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Brian McMahon

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.brianmcmahonwrites.com

Genre

Fiction

Member Since

January 2020

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/brian_mcmahon_writes

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Brian McMahon is the author of THE FALL WILL PROBABLY KILL YOU! (A LOVE STORY) and SEAVIEW ROAD. He received his MFA from Columbia University. He lives outside of Boston with his wife, their baby, and two dogs. You can connect with him at BrianMcMahonWrites.com or on Instagram @brianmcmahonwrites.

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Brian McMahon 1. People will tell you to "write every day." If you can, do it. If you can't, you're like most of us, and I would encourage you to simply take advant…more1. People will tell you to "write every day." If you can, do it. If you can't, you're like most of us, and I would encourage you to simply take advantage of the days (or hours or minutes) when you do have the time, energy, or ideas. On the busier or more frustrating days, try to find a few minutes to jot down ideas and set goals for the next "good day." There are plenty of days when my brain refuses to be as productive as I want, but I always try to set myself up for whenever it decides to cooperate by laying out a scene I want to finish, a character I want to outline, etc.

2. Set small goals first. If you want to get in shape, you're not going to wake up tomorrow and run ten miles. Start small, embrace manageable goals, and let them grow naturally. Your daily output will increase as you get acclimated to your routine. You'll run ten miles a day in no time, and you'll produce a whole bunch of good stuff on the way.

3. Value feedback. The obvious part of this is to embrace criticism, to seek out honest responses from people you respect as readers and writers. The less obvious part is to absorb the praise, too. If you're doing something that really works for readers, you should know that -- and be happy about it! Ask questions of your readers and critics. Learn what moves them and confuses them. (less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Brian McMahon It depends on what stage of the writing process I am in (drafting, revising, general brainstorming, etc.), but for the most part I try to step away fr…moreIt depends on what stage of the writing process I am in (drafting, revising, general brainstorming, etc.), but for the most part I try to step away from the work.

If I need a full-on break, I'll read or go for a run. If I feel like I need to stay engaged with my work and wait for ideas to flood back in, I like to go back to my "background" documents. These aren't even outlines; I use them as a space to fill in details about characters and settings: what school someone went to, what shows they like, what the menu board looks like in the local deli. A lot of these details won't even find their way into the story, but they help me process how characters move through their given world -- and how that world affects them in return. (less)

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Brian McMahon’s books

Average rating: 3.77 · 227 ratings · 66 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Seaview Road 3.78 avg rating — 137 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fall Will Probably Kill You!: A Love Story 3.76 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 2023 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars