accept the isolation - it's part of the job.
Ned White
When I'm writing for clients, the best part is getting to know their world - whether its corporate, educational, television... I'm learning as I go. It's like being paid to go to school... not too bad.
Ned White
This rarely seems to be a problem for me. I do much of my "writing" sitting on our porch and staring into space, scheming, planning, dreaming through it. At the computer, I know pretty much what's going to happen.
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