Ask the Author: Roger Eschbacher
Answered Questions (9)
Roger Eschbacher
Easy...Middle Earth. Every few years I reread the LOTR books, and each time I finish them, I'm sad that I can't live there. What would I do? I've always been drawn to the Maiar (wizards) and the Dúnedain (Men of the West, descendants of the Númenóreans), so, hopefully, I would be an honorable member of one of those groups.
Roger Eschbacher
My favorite fictional couple would have to be Arwen and Aragorn from "The Lord of the Rings." There is much sadness in their shared past and future, yet their love remains undeniable and, ultimately, there is great hope, too.
Roger Eschbacher
I get to write down the stories I want to tell and then share them with people.
Roger Eschbacher
I get 85% of the ideas for all of my books on my daily walk. I'll have a vague notion about what type of book I'd like to write and then mull it over for the next few days (or sometimes longer - the Norse anthology I'm working on took over a year to puzzle out). Then, at some point, a workable idea will pop into my head and I'll hurry home to make sure I get it all down. The other 15% of the ideas come when I'm taking a shower.
Roger Eschbacher
I mostly get inspired to write on my daily walks. My thoughts drift during the delightful monotony of stomping around the same route every day and the next thing I know I've got a new story idea or a fix for a plot problem.
Roger Eschbacher
I write TV animation for a living and, to be honest, can't afford a luxury like writer's block. If I don't deliver outlines or scripts in a timely manner, I don't get paid. I apply this discipline to my novel writing, too, although I have days when I don't feel like writing at all.
Roger Eschbacher
I’ll approach this question from the “How do I get started?” angle. First, read a lot of books. Every one of my author friends is an avid reader. Decide which kind of books you like to read the most (for me it’s fantasy and sci fi) and concentrate on reading lots of those kinds of books. You’ll not only be doing this for fun, but also to learn different ways to put a book together—the right and wrong ways to tell a story.
Once you are well-versed in the type of book you’d like to write, start writing. By that I mean, stop coming up with excuses not to write (“What if it’s terrible?” “I just don’t have the time right now.”) If your first draft is “terrible,” you can fix it later. You do have the time, you just have to organize your schedule better. Write for an hour instead of vegging out in front of the tube, for example. Set a daily goal of a couple hundred words and do your best to stick to it. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it adds up.
In short, stop making excuses and start writing.
Once you are well-versed in the type of book you’d like to write, start writing. By that I mean, stop coming up with excuses not to write (“What if it’s terrible?” “I just don’t have the time right now.”) If your first draft is “terrible,” you can fix it later. You do have the time, you just have to organize your schedule better. Write for an hour instead of vegging out in front of the tube, for example. Set a daily goal of a couple hundred words and do your best to stick to it. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it adds up.
In short, stop making excuses and start writing.
Roger Eschbacher
UPDATE: I've got three books in various stages of completion.
1) I'm almost finished with the "final" edit on "Ghost Star," a YA space opera. Think I might try Kindle Scout with this one. 2) I'm about to start my "post-beta reader" edit on "The Great Tree: Undrastormur, Part 2." 3) I'm three quarters of the way through a first draft of "Elvenking," the third and probably final book in the "Dragonfriend" series.
Still freelance writing for animation. "Lately it's for "Treehouse Detectives," which is a pre-school show for Netflix.
**
I am currently editing "Giantkiller," the sequel to "Dragonfriend." I am also outlining the third book in this series.
Elsewhere, I'm researching and writing a collection of Norse mythology-themed short stories and writing some freelance TV animation for The Hub.
1) I'm almost finished with the "final" edit on "Ghost Star," a YA space opera. Think I might try Kindle Scout with this one. 2) I'm about to start my "post-beta reader" edit on "The Great Tree: Undrastormur, Part 2." 3) I'm three quarters of the way through a first draft of "Elvenking," the third and probably final book in the "Dragonfriend" series.
Still freelance writing for animation. "Lately it's for "Treehouse Detectives," which is a pre-school show for Netflix.
**
I am currently editing "Giantkiller," the sequel to "Dragonfriend." I am also outlining the third book in this series.
Elsewhere, I'm researching and writing a collection of Norse mythology-themed short stories and writing some freelance TV animation for The Hub.
Roger Eschbacher
I'm hoping to have everything finalized by the end of this month or the very beginning of next month. So...soon. Thank you so much for your support, CA!
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