Ask the Author: Mark R. Anderson
Answered Questions (7)
Mark R. Anderson
The mysteries of the human mind puzzle me the most. Libraries are filled with books about them. Why do we do the things we do? What makes us who we are; what we think; how we act? What kind of mind allows a person to steal, to cheat, to do things to others they would not want done to themselves? Where is their pathos, empathy, sympathy? We teach toddlers right from wrong, based on empathy and the golden rule, but where does that teaching go when we are old enough to make our own decisions? I have seen these things play out in my life, and I could write volumes about the actions and consequences.
Mark R. Anderson
I would deal with writer's block differently depending on how long I was stifled. If I sat down to write and drew a blank, I might go do something relaxing to distract me. If the same thing happened every day for a week, I would probably go back over what I had written already, or go back to the basics and play with an outline. Ex. Big idea/conflict: John and Judy are getting a divorce but neither one can get over their pride to admit they really don't want a divorce. Details: Why not? How did they get to this point? Who are their friends? What are the back stories? How are other people involved? Why are they too proud to let love come back in? Etc. Etc. Etc.
This way, I would go back to my main thesis and begin to build the details. Remember, writer's block is not a permanent state of mind.
This way, I would go back to my main thesis and begin to build the details. Remember, writer's block is not a permanent state of mind.
Mark R. Anderson
Communicating an idea to someone else was man's greatest achievement. It started as physical demonstrations, then evolved to cave drawings, to speech, and finally to reading and writing. This is strictly my opinion, but being able to effectively communicate a complex idea or emotion is supremely satisfying. Let's say you had the greatest experience of your life, and you wanted to share that euphoric feeling with someone else who was not there. Using the perfect words and punctuation to convey that emotion is very cool.
Mark R. Anderson
Great question! Writers have to find their own ways to stay motivated to write. I believe that a truly exciting idea or storyline will make you want to get it on paper. When that happens, it is easy to write. However, in our fast-paced Information age it is almost impossible to stay focused. Writing demands focus. Spend a lot of time in the creative phase thinking about your basic idea. Is there conflict? Does some element need resolution? Is it something that we all relate to? After that, start writing. Do not expect too much too fast, but if you allocate time to it routinely, before you know it, you will have a book. Good luck.
Mark R. Anderson
Currently, I have three or four storylines in my head with very skeletal outlines on paper. I will take an idea and think through the big picture premise, and then I resolve the details as fine as I think the reader would demand. The one that will get my attention after my first book launch on June 15 is a story about grandparents in North Carolina horse country, who have to take care of their very recently rebellious granddaughter, who's father died in an accident. The relationship struggle in compounded by the onset of a year of Covid lockdown. More to come....
Mark R. Anderson
I feel like I have had stories to tell all my life. I come from a very dysfunctional family, I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world in the military and government, and I seek out adventure wherever I go. All those factors contribute to ideas for writing. Being inspired to write can be a challenge. Sometimes I get super charged about a part of a story and I have to get it on paper (or into bytes). Other times, like in school, I have to force myself to a deadline. I have not experienced writer's block yet, but I would sit down at the computer and just start. It is not always easy, but you can do it.
Mark R. Anderson
I retired from the government and finally had the time to write. Writing has always been a passion and goal. I wish I had a better answer for the concept, but I had a thought about an old Vietnam vet who lost the love of his life in the war, and for 40 years he was never able to get over it. After that, I began to develop the details of his life, and the events that shaped who he became. The story is a love story, set in the Vietnam War, that is recalled years later. It has some twists and turns, romance and intimacy, gripping descriptions of combat, and lots of introspection. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the question.
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