Ask the Author: R. Frederick Riddle
Answered Questions (6)
R. Frederick Riddle
The last novel I wrote is called Dead Eye Will. I got the story idea from two sources. The first was ancestry.com where I learned about my ancestors living in early America. The second source is American history. I am not sure which source was first, but the idea of the main character being the brother of my ancestor James Riddle sprang from my reading of my family's ancestry.
That is an important principle: The idea for a book can come from any source, including your own family.
That is an important principle: The idea for a book can come from any source, including your own family.
R. Frederick Riddle
My inspiration goes back to the year 2000 when I was reading the Bible. Up to that time I had been unable to put together a complete book. But while reading in the Book of Genesis about Noah and the Flood I suddenly realized that 'here is a story to be told - the story behind the story.'
Basically that was and still is my inspiration to write: To tell the story behind the actual event.
Basically that was and still is my inspiration to write: To tell the story behind the actual event.
R. Frederick Riddle
My current project is Book 3 of my series The World That Perished. This book is about Abraham and his journey of faith. It features his nephew Lot, the invasion by Chedorlaomer, the destruction of Sodom, and the offering of Isaac. I hope to have the book published this Fall.
R. Frederick Riddle
I have two answers.
The first is Patience! There is no such thing as an overnight success. Check out the most popular authors and you will find that they have written over 100 books, perhaps 100s.
If the writer is a Christian then I would say add to your patience, Prayer. If God has called you to be a writer then He is actively interested in what you do. Talk to Him regularly. Tell Him of your problems and seek His will and direction for your writing.
Patience and Prayer is a good place to start.
The first is Patience! There is no such thing as an overnight success. Check out the most popular authors and you will find that they have written over 100 books, perhaps 100s.
If the writer is a Christian then I would say add to your patience, Prayer. If God has called you to be a writer then He is actively interested in what you do. Talk to Him regularly. Tell Him of your problems and seek His will and direction for your writing.
Patience and Prayer is a good place to start.
R. Frederick Riddle
I love writing!
Writing is challenging, frustrating, and rewarding. Probably the best thing is the reward - not of money - but of that feeling that I have created something of value. Seeing my name in print brings satisfaction to me.
I would be derelict if I stopped there though. Because one of the rewards that I sometimes get is when a reader says that I bring the Bible alive. That and the followup that usually comes where they say the novel caused them to read the Bible to see what actually happened. Now that is rewarding!
Writing is challenging, frustrating, and rewarding. Probably the best thing is the reward - not of money - but of that feeling that I have created something of value. Seeing my name in print brings satisfaction to me.
I would be derelict if I stopped there though. Because one of the rewards that I sometimes get is when a reader says that I bring the Bible alive. That and the followup that usually comes where they say the novel caused them to read the Bible to see what actually happened. Now that is rewarding!
R. Frederick Riddle
I am not sure that I have ever really had what people call writer's block. There have times when I the thought processes were not really working for me; when I struggled in writing a scene. Usually I do two things: 1)if I recognize that I am struggling I pray about it (God is both willing and able to help), and 2) I turn away from that task and do something else. That something else can be anything but writing my book and most often is reading a novel by someone else.
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