I get great questions via twitter nearly every day, and I’d love to be able to answer all of them. But that’s hard to do in 140 characters, and even harder walking through an airport or bagging dog poo at the park. So every so often I’ll just fire off an answer on the blog. Here’s the first, and it’s especially applicable today, since I’m writing:
Twestion: christopherbmac@donmilleris How smooth is the transition from writing one book to another? Do U ever find yourself wanting to write for the previous book?
Answer: About as easy as turning around a train. Some writers can switch gears easily, but I’m not there yet. I’m convinced it’s a skill I can learn, but I’ve not learned it yet. I wrapped up the final pass of Million Miles about two weeks ago, and have since been editing To Own a Dragon for it’s new release (June, 2010) as Rogue Elephants and Real Men. I passed through the book changing some phrasing here and there (I was surprised at how clean the book actually was) and am now attempting to write a couple more important chapters to add to the book. And that isn’t easy. Each book has it’s own personality, it’s own pace and cadence (TOAD may be the most unique of all the books) and going from Million Miles, which was quite literary, to Rogue Elephants, which is much more straight and directional, is a challenge. What is most challenging is matching the nuance of the voice I had two years ago, while on an island in the San Juans, with the voice I have today, sitting in a coffee shop in Chicago. That’s no small challenge. It’s important to me that the book not feel jerky. I think words should be composed like music, so you can’t suddenly pull the reader out of the song when you switch lead singers. I hope that makes sense.
Anyway, there are challenges with each book, and this one is no different. I’m under a deadline with it, so I’ll get back to work. Thanks for the question. Hope that advice made some writer out there feel less alone. It’s great, great work and I love doing it.
I’m a reporter who writes for a living, and I often feel like writing is a tedious chore, even when I’m addressing a life-giving topic in a blog post or relating an amazing experience that I really enjoyed.
I’m wondering if you ever feel like you’re laboring through a book, and if so, how you stay on track when writing is less like composing a pleasing tune and more like operating a jackhammer. (Obviously, you don’t keep your flow by stopping to answer questions like this, but hey, since you were on the subject, I thought I’d give it a try).
its funny trevor, because it feels like there are always words to say, they just may not fit todays topics. so the chore is writing about what i need to write about, rather than what i would naturally write about in that moment. but that is just part of the work, right? and writing for a book (or for you an article) feels so laborious, probably because we “have” to rather than get to. so i think for me, it helps to calm down and just enjoy the writing, not really be to hard on myself about it. you?
Curious as to if music ever plays a roll in the direction and mood of your books? If so what was on the ipod during Million Miles?
nice pic my friend. where in the world would you be able to find a photographer to beautifully capture you in your tweeting glory???
Its interesting that you said words should be composed like music – I’ve noticed how well your words flow together.
How long do you spend, say, on a single typed page? Is it hard to make the words flow together so well is that just a natural gifting for you?
I think switching gears is a skill that’s learnable as a writer. I once worked for a publication where I had to cover financial issues (which was not my forte), and at the same time was working on a fiction novel (still incomplete) in my spare time. A lot of the time I would spend the weekend writing, and then take pretty much all day Monday to gear up for writing web articles on investing
But eventually things got smoother and smoother, to the point where I could transition from finance to fiction in the space of my 40-minute commute home, and spend the evening in a completely different world. Which was nice, because that job really sucked 
Thankfully, I’ve since moved on, but unfortunately now I enjoy my job so much that I’ve been pouring most of my creative resources into it, and that novel? Still hanging around. … But I do think it’s possible to learn how to transition- it just takes lots of practice. And I don’t suggest starting with articles on real estate investment 
hey don,
i just got TOAD so when you said youre re-doing it, I shouted and my non-evangelical plumber gave me an odd look. Nevertheless, its helped me a lot since I’ve read it. I didn’t grow up w/o a dad in the physical sense, but he was not very present emotionally and he left when I was in 8th grade. I’m still wanting a Paul or a John McMurray. Can you send me the chapters I’m missing so I don’t have to buy another book?
I have often thought that composing words and composing music are disciplines not unlike one another. Both require a sense of harmony, dissonance, cadence, movement and resolution. Good to hear you think so too!
Do you ever struggle to handle people feeling like they know you? Sometimes, people read the things I write about myself, and, in a flattering but strange way, think we are now best friends. Or, they want to talk about it to process it, and I feel like saying, “Writing was my processing. By the time you read it, I’m miles down the road.” All of that seems ungrateful, but still true.
I loved To Own A Dragon and was sorry to find that when I went looking for a copy, not one of the Christian or even non-Christian bookstores in my area carried it. I had to order a copy off Amazon(or, maybe it was Barnes & Noble) as “some of us” unfortunately don’t yet have a Kindle – sad face for me:( But no, I’d actually rather have the book because maybe then… one day you can sign it:)
But that said, I was really excited to hear you’re re-releasing it. It’s such a great book and fits perfectly with what you’re doing with The Mentoring Project. I hope that with it’s new release, it’ll find its way into the hands of many a young man who needs it.
Anyway, God’s best! and looking forward to seeing you and Susan Isaacs (I read her book too btw – hilarious!) in November.
P.S. And in regards to writing… for me too, it’s all about the music!
Wait, Annie…don’t burst our bubbles. Aren’t we besties?? (I’m a middle school v-ball coach…to use their lingo.)
For all of us out there who might overstep the bounds and wish we could have you writers over for dinner…MY APOLOGIES!
I can say, sometimes someone’s writing can just touch you in a way that goes deep. It speaks to one’s heart and to one’s soul. I’ve only experienced it a few times, but would really like to have dinner with that person afterwards. Also, I do think to myself,” you know, I could really be friends with that person”.
For me, it just means I really like your “voice” and often times, I see that that someone (the writer) seems “to get it” and I like that. Our attachment to you as new found besties is a compliment…a creepy one, but a compliment none the less.
But from now on, I am making a memo to self, creepy stalking groupies aren’t positives and will probably never get a dinner invite.
I know you’re grateful…because you said it, just wanted to encourage you that, obviously, God has blessed you with a great voice. (never heard it, but people want to be your friend…typically a good sign.) Keep writing! All of YOU! We will keep stalking, but keep it more on the DL and we’ll try and keep the creepiness to a minimum.
My Utmost, August 7th is a good one. Wouldn’t you like to be his friend!!
Shelly, I did not mean it that way. I only meant that when we write, we can be funny witty and charming and the hero or comic relief of all of our stories. In real life, we can be…less so… Some writers write because we have to. Even if no one reads it, something in us gets all restless and wonky if we don’t put it down on paper. As Tom Arnold says, we put it out there because we want, on some level, to be told that we are liked. And, I think that one some level there is always a fear that you love the words, but will not love the messed up person who they were born out of.
Dude, maybe I answered my own question. I’m all ninja and stuff.
Don, you may have your blog back.
Don,
I have to say that TOAD is probably my favorite of your books, and I’m excited that it’s being rereleased. Looking forward to A Million Miles too! Good luck with the revisions!
Good question. Thanks.
Oh Annie, I loved what you had to say. I was laughing because I AM THAT person who wants to be “your” friend and feels like I know “you”. (my statements above were completely poking fun of me.) I just joined twitter…yes, I am a new tweety bird, 48 hours since my hatch…and I follow certain people that have upwords of 20,000 people reading their daily thoughts. That would have to be unique and at times, weird. People really would become quite friendly with you. I’ve made comments on Don’s stuff like he would know who I was or if I was being humorous or not…it’s a bizarre phenomenon.
ANYWAYS, your question was for Don, I just had to write you because I am someone “on the other side” and you totally bursted my “bubble”.
May you be blessed today, and may your writing take you on wonderful adventures while hopefully paying your bills.
In Him, Shelly
Like Annie said, back to you Don…
PS – You are quite the Ninja Annie, and we are all messed up. The ones who just admit it are ususally the ones more fun to be around!
and NOW, back to Don…
sorry, was tom arnold just quoted? thats awesome.
Don…
I just read your book, and I feel like I need to talk to you. I’m sure you get this all the time, and I’m sure they all say their case is different so I will spare you and not go that route.
Simply put, I am someone looking desperately for answers. Answers that thus far have been left avoided, shunned, and unanswered within my church. I am intelligent person, constantly analyzing and thinking, yet such answers continue to elude me. I don’t know where to turn, I don’t know where to go. I have never doubted God’s existence, and I have wanted desperately to understand his purpose in my life but I have been afraid to look… afraid of what I will find. I’m trying to break that, I’m trying to move forward, and while this may not be much of a step, it is a step none the less.
I have great ambitions, and I do believe I was meant to read your book. It would be foolish to believe you are the only person with answers, but I didn’t know where else to turn. My faith is broken. My church is so simple minded, so judgmental, and while I understand the importance of faith, they follow so blindly without even trying to understand. I simply can’t do it… I need someone such as yourself who asks the questions no one else dares to. If you know anyone, or if anyone reading this knows anyone, I humbly beg you for your help.
Jonathan S.
jcs71@uakron.edu
Because I am a nerd, I am filled with a ridiculous desire for the line in To Own A Dragon about the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard having a line down the side (when it doesn’t) to be changed to “a number on the side” or “like I thought the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard had” or something. I don’t know why that even matters to me.
your hot.
(I can only assume kat is either talking to Don, or is mocking me for being a geek about shows I loved when I was a kid)
I wanted to tell you that I just finished reading “Blue Like Jazz” and I thoroughly enjoyed the roller coaster ride. I found myself liking the first part of the book, getting very nervous and judgmental in the middle of the book and then realized that in the end, the book was just perfect. I would like to thank you for reminding me that while we may be afraid of real truth, God is not because He is Truth. You can never go wrong honestly searching for truth and even though it sometimes scares us as Christians that you won’t end up finding it, it’s always worth the journey. Some of the best and most convincing Christians I know were once atheists who didn’t believe until they had good reason to believe. C.S. Lewis being one of them. Anyway, before I prattle on I wanted to say thank you for simply being yourself and having the courage to ask questions. Earlier today I found myself tempted to pretend I was more okay than I really was in talking to a friend because of that church pressure to show you have it all figured out lest someone think you don’t. Instead I remembered your book, chose to be honest about not being okay, and gave someone else the opportunity to really learn from my experience. That is something we all should do more often instead of pretending we’re perfect and not at all self-centered, self-absorbed, afraid, confused, etc. thereby denying ourselves and our friends the beauty of seeing God’s transforming love.
Carry on and may you continually be blessed,
Kelly
I hope it’s okay that I’m in love with you.
My boyfriend’s kind of upset, but, we’ll work it out.
God bless your soul man.