Derek McEldowney
Derek McEldowney is a half-mad author & illustrator residing somewhere in northern Colorado. He has claimed to have been writing since he was 16, but the world has seen little of his work since then. He has drawn influences across decades of writers and artists, including: Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Jhonen Vasquez, Shawn Coss, and Bill Watterson.
Interview:
1. Will you tell us about your most recent published work?
My most recent published piece is a heavy revision and rewrite of my first novel. It's a psychological horror story that follows a lonely artist attempting to pursue a new romance, while simultaneously losing their grip on reality.
2. What personal challenges do you face as a writer?
Being new to the industry and having virtually no network. Being social can be difficult for me, even over the internet, so I don't exactly have much of an audience anywhere. Trying to establish a strong presence out of nowhere feels like an uphill battle, but one that seems to get a little easier to handle with every mile passed.
3. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Depression. It makes starting one of the most difficult parts of the entire process. I'm slowly teaching myself to get through it; to remind myself why the stories excite me. When I'm excited about them, it's easier to start and run with it.
4. What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?
I suppose video games. I enjoy them quite a lot and find them very relaxing, but they can easily eat up my time and prevent me from working on projects.
5. How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I feel like my process didn't really change until I did my rewrite and revision after the initial publishing. I really got into a flow of doing things that I hadn't before. It felt natural, it felt - actually productive. That and, once you've done it, it feels manageable to do again. The first 50,000 words you write feel like a bumbling mess. but afterwards you think to yourself: "50,000 words? Yeah I can do that again."
6. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Will you tell us about them?
Of the things I've actually started to write, probably about 3. The very first thing I started writing was an anthology of interconnected short stories set in a fantasy world. I started writing it when I was 16. I honestly don't think I'll ever finish or publish it. Another came a few years later, I might still come back to it one day, but if I don't I'm ok with that. The last one I intend to finish; it's the sequel to my first novel.
7. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
So far, every single one. There aren't many, so I'm still excited to read them all. Whether it’s good or bad, I always want to get to the "why." Because that's where you can actually learn from what you've done. "Why does one section of the story resonate well with people, and the rest doesn't?" That sort of thing.
8. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Maybe....
9. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
None really. I don't socialize very easily, and I'm still trying to talk with and get to know people in the industry. I try to read a lot of interviews or lessons writers have given and take every bit of knowledge I can to heart. So I do see a lot of authors as very helpful to me and my process, they just don't know I exist.
10. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Start sooner, and don't slow down. Write down every single idea and follow through, no matter how terrible, even if no one ever sees it.
11. What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Losing interest. Everyone has a story within them they want to tell, but few put forth the effort to start and fewer still the effort to finish.
12. What’s the best way to market your books?
I'll let you know when I find out.
13. What is your favorite childhood book?
Wow, um... this is harder than I thought it would be. I didn't really "get into" reading and writing until I was a teenager. I'm going to have to cheat on this one and say Calvin & Hobbes. I collected all of the books and read them many times over ever since I was a kid.
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