"The Godfather of Writers Makes their Dreams Come True," as Reported on KUTV 2 CBS News
St. George, UT (PRWEB) May 31, 2015 -- The story has been echoed by so many writers, it sounds like a fairy-tale. If a prospective writer wants to get a book finished and published and have it do well in the market, it is said, they need to find the man who’s known as the "Godfather of Writers" by many and the "Story Doctor" by others. He’ll know what to do.
This storybook Godfather doesn’t sprinkle books with magic dust. He shows writers how to put the magic into it themselves, in ways that are so simple, it often really does seem like the work of a shaman.
Take the case of now New York Times #1 Best Selling Author Brandon Sanderson, “David Farland was the first teacher I had ever taken a class from that actually made a full-time living as a writer… I went up to him and I said, “What do I do?”
“He asked, ‘Have you finished any books yet?’ I said, ‘I’ve just finished my sixth.’”
As reported by KUTV Chan 2 News in Utah, Farland gave him a quest. “Dave said, ‘You’ve got to drop five hundred bucks and go to New York, go to this convention and meet these editors.’ It was absolutely terrifying.” What Brandon didn't realize is that Farland knows editors and publishers. He knows what they like to publish and what their tastes are. This was no fools errand.
It turned into Brandon’s first big break. “The last time my publisher counted, my sales were around ten million.”
Also from KUTV News, James Dashner, who recently had Twentieth Century Fox turn his book, The Maze Runner, into a movie, says about Farland, “All of us, we feel we owe a huge debt to him. I first came across Dave about ten years ago … and now we’re pushing about four million and that’s just in the U.S. And then … to have a movie made based on a book I wrote and to be so involved with it, it’s impossible to describe.”
As reported by KUTV, Brandon Mull said, “I asked him [Farland] to look at my work. He was kind enough to get involved. He was really willing to share.” That was Fablehaven, a children’s series that has now sold in the millions. “That was the series that allowed me to quit my day job.”
Farland says, “There’s really no magic to it. I teach my students my mix of writing skills and storytelling techniques, and then give them the scoop on how the business really works. Becoming a bestseller naturally follows.”
Again on KUTV, Dasher says, “He’s just very well respected and loved in the Utah community and not just here, but worldwide.” While Sanderson says, “He’s done more for his community of writers than anyone I know. Dave is not just a fantastic writer, he’s a fantastic person.”
In fact, Farland has become so well known as the “Godfather” for aspiring writers and as the “Story Doctor,” that he is becoming overwhelmed. Yet, he says he is determined to continue to help others in addition to keeping up on his own rigorous writing schedule. However, he will probably not be adding any new engagements this year. So if you want to hear him speak, or talk with him, take advantage of what few openings there are now. Or, to make it easier for you, he also has online workshops.
Jim Wolverton, D Wolverton, http://davidfarland.net/, +1 (503) 623-9729, [email protected]
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