Richard Harland – Liberating the Writer Within
Richard is the author of over fifteen novels and is an example of one of those writers who has plugged away for years and is now reaping the rewards. When I interviewed Richard, his steampunk book, Worldshaker, had just been published in Australia, the US, UK, France, Germany and Brazil. The sequel – Liberator – has now also been released.
Darrell - Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?
Richard - Out of thin air. Seriously. I make stuff up all the time. I have no idea where any of it comes from. (Not from a Pit of Lurking Deep Ideas, as per the cartoon image in my guide to writing fantasy and SF at www.writingtips.com.au!)
Darrell - When you’re writing a novel, do you plot the entire book in advance or work it out as you go?
Richard - I'm a plotter! Except that that makes it sound as though I do diagrams and chapter outlines and such ... Which sometimes I do, but only incidentally to the real work of imagination going on. I guess I have an unusual kind of visual imagination that lets me hold a story in my head like a movie long before I need to set it down in words.
Lately, I've even discovered a talent for writing synopses—which all writers dread and curse. Unavoidable when you're a professional writer aiming for a contract before you set fingers to keyboard! I still curse, but I don't dread, because I've realized how much easier it is for me than most people. I enjoy thinking up and filling out a story, then letting it play in my head like a movie—so, turning it into a few compressed pages is a bit like describing a movie to a friend.
I've learned not to overplan, though. Nowadays, I can sense when I've got enough material for a good, big climax (and anyone who's read my books know how much I love good, big climaxes—with Liberator, the climax literally starts before half way through and doesn't stop rolling for another 250 pages. The habit is growing on me!) However, I'm happy to leave the climax in a nebulous state—I can tell when it’s going to work out right long before I get there. And if the story as I write it diverges from my movie, well, that's fine too. I never argue with the story.
Darrell - You very famously had a bad case of writer’s block that lasted 25 years and you have some thirty unfinished manuscripts lying about in the bottom of a cupboard. How do you get past writer’s block?
Richard - This will sound like a page from Auntie Mame's Golden Book of Advice for Boys and Girls … Good, regular writing habits! Self-discipline! A set time to start and finish writing every day!
Well, I should know. I used to think like a poet, waiting for inspiration, having my best ideas late at night, very bohemian. I always had pen and paper beside my bed, and often kept myself up all night with the ideas I was having. Great—except I never actually got to write them out. Fever-hot creativity, but no goddamn motivation!
Now I start work straight after breakfast every day. I know I'm going to write, and I do write. If I get bogged, I don't panic, I just back off and spread out over the episodes to come, watching my movie until I'm enjoying the story again. Maybe it takes a day or two or three, but eventually I'll always see my way over the hump, often with a slight change of direction.
Darrell - What do you think is the secret to writing success?
Richard - I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you... I don't think there is a secret, except, in the first place, be very persistent, and in the second place, be very lucky. I believe you should always write the best story that's in you to write, because chasing success is a loser's game. But when you're sure about the best story that's in you to write, think of the reader too. I mean, a novel is created in conjunction with your readers, and you need to live the reader's experience as you write.
Darrell - When you say ‘the best story that’s in you to write’, writers usually have to write more than one book to be a success.
Richard - When I say, 'the best story that's in you to write', hopefully there's more than just one. Writing careers are built on a whole succession of books. You have to believe the one you're writing is the very best you have in you ... And then later discover another one hiding inside that's even better than your best!
Darrell - What would be the main advice you would give to new writers?
Listen to what other people say about your writing, and believe some but not all of it.
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