Ask the Author: Nathanial Covell
Answered Questions (6)
Nathanial Covell
As a guy whose heart-strings get pulled pretty easily, I can find inspiration in the smallest of things. My empathy makes me prone to taking up the causes of others. I am especially driven by those who are punished for doing what is right and good.
Nathanial Covell
So far, this hasn't been a problem for me (knock on wood!), but I do anguish during the revision process while searching for the perfect word or phrase. There are times when I feel that a scene could/should be better, but its more of finding a different route than a block, per se. Many times I reflect on how a conflict might be better handled by considering works by other creators.
Nathanial Covell
Define your characters' arches from the beginning ... this tells you where you need to go. Reveal something at the end of every chapter ... make the reader want to begin the next one. Don't sweat the first draft. Lay the bones ... fill in the scenery, physical character descriptions and tighten the dialogue later. Consider how screenwriting is done. It places strong emphasis on what happens and by which page, while beating the 3-act structure into you.
Nathanial Covell
No inept bosses (except myself)! It is a lot of work and mistakes will be made, but I enjoy being ultimately culpable for the failure or success of my work.
Nathanial Covell
Big Trouble in Little China was definitely a huge influence. I really dug the lightning monk in that movie and asked myself what kind of world would produce characters like that. After that, my experiences living in Japan and the pursuit of trustworthiness weighed in heavily.
Nathanial Covell
I am currently writing the sequel to Spires of Aurora. U.S.S. Humanity is also in the works; here is the logline: At the turn of the century, a highly-skilled, disillusioned 6-person crew embarks on a 6-year corporate deep-space mission, but ends up fighting for personal ideals and survival as they defend an exiled alien race from ruthless corporate and enemy alien fleets. Humanity began as a series of short stories which, due to popularity, I am adapting into a novel. (The original short stories are available on Goodreads!)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more