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'Bright Midnight' is a true admins' pick. I knew it had to be featured on this profile way before this profile even existed. It is an amazing work of fiction, a masterful craft, something that all Wattpadders should read. You can find it currently featured in our 'Purity - Realistic Fiction' reading list. That's why we couldn't miss the opportunity to get an exclusive interview: DavidEAnderson100 for Avant-Pop!
How long have you been writing?
I would say six years. I dabbled for a few years before this, writing on and off, more as a hobby than with any real intention or serious aspiration. Slowly the writing bug took hold and it became a need to transfer the ideas that were careening around my brain into stories, as opposed to the pleasant pass-time it once was.
Who are your biggest influences? What inspires you to write?
The first book I read that truly made me aspire to be a writer was Hunter S. Thompson ́s 'Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas. ́ The way his acerbic prose comes alive, grabs you by the throat and climbs into your brain made me appreciate the power of words. The dark morality of Bret Easton Ellis ́ works was another huge influence. The way in which his vapid characters mirror the vacuum of modern society made me realise there is more to writing than heroes and villains; there is the moral grey area which most of us inhabit. Jim Thompson ́s unique ability to capture the mindset of a true sociopath left an indelible mark on me. And finally, when it comes to writing dialogue George V. Higgins is the grand-master. When his characters speak, they leap of the page and emerge in your living-room. You don ́t just hear them, you feel their presence. You don ́t need descriptions, you know them from their words. Being a devoted cinephile, films are a huge influence on my writing. I tend to write scenes, more than tell stories. Music has also helped shape my thoughts, and my work is often peppered with musical references. I remember a quote from William S. Burroughs in which he advised any aspiring writer to write about what they know. It stuck with me. Consequently, a lot—though, not all—of my work is drawn from my own life experiences.
What's your biggest challenge/struggle as a writer?
Choosing the right words. Getting the correct combination that can make a sentence pop. I was an accomplished essay writer in my college days, so my prose naturally tends toward prosaic and informative. My biggest challenge as a writer is finding that extra something that brings a sentence to life. Themes and concepts, possibly as a result of essay writing, come naturally. But the goddamn prose—that requires tortuous amounts of editing to achieve the right balance. I ́m not sure I ever truly get it right.
Who do you think your readers are?
I believe, probably, people who are drawn to something different. I don ́t think my stories are entertaining in the traditional sense. However, if you want raw, unadulterated slice-of-life with a myriad of underlying themes, then you might find something you like in my work.
