IN THE PRESS
Serious Reading
Interview with author Roger Bradbury
Serious Reading: Let’s start with something broad. What do you think is the most important part of a
book?
Rog: For creative writers, the most important part is the story. What we call literature began with someone
telling a tale around a fire. Something happened, and someone rose up to tell the others what and why.
The teller had to recount the incident from beginning to end. Otherwise, he might not get his portion of the
animal someone else had killed, or she might have to forfeit her life like Scheherazade. Her artful story
telling is probably the first recorded instance of “Tune in tomorrow night for the exciting conclusion of
1000 and One Nights! Will Shahryar kill Scheherazade as dawn breaks?”
Serious Reading: Fortunately, he did not, otherwise no Ali Baba.
Rog: Aladdin either.
Serious Reading: Does it take a penalty like the one she faced to inspire you to write?
Rog: Not quite, but I have to be intrigued by some event; something has to pique my interest or curiosity. I
find myself wondering about the why, the who, the what, and I start to jot notes. Back in the day I threw
them into a box; now I save them on a computer. Sinclair Lewis said that the secret of writing is to apply
the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. It helps to have a box of notes, seeds if you will, even though
I discard most of them as I work a story out…
For the complete interview, contact bywordsalone@gmail.com.
CREATIVE WRITING SERVICE
ONE AND DONE:
I review and edit a two thousand word or less piece.
Projects are typically flash or micro fiction and/or a ten minute play.
CRITIIQUE
I review creative work of ten thousand words or less and reply with a one-page critique covering:
Mechanics and Format
Style
Characterization
Story Flow
CONTENT REVIEW
I review stories up to ten thousand words, one act plays, or the first ten thousand words of a novel. I suggest revisions using Track Changes or Google docs. The object of the review is to guide you toward the finished piece.
BOOK MATTER
I format prepublication front, back, and book matter using a simple, but professional font. I also prepare headers, footers, and page numbers. I will size the manuscript and set up the verso and recto pages according to current standards.