Here’s the second installment of questions and answers. To read the original post that inspired all this, click here.

To read the first installment, click here.

Melany Van Every Says:

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Bloodstone thanks to Dear Reader, and I am very happy to say I enjoyed the book a great deal.

Did real people inspire the characters Billy and Angel?

Hi Melany—Very glad that you enjoyed the book. I can’t say that anyone in particular inspired the characters. There are bits and pieces of many people I’ve known over the years in most every character I write about—that’s part of the creative process. I think there’s also a part of me in each of them (I’d like to imagine the kind, happy, good parts, but upon reflection, probably not). Ultimately, any effective character is like Frankenstein’s monster, cobbled together by remembering a thousand different experiences and personalities that mesh to create something entirely new and unique.

Rachiel Soliz Says:

When you sat down to write the The Reach, did you start with an outline first? If so, how detailed was your outline?

Thank you,
Rachiel Soliz

Hi Rachiel—No, I don’t work from an outline. My novels never work out exactly as I think they will. I find that a detailed outline dampens my creativity, and if I go too far I just lose the urge to explore the story. I feel as if I’ve told it already. So instead, I simply begin when I
 get an interesting idea or image in my head, when I’m burning to explore and see where it takes me. This usually leads to a lot of notes, and somewhat of a mess. I wake up in the middle of the night with a plot point or character attribute that I have to write down; sometimes I write pieces of scenes and dialogue ahead of time that might get dropped in later in the novel.
For Bloodstone, I knew pretty early on that a couple of major events and plot twists were going to happen, so I was writing with them in mind. I guess you could say that the primary ideas in the book were there pretty much after the first couple of chapters, but a lot of character traits, minor events and other more specific things changed dramatically.

Then it’s all about the edits — going back through and refining the story, putting in more foreshadowing and streamlining the plot until it all makes sense.

Teresa Says:

I see you’ve read Tim Lebbon’s Dusk. It’s an amazing story. Have you been over to the Dusk website to read The Bajuman? If not why not? Check it out here.

www.noreela.com/

Could you please convince me to read Kindred Spirit while you’re at it?

Cheers!!
Terry

Hi Terry—Yes, I’ve read Dusk, and I reviewed it for Horrorworld as well. You can read the review here: http://www.horrorworld.org/june_2006.htm.

I love Tim’s work. I think he’s one of the very best in the field today, and Dusk is a breathtaking achievement. When I got my contract for Bloodstone, the first author I looked up to ask for a blurb was Tim. He didn’t know me or my work, and he had about 15 projects on deadline at the time, but he agreed to look at Bloodstone anyway. And he gave it a fantastic blurb too.

But that’s Tim. Ever gracious, always willing to help out other writers, and talented as hell. I owe him big and I won’t forget it.

As far as Kindred Spirit goes, I wrote a bit about that in an earlier answer, but I’ll say that I really enjoyed the novel and think it’s Jack’s best work. He’s a great guy too. I’d recommend anything he’s written.

Nichole Says:

Hi Nate!!

After reading your column this morning, I had to respond….I agree with your thinking on 24, though I must admit, coming into the new season late, it was hard to get into. I watch the past season’s re-runs.

And another point you brought up I can definitely agree with is how much things have changed from when I was a kid. I used to love curling up with a book and spending an afternoon that way. It didn’t matter what the book was about..though I was later introduced to a favorite author of my aunt’s and began reading all those. It wasn’t until Suzanne’s bookclubs that I realized how sheltered I’d been as a reader. I now have children of my own and find it harder and harder to be able to sit and read the day away. Though I’ve been one of those “bad parents” who refuses to allow my sons to become TV/Video Game sponges and won’t buy a game system of any kind, I find it hard to get my oldest interested in reading. They do a lot of it in school, but due to some early hearing problems, he got behind developmentally and has struggled to catch up. The books were forced on him so much, it was like a punishment trying to get him to read even the assigned readings he brought home, much less anything on top of that. We’ve purchased him so many different books that we felt he’d love, but they sit unread and lose out to a game of ball with the neighborhood kids. How can I convince him that reading isn’t torture and get him interested in the love of reading that I felt as a kid??

Thanks very much for any suggestions you have!

Nichole

That’s a very interesting (and difficult) question, Nichole. First of all, I admire your efforts to encourage reading in your children. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I think it’s the single most important thing you can do to encourage mental and emotional growth.

That said, I don’t think you can force it. I’m no childhood psychology expert, but it seems to me that reading is like anything else; if it becomes a “chore,” then it’s going to get ignored. Possibly even avoided. We have a similar problem with our son; reading was more difficult for him early on, and he’s never taken to it like our two other children, though he’s reading a fair amount of non-fiction now.

Some people are just more interested in other things, and that’s ok. Everyone is different. That said, I think the key is in reading to your kids from a very early age. Read aloud to them every single night, and make it a fun part of their routine. Make a point of letting them see you reading too; young children want to be like their parents, so they’ll try to do what you do.

Another thing you can do is figure out other ways to get him interested in the written word. Comic books are a good option; if he’s into sports, books on his favorite athletes can help. Even computer games where he has to read instructions or figure out puzzles based on written clues can really improve his reading skills and help him develop an interest.

Above all, don’t try to force him to read something while other kids are playing his favorite game at the park. It will only make him resent the whole experience. Find times when he’ll look forward to reading (maybe he can stay up past his bedtime if he’s looking at books, for example).

Good luck!

Terry Says:

After you unplugged the television, shut down your laptop and turned off the ringer on the phone …. What was your ‘favorite’ book that you chose to take to your easy chair? I can’t wait to find out!

Thanks,

Terry L.

Hi Terry—Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. I don’t think I could call it my favorite book of all time—I love so many of them for different reasons—but it’s definitely in my top five, and it never fails to give me the creeps while impressing the heck out of me for its brilliant, concise writing and flawless plotting. How about you—do you have a favorite? Drop me a line and let me know.

Kathleen Richardson Says:

Dear Nate Kenyon,

I just read your bio and understand totally about writing EVERY DAY. I spent a year spinning my wheels on a book idea, then finally settled down and have written over 35,000 since April 12′06. What helped? Finding lots of people willing to receive my email accountability report. Each weekday after writing 500 words, I sent out the report and often they respond with encouraging comments. If any of your readers are interested in how the idea works (they’re welcome to use the idea for their own book writing!), they can see my reports and readers’ comments here: www.onyourwaytothetop.com/faq-2.htm. For those who do use the idea, invite me to be on your accountability mailing list.

Hi Kathleen—that’s an excellent idea. I think one of the reasons I kept going and finished my first book, right out of college, was because my grandfather bought me a laptop and I felt like I had to make it worth his while. ☺

There’s another important point in your comment—getting something down on paper every day. 500 words doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds up fast. Don’t focus on the finish line, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you’ll be typing “the end.”

Carol Says:

How do you choose the names for your characters? In all my years of reading fiction, I’ve always wondered how authors do it.

Hi Carol—it’s actually a pretty hit or miss process, for me. Sometimes the names just pop into my head, and sometimes I struggle. Sometimes I choose them for a reason, and sometimes I just like the way they sound. For Bloodstone, I picked extremely generic names for my main characters because I wanted the names to be unimportant. I wanted this to reflect that both Billy and Angel did not really understand who they were. They are people without a past. This is part of the journey they go through—it’s a journey of self-discovery.

For other books or stories, if I don’t think of the right name immediately, sometimes I’ll go online and look at lists of surnames, trying to find the right fit. It’s funny, but when I read down through these lists there are usually one or two names that just seem “right” for that particular character. I don’t know why.

Thanks again, everyone! More to come tomorrow.

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