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Alan Whelan

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January 2021

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Popular Answered Questions

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Alan Whelan "If you loved me you'd know why I'm not happy. No, I'm not unhappy, I'm fine!"

There are two mysteries there.

1. Why could not that woman who I loved s…more"If you loved me you'd know why I'm not happy. No, I'm not unhappy, I'm fine!"

There are two mysteries there.

1. Why could not that woman who I loved say what what was wrong, though something obviously was?
2. And why was I too afraid to guess?

The answers are fundamental to what we are: humans, both: man, and women.

It's one of the most important themes of them all.

But you can only write it by having the insight to make yourself the villain, and ruthlessly refusing to justify or protect yourself. A better writer than me once said it's when what you write is making you uncomfortable that you know you're on the right track.

And you can only encourage people to want to read it if you can make it funny as well as tragic. And take it forward, not just end on an impasse. Write something that offers hope and a way forward.

So those are the mysteries. And the meta-mystery, which is how to make literature, a new, readable story, out of that material.

You want it when? Tuesday? OK.

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Can you tell us a two-sentence horror story?

Alan Whelan "Well look," said Carstairs imperturbably, "I'd just as soon not have my stomach and intestines eaten while I'm alive."

"Ah well," replied Shanks, "you…more"Well look," said Carstairs imperturbably, "I'd just as soon not have my stomach and intestines eaten while I'm alive."

"Ah well," replied Shanks, "you can't always get what you want, can you?" and unclipped Zorro, his unfeasibly large pet rat, from its leash.(less)

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Alan Whelan’s books

Average rating: 4.62 · 21 ratings · 11 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Stories of Hope by Alanah Andrews (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Alan Whelan (Goodreads Author), Alby Grace 4.67 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lockdown Tales: Disobedience, Love, Patience and Other Stories 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	New Zealand republic it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stories That Need to Be Told 2020 by Jennifer Top (Editor), Michael Pearce, Ron Dowell 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars