An Interview with
DJ Tyrer
Tell us one of your first experiences where you realised that language had power.
Growing up surrounded by books, a love of language, and an interest in politics, I can't remember a time when I wasn't aware of the power of language, the way it can affect our emotions or be used to influence our perceptions. But, it was reading Douglas Adams that first really clarified this for me where he describes Man having disproved the existence of God through logic, proceeding to convince themself that black is white and being run over on the next zebra crossing. Amusing, but, sadly, all too true at times.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would you say?
I would reveal to myself the existence of the small press scene when I was younger. There was an entire world of writing that I was unaware of and, this being back in the days before the internet, it wasn't something easily stumbled upon if you weren't looking for it. It was a wonderful revelation when I finally did discover it!
Have you ever written under a pseudonym?
I used a Welsh patronymic for some Celtic myth stories that were published a couple of decades ago (written when I was living in Wales and learning a little of the language). There are lots of pros and cons when it comes to pseudonyms and I sometimes wonder if I should have used a pseudonym for some of my writing as it runs the gamut from children's to very unsuitable for children, but it's rather late now...
What kind of research do you do for whatever it is you’re writing?
Well, I'm always reading on various topics and wandering down the rabbit hole that is Wikipedia, so even when I don't do any specific research for a piece, I've been inspired by something I've come across or am drawing upon that existing knowledge. But, a story or poem hinges upon specific facts, I'll happily dive in and do as much as necessary to make it as accurate as possible (although I have found that it's the true details of historical fantasies and steampunk stories that cause editors to find them implausible...)
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of a different gender to you?
I can't say I've ever found any type of character - whether gender, age, occupation, ethnicity, or nationality - more difficult than any other. To me they are individuals and I approach them like that. No group is a mass of stereotypes, after all. At least, I seem to do a tolerable job for most editors and readers. Mostly, when someone has criticised a character as unrealistic, it's one I've based on myself. I guess I'm just not realistic...
Do you believe in the dreaded Writer’s Block?
I don't believe in Writer's Block as some special affliction, but I do believe that writers easily become blocked by such things as stress, pressures from other parts of their life, distractions caused by other ideas they'd really rather be pursuing than the one a deadline demands they complete, illness, and tiredness. Identify the issue and resolve it and you'll get the creative juices flowing again.
Growing up surrounded by books, a love of language, and an interest in politics, I can't remember a time when I wasn't aware of the power of language, the way it can affect our emotions or be used to influence our perceptions. But, it was reading Douglas Adams that first really clarified this for me where he describes Man having disproved the existence of God through logic, proceeding to convince themself that black is white and being run over on the next zebra crossing. Amusing, but, sadly, all too true at times.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would you say?
I would reveal to myself the existence of the small press scene when I was younger. There was an entire world of writing that I was unaware of and, this being back in the days before the internet, it wasn't something easily stumbled upon if you weren't looking for it. It was a wonderful revelation when I finally did discover it!
Have you ever written under a pseudonym?
I used a Welsh patronymic for some Celtic myth stories that were published a couple of decades ago (written when I was living in Wales and learning a little of the language). There are lots of pros and cons when it comes to pseudonyms and I sometimes wonder if I should have used a pseudonym for some of my writing as it runs the gamut from children's to very unsuitable for children, but it's rather late now...
What kind of research do you do for whatever it is you’re writing?
Well, I'm always reading on various topics and wandering down the rabbit hole that is Wikipedia, so even when I don't do any specific research for a piece, I've been inspired by something I've come across or am drawing upon that existing knowledge. But, a story or poem hinges upon specific facts, I'll happily dive in and do as much as necessary to make it as accurate as possible (although I have found that it's the true details of historical fantasies and steampunk stories that cause editors to find them implausible...)
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of a different gender to you?
I can't say I've ever found any type of character - whether gender, age, occupation, ethnicity, or nationality - more difficult than any other. To me they are individuals and I approach them like that. No group is a mass of stereotypes, after all. At least, I seem to do a tolerable job for most editors and readers. Mostly, when someone has criticised a character as unrealistic, it's one I've based on myself. I guess I'm just not realistic...
Do you believe in the dreaded Writer’s Block?
I don't believe in Writer's Block as some special affliction, but I do believe that writers easily become blocked by such things as stress, pressures from other parts of their life, distractions caused by other ideas they'd really rather be pursuing than the one a deadline demands they complete, illness, and tiredness. Identify the issue and resolve it and you'll get the creative juices flowing again.