David Joiner

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David Joiner

Goodreads Author


Born
in Cincinnati, The United States
Website

Genre

Influences
Yasunari Kawabata, Natsume Soseki, Junichiro Tanizaki, Yukio Mishima, ...more

Member Since
February 2012

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David Joiner is the 2024 International Rubery Book Award Winner in Fiction for his novel The Heron Catchers, published by Stone Bridge Press in late 2023. The novel is the second in a planned series of novels set in Ishikawa prefecture, and was also a finalist in the 2023 American Writing Awards, the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and the 2023 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. In January 2022, Stone Bridge Press also published his novel, Kanazawa, which was a finalist for the 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. His debut novel Lotusland, originally published in 2015 by Guernica Editions, was re-issued in a revised edition in early 2025 and was also named a finalist for the 2025 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. ...more

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David Joiner I sometimes bow down before it. I don’t mind terribly when it happens, either. But when I do allow myself to give into it – because I believe that ide…moreI sometimes bow down before it. I don’t mind terribly when it happens, either. But when I do allow myself to give into it – because I believe that ideas germinate even when I’m not actively writing – I limit myself to how long I’ll let it stop me from writing.

At other times I make myself go where I’ve got nothing else to do but write (i.e., a library or a café where I don’t expect to see anyone I know).

Sometimes I bring up a completely blank document and play with whatever idea first comes into my head. These attempts, which are basically free-writing exercises, end up bringing a newness to bear on whatever I’m stuck on. Sometimes I end up keeping the result, and sometimes I end up dragging it into the trash. But either way, it always puts me back on track.

Most times, however, I just grit my teeth and refuse to let myself be stopped by writer’s block. It’s no sin to write only a paragraph a day. Sometimes you’ll manage ten pages, but as long as you’re taking the book forward, that’s what really matters.

In the end, the issue is quality rather than quantity. Sometimes a little writer’s block can be helpful in figuring out a way to make your writing better.(less)
David Joiner There are several things that come to mind:

Being able to dream while I’m awake.

Having the privilege, day in and day out, to work (and play) with langu…more
There are several things that come to mind:

Being able to dream while I’m awake.

Having the privilege, day in and day out, to work (and play) with language.

Not having to share or relinquish control of the creative dreams that are my stories.

Having creative projects to re-immerse myself in every day.

Knowing that entire worlds exist inside my head and that I’m in a position, if I work hard enough, to let them out and make them real.(less)
Average rating: 4.12 · 254 ratings · 87 reviews · 4 distinct worksSimilar authors
Kanazawa

3.96 avg rating — 136 ratings2 editions
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Lotusland

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4.30 avg rating — 60 ratings — published 2015 — 8 editions
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The Heron Catchers

4.23 avg rating — 52 ratings2 editions
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Stray Cat City

4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings2 editions
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Lotusland a Foreword Reviews Finalist

This morning, Foreword Reviews released its annual list of finalists for best book of the year in various categories, and I'm honored to share that the reissue of Lotusland was among twelve books nominated for General Fiction. Winners will be announced in June, and I'm hoping for good news then!

https://www.forewordreviews.com/award... Read more of this blog post »
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Published on March 05, 2026 18:38

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