Today we welcome Clint Dooley.
Book ‘Em: Tell us about you and your life outside of writing.
Clint Dooley: I am sixteen years old, a junior in high school, living in Louisville, MS, and I am a published poet. Outside of writing, my life consists of school obligations and friendships.
Book ‘Em: Which books have you written? What are they about and why did you choose to write them? Do your books have a message? Are they fiction or nonfiction?
Clint Dooley: In March of this year, I published my first book. Natural Disasters is a collection of poetry. This book is about kindness, the appreciation of others, and the ability to accept yourself—even if you are a “natural disaster”. I chose to write this book because I had several failed friendships in the past that left me feeling incredibly hopeless and distraught, so writing this was a healthy way to cope and manage my feelings. The book has elements of both fiction and nonfiction. I believe the message of this book is to prevail and to find people who are actually interested in what you have to present to them.
Book ‘Em: Do you have a work in progress?
Clint Dooley: Yes, I do. The title of my next book is Humanity, and I plan on releasing it soon.
Book ‘Em: What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
Clint Dooley: The most difficult piece of writing that I have ever written was definitely a poem called “The God of Storms and the Desert”. It’s about a particular person who I was no longer associated with for unknown reasons, and how much I wanted them to know that I still cared about them and their well-being.
Book ‘Em: What sort of research do you do for your work?
Clint Dooley: I really don’t do much research when I’m writing a piece. Usually, the words begin to flow as soon as I latch onto an idea.
Book ‘Em: Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author that inspires you?
Clint Dooley: There are many authors that I read for pleasure. I adore Stephen King and Gillian Flynn as novelists. My favorite poets are Sylvia Plath, Marion Grace Conover, Mae V. Cowdery, Walt Whitman, and several others. Sylvia Plath has been a huge inspiration on the content of my writings.
Book ‘Em: Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
Clint Dooley: Unfortunately, there is no specific someone that encouraged me to write. The encouragement came naturally.
Book ‘Em: What would you say are your strengths as an author?
Clint Dooley: In my opinion, I would say my strengths as a writer are a deep sense of understanding and the ability to use words in a descriptive manner.
Book ‘Em: How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
Clint Dooley: I write when I feel like it, truthfully, which is often. I enjoy writing, but I do not make it a strict routine to write.
Book ‘Em: Five years from now, where do you see yourself as an author?
Clint Dooley: Five years from now, I see myself as enjoying writing in the same manner I do now.
Book ‘Em: If you could offer one piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
Clint Dooley: To a novice writer, please don’t give up. Don’t toss writing to the side just because you don’t think you’re good. Work and develop, please.
Book ‘Em: What do you consider the best compliment a reader could give your book?
Clint Dooley: The best compliment that someone can give me is that they enjoyed, related to, and connected with my writings.
Book ‘Em: Provide an excerpt of your writing that you would like to share with our members.
Clint Dooley: Excerpt of my writing:
Fun & Games
When the fun is done and
The games have been won,
I feel empty, lost, and I become undone.
I sense myself sinking deeper
Into a crisis that is troubling to escape,
Particularly when the fun is done,
The games have been won, and
The people have gone home.
Then, I sleep.
