Ask the Author: Dylan McFadyen
Answered Questions (6)
Dylan McFadyen
The short answer: by writing!
The long, less flippant answer: I have a couch in my office which I call the Thinking Couch (it's also the couch that my dog El Doggo sleeps on about half the time. I don't think the two uses are related). When I hit a block, I go lie down on the Thinking Couch for a few minutes and try to puzzle out whatever I'm stuck on.
Usually that's enough; when it's not, I pace around the room for a while, and eventually just force myself to hammer at the keys until something legible comes out, whether or not it's good.
I used to get much worse writer's block, finding myself hung up on a particular scene or issue for days or even weeks without making any progress. Eventually, I realized that the specific issues were irrelevant; the broader issue was that I was letting my obsession with writing the perfect word, sentence, or scene be the enemy of actually writing. My oft-repeated mantra now is "we'll fix it in post."
I think that as a writer, you have to become comfortable with the power of editing to fix your mistakes and improve your writing - but it can only do that if you finish what you start. So, when you get stuck, try just pressing on and writing whatever comes to mind, whether you like it or not. You'll be able to fix it in post - and sometimes, you might read through it again later on and find that it was better than you thought all along.
The long, less flippant answer: I have a couch in my office which I call the Thinking Couch (it's also the couch that my dog El Doggo sleeps on about half the time. I don't think the two uses are related). When I hit a block, I go lie down on the Thinking Couch for a few minutes and try to puzzle out whatever I'm stuck on.
Usually that's enough; when it's not, I pace around the room for a while, and eventually just force myself to hammer at the keys until something legible comes out, whether or not it's good.
I used to get much worse writer's block, finding myself hung up on a particular scene or issue for days or even weeks without making any progress. Eventually, I realized that the specific issues were irrelevant; the broader issue was that I was letting my obsession with writing the perfect word, sentence, or scene be the enemy of actually writing. My oft-repeated mantra now is "we'll fix it in post."
I think that as a writer, you have to become comfortable with the power of editing to fix your mistakes and improve your writing - but it can only do that if you finish what you start. So, when you get stuck, try just pressing on and writing whatever comes to mind, whether you like it or not. You'll be able to fix it in post - and sometimes, you might read through it again later on and find that it was better than you thought all along.
Dylan McFadyen
Writing!
Seeing the books out in the world, getting feedback from readers and hearing what people loved about them is all great, but writing itself is really what it's all about for me. Nothing beats the feeling of getting into that flow state and just creating. It's magical.
Seeing the books out in the world, getting feedback from readers and hearing what people loved about them is all great, but writing itself is really what it's all about for me. Nothing beats the feeling of getting into that flow state and just creating. It's magical.
Dylan McFadyen
I'm putting the third novel in the Oblivion's Galaxy trilogy through editing in preparation for its release later this year. Working on this series has been a pretty incredible process, and it's a very bittersweet experience to be coming to the end of it.
I'm also writing the first book in a new series, which should come out early next year. I'm very excited about it; more than that, I can't say right now ;)
I'm also writing the first book in a new series, which should come out early next year. I'm very excited about it; more than that, I can't say right now ;)
Dylan McFadyen
The mystery of where my once-lustrous hair went. I think it'd be a boring book.
Dylan McFadyen
I got The Lost Fleet: Boundless by Jack Campbell as a gift for Christmas and I still haven't gotten to it, so I'm looking forward to that.
I was also hoping to re-read one of my all-time favorite books, Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire - it's been a few too many years since the last time.
On the history front, I've been eagerly awaiting Volume 3 of James Holland's excellent War in the West series. But, it seems I'll have to wait a little longer than that, so I'll have to find another history book to fill that slot. I am open to recommendations!
I was also hoping to re-read one of my all-time favorite books, Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire - it's been a few too many years since the last time.
On the history front, I've been eagerly awaiting Volume 3 of James Holland's excellent War in the West series. But, it seems I'll have to wait a little longer than that, so I'll have to find another history book to fill that slot. I am open to recommendations!
Dylan McFadyen
I think I would have to say Middle-Earth; it's loomed very large in my imagination since childhood, and the lyrical way it's described in the books is so captivating, it's hard not to want to go there.
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