Ask the Author: Austin Belanger
Answered Questions (7)
Austin Belanger
Back in 2013, I was creating a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and while creating my world I chose to write a few poems as background lore. I play with people who are very detail oriented so having obscure details on hand to answer questions was essential!
After writing the poem, "The Battle of Arondayre," I shelved the idea, archiving my writings on my computer. In 2016, I rediscovered the files and posted them on Facebook. A friend told me that she really liked the poetry. I responded that, "I had a book in me somewhere." She responded that I should write it about a person in the poem. I chose Puryn, the Champion.
The story itself was influenced by people that I have met in my life, my experiences in the Marine Corps, Dungeons and Dragons, C.S. Lewis, and most definitely, a healthy dose of J.R.R. Tolkien.
After writing the poem, "The Battle of Arondayre," I shelved the idea, archiving my writings on my computer. In 2016, I rediscovered the files and posted them on Facebook. A friend told me that she really liked the poetry. I responded that, "I had a book in me somewhere." She responded that I should write it about a person in the poem. I chose Puryn, the Champion.
The story itself was influenced by people that I have met in my life, my experiences in the Marine Corps, Dungeons and Dragons, C.S. Lewis, and most definitely, a healthy dose of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Austin Belanger
I based my book on a poem that I wrote in 2011. The poem was lore and a backstory for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. It is entitled "The Battle of Arondayre." I posted it on FaceBook to share it, and a friend read it, saying that she thought it was good. I told her that I felt that there was a book in me somewhere. She responded by telling me to stop making excuses and to write the thing already. I chose to write my first novel about Puryn, the main character in the poem.
Austin Belanger
I tend to listen to music and daydream at times.
Other times, I get a "muse moment" where the idea strikes from nowhere while I am doing something totally unrelated to writing.
Many times, playing campaigns in Dungeons and Dragons can give me ideas.
Other times, I get a "muse moment" where the idea strikes from nowhere while I am doing something totally unrelated to writing.
Many times, playing campaigns in Dungeons and Dragons can give me ideas.
Austin Belanger
The sequel to "The Champion of the Golden Queen." Honestly, three books are vying for the next slot. I am trying to decide what type of book that I want to write. It will be a prequel, a companion book that expands on the original, or the next book in the series.
I'm leaning toward the next story in the series.
I'm leaning toward the next story in the series.
Austin Belanger
Ignore your naysayers, whether they are internal or external. If you want to write, do it NOW. Do not make excuses and tell yourself you will, "do it at a later date." Those days will never come if you let the world tell you what to believe.
Just get started and keep going until you finish - but then there's editing, and well, that's just a nightmare in and of itself, but worry about that when you come to it!
Just get started and keep going until you finish - but then there's editing, and well, that's just a nightmare in and of itself, but worry about that when you come to it!
Austin Belanger
Creating alternate realities on a page, then watching someone read the words you put down and "get it."
Austin Belanger
I can honestly say that I don't have this problem very often. Being a guy who loves to talk, to others and myself, I tend to have a lot to say! So, when I don't know what I want to say, I free write. If that does not work, I write about something else for a while, or I listen to my "writing music."
Thomas Bergersen's music always gets my fantasy writing motor running. Find music that inspires you, and things fall into place!
Thomas Bergersen's music always gets my fantasy writing motor running. Find music that inspires you, and things fall into place!
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