Your background spans across various fields, from engineering to writing. How has this diverse experience influenced your approach to storytelling and writing?
My engineering skills help a great deal. For example, in my short story ‘Shift World’ published in Triumph & Tragedy, while the story explores friendship, the hero is assigned to work in an electric power station. The story is technically accurate from my twenty plus years working in electric distribution and nuclear power. As you can likely tell, I’m a unabashed geek who loves technology and learning. This shows itself in my writing.
Your website mentions teaching various subjects, including mathematics, physics, and writing. How do these disciplines intersect in your writing process?
Besides those you mention, I’ve taught writing for the web, marketing, website design, photography, and first aid. The more a writer knows the better. There is no such thing as wasted knowledge. Teaching is what I truly enjoy. There is no more relaxing place in the universe that in front of a group of people. But to answer your question, teaching gives me an appreciation for how to phrase concepts in words that readers will read and comprehend, an invaluable asset.
Coventry, Connecticut, where you reside, seems to have influenced your work. How does your environment inspire your writing?
A short story I’m working on takes place on a small island in Coventry Lake. Further, the best writers group I’ve ever attended is local as well. And there is an artist’s group where I was to teach a writing course that I had to cancel. It may happen in 2025, we’ll see. I’m a member of the civilian branch of the American Legion where I’m their webmaster and volunteer on a food give away project. Coventry offers me the opportunity to work with fantastic people. To be a writer, in my opinion, means being well rounded, well informed, and out in the world with a wide range of people.
How do you balance your professional career in engineering and writing pursuits?
They balance very well, or they did as I’m retired. My first publication was on how first responders would deal with a radiologically contaminated patient. At the time I was a member of a volunteer ambulance and working in Radiological Assessment. So, I had direct experience with both sides of the issue. The article was published in Emergency Magazine and well accepted by the nuclear community.
You've authored five books. Could you share insights into your writing journey, from conceptualizing an idea to publishing?
This is a tough question. I’ll try to answer it, but what you ask is quite subjective. I get an idea and want to write about it so I make notes and do research. Whether fiction or nonfiction the beginning is roughly the same. If it still feels good, I rough out the plot, or structure if nonfiction. Then I decide if its viable commercially. Here’s an example: I’d love to write a book on Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) the language of the web, but the world doesn’t need another book on HTML. So, if I write it, I’ll include additional Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript. All of this I used to develop my website and the MobilToMax technology that powers it. So, I guess the message is to not discount any idea. Stick with it. Look at the competition and ask yourself if your work contributes to the body of knowledge on the topic? If the answer is yes you’re on the right track.
Can you highlight some key themes or messages that you explore in your book, “Triumph And Tragedy”?
Friendship in Shift World, which also used my expertise in electric generation and distribution. Marital fidelity, no matter what comes. And War Games with a real twist at the end are two of the six stories published there.
Your experience in software quality assurance suggests a meticulous approach to detail. How does this attention to detail translate into your writing process?
I perform meticulous research before I begin writing. For example I’m researching green energy and how many windmills are required to replace fossil, nuclear, and hydro power in the United States. I include replacement power for units out of service for equipment failure, maintenance, and their capacity factor.
What challenges have you faced in transitioning between different professions, and how have you overcome them?
I did both at the same time and don’t recommend it, but the need to make a living must be considered.
How do you stay motivated and disciplined in your writing endeavors?
I have several projects going at any one time. I know this is not recommended and many writers will tell you to work on one project at a time, but I need the variety. For example, I just completed a free of charge program I’m presenting at the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, and PDF, in June on how to start a successful social networking marketing campaign. I also made a web page and subdomain for it. You can see it here: http://www.free.WayneAEnglish.com.
Are there any authors or literary works that have significantly influenced your style or perspective?
Somerset Maugham, Sol Stein, J.K. Rowling, Neal Stephenson, Elmore Leonard, J.R.R. Tolkien.
You've contributed to both published local and international publications. How does writing for different audiences shape your writing style and content?
When I published an article in a British magazine I used the term ‘pants’ the editor contacted me to ask permission to change it to trousers because pants means underware. Of course, I told him to make the change. This is emblematic of writing for foreign readers. One thing to be cautious of is using humor for a foreign audience what we consider funny can be highly insulting in another country.
Your expertise in writing for the web suggests an understanding of digital platforms. How do you adapt your writing for online mediums versus traditional print?
Writing for the online world means 12 - 15 word sentences. Paragraphs of five or six sentences with the topic sentence introducing material in that paragraph. And online you’re in the no fluff zone meaning use no unnecessary words because people don’t read the web - they scan it.
When writing for print it’s a different world especially academia where they use long sentences and are writing for a highly educated audience.
Could you share some advice for aspiring writers, especially those with diverse professional backgrounds like yours?
Write about material that you are professionally competent with. You’ve likely heard the saying, ‘write what you know.’ This is good and bad advice. It’s good when your starting out and bad as you become more confident. As your skills improves you will be able to on jobs that require research, writing, editing, and maybe marketing as well.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals or projects in the realm of writing and publishing?
onPhotography, my photography book, will be updated and published this year.
My book on social networking is being updated as the book proposal is being written. If I get a publisher or agent, it will be published traditionally. Otherwise, I’ll self publish it.
I’ve several short stories and projects on artificial intelligence that I’ll publish on Medium and on my blog. It’s easier than publishing a book and gives wider distribution.
How were you introduced to AllAuthor, and would you say that this website has been helpful?
I found AllAuthor online. AllAuthor has been most helpful in the marketing of my historical novel, Attila’s Revenge, which is available at Amazon in eBook format.
