Today’s interview is with Noah Chinn, author of Bleeding Heart Yard.
Enjoy & Comment!!
What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn
or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?
or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?
It’s easy to go with the obvious, but it also happens to be
true: my first serious attempt at a novel.
true: my first serious attempt at a novel.
I was in a high school that had a final year creative
writing class, and there had been a rule that if you got anything published you
automatically got 100%. I spent the year
before working on a cyberpunk action/adventure story which clocked in at over
120,000 words.
writing class, and there had been a rule that if you got anything published you
automatically got 100%. I spent the year
before working on a cyberpunk action/adventure story which clocked in at over
120,000 words.
Not only did it not get published, but as a year-end
assignment it only got 78% – 2% of which was for a bonus for effort. The teacher couldn’t even be bothered to read
it all, and told me so. For a long time
I was indignant about that. Sure, it
wasn’t great literature, but I thought it was better than a lot of tripe that
got published! But as time went on I
realized just how wrong I was.
assignment it only got 78% – 2% of which was for a bonus for effort. The teacher couldn’t even be bothered to read
it all, and told me so. For a long time
I was indignant about that. Sure, it
wasn’t great literature, but I thought it was better than a lot of tripe that
got published! But as time went on I
realized just how wrong I was.
One of the lessons I learned was that all stories have to be
about something. It can’t just be about what
happens, but the characters it happens to.
about something. It can’t just be about what
happens, but the characters it happens to.
I think Arthur C Clark said that he remembered his first
attempt at a book, but was very glad he still didn’t have a copy around to
haunt him. I’ve still got a hard copy of
my first book lurking in my files, reminding me just how bad I used to be.
attempt at a book, but was very glad he still didn’t have a copy around to
haunt him. I’ve still got a hard copy of
my first book lurking in my files, reminding me just how bad I used to be.
Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go
professional?
professional?
In my own limited way I considered myself far sighted. Unlike many professions, with a bit of luck
writing is something you can do to the day you die. And of course I loved reading good stories,
so why wouldn’t I want to create my own?
writing is something you can do to the day you die. And of course I loved reading good stories,
so why wouldn’t I want to create my own?
Technically, I decided to go professional in high school,
because I sent that first novel I mentioned to a half dozen major
publishers. I apologize profusely to
whoever was in charge of their slush piles at that time. After that it was a matter of making
half-hearted and whole-hearted attempts with short stories and articles year
after year until the rejections started getting replaced with acceptances.
because I sent that first novel I mentioned to a half dozen major
publishers. I apologize profusely to
whoever was in charge of their slush piles at that time. After that it was a matter of making
half-hearted and whole-hearted attempts with short stories and articles year
after year until the rejections started getting replaced with acceptances.
Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which
do you like the best?
do you like the best?
I’ve currently got four complete novels in various stages of
polishing, and another in the works.
Each one is in a completely different genre from the others: urban
fantasy, post-Apocalypse, light mystery, romance, adventure… the only thing
they have in common is comedy, which I can’t seem to shake no matter how hard I
try. I can’t stand the idea of being
serious for eighty-thousand words.
polishing, and another in the works.
Each one is in a completely different genre from the others: urban
fantasy, post-Apocalypse, light mystery, romance, adventure… the only thing
they have in common is comedy, which I can’t seem to shake no matter how hard I
try. I can’t stand the idea of being
serious for eighty-thousand words.
I suppose the genres I like most are the ones that make life
more interesting in my mind. Science
fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure.
I’m a sucker for a strong romantic sub-plot in any genre as well.
more interesting in my mind. Science
fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure.
I’m a sucker for a strong romantic sub-plot in any genre as well.
Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If
so, do you read the same genre or something different?
so, do you read the same genre or something different?
I think I need to read while I’m writing to help keep me
motivated. Generally doing one long
enough will make me want to switch over to the other anyway. I know some writers are worried about reading
the same genre because they’re afraid of unconsciously plagiarizing what they
read, but I don’t think that’s really a concern.
motivated. Generally doing one long
enough will make me want to switch over to the other anyway. I know some writers are worried about reading
the same genre because they’re afraid of unconsciously plagiarizing what they
read, but I don’t think that’s really a concern.
What is the most difficult part of the entire writing
process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.
process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.
Funny you should put queries and pitches up first. Yes, as frustrating as writing a story
and editing can be, it’s a cakewalk
compared to trying to write a good proposal, or create a synopsis of the book
summarizing ALL the events to a few pages and still make it sound good. You just spent all your time trying to make a
big fleshed out world, then you have to make it bite sized. No matter how many times I do it, I hate
it. It never sounds good enough.
and editing can be, it’s a cakewalk
compared to trying to write a good proposal, or create a synopsis of the book
summarizing ALL the events to a few pages and still make it sound good. You just spent all your time trying to make a
big fleshed out world, then you have to make it bite sized. No matter how many times I do it, I hate
it. It never sounds good enough.
If you’re a starting writer trying to get your first book
published it’s even worse, because you’ll always blame that for why a publisher
or agent won’t give your finished masterpiece a chance.
published it’s even worse, because you’ll always blame that for why a publisher
or agent won’t give your finished masterpiece a chance.
If you could have the same type of career as any author
currently publishing who would it be and why?
currently publishing who would it be and why?
Obviously any author who can make writing novels their
primary job. It’s not about the money,
but the freedom to spend as much time as you like doing it (rather than
constantly balancing it against work and other concerns). Getting specific, I’d probably say someone
like Stephen King. Not because of his
choice of genres, but because it’s clear no matter what he’s writing he’s
always writing what he enjoys. You can’t
ask for more than that.
primary job. It’s not about the money,
but the freedom to spend as much time as you like doing it (rather than
constantly balancing it against work and other concerns). Getting specific, I’d probably say someone
like Stephen King. Not because of his
choice of genres, but because it’s clear no matter what he’s writing he’s
always writing what he enjoys. You can’t
ask for more than that.
Noah Chinn was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and has never really forgiven it for that. After high school he fled his hometown in favour of the freezing winters of Ottawa. Three years later it dawned on him that higher education and frostbite did not have to go hand in hand, and finished his degree in Toronto.
Learn More: http://noahjdchinnbooks.com/
Fantastic interview!! Hope this helps get you some extra exposure!!