The Interview - JZ Murdock

Thank you for having me! My latest ebook, "The Unwritten," is the second volume of the sequel to my first published book of short stories, "Anthology of Evil." The first volume was a collection of short stories where I had originally planned to include a novella. However, as I began writing, the story took on a life of its own and expanded into its own full-length book.

"The Unwritten" is a unique tale set across three distinct universes within our multiverse. As the hook on the back of the book says, "Three Hells. Three Unverses. One ending."

One unfolds in a remote mountain society, offering a familiar yet eerie backdrop. Another is set in a high-tech world where a sequence of conflicts—a Religious War followed by a Science War—culminates in the triumph of science. The third universe exists as a literal "pocket universe," containing, Hell. The narrative follows a "Hellspawn" who inadvertently is released from Hell due to an experiment conducted in the advanced universe. Meanwhile, in a backwoods story within a cabin, where a man has been captured by a clan, the potential to unravel the very fabric of reality slowly dawns not only on the scientists observing but also on a powerful pan-dimensional being inadvertently affected by the experiment.

The idea for "The Unwritten" first came to me as just a title. I began writing it on Wattpad several years ago, initially exploring various concepts and enjoying the creative process. However, I soon found myself written into a corner from which I couldn't easily extricate myself. I enjoy that challenge, so I set the project aside for a while.

My interest has always been drawn to exploring the concept of reality and the complexities of the human experience, particularly how our perceptions can be manipulated. With a background in psychology, my focus was on phenomenology—a branch of philosophy and psychology that examines conscious experiences from a first-person perspective, aiming to describe their structures without relying on causal explanations. It's fascinating to delve into these themes through genres like science fiction, the macabre, and horror.

In another story, "Rapture," featured in the first volume of "Anthology of Evil II," I explored these ideas further within a noir detective narrative set in a dystopian future on Earth—a perfect vehicle for examining such profound concepts.

I typically begin with a small kernel of an idea and expand it into a larger concept, letting the characters drive the story forward. Understanding their backgrounds, motivations, and flaws is crucial for me; as I write, their complexities become clearer. I often engage in discovery writing, allowing the narrative to evolve organically. I feel if I enjoy the journey my readers will.

After establishing this foundation, I refine the story through multiple read-throughs and edits until I reach a point where I can't find anything more to fix or explore. Sometimes, the characters surprise me, taking the plot in directions I hadn't anticipated. It's as if they come alive on the page, guiding the narrative themselves.

The novella "Andrew," featured in "Anthology of Evil" (2012), originally began as an assignment for my first university Intro to Fiction Writing class. It received such positive feedback from my classmates that I felt I really had something there and it encouraged to further develop it. My overwhelming success in that class (I was voted with one other writer to write another story for the class that was part of our curriculum), also made me believe I might be able to be a writer, something I'd always had trouble accepting. Over the years, I expanded and refined "Andrew," submitting it to various magazines, though it struggled to gain traction, possibly due to its length.

When I embarked on writing my second and epic horror/sci-fi book, "Death of Heaven," I aimed to craft a tale encompassing the creation of Earth to its potential demise. I built the story to evolve from the novella "Andrew", and alongside another short story, "Perception," explored humanity's initial misconception of being at the center of our universe

My first published story came with my dystopian sci fi story, "In Memory, Yet Crystal Clear." It evolved from a challenge posed by friends—weave a story around their concept of "a man turns himself into a computer chip". I wrote it, they read it, they loved it, and they agreed, I had won the bet.

Absolutely. First and foremost, commit to writing every day. "A writer writes." I tell myself when I'm not writing I'm simply not a writer. It's not true, but motivational for me. Focus on consistency rather than perfection, as any perfection emerges through the editing process. Treat editing as a private endeavor, refining your first draft until it aligns seamlessly with your vision. Never show your first draft to anyone. Always at least, read it through one more time before sharing it with maybe, a close associate, friend, or loved one. I wouldn't even show it to my editor, not until at least a second draft if not a third. Don't put your editor through that, or someone you care about.

Remember to "kill your darlings"—remove any brilliant passages that draw attention to the author rather than serving the story and characters. These can be saved for future projects where they may fit better. Save everything! Writing isn't about showcasing the author; it's about disappearing into the narrative, creating a world that captivates readers without distracting them with ego or self-indulgence. The true measure of success is when readers finish your story and it won't leave them for days or weeks, leaving them eager to share it with others. As one author put it, "I don't care if they are complaining about my writings, or praising them to others, as long as they're talking about it, I did my job."

Take risks in your storytelling. Some of the most memorable tales arise from pushing beyond your comfort zone, stretching your creative boundaries. As I mentioned earlier, embrace challenges and write yourself into corners—then find inventive and creative ways to escape them. Titillate and thrill your readers. If it gets you excited writing it, they will feel that in their reading. If you're not feeling a lot of effort in your writings, or works, you're not doing your job. If it comes easy to you, or if you think it does, push harder. It will always pay off.

Lastly, read, read, read. Explore diverse genres and authors to gather inspiration and fresh perspectives to enrich your own writing. While I avoid reading authors similar to my current work to prevent mimicry, I believe in the value of broad reading to nurture creativity and innovation. I have tried to learn to write everything, in the hope it will better my most favored types of writing which will better all of my writing.

My latest non-fiction book, "Suffering Long Covid," chronicles my experience with contracting COVID-19 in February 2020, before the condition was widely understood. It nearly killed me. I subsequently developed Long Covid, which lasted about 18 months.

In 2022, I caught the latest variant, a horrible experience that led to two paramedic visits and an ER stay. Eventually, I realized I had the experience with the disease and writing capabilities that prompted me to write and share my journey with others. The book has been well-received, and I updated it in 2024 to reflect new insights.

On the film front, my indie productions have garnered success. My film noir, "Gumdrop," a short horror, has earned international awards. My filmic poem and historical WWI music documentary, "Pvt. Ravel's Bolero," has garnered over 60 accolades.

Currently, I'm working on a companion book for the documentary.

Despite challenges posed by Covid, I'm determined to continue work on all my works. While it has been a struggle, I'm optimistic about returning to my creative projects. There's much more to come in my artistic endeavors.

Thank you! It's been great chatting with you as well.

Cheers! Sláinte!