Karin Adams: The IAN Interview

Karin Adams

Karin Adams was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and pursued doctoral studies at Harvard University in the field of ancient languages and texts. After teaching at the University of Winnipeg for seven years, Karin returned to writing fiction. Shortly after her first novel was published, Karin began sharing her love of the writer’s craft by offering creative writing workshops. Since then, writing and teaching writing have been at the center of Karin’s life. She has written four more books including the acclaimed middle grade novel Frostbite Hotel and has shared her novel-writing process with thousands of writers of all ages and stripes.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

Karin Adams: It’s time to crush the blank page, shed your writer’s angst and write the novel you were meant to write! The One Week Writing Workshop:7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel shows you how to write a novel step by step.

I’m presenting you with a complete writing-workshop-in-a-book! I’ve broken down my own writing process into a methodical series of fun, inspiring bite-sized activities that you dive into almost immediately upon opening the book. I’m going to help you draw out your own ideas and grow them into something special. I believe in learning through doing and gaining confidence through action. I’ve taken this approach since 2010 in my creative writing workshops with thousands of participants—and it works! By the book’s end, you’ll have practiced a complete novel-writing method with your own ideas and have everything you need to write the novel you’ve been dreaming of.

The book “works” whether you’re a new writer with lots of questions about the craft, or a more seasoned writer looking for inspiration or a fresh perspective. Plus, the book “converts” into a reference guide for your shelf ready to help you out the next time you face a creative crisis or run up against writer’s block.

IAN: Is The One Week Writing Workshop published in print, e-book or both?

Karen Adams: Both.

IAN: Where can we go to buy The One Week Writing Workshop?

Karen Adams: My book is available in Paperback and Hardcover, and on Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and Apple Books. You can find all the book details and purchasing information here: KarinAdams.com

IAN: What inspired you to write The One Week Writing Workshop?

Karen Adam: Over the years, I’ve discovered a passion for sharing my writing process with others. It’s exciting to watch how my lessons help spark stories and the joy of writing in those I’ve worked with. I’ve also seen stuck, reluctant writers come out of their shells when doing my activities. I wanted to capture and recreate the energy of my in-person workshops in book form with The One Week Writing Workshop. While we won’t be in the same room, I wrote the book in a way that makes it feel like we’re in this together. Plus, the advantage of the book format is that you can go at your own pace, doing more or less in a given session depending on your mood and circumstances. That’s not always possible in an in-person workshop!

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Karen Adams: I’ve offered different standalone workshop sessions and a variety of themed writing classes. But by far, my most popular program was my week-long workshop series that focused on my writing process start-to-finish. Each day, we explored a different step in my process, from generating ideas right through to doing revisions. I decided to take that week-long program and turn it into The One Week Writing Workshop book.

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading The One Week Writing Workshop?

Karen Adams: I hope that readers come away feeling confident in themselves as writers and inspired to write the stories they’ve always wanted to write. So often when we’re getting started, we can be intimidated by the immense distance between the story idea percolating inside us and the finished novel we want to produce. I want to help writers to see that that big, intimidating gap can be broken down into small steps—in fact, I’ll even show you which steps to take! And because you start taking steps right away, immediately shaping your own ideas into something real, we can shrink that gap rather quickly and get on with joy of writing.

IAN: How is The One Week Writing Workshop different from others in your genre?

Karen Adams: What I love about books in general is that there is room for many voices and perspectives. It’s the same with writer’s guides, and I like to think of my book as another helpful voice alongside the others. What I believe I’ve done differently in The One Week Writing Workshop is to put a premium on taking immediate action. So much of what I’ve learned about the writer’s craft has come through the act of writing itself—and of course that’s where the joy and magic is to be found, too. So, instead of presenting theoretical lessons, beat sheets, or story templates to digest before you begin to write, we leap straight to the actual writing. Of course, we cover story essentials as we go, but we take it all in in bite-sized chunks to maintain our writing momentum, and to allow you to discover for yourself what writing is and what it means to you.

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Karen Adams: One of my fondest memories from childhood is story time before bed with my mom. When she read me my first chapter book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I was in awe of this pictureless book that put so many pictures in my head. I wanted to do that one day, too. And—it’s what I’m doing now!

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing The One Week Writing Workshop?

Karen Adams: There are over 70 lessons and strategies in my book and it was very important to me to keep my explanations brief. I wanted my book to prompt my readers to write and explore, not to lay out every single thought I’ve ever had about writing. That’s how I conduct my in-person workshops—a little bit of presentation, then participants write. However, in a live workshop, you have the benefit of visual aids to point to in real time, and of course the floor is open to your participants’ questions and clarifications—not so in a book! So, I worked hard to keep things brief and lively while still trying to anticipate what readers might wonder about and making sure all the information was there. I did a lot of reflection not just on my workshop presentation notes, but also on the questions and discussions that arose in the sessions to best distill them into book form.

IAN: Did you learn anything from writing The One Week Writing Workshop and what was it?

Karen Adams: I knew that I loved writing fiction and I knew that I loved working with other writers in-person. With this book, I’ve discovered that I also love to write about writing. I won’t call it easy, but writing The One Week Writing Workshop certainly felt quite natural for me. I’m very happy with the book’s tone, which I think feels friendly and conversational. I hope my readers think so, too.

IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Karen Adams: If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember to take things step by step wherever you can. Break whatever place you’re at or whatever creative problem you’re facing into smaller steps, or even into just one step—then take it. Often, even doing one small action creates forward movement and a sense of momentum that can fuel you to take another, and then another. 

IAN: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Karen Adams: If you have the desire to write a novel and are nurturing even the smallest spark of an idea, you can absolutely do it. Certainly, there are skills to develop and concepts to learn and it will take creative energy, but with a little guidance and some concrete action, you can be well on your way to telling the story you’ve always wanted to tell.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Karen Adams: I’m getting ready to launch an online video course based on The One Week Writing Workshop at AuthorinYourCorner.com I’m also in the process of putting together a writer’s guide specifically for teachers and writing group leaders. 

Daniel Lawrence Abrams-The IAN Interview

Daniel Lawrence Abrams

Abrams grew up in NYC, attended Trinity and graduated from Stuyvesant. He got his BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan. The 3-D input device he invented earned a US Patent. Abrams trained at The Second City and The Groundlings and did stand-up at The Improv and The Comedy Cellar. As a playwright, Abrams’s shows played at Stella Adler, Powerhouse Theater, and the HBO/WB Workspace.

Abrams wrote, produced, and directed 100+ hours of TV and 4 feature films (including the documentary, PINK & BLUE: COLORS OF HEREDITARY CANCER). He gave the TEDx Talk, “Sports Can Save Politics” at AJU.

IAN: Please tell us about Immortality Bytes.

Abrams: Logline/Pitch: “When an idealistic hacker’s ex-girlfriend nears inventing digital immortality, an indicted tycoon compels him to steal it.”

The Hook: Strives to be a nerdy, satirical, progressive counterbalance to Ayn Rand’s ATLAS SHRUGGED.

Back Cover Blurb: Yay, free money and a life of leisure! Except… only if you never have children. Sure, a cute little version of you (but not yet so screwed up) sounds fun. But with AI robots taking more jobs, who can reject that “bargain” hoping to afford kids someday?

Stu Reigns does. He’s an idealistic AI programmer and part-time influencer. His demisexual ex-girlfriend, Roxy Zhang, nears perfecting electronic immortality. Add in billionaire banking rascals, and there’s no more certainty — not even “Death & Taxes.”

An old-money Southerner is buying Roxy’s company. This infuriates a sick, rival oligarch — who is about to be rightfully convicted of epic fraud. To escape to this digital eternal life, he compels Stu to steal it.

You’ll never guess all the twists, but maybe the reader peering over your shoulder will.

IAN: Is Immortality Bytes published in print, e-book or both?

Abrams: Both

IAN: Where can we go to buy Immortality Bytes?

Abrams: Amazon

IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Abrams: South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone helped popularize the "Therefore & But" writing advice - meaning scenes should be immediately consequential, not merely sequential. They say (paraphrasing), "When you look at all your scenes in order, each scene should connect to the next with either the word "therefore" or "but." The scenes should not connect with "and then." So, each scene should have a result that compels the scene that follows as a consequence ('therefore') or a hinderance ('but') that thwarts the previous consequence and thus changes the course of the story. Therefore, scenes shouldn't simply be a series of unconnected beats ("this happens, and then this happens, and then that happens'" is boring and/or problematic).

I've been singing that practical insight to writer clients I've coached for over a decade. Then, I took the Aaron Sorkin "Masterclass.com" online, and he instructed all writers to read Aristotle's "POETICS." That's a classic I was supposed to read in high school and probably just skimmed. In college I had to read it, but I retained nothing. In a writing course I took as an adult, they recommended reading it, but I didn't. Ultimately, however, when Aaron Sorkin said all writers must really read it and think about, I finally did. In chapter 7, Aristotle, in effect says, "Only start when nothing before it is necessary. End it right when nothing else is necessary, and have the middle (the story) naturally result in consequential scenes." It's translated more cumbersomely than that (IMO), but that's fundamentally the same Parker/Stone "Therefore & But" advice. Thus, I had been crediting the writers of a filthy, absurd (but nonetheless hilarious) cartoon when I could've sounded all fancy quoting Aristotle (which is evidently what I do now).

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Abrams: I love Douglas Adams, Andy Weir, and John Scalzi's satirical, clever sci-fi. I shamelessly attempt to steal their effective use of bathos. Over a century ago, bathos used to mean sudden shifts that undermines drama with unintentionally awkward or trivial moments that are worthy of ridicule. Now, at its best, bathos is used for comedic effect. The jarring incongruity of well-placed joke in the middle of a dramatic/suspenseful/action-packed scene can not only get a laugh or smile, but also provides more of a rollercoaster of emotions. That can be better than overstimulating by overly evoking a particular emotion for too long. So, I try to use that trope effectively.

IAN: How is Immortality Bytes different from others in your genre?

Abrams: My book ambitiously strives to be a nerdy, satirical, progressive counterbalance to Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED. I love that book but hated its coldly selfish political statements. Trudging through her many extended screeds, plus that infamous (or epic) ~60 page speech, has turned off countless readers. My book is a small fraction of its length, but I still didn't want to slow down the reader too much with ultra-wonky political tirades. However, some portion of readers love to geek out on that kind of material. Consequently, I made my nerdy tangents optional with hyperlinks (in the eBook) and endnotes (in the paperback - akin to David Foster Wallace's INFINITE JEST). I consider that gimmick to be similar to a film's "deleted scenes" and bonus featurettes.

I'm also pleased that of the dozens of beta readers, critique partners, friends, relatives, and editors, roughly 90% said the 6 big twists "worked well" (being unexpected yet well-founded), and no readers were able to correctly predict more than 2 of them. Here's hoping that "entertaining surprise" ratio holds for the greater readership. But I know a writer can't please everyone, and there's bound to be a quite sizable base that criticize my creative choices. Whaddayagonnado, right?

I'm elated and grateful my debut novel won "Best Science Fiction: Cyberpunk" in the 7th Annual American Fiction Awards and was selected as a finalist in 4 other categories - "Humor/Comedy/Satire," "Thriller: Techno," "Cross Genre," and "Visionary." Also psyched to have made the short list for Chanticleer's Cygnus Award for Best Science Fiction (still in contention as of 08/16/24).

IAN: What inspired you to write Immortality Bytes?

Abrams: My novel's worldbuilding is based on how I see technology progressing synthesized with a set of hyper-twisty story ideas that I'd been developing for a long time (over a decade). As an inventor (earned a US patent) and amateur futurist, I've often speculated on what's to come. I've been incredibly accurate on countless predictions and friends have half-joked that I might have a bit of a "Cassandra" curse since I haven't been able to monetize that apparent magical power. I write to entertain, inspire, and provoke thought. Using the sci-fi genre enables me to at least "get on the record" publicly with my ideas to enable some credit if/when it's due. We all want positive recognition in some form.

One not-insignificant sci-fi element in my early manuscript got scooped by a feature film before I could publish, and, even worse, some of that DeepFake tech has actually advanced in scarier ways. I try to be humble enough to recognize how often that while I might be ahead of the curve, I very well may not be the first for any idea. By the way, let me give a shout-out to Kirby Ferguson's "Everything is a Remix" video series, which helped put the very concept of innovation into perspective for me.

IAN: What book are you reading now?

Abrams: SNOW CRASH by Neal Stephenson.

IAN: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Abrams: John Scalzi, because he is my new favorite author. He writes smart, funny, innovative sci-fi comedy. "RED SHIRTS" is fantastic!

IAN: What books have most influenced your life most?

Abrams: Creatively, THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, 1984, BRAVE NEW WORLD, and SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE. My way of thinking has been shaped by an odd combination of influential philosophers and authors (e.g., John Rawls, Karl Popper, Howard Zinn, Isaac Asimov, Noam Chomsky, and Cenk Uygur), plus comedians (e.g., George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, John Oliver, Sarah Silverman, David Cross, Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt, and several others).

IAN: How much of Immortality Bytes is realistic?

Abrams: I consulted with an iconic Ivy League professor and two preeminent research scientists in AI & neuroscience. So, hopefully, the hard sci-fi aspects will be seen favorably.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Abrams: A stand-alone, plus I’m outlining a sequel to Immortality Bites, in the event it becomes a big hit.

Steven Rosner-The IAN Interview

Steven Rosner

Steven is seeker of truth. He is always looking at the bigger picture and delving deep into the core of what life means. If engaged in a conversation with Steven, you will always be challenged and perhaps enlightened by his unique and creative view of life, Scripture and spirituality. His keen intuitive sense may direct you to a new understanding that you were not aware of. Steven is constantly probing the most difficult questions about God, why are we here, the meaning of life, etc.

Steven’s personal life has spanned a broad spectrum of experience and adventure. He has a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Hofstra University, worked in corporate America as a systems analyst, and was a vice-president of Salomon Brothers, He has driven a taxi, written seven books (FREE to read on his website: stevenrosner.com.), and a dozen scholarly papers on topics as diverse as the taxi industry in Raleigh, NC, the Tenant-Landlord Court in NYC, Multiple Sclerosis, and Introduction to Condominiums, produced, directed, and acted in his father’s plays, published short stories, and a lot more.

But it his deeds that define him to friends and acquaintances and place him in a unique category—for example, Steven goes out of his way to help others when he sees they are a victim of injustice. He is not afraid to get involved. His desire is to inspire people to have a bit more integrity and compassion. He took responsibility for his parents care for almost 10 years so they were able to remain in their apartment, and didn’t ship them off to a nursing home, like most people do these days., (Steven’s parents were married for 77 years; both his mother and father died quietly at home in their sleep: His mother: 97; his father: 106.)

Behind the scenes, Steven is a kind and caring person. He is a loving husband, father, and grandfather. And while some people, at first, find his direct manner a bit intimidating, his kindness is real. If you go deeper, you’ll discover his intention is always for the best and his heart is full of compassion. He has a strong sense of integrity and honesty. He will not tell you what you want to hear, but will tell you the truth. His soul abhors deceit, so he is heartsick observing the lack of integrity in our culture.

IAN: Please tell us about your latest book.

Steven Rosner: In The Vulnerability of God (2024) we assert very, very few people truly understand Him. And thus for the almost six thousand years, according to Scripture, that this universe has been in existence,[1] the vast majority of His creatures have treated Him hardly in accordance with His Eminence. Not realizing or caring that He is the Source of their life, God has been abused, disparaged, mocked, ridiculed, derided, defied, disregarded, defamed, scorned—pick a verb—in short, treated with contempt! Or arguably, even worse, God has been totally ignored!

As a result, God has suffered throughout the Millenia—exponentially greater and far longer than any human being—despite billions of people of various religions, sects, and modalities who pray to Him—some on a daily basis—without truly understanding what they are doing—not to mention why they are doing so. As a result, it is fair to state God is basically alone—although forlorn and isolated are better descriptors.

This book, therefore, is written first and foremost for God; to assure Him there are, at least, some who understand His nature, and appreciate His efforts in our behalf; that is, the food we receive, the shelter He provides, the ability to live a fairly long life with its pleasures and blessings, and His greatest gift of all: Free-Will.

The book assumes you, the reader, knows little if anything about God. Not that God is a new concept, but much of what you were taught as a child is pure fiction. Moreover, you almost never think of about Him, His inner emotional life, or care about His well-being. For if religious, you follow the rituals of your culture, but only repeat what was ingrained into you from a very early age, without considering alternatives, or whether, in fact, there is any truth to what you have been taught. Or perhaps you are part of about half-the-world that does not believe in a God as a separate Being; a God Who has emotions, feelings, an altruistic nature, suffers, and is enraged by injustice in the world He created. If so, this book is especially important to at least consider!

Finally, all monotheistic religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, believe we are here to do God’s Will, while we have yet to meet anyone who conceives God wishes to do our Will! Nor have we met anyone who conceives and desires to make God’s life easier! Rather, we all want something from God, and it never occurs to us to do something for Him—to ease His suffering!

For is God truly unknowable? Quite the opposite! The number of times He reveals Himself in the Old Testament are too numerous to count.

In fact, we know more about God than we do about our own spouse, parents, children, and friends, because God hides nothing from us, but reveals everything about Himself throughout Scripture!

For thus says the Lord—Who created the Heavens;

Who formed the Earth and did not create it in vain,

But Who formed it to be inhabited.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness.

I did not say to the children of Jacob,

‘Seek Me out in a wasteland’,

But I, the Lord, Who foretell reliably,

Announced beforehand what is to come.”[2]

 

Alas, there has never been a time in history when the world is so topsy-turvy, that evil is considered good, and good is considered evil—and that the need to know God has been as crucial.

However, we fully comprehend—as does God—it will take great courage to “break” with your inner “program,” even when our “souls” know that the assertions and speculations from others are totally misguided.

God stands in the gathering of the judiciary.

In their midst, He will pronounce judgment.

How much longer will you judge corruptly,

And decide in favor of the wicked?

Protect the downtrodden and fatherless!

Do justice to the poor and afflicted!

Exonerate the impoverished and the destitute!

Deliver them from the hand of their oppressors!

They do not apprehend; They fail to understand.

They walk about in darkness.

I had said, “You are godlike beings;”

But all of you are sons of the Most High.

You shall die like mortals; And fall as any other prince.”

Arise, Oh God, and judge the Earth!

And reign over all the nations.[3]

IAN: Is The Vulnerability of God published in print, e-book or both?

Steven Rosner: All my books can be purchased on-line at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, my publisher Outskirts Press, or ordered at your local book store.  A Kindle version is available, as well, at Amazon for 99 cents.

IAN: Where can we go to buy The Vulnerability of God?

Steven Rosner: Outskirtspress.com Amazon.com

IAN: What inspired you to write The Vulnerability of God?

Steven Rosner: In my latter years, to make up for the folly of my youth, I wanted to use whatever time I had left, to try to help make this a better world—if one reader at a time—using the gifts God gave me to inspire others to have a bit more compassion and bit more integrity..

IAN: Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

Steven Rosner: The Vulnerability of God would be impossible to write without a plan or outline. The concepts are so far removed from what 99 percent of the world assumes about God, it is like learning a new language. The early chapters take the reader step by step through basic ideas, so that he/she can comprehend the assertions and conclusions proclaimed in the last third of the book.

IAN: How long did it take to write The Vulnerability of God?

Steven Rosner: One Year--part time--despite a broken hip, and illness which prevented me from writing for several months.

IAN: Do you have a specific writing style?

Steven Rosner: No!!! Over the course of my life I have written in over 20 genres. Besides my books, I have written novels, short stories, poetry, plays, essays, business articles, user guides, legal briefs, song lyrics, exposés, mysteries, and four unpublished—as yet—Sherlock Holmes pastiches.

IAN: How did you come up with the title?

Steven Rosner: I was telling my cousin about the book and its purpose, but was stifled in finding an appropriate title that reflected both God’s power and sensitivity. Almost immediately, she suggested the title and I knew it was perfect!

IAN: What do you hope your readers come away with after reading The Vulnerability of God?

Steven Rosner: A desire to have a bit more integrity and compassion in their life, and for believers,  to feel empathy for God and not be afraid of Him! God is not a Control Freak! Talk to Him in the language you grew up with. He would love to help you achieve what you would like (as long as you do not take short-cuts and scheme against others who get in  your way.)

IAN: How much of the The Vulnerability of God is realistic?

Steven Rosner: Every single page!!! Anything I assert does not come from the recesses and speculations of my own mind, but it backed up multiple times via my experience and Scripture.

IAN: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Steven Rosner: Much of what I assert is based upon my own life.

IAN: How is The Vulnerability of God different from others in your genre?

Steven Rosner: It is totally unique! No book asserts or even hits at many of the concepts of God I make explicit!

IAN: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Steven Rosner: God supported me and helped me write every single book. Unlike the vast majority of books  which acknowledges anywhere from 2 or 3 to dozens of individuals who helped the author, every single one of  my books I wrote alone without any human help!

IAN: Do you see writing as a career?

Steven Rosner: Not at my age, plus I do not make money from my books, but rather write them to inspire as many people as possible to consider their way of life.

IAN: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Steven Rosner: Not a word!

IAN: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Steven Rosner: A combination of guilt and arrogance. When the idea of a unique book project came to me, at first I resisted the tremendous effort it would take for me to write it. But I also thought no one in the world would or could—no matter how brilliant--write what I wished to say, So either I did it or the ideas would die with me.

IAN: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Steven Rosner: Forcing myself to write despite debilitating depression my whole life.

IAN: Do you have to travel much concerning your books?

Steven Rosner: No, but I would love to if anyone who read them wanted me to speak about my books before an audience.

IAN: Who designed the cover?

Steven Rosner: My wife, Audrey.  She designed the cover for all my books.

IAN: What was the hardest part of writing The Vulnerability of God?

Steven Rosner: Humans—at least this human—tend to be lazy. The biggest challenge was getting to the computer and writing at 3 AM, even while half-asleep and/or in the throes of a depression. Also, painstaking research was always difficult for me as I tend to be impatient.

IAN: Did you learn anything from writing The Vulnerability of God and what was it?

Steven Rosner: I learned an enormous amount about God, and felt much closer to Him.  Sometimes I cried when Scripture described His pain. I also learned my standards of behavior were higher than God’s! So now I am considerably more flexible in what I allow myself permission to do!

IAN: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Steven Rosner: I said this many times and I’ll say it again.

First: Follow the advice of David Westheimer, author of a number of novels, including Van Ryan's Express, which was made into a movie. He said, “You need only do two things to write a novel: put one word after another; do it one day at a time.” This is great advice not only for a novel, but for any book, short story, or essay.

Second: The most important thing in writing is the idea. They are so precious! Don’t lose them! When one or more ideas occur to you—day or night—stop what you are doing and jot it down on anything handy. (Best keep a small pad with you.) Later, when you get to your computer, put it on the last page of your document and write as much about it as you can. As you proceed with the book, you’ll know when and where to add it. At that point, cut it from the back of your manuscript, paste it where necessary, and get it in shape.

Third: When composing, if you are like me—-a bit obsessive—wanting to get the part you are working on perfect, fight that tendency! Every sentence/paragraph you put down does not have to be complete the very first—or second—draft. Trying to make it so, will waste unbelievable time. For example, if you cannot find the exact word or sentence to describe something, use a related word, adding “xx” at the end. Then your  “spell check” will pick it “xx” out as many times as necessary, until the best word/description comes to you.

Fourth: Find a good copy editor to make your book literate. No matter how good you are as a writer, or editing works by others, you will miss any number of problems, incorrect usage, spelling, grammar, etc., in your manuscript. And a book that is poorly written, even if the author is brilliant, will turn off readers, reviewers, etc. Since it is very expensive changing a book, tell your editor:

Please do not be afraid of hurting my feelings. Any suggestion, however, trivial is not only welcome, it is your job! I have no ego invested in how I express myself! Even the suggested removal or addition of a comma will be greatly appreciated! If you don’t find 75-100 problems in my manuscript, I’d be shocked.

Fifth: Believe in yourself and your work! Literacy aside, writing is extremely subjective. No one has the right or wisdom to tell you, that overall, your book is of poor quality, or “you’ll never amount to much as a writer.” Any suggestions about improving your book should be specific and tactful, such as, “I believe there are inconsistencies in the plot,” or “You might want to double-check your sources for what you state on page 93.”

Anyone daring to criticize you personally is an imbecile. He/she could be the chair of the English Department at Harvard which, alas, is unfortunate for those majoring in that subject matter. 

Sixth: The hardest task is to write from your heart! Do not try to figure out what your readers and/or the publisher expects. It is your work, not theirs! It is not only a waste of time, but readers will sense when you aren’t committed to what you are stating, and be turned off. Writing a book is to express oneself, not to make a million dollars. If you want to make money, get a job on Wall Street!

Seventh: So-called “Writers Block (WB)” is completely fiction!  Don’t spend thousands for therapists who supposedly will help your overcome it. If you get to a point, where the ideas stop, your mind is muddled, and you can’t seem to write anything, don’t beat yourself up and spend hours trying to get through it.  Play golf, go bowling or dancing, see a movie, or go to a Bach concert . . .  get away from your book for a couple of days. Your creativity will return when you least expect it.

You see, Writer’s Block is actually a blessing—not a curse. It is an early-warning system; a safety valve; like the overflow tube in car radiators. It is your soul knowing and informing your ego that what you are planning to write is not worthwhile, and not part of who you are. WB prevents you from writing that which is not from your heart and which you will regret if it were published! If you try to force yourself to write, whatever you put down will be of little value. Again, get away from your book; a day or two; a week or even longer. When you return you will  have clarity and the words will flow off your pen!

IAN: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Steven Rosner: Whatever your faith, culture or ethnicity, try to become a little more compassionate, look for opportunities to be kind, and resist selling out your integrity. Don’t use the excuse “everyone does it”—and consider that God knows everything you do and everything you think.

Always keep in mind all you do will come back to you. Whenever you go out of your way for another, God will go out of his way for you!

And if you find my books worthwhile, please tell your friends. I determine the list price which I make as inexpensive as possible. My royalty for each book averages less than 60 cents, so it is not about making money, but inspiring as many people as I can to be better humans.

IAN: Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand-alone?

Steven Rosner: I am taking a short respite. Having published 1 book and 2 papers in 2024, I am concentrating on marketing all my books, and perhaps even finding a literary agent to help me.

[1] We have written elsewhere that this is not the first universe: See Rosner, Steven, The Five Books of Moses: 99 Amazing Insights, (Colorado, Outskirts Press, Inc, 2021, P. 20.)

[2] Isaiah 45:18.

[3] Psalm 82.