Jan Verhoeff Interview

When did you decide to become a writer?
I’m not sure it was a decision. I think it might have been a passion I could not overcome and when it took over my life, I accepted it as part of who I am.

What was your first published work?
My first published work appeared in a Fan Club Magazine for Loretta Lynn in 1973, I told about attending her show at Greeley Colorado, and how I was totally mesmerized with her band and a few young guys who fronted her show. I was 14 at the time and a young man by the name of Kenny Starr from Burlingame, Kansas sang “The Key’s in The Mailbox”. To this day I can sing the song word for word.

What is your dream as a writer?
My dream as a writer is to share my passion of life and the joy I feel in the opportunities that come from every moment. I just want to share the power of words, the wisdom that comes from within, and the love I have to give.
Much of my writing is business documents, articles, and marketing ‘stuff’ so I realize the passion isn’t expressed in that corner, but I hope my sincere passion for what I do comes through even there.

What writing avenues are you currently pursuing?
I write business documents, articles, and marketing information for Internet Content, and I also write children’s adventure books and mild adventure - drama for adults. I love poetry, essays, and short stories as quick outlets.
I’ll pursue almost any venue, occasionally at random, just because I happen to put something on paper and that’s the venue it follows.

Is there anything you wish you had been told earlier in your career?
I wish someone earlier in my life would have encouraged me to write. For too long, I was told I had to do the ‘logical’ and encouraged not to follow my dream of writing, and now it seems I struggle with the confidence, although I have published proof of my ability. I wish I could encourage people to just encourage others more, and do less destruction of another person’s dreams.
I wish someone had told me not to let the nay-sayers wound my dreams and discourage me from following my passion.
What advice can you offer writers just breaking into a serious writing career?
When in doubt, just write. Don’t edit, don’t go back and reread it. Just write it. The voice and the flavor will come with the story. Give it life by rushing through the rough draft and allowing your story the freedom to find a path. Then go back and edit and rewrite, and trim the banks of your river to fit the story.
At least once in your career write with no destination, just a vision of a character and allow the character to ebb and flow with events and happenings until you reach the end of your story. This was one of my first projects in a writing class I took recently and it was rather revealing. I was impressed that my characters are so well developed that they can carry a story line with the simple introduction of a problem.

Anything else you want our readers to know?
I want the readers to know that anything is possible, you just simply have to believe and step out in faith to allow it to happen. Once you take that step - the rest is history. Your faith will bring you where you want to be, if you believe and just open up to what can truly happen for you.
And - I want the readers to know that some of my work is available at my bookstore - the link is on my site http://janverhoeff.com/