Ask the Author: Nicholas Sparks
Answered Questions (9)
Nicholas Sparks
When I write a story, I am writing to make my characters and plots feel real, and in writing a love story, I am writing to represent the reality of love. In writing something real, I want to create something that evokes all of the true emotions of life. We are all happy and sad, angry and confused. We all fail and strive for redemption. If I wrote a character that had all but one of these emotions, it would be a fairy-tale, instead of a great love story. The reality of love is that all love stories, by definition, must end in tragedy. A “happily ever after,� like a perfectly happy character, isn’t true to our world, and isn’t a part of the books I am trying to write.
Nicholas Sparks
If I weren’t a writer, I would spend more time doing my favorite type of writing, the kind without deadlines. I would also travel a lot more. As COVID-19 has meant limiting travel, I find myself often returning to memories of my global experiences and the creativity they spurred.
Nicholas Sparks
I always say that there’s a bit of magic to the creative process, which makes it hard to trace exactly how a novel came together. I can say that my inspiration for this novel was character based. Trevor Benson is a military veteran who, by the time we meet him, has returned from Afghanistan after having his brilliant future as a surgeon shattered by a debilitating injury. Having our lives shaped by tragedy is part of what it means to be human, and I had a desire to examine how, in the wake of tragedy, we redefine ourselves, as Trevor redefines his identity in the novel. The plot emerged as I continued to add ideas to this first idea, adding a second, and a third idea, until eventually I have a story.
Nicholas Sparks
All great novels have the same three basic requirements:
1. A writing style that evokes emotional impact across the full range of human emotion � empathy, hopefulness, happiness, love, anger, and sadness � without being manipulative
2. A story or plot that is fresh, with a structure that compels the reader to keep going
3. Interesting and original characters, flawed enough to be relatable
But if I only had to pick one thing that a story needs, it is universality � in plot, character, and writing style, the story needs to feel “real� to the reader.
1. A writing style that evokes emotional impact across the full range of human emotion � empathy, hopefulness, happiness, love, anger, and sadness � without being manipulative
2. A story or plot that is fresh, with a structure that compels the reader to keep going
3. Interesting and original characters, flawed enough to be relatable
But if I only had to pick one thing that a story needs, it is universality � in plot, character, and writing style, the story needs to feel “real� to the reader.
Nicholas Sparks
In “The Return,� Trevor Benson, a former military doctor, struggles with PTSD. While characters in the military have featured in many of my books, such as “Dear John� and “The Lucky One,� I spent a lot of time talking with military veterans about their struggles with PTSD in order to make Trevor as real as possible. The most important thing that I learned from these discussions is that PTSD is a long-term chronic issue that one must manage throughout one’s life. In the case of Trevor Benson, not only did the explosion in Afghanistan blow him up physically, it also blew up everything that he thought he knew about his life: his career, and who he was.
Trevor has to learn to heal while acknowledging this life-long component to PTSD. The more I spoke with veterans, the more I realized that managing PTSD is a completely individualized process, as the consequences of PTSD are as unique as the individuals themselves. Some have minor cases, while others have more intense manifestations. For some people, PTSD includes nightmares and flash tempers. Some struggle with addiction. Others will say, “I’m perfectly fine � except my hands shake all the time.�
In doing my research, one of the techniques of dealing with PTSD is distraction. It is a skill that Trevor employs that ends up critical for the plot of the book, as Callie is a distraction, as is the mystery about his grandfather. If one is feeling upset, you try to distract yourself, and Callie and his grandfather serve as distractions. Further, developing meaningful relationships is a key component of the healing process, and Callie, Natalie, and Trevor all do this with each other, each learning how to trust again.
Trevor has to learn to heal while acknowledging this life-long component to PTSD. The more I spoke with veterans, the more I realized that managing PTSD is a completely individualized process, as the consequences of PTSD are as unique as the individuals themselves. Some have minor cases, while others have more intense manifestations. For some people, PTSD includes nightmares and flash tempers. Some struggle with addiction. Others will say, “I’m perfectly fine � except my hands shake all the time.�
In doing my research, one of the techniques of dealing with PTSD is distraction. It is a skill that Trevor employs that ends up critical for the plot of the book, as Callie is a distraction, as is the mystery about his grandfather. If one is feeling upset, you try to distract yourself, and Callie and his grandfather serve as distractions. Further, developing meaningful relationships is a key component of the healing process, and Callie, Natalie, and Trevor all do this with each other, each learning how to trust again.
Nicholas Sparks
What a fun question! I read a lot, I read 100 books a year and I like a lot of authors. I'm drawn to those authors of whom I've enjoyed other works in the past. You can never go wrong with someone like an Alice Monroe, or a Gillian Flynn, or a Dennis Lehane. Of course I also can lose myself in a good Stephen King or a Lee Child book, and if you've never read someone like Cody McFadyen, that could give you something to look into; a really underrated writer that not everyone has heard about. Getting through the works of those authors will give you a very good start.
Nicholas Sparks
That’s an interesting question, I’ve never really thought about it in those terms. I suppose that for the most part, I generally stay fairly motivated to create and write no matter where I am. Currently, I’m writing at home which is where I ordinarily write, but i’ve written on airplanes, hotels, different cities; I write whenever the words seem to be flowing. I’ve been fortunate that the pandemic hasn't really affected that.
Nicholas Sparks
As a matter of fact both my grandparents served in the military; I have numerous uncles and cousins who’ve served in the military. All different branches: the navy, the air force, the army, and the marines. And you’re right, they have inspired a number of the characters in my novels. They’ve been in novels such as DEAR JOHN or THE LUCKY ONE, or of course my most recent novel, THE RETURN.
Nicholas Sparks
Such a great state! Runs from the mountains through the sea; so many great things to se if you’ve been here. But if it’s your first trip to North Carolina I really think the Vanderbilt Estate in Asheville is something that you’ve gotta see; that’s also, of course, very close to Black Mountain College, one of the original settings for my novel ‘The Longest Ride,� love those places. If you’re looking for a beach location how about ‘Kitty Hawk,� where Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew the airplane? It’s very desolate but austere and beautiful at exactly the same time. Love the Outer Banks if you’re looking for something small town-ish. Of course I favor New Bern where I live, and you can find other sea side locations. Wilmington area is always beautiful. And of course Sunset Beach also has a special place in my heart because that’s where you can find the famous lonely mailbox ‘Kindred Spirit.�
About Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
Oct 11, 2022 05:46PM · flag
Oct 04, 2023 07:26AM · flag