Nate Kenyon » Final Q&A Installment

Here’s the final part of the DearReader Q&A. To read the original post that started this whole thing, click here.

First Part
Second Part
Third Part

Onward…

Merrilee Peterson Says:

Good Morning. I just read your DearReader e-mail. Iâ€™m sorry to say Iâ€™m not familiar with your work but I have a trip to the library planned for today so Iâ€™ll certainly see whats available. Iâ€™m retired so I have much more time for books and I agree there is nothing better than a â€œGOODâ€ book.

Merrilee

Hi Marrileeâ€”Thanks for your support! Please drop me a line to let me know what you think of Bloodstone when youâ€™re done.

Carolyn Disser Says:

Hello, Nate!
Thank you for your enthusiastic inspiration to write. I recently retired from stacks of paper grading. Now itâ€™s my turn to write lengthier selections than time allowed during my teaching career.

My questions:

Does your writing often go in a direction not anticipated in pre-planning?

Do you include many personal experiences in building plot or developing character?

Hi Carolynâ€”The first part of your question has been addressed for the most partâ€”because I donâ€™t work from an outline, and I like to see where the story takes me, things never turn out quite the way I thought they would. As far as the second part of your question goes, I think itâ€™s essential to include bits and pieces of your own experiences in your fiction.

Thereâ€™s an old adage, â€œwrite what you know.â€ It took me a long time to finally understand exactly what that meant. It doesnâ€™t mean that if youâ€™re a janitor, you need to write a book about being a janitor; what it means is, infuse your fiction with details and observations from your own life. Use these details to make your story shine. This includes both environment (that Tasty Freeze on the corner could show up as a setting for a murder) and personality traits (your next door neighbor has a habit of twirling her hair as she talks to men she finds attractive).

I think this goes beyond conscious decision-making. When I wrote Bloodstone, I wanted to write the ultimate ghost story/possession/small town evil novel, really pull out all the stops and just have fun with the genre. It wasnâ€™t until I finished the first draft and went back and read through it that I realized how many references I had to cancer, to a sickness that had permeated the entire town of White Falls. My mother died of cancer when I was 13, and that made a tremendous impact of my life. Although I didnâ€™t consciously set out to write about that, I think it came through anyway.

Katherine Mitchell Says:

I got this info for the price of tea in China from google (sorry, I just couldnâ€™t resist:) Tea bags (pack 25) CNY14.80/US$1.85/GBPÂ£1.00/EURâ‚¬1.45

On to my question. Is there a time of day you get the most writing done, such as early morning or late evening? In other words, do you have a time of day at which you tend to get the most inspiration for your writing? I have five children and am thrilled they seem to have inherited my love of reading. There is just nothing like enjoying a good book. I have the opposite problem you do. I find I have to sometimes leave my books at work in order to get things done at home, because they are just too much of a temptation!

Katherine
Indiana

Hi Katherineâ€”Glad to see tea prices have stabilized. Gotta love Google. I knew SOMEONE would do that, Iâ€™m just surprised it took so long!

In my earlier years, most of my writing was done at night. I was definitely not a â€œmorning person,â€ and Iâ€™d often sleep until 11 am or so, then work in the afternoon and sometimes until 2 am or later, depending upon how things were going.

Itâ€™s a bit different now after having three kids. Our youngest gets us up by 6:30 am regardless of how we feel, so my writing time tends to be earlier. I still write the best at night, though, between 9 and midnight.

Five children, wowâ€”I donâ€™t know whether to congratulate you or extend my sympathies. â˜º

Tim Wing Wan Says:

I just retired after working for 20 years at the University of California. I am 53 and want to remain intellectually active. I have always wanted to write a book. But I am afraid that I have to admit that my motivation for writing is to make money. I am an immigrant from Hong Kong and I have lots and lots of personal stories to tell as an immigrant growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Question: Is it honorable to write a book based on real life experiences and yet fictionalize it by changing some aspects of the story? For example, I once worked for a United States Senator in Washington D.C. Can I write about that experience, telling the story â€œfactuallyâ€, but changing the real name of the Senator to Senator John Smith? Also, I have lots of personal growing up stories that I believe will find a wide audience. Yet, I do not want my readers to know that those stories are about me. So I plan to write in a third person voice and ascribe those stories to a fictional character. Is this an honorable way to write? In other words, I wonâ€™t have to create a story. All I will do is just write my life story. Yet I want to fictionalize it because I want to stay anonymous.

Hi Timâ€”letâ€™s tackle the first part of the question. There are plenty of famous examples of bestselling books that are supposedly thinly-disguised versions of real life events and people. Look no further than Primary Colors, which was about Bill Clintonâ€™s Presidential run. You open yourself up to potential lawsuits by doing this sort of thing, but there are changes you could make to the story details that would help protect you. I guess itâ€™s up to you to decide whether youâ€™re willing to take the chance.

As far as the second part of the question, a year ago I would have said sure. But after the James Frey debacle, editors and agents are a lot more sensitive to stretching the limits of the memoir form. If all youâ€™re doing is writing your life as it happened, and changing a few minor details to protect the innocent, then absolutely, itâ€™s perfectly fine. If you begin to stretch the truth, wellâ€¦who knows where that line might be.

Of course, if youâ€™re just going to call this book straight fiction, then thereâ€™s no problem at allâ€”unless you slander someoneâ€™s good name, and then weâ€™re back to the first question. But thatâ€™s a perfectly fine and honorable way to write a novel, as far as Iâ€™m concerned.

All in all, fiction is protected pretty well in this country. People can sue for slander, but itâ€™s not an easy case to win.

One final note: if youâ€™re looking to get into writing to strike it rich, Iâ€™d strongly advise you to do something else. Regardless of how it might look to the general public, there really is little money in publishing. Even those well-known names (excluding the Grishams and Kings) you see on the bestseller lists arenâ€™t making what you might think.

Writing â€œto remain intellectually activeâ€ is a smart thing to do; writing because you just want to write is smart too. If you land a big contract, well, thatâ€™s icing on the cake.

Good luck!

Nancy H. Says:

I have so many questions. I notice that some authors are great at dialog and some are fabulous when it comes to descriptions of places or emotions. What type of writing comes easiest for you? What comes most difficult? Do your characters always do what you think theyâ€™ll do when you start a book or do the characters you create sometimes have a mind of their own and cause the story to change? How long did it take from the time you decided you wanted to be published until your first manuscript was accepted?

Iâ€™m not a writer and have no plans to become one. I do love to read, however.

Thank you for writing and thanks for letting me ask questions.

Hi Nancyâ€”I canâ€™t say off the top of my head if dialogue or descriptions are easier for me. I guess it depends up on the individual scene and story. Sometimes one part will flow, but the other just wonâ€™t work.

But youâ€™re rightâ€”authors are better at different things. Elmore Leonard, for example, is brilliant at dialogue (heâ€™s not too shabby with anything else, either, but thatâ€™s his sweet spot). Iâ€™d imagine it just comes easier for him, but I donâ€™t know. For me, itâ€™s a matter of getting into whatever I feel the story needs at the moment. When I have trouble with dialogue, itâ€™s usually because I really donâ€™t know where I want the characters to go. I have to buckle down and do some brainstorming about how to get them from point A to point B, and do it in a way that is both interesting and makes sense.

Your other questions are good, too, but I think theyâ€™ve been answered already. Thanks for asking!

Tessa Bartels Says:

Nate…
I enjoyed your DearReader guest column today. I, too, am an avid reader â€¦ I confess that I even read at the stoplights, and sometimes find myself hoping Iâ€™ll get stuck waiting for a train to go by so I can finish the chapter.

An aside to Tammy who had the car accident â€¦ I find that using one of those travel pillows (you know a firm half-donut) when Iâ€™m in my easy chair helps to support my neck and lets me read a little longer.

My question â€¦ think of Ray Bradburyâ€™s â€œFarhenheit 451â€³ â€¦ if you had to memorize one book (not your own), which would it be?
Tessa

Hi Tessaâ€”be careful when youâ€™re reading while driving, ok? Iâ€™ve done that once or twice, but I wouldnâ€™t recommend doing it on a regular basis!

If I had to memorize one bookâ€¦I think I would choose Faulknerâ€™s Light in August. Itâ€™s probably his most accessible work, and also his most devastating. Thereâ€™s some very powerful writing in there, and characters that are complex and very real. Violence and murder and darknessâ€¦Joe Christmas might not be the most loved, but he is certainly one of the most memorable characters in American literature.

Katherine Says:

Does the process of writing get easier the more you write? Is it a matter of disciplining yourself to write something everyday or do you find yourself able to easily shift into the â€œcreative zoneâ€ to write?

Good question, Katherine. Iâ€™d like to think the process gets easier, and in some ways it does. The more you write, the better trained you mind becomes, so you donâ€™t have to spend as much time concentrating on the basic stuff. Sentence structure and style are second-nature. That leaves more time and energy for the plot itself.

But at the same time, it becomes harder to keep from repeating yourself. Most writers are very concerned with doing something different with their latest work, always stretching their own boundaries and skill levels. But thatâ€™s easier said than done.

There is a creative zone, but unfortunately I canâ€™t turn it on particularly well. So although I can get writing done even if Iâ€™m not feeling really creative, there are certainly times where the mood just strikesâ€”and Iâ€™ve got to be ready to stop whatever Iâ€™m doing and get the idea down on paper.

If Iâ€™m driving down the highway at 60 mph, that can be a problem. Maybe Tessa above can teach me a trick or twoâ€¦

marge reinard Says:

My ultimate dream is to become an author of childrenâ€™s books. I entered a contest and was told that I have the potential, but the cost for the course is very expensive. Do you have any other suggestions? Marge Reinard

Hi Margeâ€”first of all, DO NOT pay anything like this. I hate to burst your bubble, but itâ€™s very likely a scam.

I could fill a book with what Iâ€™ve seen. There are so many unscrupulous people out there looking to take advantage of the hopes and dreams of writers. Slimy agents who charge editing and reading fees, publishing houses who will â€œpublishâ€ your book for a fee, fake contests that ask for money to enter and then try to sell you a workshop or editorial advice. Pretty much everyone gets told they have potential, if they only open their wallet.

The thing is, writers are so desperate for someone to buy their work that theyâ€™re often sitting ducks for this sort of thing. Marge, you may very well have potential. But this isnâ€™t the way to find out. If you need feedback, find a trusted friend or join a legitimate writerâ€™s group. Write and polish your work and then submit it to legitimate agents and publishers. Do not pay one red cent to do this. Itâ€™s a hard road, but anything else will lead to heartache.

Check out preditors and editors (www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/) to see if the agents and publishers are legit. Make sure the agent is a member of AAR (Association of Authorâ€™s Representatives). Do a bit of googling on them. If anything smells funny, run, donâ€™t walk, as far away as you can get.

A general rule of thumb: money flows TO the author, never the other way around.

mari Says:

Good morning Nate,
I really enjoy your patience to take these questions. This is really something to be able to ask an author questions.

So Nate, how did you find publishers to send your script to, and how many did it take before it was accepted and published?

Thanks for all your answers. m

Hi Mariâ€”I submitted novels to several publishers early on in my career, and at least two dozen agents as well. I got the listings out of the guidebooks of the profession; Writerâ€™s Guide to Publishers and Literary Agents by Jeff Herman, and the Novel and Short Story Writerâ€™s Market. You can buy these at any bookstore, or go to the library and use them there. Theyâ€™re helpful because they give names and addresses and also some guidance on what that publisher or agent specializes in (childrenâ€™s thriller, non-fiction, etc.). These days, you can get a lot of the same information online, if you know where to look.

But although I had some very close calls, I never landed the agent or a contract in those days. As I mentioned in an earlier answer, it was my connection to editor/writer Ed Gorman that finally did the trick. I had gotten to know him through a friend, and I sent him a few chapters of Bloodstone. He forwarded them along to friends of his at Five Star, and they bought the book.

Life is funny sometimes. You can bang your head against the door for years, and just when you give up from the bruising, someone opens it.

Rita Says:

Was delighted to see your DearReader column. I agree sometimes that reading is becoming a lost art, but it amazes me to see the number of other commuters who read on the train. Most of the time I have a book with me and many of the friends I have made in my daily trek also read. When I have some work to do, I put on my headset and do a book on tape. So I think books will remain a mainstay for many.

I do have a question â€” do you journal to keep track of thoughts or ideas you want to save for a book?

Hi Ritaâ€”Iâ€™m very glad to hear that you have so many friends and colleagues reading on the train. Thatâ€™s a great way to make the commute fly! Books on tape are also wonderful for long car trips; it works for the kids, too.

I used to keep notebooks, but these days, most of the time Iâ€™m either at my desk or I have my laptop close by. So I jot ideas down on screen. If Iâ€™m out shopping or away from my computer, Iâ€™ve been known to pick up just about anythingâ€”shopping list, receipt, napkin, the back of my handâ€”to get an idea down before I lose it. Of course, half the time itâ€™s gibberish by the time I get home!

Dorie Says:

Do you get your ideas for novels from your own life, the experiences of others, or just from your own imagination?

Hi Dorieâ€”A combination of all three, actually. See earlier answers for how I get the spark of an idea, but how it grows from there depends somewhat on the things Iâ€™m doing and experiencing. For example, Iâ€™ve been doing a lot of renovating in our home the past three years, and so in the book Iâ€™m writing now, my main character (surprise) is doing demolition in their house. Itâ€™s a nice symbolic touch in a novel where this manâ€™s world is crumbling around him.

Other times I might read a news article and think that would make the beginnings of a great story. But in order for it to really take off for me, I have to start imagining what happened behind the scenes. If a teenager shot another teenager in cold blood, for example, I want to know why, what was going through his head, what had happened between themâ€¦that sort of thing. That makes me want to explore the story, and Iâ€™m off.

Lisa Enz Says:

Hi Nate, My question is: Do you do a lot of research before you write your novels or do you rely on your current knowledge and experience? And how accurate do you feel a work of fiction should be? Thank you.

Hi Lisaâ€”That depends on the story. For Bloodstone, I didnâ€™t do as much research as with some other novels, because it took place in an area of the country I was familiar with, and because it was a supernatural-type story and so I could take more liberties with the plot. Thatâ€™s not to say there still wasnâ€™t research to do: for example, to write the letter from 1729 I dove into that time period, read letters that had been written back then, that sort of thing. I did some research on witchcraft. I read up on prison life, and how parole worked, and I researched the city and streets of San Francisco.

With other novels, Iâ€™ve had to do more. I think the key is to infuse the novel with enough research to give it complexity and make it believable for the reader, without giving so much information that it becomes boring. I donâ€™t think it needs to be accurate; but the details have to match the story. In other words, you have to be true to the world you create.

Caitlyn Says:

My question has essentially been asked already, but here it is again. I actually have several book ideas that are well developed and Iâ€™m well in to writing two of them. But my question is how do you really get a book to flow. I know my stories and my characters better than I know myself, but Iâ€™m not sure if my readers will feel the same way and Iâ€™m not sure if they will even be interested enough to keep reading. How do you get a story to flow and develop while still keeping readers interested?

Hi Caitlynâ€”if you know your story and characters that well, youâ€™re on your way. If YOU believe in them, the reader will too. Trust in yourself, write the best story you can, and donâ€™t worry about the audience until youâ€™ve got that last scene down on paper. Then itâ€™s all about the edits. Get a friend you trust to give it a read and see what he/she says. Youâ€™ll have to do some chopping and rewriting, but youâ€™ll get there.

Sara Says:

When did you want to become a writer?

Hi Saraâ€”Iâ€™ve answered this one already, but Iâ€™ve wanted to be a writer from as far back as I can remember. Books have always been a part of my life. I just canâ€™t imagine not doing it, and I guess thatâ€™s what keeps you going when you face rejection.

Anne Says:

Good Morning,

I enjoyed your column and would love to win an original manuscript. I agree with you that technology is pulling us away from books. I try to read especially in the summer on the beach and on the breaks from work. Iâ€™m a teacher of deaf children. Many really struggle with reading and end up not liking it. Lately, Iâ€™ve used graphic novels and they love to get into the story. Somehow seeing these kids struggle to read makes me appreciate all the nuances of language that we fortify through reading.

Have a good day,
Anne

Hi Anneâ€”what a wonderful idea! Good for you for coming up with it.

Amanda Says:

Hi,

I first wrote a novel when I was fifteen and decided recently that I would like to try to publish the book. This is because many people have encouraged me to do so, especially since it has been five years and I am going to college to become a writer. However, I have no idea what to expect or what to do in regards to trying to publish a novel.

Other writers have suggested looking through the Writerâ€™s Market, but this still does not help. I did recently try and see if an agency would be interested, but they eventually said in order to continue with them, I would have to find and pay for an editor myself.
Since I am in college and unable to work because of disabilities, I had to stop.

Can you tell me what to expect and maybe how you were finally able to be published? I would love to share my novel with people because I am hoping it is something they will be interested in.
Thank you,
Amanda

Hi Amandaâ€”see my earlier answer to Marge above. Donâ€™t pay anyone to read, edit or publish your work. Those arenâ€™t real agents or publishers, and theyâ€™ll do nothing more than take your money and damage your career.

The only thing you can do it to keep writing, keep polishing your craft, and keep submitting to legitimate agents and publishers. Youâ€™ll find those in the books I mentioned above, and youâ€™ll find them at good writerâ€™s conferences and workshops. Professors at your college might also be able to help you.

If you believe in yourself, stick with it and donâ€™t give up. Itâ€™s a long, hard road, but itâ€™s worth the trip.

Kristi Says:

I donâ€™t have a question just a comment. I really enjoyed your introduction this morning at dearreader.com. You mentioned that your book was or is going to be featured. I donâ€™t read at the horror club so I missed it but did read the excerpts from your website. Iâ€™m not a writer, I donâ€™t even aspire to be but I LOVE to read. Stephen King is also one of my favorites and one of the first authors I began reading for pleasure. I just wanted to let you know that you have a new fan. I canâ€™t wait to get my hands on Bloodstone to finish it.

Hi Kristiâ€”thanks for your support! If you like Stephen Kingâ€™s work, you should enjoy Bloodstone. Once youâ€™ve finished with it, drop me a line through the contact section of my site and let me know what you think.

carolyn teasley Says:

my question is do you personally know some one who is schezo? not sure how to spell it. my cousin who is my age was diagnosed 20 years ago. the hearing voices, i guess is common knowledge.

i forgot to askâ€”when will this bookâ€“ Bloodstoneâ€“be coming out in audio?

Hi Carolynâ€”I have no direct experience with schizophrenia. I have done a fair amount of research on it, however, because my next novel has a character who has been diagnosed with the disorder.

I havenâ€™t finalized an audio deal for Bloodstone as of yet, although thatâ€™s in the works. It has been recorded for the hearing impaired, so you should be able to get it at a library that has that sort of material. Thanks for asking!

Giane Says:

Hi!
I am an avid reader!!! I listen to books as well as read them. I have a book with me everywhere I go. My question is: Do the books you read influence the story you are writing? How do you stay focused?
Happy reading!!!
Giane

Hi Gianeâ€”Thatâ€™s a great question. I do have to be careful, because I read a lot and itâ€™s sometimes hard to separate the plots of the book Iâ€™m reading with the one Iâ€™m writing. So I try to keep my reading and writing time removed from each other. Reading is often done at bedtime, before I turn out the light, while writing happens before I get upstairs, or on my lunch hour.

I do find that reading a well-written book can be very helpful to my own work. Itâ€™s not the plot details, but the rhythm and imagery of the words themselves that can be inspiring. You think, â€œI want to do that!â€ It’s sort of like stretching before a race. It can kick your creative energies into high gear.

Rhonda says:

Hi! First of all let me say thanks for reminding me that I too use to love to read (life sometimes gets in the way), and I just need to get back to it! Now for a question, I think there is a book swimming around in my head (or maybe its just those voices again), and I am not sure how to go about getting it out and on paper,,, any suggestions?? I really enjoyed your dear reader column!
Thanks and Have A Great Day!!

Hi Rhonda–I’ve talked about this in earlier answers, but I think the key is just sitting down and starting something, no matter how many words you get down or what you think of it. The important point is to just do it. It sounds simple, I know, but there’s really no other way. Set up a schedule and stick to it. You’ll be surprised at how fast those words add up!

Theresa Brandt says:

Wow, I donâ€™t even know where to begin after reading all of the above questions and comments! I first read your column this morning early but didnâ€™t have time to post anything until now. I have to admit that I do remember receiving Bloodstone as the book of the week from Suzanneâ€™s e-mails but didnâ€™t take the time to read that one. I will definitely read it now!

I love to read and a few years ago took an on-line creative writing course. However, I have trouble getting motivated and finding the time in the day to sit down and continue writing. It is very difficult for me to keep from putting it off and letting other things take priority. I also feel that Iâ€™m not â€œqualifiedâ€ as I donâ€™t have a writing background. I get discouraged when I hear how difficult it is to get something published and then wonder if it is worth all of the effort, or whether I should just be content to love to read. I really struggle when I do write. I guess my question would be how do you keep from getting discouraged and â€œhang in thereâ€ not knowing if youâ€™re good enough?

Thank you very much for giving us readers this forum and ability to contact you!

Hi Theresa–You know, everyone who does this crazy thing called writing gets discouraged at some point. It doesn’t matter how many times you publish something, either–sooner or later those voices will start whispering. “You’re not good enough,” they whisper. “You’ve got nothing left to say. This is the book that will end your career.” There’s nothing you can do about this except fight through it. Telling yourself you’re not qualified to write is silly; there’s nothing to any of that. If you want to write, and you sit down in front of that computer and put words down, you’re a writer. Simple as that. Whether you’ll get good enough to publish depends on how much commitment you’re willing to put into it.

I think you can do it. So sit down and start! I’m looking forward to reading a book with your name on the cover someday.

susie q says:

Dear Nate,
I enjoyed reading what you wrote today.
I have a 12 yr. old son who does not enjoy reading like I do. Any suggestions. This is not something new,he has never really cared to read anything other than assigned work from school. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Hi Susie–I’ve written some about this in earlier responses, but I don’t think you can push this sort of thing. A love for books has to develop naturally. You can encourage it by reading to children during their early years, and show them by example–read a lot yourself. But if you push it, reading becomes a chore, and that’s the last thing you want. It should be something they look forward to, rather than put off. Find things he likes–it doesn’t matter if it’s non-fiction, or comic books or stories about his favorite movies. The important thing is that he’s reading.

Good luck!

Sheryl Hand says:

Hello Nate–
Thank you for your outstanding column today & for offering to answer questions. After reading through the questions, I have one more for you. Has your successes changed your life in the ways you thought it would? Does your success allow more choices and options to pursue your passions in life? I love your writing & express my thanks for your talents. Reading your books almost takes me out of my body for a brief vacation while being lost in the words.

Hi Sheryl–I don’t know if I would call myself a success as of yet, but I thank you for your kind words! Launching this novel has certainly changed my life, but not in ways you might think. Two years ago I was pretty much your typical professional suburban family man, white-collar 9-5 job, three kids and all that. My writing was done mostly for my own pleasure, off hours or on weekends, and I never thought it would by read by this many people. Now I’m traveling to writer’s conventions and going to book signings, spending more time on the computer at night, and just trying to promote the novel as best I can. So my family and I have had to adjust. But it’s brought a lot of excitement too, and I LOVE hearing from people who have read my work and enjoy it. There’s nothing better than that.

________________________________________________

Well, weâ€™ve reached the end. Iâ€™d like to thank every single one of you who came to visit the site, and those who took the time to send me a question or comment. I had a lot of fun with this, and I hope you did too. Iâ€™m always open to hearing from readers, so feel free to drop me a line at my contact link above.

And donâ€™t forget, tomorrow night Iâ€™ll announce the winners of the prize drawing. Someone will win a Bloodstone t-shirt, another will win a bookbag with goodies inside, and someone else will win the grand prize, a signed copy of my brand new manuscript, a suspense thriller called The Reach. So check back in tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe youâ€™ll see your name!

All best,
Nate

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Final Q&A Installment

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