What:
I write fiction, pure and simple. Creating new worlds, or inventing weird stuff to happen in the old world, is where my passion hangs out. For the longest time, I used to exclusively write short stories. This was primarily due to my WADD (Writer’s Attention Deficit Disorder … Dog! I see a dog! He looks so cute. I wonder what type of dog that is?) I’m sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah. I used to get so distracted by acute, shiny new idea that I couldn’t complete the equally awesome current idea. But finally I calmed down, learned to focus, and have written several novels. Most of what I write has humor in it. It’s how I see the world. Plus, I figure we could all use a chuckle or two.
What I mean by that is, as I aged, I found I became more excited about the journey of my characters. While a new idea still thrills me, I now find more pleasure in seeing what’s happening with my people. What trouble have they gotten themselves into now, hmmm?
I also found a way that I could use my short story mentality to aid me in writing novels. I do this by creating a synopsis of the story I want to write – a four-to-seven-page overview of all the plot points from beginning to end. It’s a bit like an outline, only written as if it were a short story, hitting all the keynotes. I found once I had that synopsis written, giving me some idea where I wanted the story to go, I could then sit down and slowly expand it. That’s not to say my characters follow my carefully laid plan, but it still helps me to think I have some control over their plight.
Why:
It was never about the writing, exactly. It was the fact that my mind would come up with these wild, cool, crazy ideas. I found if I didn’t write them down, they would stay up in my brain, bouncing around, for eternity. (Seriously – Off-Worlding was in my head for over 30 years until I finally released it.) Turning my constant “what-ifs” into stories was the only way to remove those ideas from my noggin. Between taking a writing class at LCC and joining a writing group (Writing at the Ledges in Grand Ledge, Michigan), I learned how to craft these wonderful ideas into stories others could stomach reading.
How:
I like scheduling a writing day. My favorite thing is to wake up early on a Saturday and spend ten hours writing. Though I wish I could write an hour a day like many of my author comrades, I find I am the most productive in daylong spurts, emerging from my downstairs oasis only to eat, relieve myself, or pet a cat.
Alex Dandridge is a man down on his luck. But things start to look up, literally, when he spots that lime green spaceship. Its inhabitants, Hathiant and Grumm, invite him on board for an intergalactic adventure. How could he say no? During his time off-worlding, Alex meets bizarre aliens, battles a crazed warlord, and even finds his own kind far from home. Facing terrible truths along the way, he discovers a greater purpose and uncovers a long-buried secret.
Bio:
What can I say about Randy D. Pearson? If you Google him (without the D) you’ll find out that he’s, “A fictional character.” Using his middle initial, he becomes a bit more real. He has written five books – four novels and a short story collection. His fifth, Off-Worlding, was released in March, 2023. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies including Washington Square Review, Pets Across America, and all four of the Writing at the Ledges publications. He lives in a small Michigan town with his wife of nearly nine years, his step daughter, and a ridiculous number of cats.
Links:
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Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her multi-award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her latest poetry chapbook, Sleepwalker
See LinkTree for Linda’s social media links