Member Spotlight: William D. LaRue

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I am drawn to stories about ordinary people who rise to the occasion when faced with extraordinary challenges. Such as the young man from a small town whose friendships and faith help him to survive enemy shelling in the Korean War. Or the mother of a murdered college student who turns her grief into action to improve campus safety and to fight the killer’s parole. I’m inspired to tackle great challenges of my own when I read these kind of stories, especially when told by a gifted writer.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? The more organized I am, the easier it is for me to avoid writer’s block. Before I sit down to write for the day, I assemble all of the research materials I expect to use into one electronic file or folder, sorted so they almost form a rough outline. I then can easily turn to it to draw on story elements or just to give me ideas of what to write about next. My other technique to avoid writer’s block is to keep reminding myself not to expect anything close to perfection from the first draft.

What is your favorite time to write? For me, mornings are best for writing. Even if I only write for two or three hours then, I am happy knowing I’ve accomplished something that day.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Be a ruthless editor with your own writing.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? The digital age has made it faster and easier to share stories with a wide audience.

William D. LaRue’s A Stranger Killed Katy: The True Story of Katherine Hawelka, Her Murder on a New York Campus, and How Her Family Fought Back is out now with Chestnut Heights Publishing.