Doug Robbins On The Five Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer
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In this interview series, called “5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer” we are talking to successful authors and writers who can share lessons from their experiences. As part of my interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Doug Robbins.
Douglas Robbins is the author of several books, including his first published novel The Reluctant Human, a story about loss, regret and finding one’s true purpose when it was there all along.
Max Johnny is a short novella about a successful writer who has lost his way after a tragedy and a secret that is tearing him apart.
Leaves Piled High is a collection of stories about family, loss, road trip adventures and ultimately finding one’s home in the world.
Narican: The Cloaked Deception dives into the world of sci-fi/fantasy and the battle over the evolution of souls and the entities vying over them. The backdrop is similar to modern day America with social media and the manipulation of information with false leaders.
Love in a Dying Town is a story of a single father trying to raise his daughter in a dying factory town while still showing her right from wrong as the pressures mount and all seems to be falling apart. However, when something falls apart there is a chance of it coming back together in a different way and mending.
Due out later this year is Charlie Hero and other Journeys of Transformation about second chances, sacrifice and holding onto one’s dreams…
He is the host of the popular Den of Discussion podcast where he discusses in both solo and guest format topics ranging from writing to education to mental health: anything that touches upon the human condition.
Doug lives near the Catskill Mountains of New York with his family. He rides motorcycles and studies martial arts.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
Iwas never a great student, but I always loved ideas. I always felt hidden in school, and often just did enough to get by. But in high school, when the teacher asked us to write a poem, I found a power in words I had never known anywhere else. I wrote a funny, snarky little poem that even my father liked, when my father seldom gave me approval. A door had opened in my heart and mind. And the power I found in words now linked up with the passion that I had for ideas. So, I started writing lyrics for the band that was in and poems that my mother thought were too heavy for a teen to be writing. She often laughed at their grandiose notions. When my mother got sick, and eventually died of cancer, I began writing a story about young love that was really an homage to her.
Can you share the most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?
Prior to my book Narican, I had wondered about science fiction and fantasy, because I felt like you could do more with those genres, and really dive deeper into philosophy because you can move the boundaries of reality further out. At that time, a very strange thing happened, a reserved British voice started speaking to me. Initially, the information was more about dimensional reality and the evolution of souls up to the 10th dimension, when we leave the physical plane. The story changed much from those early ideas but it truly is about the evolution of souls and the battle over their journey.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your journey to becoming a writer? How did you overcome it? Can you share a story about that that other aspiring writers can learn from?
The biggest challenge is when we falter, when we lose faith in ourselves and our purpose, which makes us question the point of our lives. It happens when people don’t respond the way we want them to or the results aren’t favorable. It’s easy to doubt. It’s harder to persevere. After that first book, the sky didn’t open up and doves weren’t released. So, I was really confused because I had done everything right, and yet the result was disappointing. So, I questioned myself and this life.
Authors that you love when you’re first starting out but at some point you have to break away from that voice and instincts, because if not, you’re just going to be a cheap version of that other offer until they left that and I was other voices behind on my own voice, and stand in that light.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Well, that’s pretty funny because in truth, I would get angry over commas or punctuation. My wife would kindly read a story before having an edited and then we would get into a major battle if she suggest for me to change this or that. It felt sacred as if some part of me was being asked to change. Now, i can let it go better. Though we’ll still wrestle about ideas sometimes. But with commas, I’m good. I just want the best story out there.
In your opinion, were you a “natural born writer” or did you develop that aptitude later on? Can you explain what you mean?
As a child, I didn’t feel like I had people’s attention, and therefore I didn’t really share stories. Like in school, I probably hid with low self-esteem. It wasn’t natural for me to sit around the campfire and tell some grand tale with people’s rapt attention. I had found power in the written word. The spoken word and story I had to work on.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Stories about redemption and second chances, the spiritual. Right now, I have a book coming out called Charlie Hero and Other Journeys of Transformation. I’ve also been trying to finish a story called Native American Thanksgiving. Narican: Rise of the Dark King I hope to have finished later this year. It’s the second book in the sci-fi fantasy series that addresses the evolution of souls. I also have my podcast the Den of Discussion that shines a light on things often swept under society’s rug. Most of my writing has a socially conscious bend to it.
Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author or Writer”? Please share a story or example for each.
One must have a thick skin. There are going to many rejections, struggles, and people trying to knock you down. And they will at times.
So determination is key and keeping your eyes on the prize while honing your craft.
Also, to accomplish anything we must be consistent. Writing is a long game.
Belief is something we all must hold onto even when every thought and result may be telling us differently.
Passion is what keeps us coming back. After my first book faltered, I really questioned this path. Eventually, the words and passion returned and I haven’t stopped again since.
Lastly, trust that you have something to say. There is only one you and the world needs you.
Which literature do you draw inspiration from? Why?
I would say Realistic fiction and Magical realism, as well. as psychology and philosophy.
It’s what calls to me. Equally, it is a part of what governs my actions and thoughts.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
The pillars of society must evolve for humans to progress. For instance, our education system focuses so much on IQ. If they focused more on EQ and had actual classes on it and how to heal and deal with emotions we would have more evolved functioning adults. Because ultimately, it is one’s EQ that governs one’s life.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can connect with me in two places: