The Interview - John Reinhard Dizon

When you're working on a book and a new idea pops up, should you pursue it immediately (also known as 'UP syndrome') or finish your current project first? What do you think is the best course of action?

If you don't finish the current project and put it on the back burner, it may take months or years to get back to it. Great works are born of inspiration, and once it's gone it may never return. By all means, write a synopsis for the new idea and keep it on your desktop, but finist the work at hand.

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

My faves: Holy Ghost (King James Bible), William Shakespeare, Ian Fleming and Robert G. Howard. If you read my work you'll see the inspirations.

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?

Time heals all wounds, and so it is for writer's block. Best thing to do is make notes and do research on a topic you intend to write about. That may bring you across something that lights the fire. Posting online requires writing, and the more verbose you get the more likely you'll get the urge to create something big. So stay online, comment whenever you can, and you'll catch the bug sooner than you think.

What are you reading right now?

Doing a review for my friend, New Zealander Brian Wilson's "Belfast" --- great read!

Where do you like to write? In a coffee shop? In your home office? On the beach?

Definitely my man cave. I'm not a phone person, so I keep a notebook in my truck whenever inspiration hits. Some of my best songs were inspired by ideas I had while walking in the park. But the home office is where I do the heavy lifting.