Ladies and Gentlemen – Mr. Max Anderson!!
Since I gave you a small bio on him a couple of days ago, let’s jump right in, shall we?
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Why did you start writing?
Since I had grown up as a reluctant reader, I believed there might be many other boys today who didn’t like to read. After looking at about 200 books in the library and bookstores, I discovered many of the reasons why I hadn’t enjoyed reading as a boy. So I set out to see if I could write something I would have enjoyed reading back them.
How did you start writing?
This began with a prompting actually. It wasn’t an audible voice, just a prompting in my mind. It said, “Why don’t you write ‘The Scarecrow?’” “The Scarecrow” was a screenplay I’d written nearly thirty years before, but it had never been produced. No matter how hard I tried to ignore this prompt, it wouldn’t leave me alone. Finally one day I said, right out lout, “Fine, I’ll write ‘The Scarecrow.’” This was a painful process for me, involving multiple drafts, but what happened after that was a flood of new ideas, and stories that seemed to arrive fully formed, just waiting to be written.
How did you select your genre?
Remembering my childhood, and how difficult reading had been for me, I decided to try and help just one young boy to change from a reluctant reader to someone who could enjoy books.
What is your writing day like?
I usually don’t start writing until early evening. Normally I’d start around 6 PM, and write for about five hours. I never start a chapter I won’t finish in that session, and I never start a book that I won’t finish. I always burn a candle when I’m writing, and I play mood appropriate music for the scene I’m writing. If the scene is funny, I play comedy music, if it’s sad, I might play music from a single violin or piano. The music helps me see pictures of what is happening within each scene. I’ve taken this a step further and made a presentation for schools that surrounds the use of mood appropriate music http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/whats_new.html
Something unique happened while I was writing “Legend of The White Wolf.” I began writing around six in the evening, as usual, but the next thing I knew, the sun was coming up again. I just kept on writing for three days because I couldn’t wait to see how the story would turn out. In a way, it was like watching a movie for the first time.
How do you organize your writing? (outlines/note cards/post-its)
As I said earlier, the stories tend to arrive fully formed. By that I mean that I know who the main character is, where he lives, and what the moral, character, ethical, or spiritual issues will be, along with the beginning, middle, and end of the story. It’s hard to describe, but this is the way it has happened with thirty-five manuscripts so far. After I’ve been bombarded with those impressions, I take a recorder and tell myself the story. As my children were growing up, I used to tell them original stories, at night, all the time. I found that this background helped me to do the present day storytelling now. As I’m recording the story, I visualize telling it to my kids when they were small. In addition, with a lifetime of film, television commercial, and video production work, I find it very easy to visualize my stories, settings, and characters.
What’s the most surprising thing a character has “told you”?
The most surprising was when a character showed up in a story totally unexpected. She was a little, old woman, and her introduction became the center of the quest for my main character. That book is “Newspaper Caper.”
Do you have a list of characters that you’re saving for future use? What kind of information do you keep on these characters?
Not really. Characters tend to be revealed along with each new story. But when they do arrive, and this happens with secondary characters too, I create a list next to the computer so I can keep everyone straight, and give certain quirks, descriptions, and attributes to each. I also find that a core group of friends and “characters” from my childhood tend to find their places in my stories too.
What does your work space/office look like?
Here’s a picture of it. I’ve converted my son’s old bedroom into my writing space. (see jpeg attached)
NOTE: I tried and tried and tried to get it to load here, but was unsuccessful 🙁
What is your go-to snack when writing?
It’s usually within a range of granola bars, a banana, a peanut bar, or those cheese crackers with peanut butter between them.
If you could only recommend one NOVEL, what would it be? Why?
Again, because I don’t read much for pleasure, I have a very short list of books to choose from. I don’t even like to read my own books after they’ve been published. But a year ago, I heard about “The Alchemist,” and enjoyed reading it because the style of storytelling seemed much like my own.
If you could only recommend one CRAFT book (writing, no crocheting), what would it be? Why?
When I began writing, at the end of 2001, I went to the library and checked out nearly every book they had about writing. This required three separate trips with three separate, tall stacks of books on the subject. What was interesting was to see how many different points of view you can find on some of the same, basic writing questions. “Do this.” “Don’t do that.” “Write it this way.” “Don’t write it that way.” So what I looked for was consensus on the major issues. My first manuscript, “The Scarecrow,” is a funny example of how I did it all wrong. I didn’t realize that my age group required a single point of view, and that it was best for that to be of the main character. I had approached the story as if it were a film script, where things were happening all over the place, including situations that could not be observed or heard by the main character. Several of my mentors quickly set me straight on that one. I’d suggest that new writers take a similar approach, and saturate their minds with as much material as they can find.
What I would recommend are two books. If you write for the Christian market, you need “Christian Writers’ Market Guide.” More general market writers would find “Writer’s Market” or “Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators Market” from Writer’s Digest helpful. There are some good magazines too like The Writer, or Writer’s Digest.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Someone recently reported that in the US, there are 1,100 books published every single day. That should make anyone stop and think. You might ask yourself, “What is it that would make anyone want to read what I’ve written.” I often tell writers to do a role reversal, and read their material as if they were an agent, an acquisitions editor, or a member of their intended audience, and see how the material looks, sounds, and feels. Writing and publishing is a business, and one should approach it as that from the beginning. But, at least in my case, I am the most at peace when I’m writing. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next in the story. And there is nothing like the joy of holding a copy of a new book in your hands for the very first time…nothing. In addition, to receive positive feedback from readers helps to make the journey worthwhile.
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Thank you SO MUCH for spending some time with us today, Max!
If you have a question or comment for Mr. Anderson, please leave a note. And don’t forget – anyone leaving a comment is registered to win a free copy of “Legend of the White Wolf” – woo hoo!
Here's a question: Who is your favorite current children's author (besides yourself, of course!)?
Max, I love your motivation for writing. Although I did not have access to a library while a kid, books were given to us. A lot of choice Christian books were available to me to read, which i did as I'd rather be by myself reading than with friends. These were character building books and helped me through a tough childhood. I vowed when I was quite young that I'd write books for youth, both sexes,that would help them along in the Christian life.
The Legend of The White Wolf looks really exciting and I know I'll enough the book immensely of chosen as a winner.
Great interview! My nine year old son loves to read Max's books and so do I.
Lisa Harman
IN ACFW chapter president 2009
http://www.acfwindiana.com
What a great mission…. to be able to help even one boy change his unlike to like of reading. Great interview. :O)
I'm enjoying your comments so far. As for the question about a favorite children's author, as I said in the interview, I don't read a lot for enjoyment. And I'm currently working on a client video project. Aside from that, I've been spending most of my time in promotion of my books, author platform building, writing magazine articles & short stories, and working with my agent on proposals.
I've also turned to writing a few picture book manuscripts recently . A couple of those are with a publisher now for consideration.
Lisa, thank you for the compliment concerning your son and my books.
My husband is not much of a reader and now, with a son, we've been discussing how we can encourage him to read. My husband's lack of reading was exactly as Max stated: there just wasn't anything he WANTED to read. I will definitely be looking out for these books when Miles is old enough to read!
It's fun to read about every writer's way of doing things. We are all so different. But, that's what makes life interesting.
Wow, I wish my books arrived in my head fully formed!
I agree with Katie! It's great the way your books come to you fully formed. That doesn't mean you don't do a lot of work on them, but it sure makes for a nice start! I love your mission to get boys to enjoy reading. When I was teaching elementary school, I was sometimes able to introduce a reluctant reader to books he enjoyed reading, and that was such a thrill. Would love to win the book. I've loved wolves since I had an opportunity to spend a day photographing them a couple of years ago.
Pat
Max,
I write picture books. I try to make my books "boy-friendly". Most of the time I try to have a male main character. What other ways can I make my books attractive to boys and/or reluctant readers? Many of my children's books are fantasy or Christian subjects.
Blessings,
J. Aday Kennedy
J. Aday Kennedy's A Writing Playground
Boys like a lot of danger, action, adventure, a fast pace, humor, believable dialog…things like that. It's good if you have boys around, of the age you are writing for, and let them read your work. I did quite a lot of this online when I first started, adn the feedback was very helpful.
I share a passion of reaching children with stories early on. My published book is targeted towards both girls and boys, but my current project is definitely more towards boys. I can see many challenges ahead, but a project, like your own, more than worthwhile.
Mr. Anderson –
I enjoyed reading your interview. Being a person who loves music as much as reading, I especially liked your comment about the use of mood appropriate music for the scene you are working on. I have a young son who does enjoy being read to, and whom I hope will develop a love of reading on his own as he grows.
Best wishes to you as you continue on your writing journey!
Great interview!
Congratulations, Katie! I'll be sending your book out tomorrow.
And thanks to all for such nice comments.
Max
Books For Boys Blog
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
Katie, in case you check back here, we don't have an address so we can send your book.