Interview: NathanALawson
Author of "Stuck"
Author of "Roy's Island"
What can we call you (name)?
My full name is Nathan Andrew Lawson. N. A. Lawson is slightly more efficient.
Where are you from?
I live in a city called La Mirada in southern California. I lived in New Jersey, Maine, and Saskatchewan, Canada, before that.
What is your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is editing my work. It's an obsession.
Coffee or tea?
I never drink the former, and rarely drink the latter. I mostly drink water. I almost never drink soda, but I have a profound weakness for ginger beer.
What book(s) are you reading now?
I am currently reading "What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Philip Yancey.
Who are your favorite Wattpad authors?
I am currently following MiloshPetrik and BekahEva. I have not been on Wattpad for very long, and I unfortunately have had very little time for reading.
When and why did you start writing?
When I was very young, my family had a television with two channels. There was very little in the way of electronic entertainment, and my parents would read to me and my sisters a great deal. I learned how to read before attending kindergarten and was reading nearly constantly until I decided to start writing my own stories. After many failures, I decided I would write a book and continue it no matter how bad it was. In the process, I learned an incredible amount about writing, and it became my vocation.
Is there a specific genre that you like to read/write?
I have no specific genre I identify myself with, but the largest of my works have been, by strict definition, science fiction. They tend to be very light on the science aspect, though.
What or who inspires you in your work?
Despite the nature of my work being mostly non-humorous, outdoor humorist Patrick McManus is a major inspiration to me. I read a great deal of his short stories when I was growing up, and the clearness and efficiency of his writing is doubtless the basis for my own style. Also, when I was a toddler, Stephen King yelled at me and grabbed me off of a set of unfinished baseball bleachers I had no business being on (this is not a joke.) I suspect he put a curse on me.
Can you tell us a bit about your current story and why people would want to read it?
The story I am currently working on is a sci-fi revolving around the concept of the uncanny valley, and people never being satisfied with their own work. I hope readers would enjoy it for touching upon ideas and feelings they identify with.
Is there a message for your readers in your work?
To my readers: I have spent the past twelve years or so working on a book series. I am aiming to get the first one completely edited and published within the next month or so. When that happens, I hope you will enjoy it, and help spread the word to others if you believe they would enjoy it as well.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Edit your work. Edit it constantly. Remove as many words as possible without changing the meaning. Rewrite everything multiple times if necessary. There is no such thing as brilliant writing, there is only the hard work necessary to make it -look- brilliant.
Is there anything else you would like add?
Prior to JFK's presidency, wearing a hat was so pervasive among men that practically nobody would go out without one. JFK popularized the trend of not wearing hats. This enrages me. I love hats. Everyone should wear hats.
A/N: I have reviewed some of NathanALawson's short stories.
