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John Beresford

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Born

November 24

Member Since

February 2012

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https://www.goodreads.com/diggerjohn

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

John Beresford Although "writer's block" is a common conception, I don't believe it really exists. At what stage of the process can you be said to be 'blocked'?

Befor…moreAlthough "writer's block" is a common conception, I don't believe it really exists. At what stage of the process can you be said to be 'blocked'?

Before you've come up with an idea?
Sit down and let yourself free-think for half-an-hour. Conjure up a few "what if?" scenarios - doesn't matter how crazy. Sooner or later the germ of a cool idea will come to you. Does it inspire you? Is it *really* cool? Is it something that you could run with - perhaps for several years? Then that's the one. If not, keep thinking!

When you have an idea but can't turn it into a story?
Think about who might inhabit the story. Start creating characters. Give them traits you're familiar with (borrow from friends, family, colleagues, yourself) as well as some you're not - things you'll have to research to get right.
Once you have some characters, how will they act, or react? What happens to them in your story? Write down a few ideas for scenes. These will suggest other things that need to happen in order for them to make sense. That's more scenes. Put them in some kind of order. That's your timeline. Got some gaps? Think of more scenes. Looking too short? Invent some more characters, as long as you're happy managing that number of different people. More characters = more interactions = more scenes = longer novel.

When you have a plot but you can't get from A to B in one part of it?
This (for me) is the hardest part, but it's still not "writer's block". You invented this world, and the people in it, so don't panic. Just think it through. Write a few test scenes if it helps. Or introduce a "foil" character for your main characters to play off.

There may be other times when you feel blocked, but the important thing is not to use it as an excuse NOT to write. Just keep at it. Keep thinking. Keep writing. Eventually the problem won't seem like a problem at all.(less)

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What are you currently working on?

John Beresford The sequel(s) to Gatekeeper. I've planned it as a trilogy, even though at the moment there's no mention of this in the blurb. I know myself well enoug…moreThe sequel(s) to Gatekeeper. I've planned it as a trilogy, even though at the moment there's no mention of this in the blurb. I know myself well enough not to call something "book 1 of n" until I'm certain I can deliver 'n' !!(less)

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John Beresford’s books

Average rating: 4.45 · 58 ratings · 16 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Gatekeeper (The Berikatanyan Chronicles, #1) 4.13 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Juggler (The Berikatanyan Chronicles #3) 4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	War of Nutrition 4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Water Wizard (The Berikatanyan Chronicles, #2) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Flame in the North (The 2nd Berikatanyan Chronicles #3) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Dance in the Dark (The 2nd Berikatanyan Chronicles, #1) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Shadow On The Water it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Well of Love 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Valentine Wine 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Handy Half-Hour 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by John Beresford…

Series by John Beresford

The Berikatanyan Chronicles (3 books)
by

John Beresford (Goodreads Author)

4.41 avg rating — 41 ratings

The 2nd Berikatanyan Chronicles (3 books)
by

John Beresford (Goodreads Author)

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 7 ratings

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John’s Recent Updates

John Beresford joined the group Free Books ARC & Beta Readers – New Authors
Jun 18, 2026 03:17AM · like
John Beresford made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please add my book topic " The books in this series will share (a small number of) characters and all take place within a small region of Manchester, UK, with several buildings ...more "
Jun 13, 2026 01:13AM
John Beresford made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please add my book topic " This is my book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... Please add it to my dashboard. Also note that it is the first book in the (unordered) series ...more "
Jun 11, 2026 12:54AM
John Beresford made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — My book has disappeared from my dashboard topic " Hi - it's definitely more than a couple of days since my catalogue was brought up to date, and I know all the books were appearing OK immediately foll ...more "
Oct 07, 2025 04:04AM
John Beresford made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Rationalising my book catalogue topic " Thank you so much! Request for smaller requests duly noted. "
Aug 15, 2025 11:08PM