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David A. Taylor

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences

Member Since
April 2009


Twenty years after the publication of my first book, Ginseng, the Divine Root, I’ve been revisiting the story that led me into the forests of the Appalachians and into a hidden economy of plant harvesting and poaching.
What began as a story about a medicinal root prized on two continents has, over time, connected to a wider exploration related to environmental crime, global demand for natural resources, and the pressures on forests and communities.
My recent work, including articles in Smithsonian magazine and Scientific American, has revisited those themes. It suggests that the dynamics that I found in the ginseng trade and the people who follow it have grown even more relevant.

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David A. Taylor I don't believe writer's block exists as a syndrome but it's true that any writer's energy and confidence in their storytelling has ebbs and flows. Th…moreI don't believe writer's block exists as a syndrome but it's true that any writer's energy and confidence in their storytelling has ebbs and flows. The best way to deal with that is to show up every day, preferably in the same place, and write - if not on the project of the front burner, then one on the back burner. Creativity is like a muscle and it needs an exercise routine. (less)
David A. Taylor Samuel Beckett's advice was, “Try. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” I'd say a bit more in 5 suggestions:
1. Read a lot.
2. Make the time. Hoard your…more
Samuel Beckett's advice was, “Try. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” I'd say a bit more in 5 suggestions:
1. Read a lot.
2. Make the time. Hoard your best hours for your writing. Are you most creative when you wake? Schedule an hour then. Late at night? Stay up.
3. Find creative people and listen to them. Your peers are priceless for feedback and self-imposed deadlines that help motivate. I don’t always agree with their feedback but I suspend judgment until the next day.
4. Know when you’re drafting and when you’re revising. Don't try to edit while you write. I think of it like a train: To get started, unhook the drafting engine from the editing brakes. The brakes work best later when the trian is underway.
5. Follow the links from small to large. Post this motto where you see it: “By the yard, it’s hard. By the inch, it’s a cinch.” Allow yourself to take small bites. Writing an article may not capture the entire epic that you see in your mind, but getting an article published can help focus it.
(less)
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A Writer’s Education: Ginseng, the Divine Root at 20

This month I reflect back two decades to when I first stepped into the world of environmental crime. A friend in forestry had suggested I check out a medicinal plants… Read More »A Writer’s Education: Ginseng, the Divine Root at 20

The post A Writer’s Education: Ginseng, the Divine Root at 20 appeared first on DAVID A. TAYLOR.

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Published on June 27, 2026 09:58
When the Forest B...
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Anton Chekhov
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