Questions for T.A. Barron
Photo: Greg HarringThe following are answers to some of the many questions I have been
asked about myself and my work. If you have a question, please email it
to me. If it's a good one, I'll post it here! (And be sure to check out
a recent conversation that I had with the students of a school near
Boston, Massachusetts—printed right below these questions.)
1. Where do you get your ideas?
My best ideas come from life itself. Especially being out in nature, observing the intricate wonders of wildflower meadows or rambling rivers, opens all my senses: I smell, hear, taste, touch, and see many things that inspire me to feel fully alive—and also to write. It's the same when I'm with my kids. They unfailingly open my senses and make me more aware. Ideas also come from reading an interesting book, or thinking about the problems of the world today. Ultimately, if you notice what's around you, and really take it in, you have a limitless source of material. Then just add a pinch of imagination and anything—literally anything—is possible.
2. What is your current writing project?
At last, Book Three of The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy is finished. The trilogy was completed in October, 2006. And by November, it was
on the New York Times series bestseller list. Right now I'm cooking up new projects, which will be announced soon.
It is NOT necessary to have read The Lost Years of Merlin
books to enjoy this new trilogy. But for those of you who have joined
young Merlin on his adventures, the miraculous world of Avalon will
remind you of Merlin's lost isle of Fincayra. For like Merlin's isle,
Avalon is a highly mysterious place, full of dangers, wonders,
surprises, tragedies, and triumphs. And also like Fincayra, it will lie
somewhere in the mists...between dark and light, mortality and
immortality.
Fore more details, check the page on this website for The Great Tree of Avalon. And enjoy the journey to this new world!
During the past decade, I've written several new books: The Hero's Trail, a non-fiction book about what it really takes to be a hero (with some amazing real-life examples of heroic young people); Tree Girl, a short novel about a girl who yearns to find the secret of her true identity; and High as a Hawk,
a picture book about a brave girl who was the youngest person ever to
climb Long's Peak, Colorado, with truly fabulous paintings by Ted
Lewin. But my most absorbing project (other than my kids) was the
five-novel epic called The Lost Years of Merlin. In those
books, my goal was to solve a mystery about the legendary Merlin, who
was the mentor to King Arthur and the greatest wizard of all time. The
mystery that haunted me was what happened to Merlin as a young man.
Those years, for some reason, have been lost from the world of story
and song. The Lost Years of Merlin (also the title of the
first book in the epic) begins when an unknown boy washes ashore on the
coast of Wales. At that point, he has no idea who he is, or what he may
become. The epic reveals the many discoveries, challenges, gains, and
losses that ultimately prepare him to be the great wizard Merlin.
3. What did you learn in writing about Merlin?
I learned about the wizard—the hero—that lives inside us all. That's quite an inspiring thought that Merlin gave me. I also learned about what a truly remarkable character Merlin is, full of contrast and depth and wisdom. And, I should add, I learned a lot about patience. Writing The Lost Years of Merlin books was very exciting for me as a writer—to fill in this glaring gap in the lore about such a rich and beloved character. But the whole project took me ten years to complete. (Even more, if you count The Merlin Effect, which I wrote right before!) The second book in the epic is called The Seven Songs of Merlin; the third, The Fires of Merlin; the fourth, The Mirror of Merlin; and the fifth (and final), The Wings of Merlin. All are published in hardback by the Philomel Books division of Penguin Putnam, and in paperback by the Ace Books division of Berkley Books. For more information (including maps and excerpts from each book), check the Merlin pages of my website at www.tabarron.com.
4. Are you going to write any more books about Merlinn
The answer is YES. The adventures of Merlin (as well as his friends Rhia and Shim) will continue…but in a surprising new form. Just check out The Great Tree of Avalon, my new trilogy!5. Why do you write quest novels and fantasy? Why not realistic fiction or historical fiction?
I write books I would like to read. That means each story must have
a character, a relationship, a place, a dilemma, and an idea that I
care about. A lot. I like a story where an individual must deal with
personal issues as well as overarching issues. The mythic quest—call it
fantasy if you prefer—allows me to incorporate all of these qualities.
In addition, the mythic quest gives me a great opportunity to
wrestle with some of life's biggest questions in the context of a good
old-fashioned page-turner. For example, telling the story of Merlin's
lost years allows me to explore the idea that all of us, whatever our
backgrounds, have a magical person hidden down inside of ourselves.
Just like that unknown boy who washed ashore, each of us has the
potential to reach for the stars.
6. What did you do before you started writing full time?
I have done many things—built a mountain cabin, studied at Oxford,
run a growing business, started a family—but I have always written.
When I was in fifth grade, I liked to tell stories so much that I
started my own little magazine, called The Idiot's Odyssey.
As an Eagle Scout, I won a scouting speech and essay competition that
sent me to Washington to meet the President. Even when I was managing a
business, I often found myself getting up at 4 a.m. to write, composing
during meetings, or scribbling in the back of a taxi. Finally I had to
make a choice, to do what I love best—because life is too short not to
follow your passions. So here I am, still telling stories. Writing is
the hardest work—and also the most joyous work—that I've ever done.
7. Why do you write?
Writing allows me to explore—wherever and whatever I choose. It's taken me back in time, to a distant galaxy, to the place where the sea begins. Best of all, though, writing is a way to explore the biggest questions of life. Not to find the answers, perhaps, but to do some thoughtful exploring of the questions. The two most rewarding parts of the experience are, first, when a word or character or place or idea comes out just right—and, second, when something I've written truly touches someone in some way. Some of the letters I've received have been unforgettable enough to keep me up late at night working on the next book.8. What is your writing routine?
Essentially, I write all the time, even when I'm traveling, shaving, going for a hike with my kids, sleeping, whatever. The creative process isn't limited to the hours I spend in my writing chair in the attic of our house. No, it happens on many levels when I'm immersed in a project. I always write the first draft with a blue felt pen and a pad of paper, because that is a good creative chemistry for me. And I do lots of rewrites. How many? As many as it takes to get it right! Like a good stew, novels get better when you boil them down and integrate all the ingredients. Most of my novels take six or seven full rewrites and two years to finish.9. When you wrote your first novel, Heartlight, did you know that Kate Gordon, the hero of the story, would have other adventures?
No. When I started Heartlight, I had no idea that this intrepid young woman Kate would also take me on other adventures. But when the book was finished, I had come to know her so well that I couldn't bear to leave her. I really wanted to find out what happened to her next! So I asked her, and she said, “Take me back in time. To a Native American tribe in deep trouble, whose fate is tied to the life of a single redwood tree, the only living thing old enough to connect them to the future.”And so The Ancient One was born. Similarly, Kate's third adventure, The Merlin Effect, takes her to the coast of Baja California. There, she and her father search for a mysterious sunken treasure ship whose fate is somehow tied to the ancient wizard Merlin—and to a race with forces of evil.
10. What does Kate learn in Heartlight that she carries with her to The Ancient One? What does she learn there that she carries with her to The Merlin Effect?
In Heartlight she learns that, even with her insecurities, she can make a difference. Maybe even change the course of the stars. In The Ancient One, she discovers that all things are connected, sometimes in surprising ways, across time and culture and even species. In The Merlin Effect, she realizes that the power of her own free will, her ability to make choices, is as potent as a lost treasure from King Arthur's court.11. In these books about Kate, was it difficult for you, as a 40-something man, to write from a girl's point of view?
All of us have an infinite variety of voices down inside of us. But it is sometimes difficult to hear those voices, and to respect them. The challenge of making the character of Kate feel true was enormous. To do it I had to find the voice of the young girl within myself—not easy for a grown man. The reward, however, was equally enormous. It has opened up a new side of life for me. What ever made me do such a thing? The credit goes to our first child, a girl named Denali. When she was born, I was working hard on Heartlight. At that point I didn't know whether the lead character would be a boy or a girl, but I did know that the book would be about the idea that every life matters somehow. It was an idea that I hoped she might enjoy one day. So, because of her, I made Grandfather's sidekick a girl. That decision was the easy part. Then I had to find the voice of the young girl in myself, and listen. Really listen.12. How do you know when a story is ready to be told? Do you think it all the way through before you begin writing or is the ending as much a surprise to you as it is to the readers?
Normally I need some sort of mental map of the terrain of a quest. So I know the approximate beginning, ending, and the dangerous marshes or inspiring peaks that lie in between. This means writing an outline, which is the written form of my trail map. Then I start imagining more closely, and listening to my characters. At some point I intentionally lose the map, so I can find out what the terrain is really like on the ground. Often my characters tell me to turn right when the map says turn left. In such cases, I always respect the will of my characters. Then I rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite, researching whatever is required. In the end, the journey has included several surprises and experiences that I could not have predicted.13. How much research do you do for your books?
Extensive research is a must. If I as a writer am going to convince you, as a reader, to come with me to some fantastic place or time, I must first win your confidence. Your trust. The only two ways to do that are: first, to engage every one of your senses fully; and second, to do my research.For The Lost of Years of Merlin epic, I researched the legends of Merlin for two years before I could even begin writing. I started with the ancient Celtic text called the Mabinogian, and worked forward from there, reading all the ballads and stories I could find. To write Heartlight, I needed to learn a lot about the life cycle of stars, the nature of light, and the marvelous morpho butterfly. For The Ancient One, I researched nine different tribes who lived in the Pacific Northwest five hundred years ago. In addition, I needed to understand the smells, sounds, and ecological interconnections of an ancient grove of redwoods. The Merlin Effect required learning about the legend of Merlin. Spanish galleons of the 16th century, the physics of whirlpools, and—best of all—the gray whales. Not to mention the motions and sounds of waves, the rhythms of tide pools, the screeching of gulls. Research is often hard work, but it is loads of fun. And I get to choose the subject!
14. Do you like to read? What did you read as a boy?
Books allow you to travel wherever you like. And no ticket is required. No toothbrush, even. Just pick your century, your continent, your character—and go. I read avidly. As a boy, I enjoyed reading the Greek and Norse myths; great sports stories; biographies of Abraham Lincoln or Helen Keller or Albert Einstein; Anne Frank's diary; moral philosophy by people like Socrates and John Stuart Mill; the poetry of Wordsworth, Frost, Keats, and Dickinson; and nature writing by Thoreau, Carlson, and Muir. I never read science-fiction or fantasy until college. Then I encountered Tolkien, and a new world opened before my eyes.15. What books do you like to read to your children?
We have always read to our five children, since the moment they were born. Even now, at ages between 9 and 18, they still enjoy having us read aloud. (And my wife and I enjoy it just as much.) Right now, with my youngest daughter, I'm reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Next is The Once and Future King by T.H. White. And very soon I plan to pull off the shelf a book called The Lost Years of Merlin.16. What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
The discipline to keep writing! It's especially hard when I'd rather be wrestling with my kids, baking cookies, going for a hike, or having more time with my wife. Writing is the most difficult—and also the most joyous—labor I know.17. And what is the best thing?
The best thing about writing is the sheer magic of words. Think about it. A word can make a place, a character, a dilemma or an idea come alive. Truly alive. And that magic happens to both the writer and the reader. In that moment, I have a chance to touch other people in a deep and lasting way. And I am more alive than ever before.18. What advice would you give to a young writer?
Three things: Notice the world around you. Live your life, follow your dreams. And practice writing as often as you can.And then a fourth: Don't take rejection letters to heart. Everyone gets them, even established writers. They hurt, but they are just part of life. If you have something to say, and refuse to give up, you absolutely will find a way to say it and share it with others.
19. Do you think Merlin and Arthur ever really lived?
I don't think it really matters whether Arthur and Merlin actually lived—because they are so totally alive now, in the hearts and minds of so many. All around the world, people cherish their stories! And if that's not alive, what is?20. Why is Merlin relevant to young people today?
Merlin—at least, the Merlin I have written about in The Lost Years of Merlin epic and The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy—is a real human being. He has struggles, sorrows, joys, and aspirations—and, hidden deep within him, a remarkable talent. Or gift. Or magic. In that way, Merlin is no different from all of us—burdened by the human experience while at the very same time exalted by it.Therein lies the remarkable metaphor of Merlin. This metaphor I truly believe lies at the very heart of the whole Lost Years of Merlin epic. Just like the young Merlin, all of us are washed ashore, half-drowned, at some point in our lives. All of us have hidden struggles—and hidden potential. And all of us, like the greatest wizard of all, have magic within us—and the ability to reach for the stars.
And more...
Here is a summary of a recent conversation between T. A. Barron and
the students at a school near Boston, Massachusetts, as recorded by one
of the teachers:
There was a buzz of anticipation among our students as they awaited
the arrival of the speaker. “Here he comes!” someone whispered.
“Awesome!” responded someone else. An outsider watching the scene might
have thought that a famous athlete was approaching, instead of an
author.
On March 12, our school was privileged to host T. A. Barron, author of The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy, The Lost Years of Merlin epic, Heartlight, Tree Girl,
and other wonderful books. He spent the morning with our students,
taking them on imaginative adventures and talking about his craft.
Our students had many questions to ask Mr. Barron about the choices,
the struggles, and the joys of writing. His responses were both
respectful and inspiring.
Q: Did you need permission to write about a character as old as Merlin?
TAB: No, no one owns this wonderful character. But if you're going to write about someone as deep and richly textured as Merlin, you need to do your homework. Especially if you're trying to break new ground—to weave some new threads into his ancient, marvelous tapestry. So before I started, I read everything I could about Merlin.
Q: Do you ever start writing about something and then end up writing about something completely different from what you thought you were going to write about?
TAB: Yes! I always pay attention to an idea that emerges unexpectedly from my mind, like a whale that suddenly surfaces from somewhere deep under the waves. That's your subconscious mind at work, and it's important to listen to whatever it's saying.
Q: How do you think of a good first sentence?
TAB: I try to think of what would make someone listening to the
story lean forward and want to hear more. But I sometimes don't write
the first sentence until the end, when I know what the story's really
about.
Q: How do you develop characters?
TAB: I try to imagine them fully. So I watch them and notice the
small things: how they talk, how they walk, how they gesture. Then I
try to go inside them to look at their deepest motivations. That's the
most fun part of developing characters: learning their secrets.
Q: Which character in your books do you most resemble?
TAB: I think there is some of me in each character. Everything you
write is somewhat autobiographical. But if you press me, Merlin—that
fellow who learned his greatest lessons from nature, and who hoped to
help his world—is the one I think I most admire.
Q: How do you introduce your characters in the story?
TAB: Throw them in—let their actions introduce them. Any good
character is immersed in relationships, a particular place, and a
gripping situation. So jump right in! Show the readers—don't just tell
them—what the characters are like.
Q: How do you use dialogue?
TAB: The way a character speaks is highly important. It's a big part
of character development. Variations in tone, cadence, dialect, and
grammar can give you a sense of who people are and how they act. And
make them more realistic for the reader.
Q: How do you create different worlds?
TAB: Imagination has no limits. Just make absolutely sure that your
imaginary world feels real. Make it true! If the places and people
you're writing about don't feel real to you then they won't feel
believable to the reader. That's one of the reasons I include maps with
all my books: They make the worlds more detailed and believable.
Q: Have you ever had a really good idea that didn't work when you tried to write it down?
TAB: All the time. If that doesn't happen, you're not exploring and experimenting. So you're not doing your job as a writer.
Q: What do you do when you get writer's block? What do you do when your story is going nowhere?
TAB: Stay with it, but get some distance. Run, read, bake cookies,
make spaghetti, listen to music. Try to remember what was important to
you about that story—what made you feel passionate about it—and why you
wanted to tell it. But finish it. The worst thing is to start a story
and not finish it somehow. Even if you decide to use it in a completely
unexpected way, your work is valuable. It may be that the story you
were struggling to finish is really the introduction to the story you
truly want to write.
Q: Do you ever just start to write without any kind of plan?
TAB: Just in my journal. When I'm crafting a story, I usually start
with an outline. But I'm always willing to toss the outline aside and
let the story just roll. After a while, if the characters feel true,
they will basically get up and walk off the page. And keep going.
Q: Do you ever get a character into a really difficult situation and have no idea how you're going to get him or her out of it?
TAB: Yes! Sometimes I don't have a clue, but I have to trust that the character will help me find the way out.Q: How do you know when it's time to end a story?
TAB: The story will tell you. If you've created your characters
fully and listen closely to what their true motives are, why they're
there, they'll tell you how the story ends. Even if it's time for them
to die.
Q: Do you ever combine two different plot ideas into one story?
TAB: Sometimes, or I write two separate tales. In The Fires of Merlin and The Merlin Effect, there are small stories embedded within the main story. And in the trilogy The Great Tree of Avalon, there are literally dozens of stories all woven together into a single tapestry.
Q: Which perspective do you like better: first person or third person?
TAB: Both can work effectively. It depends on the story. Sometimes
you just have to decide what would be best for the reader. I wrote two
whole drafts of The Lost Years of Merlin in the third person
before I could hear Merlin's own voice clearly enough to tell the story
in the first person. But that was clearly the way it was meant to be
told.
Q: Do you ever want to skip ahead when you're writing a story?
TAB: Yes. And that's totally fine. Stay with your passion! Writing
is about passion (something so beautiful you have to share it, so
mysterious you have to explore it, or so terrible you have to describe
it). Write about the things you really care about; that's where your
best writing will come from.
Q: Do you know how the story will end when you start writing?
TAB: Sometimes I have a good idea of the beginning and the end of a
story, but I have no idea of the middle. And other times it's the
underlying idea, or question, that gets me going. For example, when I
wrote The Ancient One, all I knew was that the great redwood
tree was not just a tree or even a time tunnel, but a full-fledged
character. And I also knew, sadly, that the tree would have to die at
the end. But the rest of the plot was a surprise. Even so, I was sure
all along that the story's underlying idea, was how every living
creature is truly connected to every other creature on Earth. On the
other hand, when I started to write The Lost Years of Merlin, only one scene was completely clear. That was the beginning, when a lone boy washes ashore, barely alive.
Q: Do you ever get something published, and then want to change it?
TAB : Rarely. When I'm done with a story, I'm done. And ready to move on to the next project. That's another reason why rewriting is really important. I write six or seven complete drafts of every story before I finish. It's hard work, but the story gets better, tighter, with every rewrite.
Q: Is it hard to take criticism?
TAB: Yes! Sometimes you don't want to hear it—but it's still important. Criticism, when it's from a thoughtful reader, is really a gift. I may choose to reject it, or not. But I always want to know what I can do better. One of the best things about writing is that you can always, always improve.
In a letter to T. A. Barron that night, one of our students expressed her feelings in the following way:
