Ask the Author: Dale A. Grove
Answered Questions (12)
Dale A. Grove
Yes.
As hot air rushed past my body, I remembered that all I ever wanted out of my life was to see something, anything. Once again I wished that my eyes could see; slowly I opened my eyes and saw a canyon floor one hundred feet below me as I screamed and plummeted to my death.
As hot air rushed past my body, I remembered that all I ever wanted out of my life was to see something, anything. Once again I wished that my eyes could see; slowly I opened my eyes and saw a canyon floor one hundred feet below me as I screamed and plummeted to my death.
Dale A. Grove
This was a tough question. I had to think about it for a while. Something about creating new formulas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fascinates me. I'd want to be the one to invent the new formulas. (Yes, I bought the plastic kit for molding molten chocolate in the 70s.) I suppose that's my scientific side going on a fantasy ride. I'm also fascinated with the world of the wizard of Oz. In that case, I'd like to take a tour of the place while avoiding the wicked witch of the west.
Dale A. Grove
I'm part of several writing groups (Frederick Writers Salon and the Western Maryland Writers), and I'll probably be spending a lot of time reading the other writers' works this summer. Both groups work under the reciprocity approach, and I want to ensure that I live up to my end of the bargain.
Dale A. Grove
For my own life, I would say I have had more adventures than mysteries. My adventures include living in Europe, learning some Dutch, bicycling with my wife, playing racquetball at a good level (at least locally, I'll never be a pro), and inventing a number of new products such as long fiber thermoplastic, coated gypsum facers, filtration products, and now a variety of coated silica based products.
Unlike many science-fiction writers out there, I am a true scientist who writes sci-fi. As a high IQ, INTJ (Meyer Briggs), 54 year old who is ready to receive my Denny's discount at 55, I enjoy reading hard hitting, fast paced books. In slower moving books, I often see the plot twists coming, and long stretches of scenery are usually passed over on purpose. I started writing mostly because I have an overactive imagination, and I needed a place to channel it.
Unlike many science-fiction writers out there, I am a true scientist who writes sci-fi. As a high IQ, INTJ (Meyer Briggs), 54 year old who is ready to receive my Denny's discount at 55, I enjoy reading hard hitting, fast paced books. In slower moving books, I often see the plot twists coming, and long stretches of scenery are usually passed over on purpose. I started writing mostly because I have an overactive imagination, and I needed a place to channel it.
Dale A. Grove
It has to be "Somewhere in Time" starring Rex Reeves and Jane Seymour. If that heart wrenching romance doesn't get to you, I don't know what would.
Dale A. Grove
I typically write during the evenings and weekends---my darn paying job gets in the way. The first draft is usually pretty lousy, and I spend a lot of time going through the book over and over again with the perspective of either adding additional character attributes, scenery, varying sentence structure, adding more intensity, etc. At some point around draft 7-10, I employ an editor to catch my mistakes. Loose Strings was particularly difficult because one of the editors, rightly so, suggested to revamp a portion of the book in regard to Armas' conversion. At the very end, I'm reading it out loud and slowly to try to catch any other mistakes. It's very difficult to catch them all, and it takes a number of editors besides yourself to do it.
Dale A. Grove
Tough question. First, I set goals each year of the things that I want to accomplish. This year it is to learn the marekting/PR side better and to get Outliers to the point where and editor should get involved. Secondly, I don't fret over it. Some days the inspiration and writing skills are clicking, while other days, it is an absolute struggle. Third, sometimes it is necessary to temporarily move on to another subject or short story to get your mind off of the work. This really helps during the editing process. Fourth, I tend to be a weird combination of plotter/pantser. I can't even start writing until I know how the story begins, what will likely be in the middle, and how it ends, and believe it or not, I don't waste the time to put it on paper; it's only in my head, but the substance is there before I can begin, I avoid what should happen next scenarios. Lastly, I jot down new ideas when they come. I usually know two books out what I would to write about next.
Dale A. Grove
You get to create your own world and characters to share with others. There's not many hobbies or careers out there that allow this kind of freedom.
Dale A. Grove
1.) Buy a few textbooks on style and how to construct varying sentence structure.
2.) Join a critique/writers group. You'll learn a lot, and you'll find out that you're not alone. Common feedback are areas that you should work on.
3.) If you're only in this to make money, there are easier ways to do that. You should be writing because you enjoy it or have something to say to the world.
4.) Don't give up. What's the difference between a productive writer and a wannabe writer? The productive writer didn't give up and managed to market and sell better than the wannabe.
2.) Join a critique/writers group. You'll learn a lot, and you'll find out that you're not alone. Common feedback are areas that you should work on.
3.) If you're only in this to make money, there are easier ways to do that. You should be writing because you enjoy it or have something to say to the world.
4.) Don't give up. What's the difference between a productive writer and a wannabe writer? The productive writer didn't give up and managed to market and sell better than the wannabe.
Dale A. Grove
After completing four books, I'm learning the marketing/PR side of writing; I've probably done myself a disservice by not working on this harder than I have recently. Also on the side I'm working on a new book called, Outliers.
Dale A. Grove
Three things inspire me. Feedback from readers or critiques often get my creativity flowing. Listening to music, particularly music that would perfectly match the emotions and needs of a scene, really gets me going. And sometimes just the dream of creating a good piece is all that it takes.
Dale A. Grove
It started as a nugget of an idea of what would happen if another alien world wanted to lead and control Earth's technological advances. Then the thought of string theory, a male Physics professor, and an initial female alien adversary came to mind.
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