Ask the Author: Shane Barr
Answered Questions (6)
Shane Barr
The worst thing is staring at that blinking cursor on your screen. There were times when I was writing Reset that I really hated that darn cursor. But the thing that got me through it was realizing that I didn't actually have to write anything that day. It's okay to not be feeling the words. It's okay to take a break and go clean out the junk drawer, or organize my closet, or bake some cookies. Then when my mind was in the right place, the words would just flow. I've found that if I have something else pending in my life it is harder to just sit and write. So I do those other things and it frees up my "mind palace" for the fun task of writing.
Shane Barr
I love observing people and imagining what their lives are really like behind closed doors. When we take road trips as a family, I always ponder what is going on in that little house with the white picket fence and the daisies sprouting out front. The best thing about being a writer, for me, is actually going into that imaginary world and creating something out of nothing. I take a little bit of personality from my friends and family and create whole characters that feel real. It's creating a world out of nothing. How awesome is that?
Shane Barr
Well, a few months ago I met a fairly well-established author. When we were sitting at a table together, I told her I was working on a book. I said I wasn't sure about getting it pulled together and all she said to me was: "Just write." And that is the gist of it. If you want to write a book, write it. Don't worry about timelines, index cards, entire plots and all that. I'm sure I'll get some flak for that, but that is how I write. I jot down my notes as the words flow and I just write. Many times I'd go to bed thinking about the next chapter, and it would all completely change the next morning! At some point, you have to let the words lead you. You'll be surprised where they take you. I certainly was!
Shane Barr
I am working on Resist, Book 2 of the Reset Trilogy. I hope to have it finished by the end of the year. So far, I've been ahead of schedule. I'm taking a different approach with the character voices in this one, so I am looking forward to letting the words do what they please.
Shane Barr
Inspiration is all around me. It's on Facebook. It's on a silly t-shirt I see someone wearing. It's in the funny things my teenaged daughter says. Since my book is geared towards her age group, I get plenty of inspiration in just observing her interactions and quirks daily.
Shane Barr
The idea for my book came to me about four years ago. I pre-screened and read the books my daughter wanted to read. I was disheartened by some of the fairy-tale type books where the female leads were portrayed as relatively helpless--always hoping for a prince to rescue them.
So, I decided to write something that would portray not only young women, but young men in a way that showed their ingenuity and courage. My first book, Reset, explores this in a real, modern-world dystopia. My website reveals the research and news items that sparked the tone that I took with Reset. (shanebarr.com)
So, I decided to write something that would portray not only young women, but young men in a way that showed their ingenuity and courage. My first book, Reset, explores this in a real, modern-world dystopia. My website reveals the research and news items that sparked the tone that I took with Reset. (shanebarr.com)
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