Interview with Bryan Davis

Welcome to Inkbound's first interview!

I recently had the privilege of asking experienced author Bryan Davis some questions related to storytelling. There's a lot to learn from him, so we'll jump right in! Here are his answers:

For Writers...

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?

How to write with an intimate point of view. When writing a scene, I choose a character who will have the focus, and only the things that character experiences can be mentioned in the scene—all sights, sounds, smells, thoughts, etc. He or she can assume other things, but I have to use words to indicate that with words like “apparently” or “maybe” or similar words. This helps readers feel like they are present in the scene and inside the skin of the character.

How do you overcome creative blocks?

I have never experienced creative blocks, so we can skip this one.

What's one common mistake you see new writers make, and how can it be avoided?

New writers often lack patience to set up a scene and/or have no idea how to do it, especially the opening scene. They might hurry to show intense action without developing characters or showing important aspects of the story world. They would do well to give the main character something to do that is important in the character’s ordinary world and show that character going through the effort to fulfill that purpose. Along the way, the character shows readers what his world is like and reveals his traits that become the baseline for watching the character change. During this time, the writer should create mystery and questions that readers will want answered. This will cause readers to turn the pages without intense action.

Are there any books or resources that have significantly influenced your journey?

For craft, my two favorite books are “Techniques of the Selling Writer” by Dwight Swain and “Self-editing for Fiction Writers” by Browne and King.

For personal development, my favorite books (besides the Bible) are “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Joan of Arc” by Mark Twain, and “Till We Have Faces” by C.S. Lewis.

What is your favorite aspect of writing?

Since I don’t plot ahead of time, I enjoy discovering the story along with my characters. That provides a sense of adventure as I follow the journey’s path, giving me an extra reason to get excited about the writing process.

For Readers...

What do you hope readers take away from your stories?

I hope readers are inspired to take on the positive characteristics of the heroic characters, such as sacrificial love, courage, loyalty, mercy, and others.

Do you have any favorite books or authors that have inspired your work?

I listed my favorite novels in answer #4 above. My favorite author is C. S. Lewis. I admire his ability to blend fantasy and faith in an exciting story.

If you could recommend one book to readers, what would it be, and why?

Besides the Bible, I would recommend my book, Eye of the Oracle. Based on what readers have told me, it is my most inspiring novel, giving them impetus to survive and thrive through their struggles.

How do you think storytelling impacts the way we see the world?

I think stories are a way to see outside of our own experiences, providing us with a view to what people might do about their struggles, difficulties that are often much greater than our own. This can provide hope, confidence, and assurance that we can come out of the darkness and into the light, either dealing with the problems or even leaving them behind.

Where can we find your work?

My books are available at all online bookstores, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, etc. You can also order directly from me at https://www.theauthorschair.com/shopping/shop/ And that's it! Hopefully you've learned a thing or two about storytelling, and maybe found your next read as well. A huge thank-you to Bryan Davis for sharing!