If you listened to the June 27th Writing Wall podcast you probably already have an idea of who Tim Anders is and what an incredible voice he has. When Tim tells a story, he tells a story. The sort with twists and turns that come right out of nowhere, just like the curves around some of our mountain roads. He loves taking his listeners on an adventure through his writing. Check out this Wednesday Writing Corner gentleman who happens to be from my hometown in Sparta, North Carolina.
Tim Anders's stories flow much like the waters gliding over the rocks of the nearby New River in Alleghany County, North Carolina. Appalachia is a place where stories are always being told on front porches or while we huddle around for an impromptu reunion in the local grocery store parking lot. However, we are also skilled storytellers, and very detailed ones too.
I met Tim a few years ago at the Public Library where he works and is surrounded by books all day, every day. In fact, with the summer reading program at our library in full swing, The Writing Wall Blog had to ask what Tim's favorite childhood book was. This writer confirmed he is a huge fan of Clifford the Big Red Dog!
The library is also the gathering place for many of our community groups, and yes this includes writing groups. It was during an Open Mic Night that I really got to know Tim and his personality through his stories. Tim made us all laugh and think about the interesting situations he had placed his characters in. Not to mention the curve balls that he sometimes throws his listeners towards the end.
As an author, and someone who enjoys the process of novel writing, I am constantly wondering how short story writers come up with their plots?
"Create a character, that is not you," Tim advised, "and then put them in various predicaments describing how they might handle their circumstances." Tim gained his love of storytelling from his father who was a truck driver saying, "that was my first experience with someone who would tell detailed stories about things I had never expected."
Photo of Tim Anders, Short Story Teller
Now, if you are wondering if Tim has written anything the answer is yes. His book is titled Welcome to Tim Town and it is filled with flash fiction and poetry.
Even better is Tim's willingness to share his writing with everyone. As a member of Alleghany Writers, he said the best part of being involved was, "the fellowship I get to have with creative people. It is fun because it can give you a different point of view on experiences or methods, and this can make things new and fresh for my style of writing."
Of course, part of being in a writing group means sharing your work out loud. Some writers can be quite guarded of their words, careful to whom they speak around. Or if you're like me, public speaking is nerve-wracking! Tim offered the following advice, "My best tip would be to go over any piece of work so much that it is second nature to you, so you will have an extreme amount of comfort in what you are presenting."
Where does a mountain scribe like Tim commit words to paper? In his office is one place, or on the couch after his wife has turned in, which made him confess to being a "write owl".
Tim's advice for writers is, "Write what you like to hear and read, and don't worry about what others think!"
Our community is truly blessed with some wonderful individuals, who care a great deal for preserving and sharing the art of Appalachia storytelling through the written word. To learn more about Alleghany Writers please visit their website at www.alleghanywriters.com.
If you would like to follow Tim on Twitter visit him @BroTimAnders, or to read his blog visit https://itakeabreath.wordpress.com/.
A new Writer of the Week is featured every Monday. Be sure to also follow The Writing Wall on Twitter @TheWritingWall, or on Instagram @writingsonthewall85 for the latest. You can also listen to the podcast every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. Just search for The Writing Wall on Spotify, Google Cast, Breaker, and more. Thank you to our Writing Corner Wednesday authors, writers, and poets!
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