Journal – Page 4 – John Murzycki, Author

June 9, 2021June 10, 2021

Writing and Gardening Have Plenty in Common

The roses are in full bloom, and the heat is rising here in the Northeast. I was once very passionate about gardening. You could often find me out in the yard from morning until dusk when I wasn’t at my office job. I still enjoy tending the flowers, but now I prefer to work on my next book.

Staying with the topic of gardening, it’s easy to see the parallel between writing and gardening.

With gardening, you plant a seed, nurture it with water until the plant blossoms into something beautiful. And then you prune and weed.

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

When Reality Becomes Fantasy

The first question I’m typically asked when someone finds out I’m an author is, “What kinds of books do you write?” My simple answer is Science Fiction and Fantasy.

That’s an uncomplicated response, which most people immediately understand. The problem is, it really doesn’t do justice to the question. If I’m asked to explain more, I might say that I write in the category of magical realism, or science fantasy, or (a definition I’m not crazy about) metaphysical and visionary. More often than not, I’ll receive blank stares.

So, here’s my attempt to explain what my books are about without putting a label on them.

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020

Writing During a Turbulent Year

This has been a strange year and, in many ways, a difficult one. Anyone who has written a novel understands how events in the world can detract from the focus needed to craft a story. I felt the need to check news feeds more often during the past twelve months. Throw a U.S. presidential election into the mix, and the impulse can become obsessive.

Somehow during this turbulent year, my next book developed nicely. The storyline gradually took a life of its own, and the characters came alive. Nothing is more exhilarating to an author than knowing a story works and evokes a passionate response from readers.

It’s a magical feeling, believe me.