FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
People ask me things. Often, they’re the same things, so I’ve gathered my responses here to save us all some time. Think of these less as "expert advice" and more as a collection of dispatches from the trenches.
♦︎ Where do you get your ideas?
♦︎ Should I self-publish or go traditional?
I don’t have a specific well I dip a bucket into. Mostly, they come from paying attention when I’d rather be doing something else. It’s less about a "bolt of lightning" and more like a slow accumulation of dust that eventually gets heavy enough to notice. I just make sure I’m standing still long enough for the dust to settle.
♦︎ I found an error in one of your books.
I am always surprised when a reader thinks I will be upset or even angry with them for finding a mistake. I'm not. I'm grateful. Even with a dozen pairs of eyes on the page, the occasional ghost in the machine slips through. In this era of print-on-demand publishing, I can exorcise it before another erroneous copy is printed.
♦︎ Do you write every single day?
I write almost every day, about 5,000 words per week on average, because I enjoy it and I’m afraid if I stop, the gears will rust shut and I’ll forget how to turn the key. But every now and then I take a planned "sabbatical," a week or so off from writing.
♦︎ How much money do writers actually make?
Enough to keep us in coffee and ink, but rarely enough to buy the Lambo the movies promised us. Most of us are balancing the books with one hand while typing with the other. If you’re doing this for fame and fortune, put down the pen and buy a lottery ticket. The odds of making a million are about the same, and the lottery is much less stressful.
♦︎ What is the difference between Reveries and Writing the Wild? Do I need to subscribe to both?
Writing the Wild is a free monthly newsletter that features content specifically focused on the outdoors and the craft of writing. Reveries is a "free-for-now" weekly podcast that basically covers whatever topic I feel like talking about, typically examining modern rural life through a retro lens. Many of my followers subscribe to both.
♦︎ Do you still guide?
I don't lead trips professionally these days, but the boots and the fly rod haven't retired quite yet. I still lead the occasional hike through the North Carolina mountains or take a small group out on the water to see if the trout are biting. It’s less about the "certification" now and more about the company—and, of course, research for the next Owen Sinclair novel. There’s no better way to scout a location than by being chest-deep in a cold mountain stream.
That depends on whether you want to be the captain, the navigator, and the person scrubbing the deck, or if you’d prefer to hitch a ride on a giant ocean liner that moves very slowly and might change your destination without asking. Both paths involve a high risk of shipwreck. For me, having total control over my process, my schedule, and my content trumps the advantages of traditional publishing.
♦︎ How do you deal with writer’s block?
I don't have much of a problem with writer's block; although I have my good days and bad days, so far as productivity and quality go. When the good words aren't coming, I write terrible ones instead. You can fix a page of bad sentences, but you can’t fix a blank one.
♦︎ What’s your best advice for an aspiring author?
Stop calling yourself "aspiring." If you’re writing, you’re a writer. The only difference between me and you is that I’ve been hit by more rejection slips and I’ve been at it long enough for the "luck" to find me. Keep your head down, stay honest on the page, and try not to let the tipping table slide you off the edge.
♦︎ Can I get a signed copy of your book?
I am currently working on a way to buy signed copies directly from this website. Until then, the best way to get your book signed is to come see me in person at one of my events. If you are not able to attend one of those, email me and we can work something out.
♦︎ Are the places in your Owen Sinclair series real?
Yes and no. The core places where the books take place, Craven Fork State Park, Galena County, and the towns of Maypop, Garrettsville, and Calder, are fictitious, but loosely based on real places in North Carolina. Craven Fork shares many similarities with Stone Mountain State Park, and the towns reflect the real-world Traphill, Wilkesboro, and Elkin. Galena County is imaginary and exists in the liminal space where the actual Wilkes, Surrey, and Allegany Counties meet. Most secondary locations in the books (Belmont, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Birkdale Village, Lake Norman, etc.) are real places and described faithfully.
♦︎ Will you speak at my book club, library meeting, writing class, etc.?
Absolutely, I would be thrilled to. Check out my Events page and click on "BOOK JOHN" for details. As a general rule, I'm willing to travel anywhere within about 2 hours of home, including Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Greenville (SC), but a livestream option is available anywhere in the world.
