Ask the Author: L. MacNaughton
Answered Questions (6)
L. MacNaughton
Astute question, Shelley! I can't officially confirm anything just yet, but keep your eyes peeled. Also, for more Dru adventures available now as ebooks, check out the prequel stories (Magic Carpet Ride, Put a Spell on You).
If you haven't read Magic Carpet Ride yet, just let me know and I'd be delighted to send you a copy as my gift.
Thanks for sharing Dru’s journey! :)
If you haven't read Magic Carpet Ride yet, just let me know and I'd be delighted to send you a copy as my gift.
Thanks for sharing Dru’s journey! :)
L. MacNaughton
This is the hardest thing to do, but it's imperative: finish writing what you start.
I’ve done some highly unscientific research at the local bookstore and discovered that 100% of all published books are finished.
It's too easy to get stuck in the middle of a manuscript and stop writing. Remember, the first draft of anything is just that: a first draft. You’ll make it better in the second draft, and in the third, and so on. It’s like a sculpture: once you have the basic form worked out, you can keep chipping and polishing until it’s beautiful.
Plus, the more you write, the better you get. As the pages pile up, you'll get more skilled at the craft. The learning curve for your first novel is usually so steep that by the time you get halfway through, you think to yourself, “Wait, now I know how to do this better! I should go back and fix all of that stuff I wrote earlier!”
Don't do it. It's a trap.
Just keep going. You’ll need every last bit of creative strength to reach the end of the novel. Don’t squander your energy on perfecting things that you might delete later. It will never be flawless. So just concentrate on finishing.
First, get it written — then later you can get it right.
You can't get published if you don't finish. So keep writing!
I’ve done some highly unscientific research at the local bookstore and discovered that 100% of all published books are finished.
It's too easy to get stuck in the middle of a manuscript and stop writing. Remember, the first draft of anything is just that: a first draft. You’ll make it better in the second draft, and in the third, and so on. It’s like a sculpture: once you have the basic form worked out, you can keep chipping and polishing until it’s beautiful.
Plus, the more you write, the better you get. As the pages pile up, you'll get more skilled at the craft. The learning curve for your first novel is usually so steep that by the time you get halfway through, you think to yourself, “Wait, now I know how to do this better! I should go back and fix all of that stuff I wrote earlier!”
Don't do it. It's a trap.
Just keep going. You’ll need every last bit of creative strength to reach the end of the novel. Don’t squander your energy on perfecting things that you might delete later. It will never be flawless. So just concentrate on finishing.
First, get it written — then later you can get it right.
You can't get published if you don't finish. So keep writing!
L. MacNaughton
It's funny, all of the main characters in the Dru Jasper series started out as supporting characters in other short stories.
But people kept telling me, “You know, I really like Dru, are you going to do another Dru story?” or “Whatever happened to Rane?” They wanted to see more of these oddball characters.
Especially Hellbringer. I can't tell you how many people have specifically called it their favorite character -- and it isn't even a person! It's a mean old muscle car. A black 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona that's been possessed by a speed demon, giving it abilities like Stephen King's Christine, and a temperament to match. It starts out evil, but gradually it begins to change because of the efforts of the other characters.
I brought all of these characters together in one place, and eventually the series grew up around them. In a way, the heroes and heroines form a “greatest hits” cast. At first, I thought it was a weird idea, because all of these characters are so radically different and off-beat.
But when you put them all together in one story, somehow it works, and the result is really exciting. I'm very thankful that so many readers really connect with them.
But people kept telling me, “You know, I really like Dru, are you going to do another Dru story?” or “Whatever happened to Rane?” They wanted to see more of these oddball characters.
Especially Hellbringer. I can't tell you how many people have specifically called it their favorite character -- and it isn't even a person! It's a mean old muscle car. A black 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona that's been possessed by a speed demon, giving it abilities like Stephen King's Christine, and a temperament to match. It starts out evil, but gradually it begins to change because of the efforts of the other characters.
I brought all of these characters together in one place, and eventually the series grew up around them. In a way, the heroes and heroines form a “greatest hits” cast. At first, I thought it was a weird idea, because all of these characters are so radically different and off-beat.
But when you put them all together in one story, somehow it works, and the result is really exciting. I'm very thankful that so many readers really connect with them.
L. MacNaughton
Writer’s block is actually a combination of two separate negative thoughts:
1. I don’t know what to write; and/or
2. Everything I write is terrible.
Let's call them Type 1 and Type 2 writer's block.
Type 1 writer’s block can make you feel like you’ll never be able to write again. The best way to beat that kind of writer’s block is to create as many ideas as you can. Sit down and brainstorm. Bounce story ideas off of a creative partner. Keep going until you come up with no less than ten different ideas.
Yes, some of them will be awful. That’s okay. Because all you need is one workable idea. Review your list of ideas and pick one. The least-worst one, if necessary. Then just start writing.
Type 2 writer’s block happens when we second-guess ourselves into paralysis. You get caught in the trap of trying to write and edit at the same time. The problem is, creativity doesn’t work that way. You need to get it all down on the page first, and then polish it up later. (Sometimes, MUCH later.)
So here's what you do. Set an easy quota for yourself: 100 words or 15 minutes. Then sit down and do it. Write everything that comes to mind. Give yourself permission to write badly. Get it all out on paper.
Then put it away and don’t look at it. Seal it in an envelope if you have to. Write a date on the front – tomorrow, next week, whatever. Only then will you take it out and start editing it, and you'll find out that it's not nearly as bad as you thought. In fact, you're probably a better writer than you think.
If you do all of these things -- brainstorm plenty of ideas, give yourself permission to write badly, and don't look at it again until later -- you'll beat writer's block forever.
1. I don’t know what to write; and/or
2. Everything I write is terrible.
Let's call them Type 1 and Type 2 writer's block.
Type 1 writer’s block can make you feel like you’ll never be able to write again. The best way to beat that kind of writer’s block is to create as many ideas as you can. Sit down and brainstorm. Bounce story ideas off of a creative partner. Keep going until you come up with no less than ten different ideas.
Yes, some of them will be awful. That’s okay. Because all you need is one workable idea. Review your list of ideas and pick one. The least-worst one, if necessary. Then just start writing.
Type 2 writer’s block happens when we second-guess ourselves into paralysis. You get caught in the trap of trying to write and edit at the same time. The problem is, creativity doesn’t work that way. You need to get it all down on the page first, and then polish it up later. (Sometimes, MUCH later.)
So here's what you do. Set an easy quota for yourself: 100 words or 15 minutes. Then sit down and do it. Write everything that comes to mind. Give yourself permission to write badly. Get it all out on paper.
Then put it away and don’t look at it. Seal it in an envelope if you have to. Write a date on the front – tomorrow, next week, whatever. Only then will you take it out and start editing it, and you'll find out that it's not nearly as bad as you thought. In fact, you're probably a better writer than you think.
If you do all of these things -- brainstorm plenty of ideas, give yourself permission to write badly, and don't look at it again until later -- you'll beat writer's block forever.
L. MacNaughton
I do tons of research. The world we live in is so weird, it's impossible not to get inspired.
Before I wrote about the crystal magic in IT HAPPENED ONE DOOMSDAY, I went to plenty of lapidaries (rock shops), which are all over the place in Colorado.
I also attended quite a few gem and mineral shows, and visited metaphysical shops to talk to people who really believe in crystal healing. It was an eye-opening experience. I took some of those ideas and expanded them to a super-powered level to create the unique magic system in this book.
I also drew on my own experience working in an antiquarian bookstore, where we had boxes full of ancient books that were strangely worthless, because no one wanted to buy them. Some of them were centuries old, some of them in Latin, some even handwritten. Those inspired the magical books Dru studies.
Plus, I used to be a professional test driver. I tested dozens of prototype and experimental vehicles, sometimes in hairy conditions, so I had some real-life experience to draw on when writing the car chase scenes.
Somehow, all of that came together in this book. It was so much fun to write, and I'm deeply moved the so many people are enjoying reading it!
Before I wrote about the crystal magic in IT HAPPENED ONE DOOMSDAY, I went to plenty of lapidaries (rock shops), which are all over the place in Colorado.
I also attended quite a few gem and mineral shows, and visited metaphysical shops to talk to people who really believe in crystal healing. It was an eye-opening experience. I took some of those ideas and expanded them to a super-powered level to create the unique magic system in this book.
I also drew on my own experience working in an antiquarian bookstore, where we had boxes full of ancient books that were strangely worthless, because no one wanted to buy them. Some of them were centuries old, some of them in Latin, some even handwritten. Those inspired the magical books Dru studies.
Plus, I used to be a professional test driver. I tested dozens of prototype and experimental vehicles, sometimes in hairy conditions, so I had some real-life experience to draw on when writing the car chase scenes.
Somehow, all of that came together in this book. It was so much fun to write, and I'm deeply moved the so many people are enjoying reading it!
L. MacNaughton
Right now, I'm writing the sequel to IT HAPPENED ONE DOOMSDAY. I'm so excited about where these characters are heading that I honestly feel like I can't write it fast enough.
It builds on so many mysteries, and it answers the burning question that absolutely everyone will be asking at the end of the first book. But that's just the beginning.
At the same time, the second book opens up Dru’s universe (or the “Druniverse” as I like to call it) in crazy new ways. New magic, new creatures, new challenges, and new secrets that will quite literally rock the world.
It builds on so many mysteries, and it answers the burning question that absolutely everyone will be asking at the end of the first book. But that's just the beginning.
At the same time, the second book opens up Dru’s universe (or the “Druniverse” as I like to call it) in crazy new ways. New magic, new creatures, new challenges, and new secrets that will quite literally rock the world.
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