Ask the Author: Gudjon Bergmann
Answered Questions (6)
Gudjon Bergmann
I only have two books on my summer reading list at the moment. I just ordered the new Ken Wilber book, titled The Religion of Tomorrow, which I have been waiting for. Knowing Wilber, I look forward to taking my time and thinking deeply about this topic. The second book is already on my nightstand. It is called The Island by Aldous Huxley.
Gudjon Bergmann
At the turn of the century, an acquaintance of mine tried to commit suicide. He was both a psychologist and longtime meditator—even wrote a book about meditation that I held in high regard. For the longest time, I struggled with this idea. The paradox seemed insurmountable. Meditation creates peace of mind, not longing for death, right? Fifteen years later, I wrote, "The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself: A Novel", in an attempt to find closure. To answer your question directly: I have already used a mystery from my own life to write a book.
Gudjon Bergmann
Follow the advice of Stephen King. Read a lot and write a lot. Oh, and don't take yourself too seriously. If you love writing, keep doing it, no matter what.
Gudjon Bergmann
Over the years I have found that the best thing about something can also be the worst thing. That is the case in relation to writing. I find that the best thing about being a writer is the ability to share thoughts, emotions, and ideas with others; to create lasting communications; to time travel. It can also be the worst thing, because when you share your thoughts with others, when you bare your soul, you have no control over how they will respond.
Gudjon Bergmann
I have never suffered from writer's block. To paraphrase Mark Twain, I find that the time to start writing is when my book/article/short story is ready. Preparation is paramount in my process, but so is putting aside time to think. Long walks and house cleaning afford me the time to think and, in reality, that is where I do most of my writing. I never sit down in front of my computer unless I have a clear idea of what will run through my fingers.
Gudjon Bergmann
I have been wanting to write a book about my spiritual search (and all the frustrating things that I found along the way) for years, but I never found an angle that I liked. Then, in 2014, I wrote a poem titled Generation X. It was raw, powerful, and it lit me up. I made the connection between my own search and the jaded postmodern generation of which I was a part. I realized that, as a GenX poster child, my story reflected the struggle of a generation. That was the inspiration for the book. It took me about six months to write and luckily I got plenty of supervision from my friend, Robert Jack, who is a philosopher. He criticized my ideas and helped me hone my message. Overall it was a cathartic experience. Hopefully it will spark a cultural dialogue about Generation X and our search for rational spirituality.
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