Ask the Author: Dennis L. Decker
Answered Questions (7)
Dennis L. Decker
I am currently writing the first draft of Baron Syndicate: Limited Liability Company! This is the third book in the series and volume 1 in the ordering system. Why am I numbering them so weird? It will finally become apparent in this story. I can't wait to finish it!
Dennis L. Decker
My mother's face peeled open to reveal a beak surrounded by toothy appendages, waving around as she menacingly stepped toward me. I fought back with all my strength and as the creature lay cowering before me, I realized it was frightened.
Dennis L. Decker
Honestly, it's really quite random. I can kind of inspire myself by imagining different scenes in the Baron Syndicate in my head... just kind of playing them through and imagining how they would go. Especially the scenes that are planned for later books in the series, those one can really get my blood pumping. The scenes I think about are usually intense fight scenes. But then once I get in that 'POTATOPOTATOPOTATO' mentality, I just want to sit down and let my fingers go crazy all over the keyboard. ...And then sit down later and fix the fifty million typos I would have by then.
Dennis L. Decker
That, uh... that is absolutely not something I can answer here. The explanation is way too long. The simplest way to put it is that nearly everything in the Baron Syndicate started off as some kind of joke. Stupor's name, appearance, and relationship with the asylum all came from three separate days in high school as he slowly evolved into a fully three-dimensional character. Vengence's name came from an inside joke between Neil and a forumer online. His evolution from concept to curmudgeon is a story in itself. The villains came from other places, the asylum came from another, the first book's setting was inspired by a very special person...
The Baron Syndicate is really just a bunch of assimilated concepts and entities from our lives, interwoven into a complex fabric that simply 'is'. It is a very abstract timeline of our lives, encounters, accomplishments and can only be described as the Baron Syndicate. The Baron Syndicate, in and of itself, is a very cryptic autobiography told as a deep and purely fictional story.
The Baron Syndicate is really just a bunch of assimilated concepts and entities from our lives, interwoven into a complex fabric that simply 'is'. It is a very abstract timeline of our lives, encounters, accomplishments and can only be described as the Baron Syndicate. The Baron Syndicate, in and of itself, is a very cryptic autobiography told as a deep and purely fictional story.
Dennis L. Decker
Man, I can type so fast these days! And I don't even use proper form! Also, I like having a large vocabulary. Being a writer forces me to learn all kinds of new words, but then I can turn around and use them in casual conversation and I sound way more smarterer than I really am. Plus, I find myself accidentally using words I don't actually know the definitions of, and yet somehow I still use them correctly! So I guess the best thing about being a writer is that it makes language and speech more fun and interesting? Idunno, that sounds really boring when I read it out loud, but I'm a weird guy so I'll leave it like that.
Dennis L. Decker
You need to love your story. Simple as that. Don't just be all like "Oh man, that's something I can write about!" You need to connect that story to your soul. Sure, you could probably write a good story by pulling an idea out of a hat, but it will never ever have the same quality as the story that you pour your soul into and fall in love with. If you are sad to be completely finished with writing a book, you know you have a potential gem.
Dennis L. Decker
If I find myself particularly blocked, I'll consult Neil for some feedback. Bouncing ideas off of him helps about 99% of the time because I have issues with getting lost in the fine details and Neil is very handy for keeping my mind on track. Sometimes he'll have a different vision for the direction the story is going in, and during those times that we can't reach a constructive middle ground I will also consult Super Editor Sean for a second opinion. From there, Neil and I can always reach an agreement on things, even though it might take an hour of bickering to get there.
Another trick I use, which is handy when neither Neil nor Sean are available is to just stop writing. I walk away and ignore that stupid book like it's my wife asking me to take out the trash. Except I listen to my wife, because unlike that stupid book, my wife is more than capable of beating me up. The book can only beat me up on occasion, and it has to be lucky.
Another trick I use, which is handy when neither Neil nor Sean are available is to just stop writing. I walk away and ignore that stupid book like it's my wife asking me to take out the trash. Except I listen to my wife, because unlike that stupid book, my wife is more than capable of beating me up. The book can only beat me up on occasion, and it has to be lucky.
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