Ask the Author: Keith R. Mueller
Answered Questions (6)
Keith R. Mueller
My most recent story, 'The Devil's Rifle' was inspired by an item of architecture. North of Phoenix, on the road to Prescott, in the town of Mayer AZ, there is a gigantic smokestack. Before the internet, I always asked myself two questions when we'd pass it. "What is it?" and "What is it...really?" So I learned finally it was going to be a refinery that was never finished. Okay, that's what it is...but what is it REALLY? To find that out, I moved it to my imaginary town of Hobbs, Arizona a bit north of Prescott, and made it a defunct lumber mill with a sinister past. Story ideas are everywhere...if someone can see, rather than just look.
Keith R. Mueller
I was inspired long before I realized it. In high school I got good grades in writing and english, and not so good in math! I was an art major in college, but my creative writing classes always gave me better grades. It took me a while to see this. I guess I've always been inspired to write; but more specifically, as I mentioned above, I listen to music in a meditative way, and watch what happens. My six book series, After: The New Earth, actually began forming in the 1970's. To me, the music of The Doors always seemed somehow ancient and dangerous. So, listening to their music, I'd see my Black City of the West. I saw the granite and basalt city. I saw steam powered autos and truck. I saw men on horseback in leather armor with sword and shield...and a rifle strapped across their backs. I saw a black zeppelin backlit by the Aurora Borealis. Back then, I didn't know what I was seeing, but it was the beginning of my new world. Maybe I do things backwards! I build the set, and then write the play!
Keith R. Mueller
I'm currently working on a couple of detective stories set in a steampunk world. I'm also in the editing phase of a story set in modern Arizona involving a serial killer and the police officers trying to stop him. But this isn't your standard police drama...when you read it, you'll know why!
Keith R. Mueller
Write the first word. If you never start, you'll never get there. Also, respect your characters. Allow them to grow; allow them to reveal themselves to you as you write. If you plan too much, sure, you're building the rail line, but not seeing any of the other stuff you pass by that might have changed your story entirely, and for the better. Keep seeing.
Keith R. Mueller
Taking a pile of letters, punctuations, mental images, and personal philosophy, then picking up that heavy hammer and forging that random combination in the white-hot flame desire and necessity into something sharp, beautiful and unbreakable.
Keith R. Mueller
When I have a 'blank spot' I like to listen to 60's-70's music...The Doors, Golden Earring, Moody Blues...I allow my mind to 'get inside' the music, and usually I'll start seeing dream-like images. I let the music 'set the stage' for the upcoming action. For me, it works very well.
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