Ask the Author: Rick Chromey
Answered Questions (6)
Rick Chromey
My book "GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are" is a work I've been researching, speaking on and writing about since the early 1990s...nearly two decades!
I've been studying generations, at least, that long. The idea for "GenTech" particularly came to me almost a decade ago when I was working on my doctorate and studying cultural change. In that work, I posited a theory that certain technologies (I call them "mega techs") have the ability to rearrange and reimagine cultural languages. In other words, they change how we communicate, socialize, learn, worship, transact and labor.
A few years ago I started to consider how technology (like music)--particularly the tech that we "come of age" to between the ages of 10 and 25--give our generation its unique personality. We are part of the Radio or Television generations (not Boomers). Or the Space and Gamer generations (not Gen Xers). We are the Personal Computer/Cell Phone and Net generations (no Millennials). It was a better, more dynamic way of viewing American generations.
I also knew it was a story--a distinctly American story--that needed to be told. Thankfully, I found a great publisher who felt the same.
I've been studying generations, at least, that long. The idea for "GenTech" particularly came to me almost a decade ago when I was working on my doctorate and studying cultural change. In that work, I posited a theory that certain technologies (I call them "mega techs") have the ability to rearrange and reimagine cultural languages. In other words, they change how we communicate, socialize, learn, worship, transact and labor.
A few years ago I started to consider how technology (like music)--particularly the tech that we "come of age" to between the ages of 10 and 25--give our generation its unique personality. We are part of the Radio or Television generations (not Boomers). Or the Space and Gamer generations (not Gen Xers). We are the Personal Computer/Cell Phone and Net generations (no Millennials). It was a better, more dynamic way of viewing American generations.
I also knew it was a story--a distinctly American story--that needed to be told. Thankfully, I found a great publisher who felt the same.
Rick Chromey
I wake up every morning inspired. I always have. My best thoughts and insights bubble in my sleep, sometimes even waking me up. It's why I do most of my writing in the mornings. By noon, I knock off and move to other things.
I get inspired in my travels. Last week I was in DC and saw the U.S. Capitol. The architecture and history in DC inspired several thoughts for me this week (most of which I post to my Facebook friends).
People also inspire me. I love biographies. I watch a lot of documentaries, history and human interest television. I also read a lot in the same genre. I watch reality television for ideas.
For me, everything is wrapped in a story or a metaphor or a visual. It's my job, as a writer, to find those stories, metaphors and visuals...then bring them to LIFE.
I get inspired in my travels. Last week I was in DC and saw the U.S. Capitol. The architecture and history in DC inspired several thoughts for me this week (most of which I post to my Facebook friends).
People also inspire me. I love biographies. I watch a lot of documentaries, history and human interest television. I also read a lot in the same genre. I watch reality television for ideas.
For me, everything is wrapped in a story or a metaphor or a visual. It's my job, as a writer, to find those stories, metaphors and visuals...then bring them to LIFE.
Rick Chromey
With my new book "GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are" set for release on May 26, most of my writing is focused on blogging to draw attention to that book.
However, I'm always working on something. In 2020, I decided to test my poetry and songwriting skills. I'm working on an autobiography of my strange and crazy life. When I have time I working on a commentary for the book of Revelation (I'm a closet theologian) and testing a new book idea with a few of my closest friend.
However, I'm always working on something. In 2020, I decided to test my poetry and songwriting skills. I'm working on an autobiography of my strange and crazy life. When I have time I working on a commentary for the book of Revelation (I'm a closet theologian) and testing a new book idea with a few of my closest friend.
Rick Chromey
Nobody lands the lunker trophy fish on their first cast (even though that's entirely possible!). You learn to fish by fishing. It takes time, patience, persistence and a desire to learn the lake and the fish you are fishing.
It's the same thing about writing.
No one lands the big book deal on their first proposal. I wrote my first nationally-published book when I was 25 (and it was a modest best-seller in its field), but I had already written three self-published books by that time and several published articles. I landed the lunker early in my career largely by luck and studying the market (no one had written on that topic).
A lot of writers ask me how do you get a contract? I say "self-publish" and blog until someone notices you've got something worth reading. If no one is following your blog (it happens), start a new one on a different topic. I post daily on Facebook SOME THING that's inspirational, helpful, memorable or enjoyable (and it's not political!). I have two main pages ("MANNA! Educational Services International" and "GenTech") that I feed with new material.
Writers are always writing. You can't help it. If you didn't, you'd burst.
If you aspire to write, you must first perspire to write. It's that simple.
It's the same thing about writing.
No one lands the big book deal on their first proposal. I wrote my first nationally-published book when I was 25 (and it was a modest best-seller in its field), but I had already written three self-published books by that time and several published articles. I landed the lunker early in my career largely by luck and studying the market (no one had written on that topic).
A lot of writers ask me how do you get a contract? I say "self-publish" and blog until someone notices you've got something worth reading. If no one is following your blog (it happens), start a new one on a different topic. I post daily on Facebook SOME THING that's inspirational, helpful, memorable or enjoyable (and it's not political!). I have two main pages ("MANNA! Educational Services International" and "GenTech") that I feed with new material.
Writers are always writing. You can't help it. If you didn't, you'd burst.
If you aspire to write, you must first perspire to write. It's that simple.
Rick Chromey
The opportunity to see the world. If you can write AND communicate (speak), you'll experience the world on someone else's dime. I've personally paid for very few trips in my life but have seen every state, several nations in Africa, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Italy and Moldova (to name a few)...all paid by another person or organization.
The more you travel, the more you have to write about too. It's a win-win.
The more you travel, the more you have to write about too. It's a win-win.
Rick Chromey
I read. I experience (get outside). I look for inspiration in current events, biographies or history. More than anything, I just write SOMETHING. Most of the stuff I pen is throwaway, but in panning the dirt that's when the flakes of gold rise.
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