ME: What energizes you to write?
I think of writing kind of like solving a series of puzzles. To come up with an engaging plot that entertains readers is one of the larger puzzles that I approach as I write. However, the small details are puzzles in and of themselves. To be an effective writer, one must craft sentences and paragraphs in ways that are congruent with all of the story elements and one must continually find unique and interesting ways of expressing ideas. Repetitively using the same descriptive words, for instance, becomes boring and monotonous for readers, so one must continually find new and interesting ways to describe the people, places, and things that are written about. When I go back and read the last few paragraphs I’ve written, I almost always find opportunities to make changes that will more predictably engage my readers. Once I know that I’ve finally “gotten it right”, I enjoy a great feeling of satisfaction. That’s what makes writing fun for me and inspires me to forge ahead.
ME: Are you currently working on a new novel? If so, can you tell me a little bit about it?
I am working on a follow-up story to Fatal Flaws. The main character, Mark, finds himself terrorized by a mysterious individual who seems to know about his most carefully hidden secrets. He must discover the identity of his persecutor, who is framing him for several serious crimes, and find a way to clear his name.
ME: Do you have a favorite genre/topic that you like to write about?
So far, I’ve focused on the thriller genre. I do enjoy finding ways to incorporate humor into my otherwise-dark stories. As a physician, I also like to incorporate medical subplots, which seem to have great pop-culture appeal, in my novels.
ME: Where did you get the idea for Fatal Flaws?
I’ve considered the ideas around what I would be compelled to do if I found out that someone was hurting one of my kids. I truly believe that a lot of fathers tell themselves that they would do whatever it would take, including committing a definitive act of violence, to protect their children. This led me to the initial conflict in the book. Starting there, I became intrigued by the idea that, if violent measures were employed to deal with such a problem, the eventual consequences may be difficult to predict and could be life-shattering.
ME: As a practicing physician I am sure you are very busy. How do you find the time to write?
Honestly, it’s tough. I try to write a little every day, but rarely have more than an hour or two to devote to my writing. I have made a habit, over the last 2+ years, to get up at least an hour early every day so that I’ll at least have that time to work. My first grandchild was born last July, and I love to spend time with him, so time to write has become that much more difficult to find.
ME: Where do you feel the most creative?
I have a home office where I do almost all of my writing. However, I often spend a lot of time throughout the day thinking about my stories. Some of my biggest “breakthrough” ideas have come to me while I’m driving or taking a shower.
ME: Do you keep a journal or notebook were you write down ideas
I sometimes feel like I have a great idea when I’m lying in bed waiting to fall asleep or while I’m doing some type of mundane task and I’ll record a few sentences in the “Notes” app on my phone. Other times, I’ll scribble an idea down on a sticky note or scrap of paper and put it on my desk. Sometimes it turns out to be a “pearl” and I keep it. Other times, I look at it once, decide it’s garbage, and toss it.
ME: Do you have any advice for someone that is just starting out?
Only try to write a novel if writing is, for you, a form of expressive art. It is impossible, otherwise, to devote the time and effort into a project that may take many months (or even years) to complete. If there is no true compulsion to create something that can make a worthwhile impression on a reader, find another way to express yourself. Also, you must realize that even the most gifted authors may never be “discovered” by the public, so don’t think that, just because you’ve created something that you feel good about, it’ll ever end up in the hands of others who can appreciate it. Writing is tough, but marketing your writing is exponentially more difficult (and expensive).
ME: Did you always know you were going to be a writer at some point in your life?
I really did always feel like I would get around to writing at least one novel. I wasn’t certain that I’d be good at it, but about half-way through Fatal Flaws, I started to really impress myself and I started to feel like I had the right to call myself a “writer”.
ME: What is the hardest thing for you when writing?
I demand of myself that every character I create is believable and every conflict/resolution is authentic. I feel like authors who create hyperbolic (strongest, smartest, sexiest, most humorous) characters and/or supernatural plot resolutions are, often, being lazy. It’s much more difficult to create plausible, yet interesting and/or exciting, characters and scenarios. I hold myself to a very high standard in this regard and this makes writing very difficult at times.
ME: Is there any person or author that inspired you to write?
I really like Nelson Demille. He creates great lead characters; however, he falls into the “hyperbole trap” (as I call it) over and over. His characters are superhumanly smart/clever, funny, good-looking, strong/sexy, etc., but he does make them interesting. I’ve tried to show, in Fatal Flaws, that most men are just boys who may or may not ever mature. I hope that my readers see the flaws in the characters as much as they appreciate the strengths. That, in my opinion, is real. To create characters with critical flaws that a reader still identifies with and finds sympathetic is the goal that I think authors should try their hardest to achieve.
About the author:
Clyde Lawrence is a doctor specializing in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He has always had a love for learning and writing. After 20 of working as an doctor, he is finally pursuing a life long dream of being an author. His debut novel Fatal Flaws is now available on Amazon.
