Honored. If someone were to think seriously enough about one of my books to decide it had such a profound effect on readers that it should be banned, that means I wrote something pretty powerful. Since I stand behind and believe in what I write, it essentially would mean that I succeeded beyond my wildest imagination!
Blogfest 2009
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D.J. MacHale on “Is it harder to write the first book as opposed to the second (or third, or fourth) or does it depend on the content of what you are writing?”
Each have unique challenges. Starting a new project is always difficult because you have to lay the groundwork for what is to come. Not only do you have to think of it all, but you have to bring the reader along in a way that isn’t too boring while you introduce the various elements. Also, you have to understand that what you write in Book #1 you have to live with in Books #2 through whatever. So, for example, while writing the first of the Morpheus Road trilogy, I was actually working on the story for all three books, knowing that what happens in Book #1 will lead into what happens in books #2-3. Writing a first book is really like writing many books. It gets easier as you go on, unless you did something silly in the first book that you have to find a way out of in later books.
D.J. MacHale on “Do you feel that you stick to a certain theme (if you have written more than one book?)”
Every story that I write has a unique theme that is specific to that story. I don’t like to discuss those themes because I want every reader to bring their own viewpoint to the party and decide for themselves what it means to them. Books are the ultimate interactive fiction. Telling someone what the theme of a book is will instantly kill that personal involvement. However, all of my work tends to have the same general theme which is about self-empowerment. I usually write about young people who find themselves in difficult situations and learn that they have nowhere to go and nobody to turn to for help…except themselves.
D.J. MacHale on “How often do you have to edit and rewrite while working on a piece?”
I’m a writer, but for only part of the time. Mostly I’m a re-writer. Thank goodness for word processing. I am constantly re-working what I’ve written. I’ll write X number of pages in a day. The next day begins with complete re-write of those pages before moving on. It never ends. Actually, that’s not true. It does end. I have never read a book I’ve written after it was published. I’ve tried, but it’s a horrible experience because invariably I will cringe at what I’ve written and want to re-write it immediately…but can’t. I’m sure I’ll read this answer in BlogFest and want to re-write it!
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