Brian Yansky interview with David Alan Binder His website: http://brianyansky.com/ Amazon: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/280714.Brian_Yansky Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/280714.Brian_Yansky
1. Where are you currently living? Austin, Texas
2. What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far? A first draft will always be messy and disappointing in places. You’ll be happy and rushing along and you’ll hit a snag and suddenly wonder if the whole thing is a gigantic piece of crap. You’ll want to delete it all & crawl off to bed. Don’t. You have to just keep writing. Finish the manuscript. LOW EXPECTATIONS for first drafts will help you get to second drafts where the real story can begin to take its true shape. Several drafts later, you’ll be glad you didn’t quit. Push on. Keep writing. Finish. Very important that you finish. You can’t learn how to finish any way but finishing.
3. What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating quirk? I can’t outline ahead of time. I want to, but I just can’t. So I outline as I go along. That is, I keep a book journal, and I write ideas about character, plot, setting—whatever—in the journal as I write. Sometimes I’ll have an idea for something that happens midway in the novel or near the end or the end forty or fifty pages in. I write whatever comes to me; sometimes I don’t use it but the act of writing it down helps me find my way. By the time I finish the manuscript, I’ll have 30 or so pages in the book journal.
4. Tell us your insights on self-publish or use a publisher?
a. Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they? Last three books—Candlewick, Boston. b. I’ve never independently published but I’m interested. There seem to be opportunities, but it also looks like it requires a lot of work that doesn’t directly have to do with writing.
5. Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing? The delivery system doesn’t matter so much. The story the writer tells and their skill and art at telling it is what’s important. I like my Kindle and I like printed books. Cavemen and cavewomen did OK in their time with walls. Who knows what people will be reading on in fifty years.
6. Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published? Write a really good book. Be lucky.
7. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent? Any tips for new writers on getting one? I sent a letter and sample pages to my agent. I didn’t know my agent but I knew the kind of work she was representing. One tip would do a little research into the agent and try to personalize your query any way you can. Go to a conference and meet agents. They’re people like everyone else. It’s tough though. My agent gets 6000 queries a year and can only take on a few new clients.
8. Do you have any suggestions or help for new writers (please be specific and informational as possible)? Read a lot, both in the genre you write in and other genres. Write almost every day. Once you get in the habit, you’ll miss it if you miss a day. That’s a good habit. Be patient. It takes time to write well. I don’t think I have much talent, but I’ve had five novels published. I think my next novel will be my best. I believe that because I keep learning and struggling to get better. 9. What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating? How long it takes for a novel to be published after it has been accepted. 1-2 years. 10. How many books have you written? Over a dozen. Five have been published. 11. Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)? Here’s one trick. Beware of writing your paragraphs like they taught you in high school. Topic sentence and development. DON’T tell and then show in fiction. Let the reader experience what’s going on in the POV of the character.
12. Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story? Design your story. Once you know the ending you can go back and figure out how to leave bread crumbs to it. 13. What makes your or any book stand out from the crowd? I have some WEIRD going on in my books. But my main advice is to look for ways to avoid writing something that’s been done many times. When you’re writing you’ll come to situations that are familiar—the way characters act and react—and maybe you’ll write it has it has been written many times. In revision, look for these. Try to do something different and unexpected. It will help you find new ways to tell old stories.
14. What are some ways in which you promote your work? I’ve been lucky to be invited to many book festivals and fairs, and I’ve done a few book club and school visits. Social media. Interviews like this.
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