{"id":217,"date":"2017-05-10T14:27:11","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T14:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nethergatewriters.org\/?p=217"},"modified":"2021-03-07T11:19:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-07T11:19:04","slug":"meet-the-nethergate-writers-roddie-mckenzie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nethergatewriters.com\/?p=217","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Nethergate Writers – Roddie McKenzie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to first of an occasional series of Q&As, where we will get to find out a little bit more about the people who make up the Nethergate Writers.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

First up is Roddie McKenzie.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

1. How long have you been a writer? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I have written poetry for eighteen years, fiction for thirteen years and non-fiction (technology and biological science) professionally for thirty eight years.<\/p>\n

2. Have you had anything published? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Eighty one peer-reviewed scientific papers, six book chapters and five book reviews in bioscience; also seventeen letters in the press; eight short stories in books, nine on line and one in a magazine; ten poems on line, two in books, and twelve in magazines; and finally, one song in a magazine.<\/p>\n

3. Do you have a writing routine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every day I try to spend at least an hour on writing projects, even if it is just revision or editing of previous pieces or polishing grammar skills.<\/p>\n

4. Who is your literary hero or heroine (real or fictional) and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iain Banks, for bringing prominence to post-modern Scottish literature; Hunter S Thompson, for the irrepressible, irrational and selfish character Raol Duke, his alter ego; Alan Warner, for the brave and courageously beautiful survivor, Morven Caller; Irvine Welsh for bucking the trend that said vernacular in prose was death to a writer; Herman Hesse for spiritual despair and beauty in \u201cThe Steppenwolf\u201d and \u201cNarziss and Goldmund\u201d; PG Woodhouse for mad satirical delights and Raymond Chandler for micro-characterisation, rapid action and noir atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\"Roddie<\/a>
Roddie with a close friend<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Do you prefer working in a particular genre?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interlinked short stories, prose poetry, rhyming songs\/poems and rap.<\/p>\n

6. Do you have any writing ambitions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

To publish collections of poetry, short stories, children`s novels and novels.<\/p>\n

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take note of constructive criticism, but believe in your ideas; read voraciously-including what established writers say about the craft; establish a writing routine; try to get your work in front of an audience and see how it flies; and write principally, because you enjoy it. If that doesn\u2019t ring your bell – save yourself the agro… and give it up!<\/p>\n

8. What are you reading at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Denis Johnson`s \u201cJesus` Son\u201d and Liz Lochhead\u2019s poetry, \u201cFugitive Colours\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to first of an occasional series of Q&As, where we will get to find out a little bit more about the people who make up the Nethergate Writers. First up is Roddie McKenzie. 1. How long have you been a writer? I have written poetry for eighteen years, fiction for thirteen years and non-fiction… Read More »Meet the Nethergate Writers – Roddie McKenzie<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-meeting-archive"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t