What motivated you to become a professional writer?

It began first with reading great literature and wondering how the authors wrote so well. I read the classics. Then I discovered more contemporary writers like Antoine de St. Exupery, Bruce Catton, Herman Wouk, Truman Capote, Cornelius Ryan, John Keay, Robert Dallek, Ian Kershaw, Evan S. Connell and many others. Again, I asked the question: How is it they can write so poignantly, so passionately?

I became interested in writing styles and wanted to give it a go myself. So I tried my hand at writing. I wrote magazine articles and short stories (very short) and then began to experiment with style, vocabulary, and dialogue in longer stories. I came to enjoy every experience. In the end (so to speak, but I am not at the end yet), I realized the only talent I have is writing. Yet I still have a long way to go to be an accomplished writer. I will never be a Formula One driver. I will never be a fighter pilot or a famous painter or sculptor or actor or singer. I will never be a CEO, but maybe I can be a writer.

What are some highlights of your career so far?

I published Phantom in the River: The Flight of Linfield Two Zero One (Hellgate Press, Ashland Oregon). The book is about an American fighter plane I found in Vietnam. It was well received in the aviation/military history community. It is not a long book but the research and writing about the various details took nine years.

How did your course help you succeed?

First, I believe anyone can succeed at almost anything they want to do if they put their minds to it. But for a person to become proficient, he or she must receive some professional instruction. There are others out there who know more and who are willing to impart their experiences and expertise to a neophyte like me. It’s unwise not to listen to them. There is no substitute for professional training.

Winghill courses offer excellent professional training on so many levels of writing, whether it’s writing for fun, for work, for a career, even writing letters (which I believe is a lost art). Few people take the time anymore to compose a cogent, well-scripted letter and spend time transferring one’s thoughts to paper in a readable manner. Vocabulary is losing ground to casual acronyms. Texting is killing writing. The writing discipline is diluted with fads and corrupted by fakery. It is nice to come back to basics and work with and learn from professionals who have spent years practicing, perfecting and honing their craft.

That’s what Winghill has done for me. They have helped me, through honest, unambiguous professional instruction and with dedicated and skilled tutors, to perfect my writing style and capabilities. They have coached me in the art of writing. But they do more. Much more. They guide the student writer in the way of success. Success is a personal definition, but regardless of definition, it is easier to attain success when coached by professionals.

Do you have advice for anyone with dreams of becoming a writer?

I have heard it said, “Everyone has a story but not everyone wants to read it.” I look at bookshelves now and so very few books pique my interest. But they have been published, so there must be a market. It’s just not for me. My point is I believe a person writes best when they write about what interests them. They will have a following. Steven King, Ken Follett, and Tom Clancy have great followings as did Leon Uris; and all are great authors. But I am not inclined toward those types of books. I find authors of interest elsewhere. Still, if a person wants to write, all he or she has to do is sit down and put pen to paper. The process, however, is more complicated than that.

It takes drive and determination and fortitude, practice, study, re-writes, self-editing, proofreading, discipline, a lot of time and a lot of solitude. Stay focused and write. Start with short stories to build confidence, exposure yourself to other writers’ styles by reading and then practice their styles. Eventually a new writer’s style will emerge. Choose a topic, set a page limit and write and write and write…and grow from there.