I’m gonna make a list of Pulitzer non-fiction winners I think. “American Prometheus” put me on the path.

Ayn Rand was a writer who, at two years old, hit the “MINE MINE MINE” stage of psychological development and spent the rest of her life trying to justify it instead of growing up.

So anything by her.

“Nucular”

Almost done with my first book but I’ve done a lot of scripts, and the thing that stopped me from even trying was exactly what you just said. It seems like a herculean task. And yes, it isn’t easy to write something good, but all it takes is an idea that you want to explore. Then you sit your ass down and start writing.

The thing that helped me the most was to never edit until the story or complete outline are done. Even leave spelling mistakes. Just get through it. Once you have that rough draft, that’s when you can go back and make it look like you knew what you were doing all along.

But even still I have no idea how someone like George RR Martin does it. He has to keep track of so much stuff he literally has a staff of people to keep it straight.

Read it. The story we already have is well worth it. It’s literally my favorite story on earth, even unfinished.

And I do think we’ll get the next book. It’s the final one I’m worried about.

I got through the first one, and loved it, but the second never grabbed me. DNF.

Currently reading (kind of. I’ve been on a break for a few weeks) Caesar’s Women by Colleen Mccullough.

Got into reading for pleasure when my middle school had a library sale and I saw my favorite movie was a book that was only 50 cents. All credit to Treasure Island and shitty school funding.

Grieving is one day at a time, reading is one page at a time.

My only note would be don’t read it as a puzzle to solve. Just take it in. Let your subconscious handle the rest.

Yep. The only time I skip reading any part of a book it’s when it’s part of a series and I don’t want to spoil any of it before I get to it. So I’ll hold off on reading the synopsis until go time. Blurbs are harmless.

Game of Thrones.

If the reviews I read weren’t so hyperbolic I likely wouldn’t have ever found my favorite story on earth. I had been scarred by terrible, formulaic fantasy tripe at that point in my life.

So make yourself stop viewing through the mindset of hunting the smug.

I’ve had that happen. My adrenaline dumped and I had to put the book down. Jo Nesbø - The Redbreast.

I had to physically stop because my hands were shaking. I honestly wish it happened more.

Neil Gaiman

Dan Simmons

Justin Cronin

David Mitchell

Jo Nesbø

Marlon James

GRRM

The sad ones: Cormac Mccarthy, Gary Jennings.