About Avi Silverman:
Silverman is a Philadelphia based self-published author. His work reflects his interest in politics, logic, and education as well as some nerdy pop culture. When people ask him how many cups of coffee he’s had so far today, he usually shaves a cup or two off the answer.
What inspires you to write?
I feel like we’ve all stopped listening to each other. We’ve certainly stopped listening to facts when they get in the way of our beliefs. While my writing has an obvious bias, I pride myself in my willingness to listen to others and to consider their point of view. I actually love to lose arguments. I love being proven wrong because it means I learned something new. I hope my writing can encourage others feel the same way.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process usually involves a cup of coffee next to my computer and a cat in my lap. After that, the most important thing is research. I spend much more time reading articles, watching videos of speeches and interviews, and skimming through transcripts of Supreme Court cases than I spend on actual writing. I keep searching until I find something that’s either terrifying or hilarious. If I’m not moved by it, I can’t expect my audience to be moved by me writing about it. For the actual writing part, I would start each chapter without much of a plan or outline. Once I had a decent amount of material down I would create an outline if what I had to see the general points I was making and to determine if they flowed well or not. After that, I would read through and rewrite a chapter over and over again. It got to the point where I became numb to the material. Was this really as funny or shocking as I thought it was before? I would then ask my wife to read through a chapter as a stare nervously at her face to gauge her reaction. Anytime she made the slightest flinch, I would ask what part she just read. I am certain this was extremely annoying for her.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
As a non-fiction writer, I have imaginary conversations with the people I write about. Arguments actually. Usually in the shower. I always win.
What advice would you give other writers?
Find something you’re passionate about and start writing. When I started, I didn’t think I’d ever actually finish. I was just jotting down my thoughts in my spare time, that’s all. I’d write for a few days in a row, but then life would get in the way and nothing would get written for a bit. And that was fine, I had other things going on. But then something happened. I realized that I missed writing if I had to go a day or two without it. I craved it, I was becoming addicted. That’s when everything changed for me and I realized this book was going to be finished. If I didn’t love the process of researching and writing, that never would have happened. If I was focusing on what others might want to read instead of what I felt like writing about, I wouldn’t have been so attached to it.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I wouldn’t have turned down an offer from a major publisher, but no one was offering. I did send out query letters and I don’t regret that for a second. It forced me to think about my target audience, the purpose of my book, and what I wanted readers to get from the experience. All of that ended up being extremely valuable when it came to self-publishing.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I’m sure there will be some changes ahead, but books aren’t going anywhere. Publishers will have to continue to adapt, I believe they will continue to play an important role.
What genres do you write?: Non-Fiction, Political
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Avi Silverman Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Facebook
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
