A few weeks ago I read and wrote a review for The Mason Jar written by James Russell Lingerfelt. I instantly fell in love with the book, and this is why I had to interview the author. I wanted to gain insights on how he was able to write such a well written story. If you have not read&the book yet; be sure to pick up a copy. You will not be disappointed. Below is the interview with James Russell Lingerfelt.
Thank you for doing this interview. I am hugely impressed with your writing style. I love the way you draw in the reader with very descriptive scenes. How long did it take you to learn how to write so well?
Thank you for the compliment. I’ve been writing since I was fifteen. I started with journals, and I never stopped. Every time I experienced a facet of life that was new and exciting, I wrote it down. But I wrote it as story so that I could read it as an older man. Maybe even pass it on to my children or grandchildren. If I lose my memory, I would have those stories to remind me who I was. Most people don’t believe fifteen year olds think about those things. But I did. And I know others that did too.
But it’s not just journal writing that has created my writing style, but also reading great literary works. Thoreau, CS Lewis, Henri Nouwen, and NT Wright are people I will never stop reading. While in the ninth grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Moore, introduced me to Thoreau whose writings I instantly fell in love with. He depicted the North American countryside so beautifully. He made me proud to be from the countryside and never want to leave it. I grew up in the mountains in northeast Alabama where we border Georgia and Tennessee, and the scenery and wildlife is much the same as it is in New England. Also, CS Lewis, not his children’s books, but his autobiography and his theology books are well written. Lewis describes the surroundings and his inner feelings and reactions to life in a very poetic style. Really, the secret to good writing is finding an author whose stories, imagery, and style make you want to read them forever. Then go do so. Read everything they wrote and revisit them when you are writing. Just their example, after you’ve tried mastering the pen, will serve as instruction for you.
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