Author, R.T. Slaywood
Short Story: Merit and Benevolence
Apologue of the Immortals
Tell us a little about your background and what led you to writing.
I started writing because it was a requirement for school and to be a member of normal society. However in 5th grade I was one of two children selected to go to a national writing conference. It was there, in my exposure to other members of the writing community, that I lost all motivation to pursue writing as a profession as "any conflict or story written in a fantasy novel can be better written without the fantasy elements."
How or when did you realize you wanted to be an author?
After spending 13 years wandering aimlessly after that writing conference I decided I have had enough of being an soulless husk, and that my true passion was still writing. However after making my Twitter account I realized, that although I was still a strong writer, I had acquired approximately 0 knowledge from public education that would assist me in pursuing that passion. So I read. I read and read and read. Over the course of 8 years I read hundreds of books. I went to libraries and bookstores and asked myself what do I want to write and how do I want to write it. When I finally felt ready I came back to Twitter with a foolproof plan to become an author.
What is your writing process like?
My writing process is extremely intentional, with the sole goal to monetize the process. I write the rough draft on Twitter, publish the second draft on Kindle vella, then the completed version on KDP. Moving forward I intend to stream my writing sessions. Because of this intent my writing is focused on drawing attention at any given moment. I want anyone who comes across my work to be immediately drawn in by my prose. In essence I'm trying to perfect effective simplicity.
What inspires you to write?
At this point I am trying to avoid being inspired to write, and instead focused on discipline.
What part does writing play in your life?
Writing to me is like walking your entire life then learning to fly. It's fun, it's dangerous, it never gets old, it makes me free!
What are your aspirations for your writing journey?
I want to write as much as I work at my day job. 55-60 hours a week. Only problem is I'm also highly effective in my day job so actually being able to be a full time writer would mean me breaking into the top 5% of writers in the world. So because of that I aspire to be the best writer of my generation.
What is something you know now about writing you wish you knew when you started?
How to write winning Powerball numbers for November 7th 2022.
Describe your favorite character (you created). Why?
Michael Bonaduke. Who doesn't like an antihero?
Which author(s) inspires you as a writer?
K. Thomas. Within in the indie writing community she's gonna make it. The quality of Time to Wake is on a different level from anything I've read. I can't wait for the third book.
What advice would you give newly aspiring authors?
Don't seek or take advice from writers you haven't read.
What works can your readers expect to see in the near future?
Within the next year there will be important announcements about The Ballad of Bonaduke, The Genius' Guide to Writing Bad vol 2, and The Story of Kyn & Cal.
How can your readers find more about you and your works?
In order of my frequency of use you can find me on: Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, Hive, YouTube, Twitch. All under R.T.Slaywood.