John Whittier Treat, long known for teaching novel writing, has added a new title to his bibliography. His latest book, The Seventh City of Refuge, is the third of four stories he says he has been compelled to tell.
In a recent interview with The Authors Guild, Treat explained that his life of taking risks informs the narrative of the new novel. He also offered practical tips for overcoming writer’s block, such as opening a dictionary, selecting a random word, and beginning a sentence with it to spark creativity.
When asked about his preferred writing time, Treat said he writes whenever he wakes up and stresses the importance of tackling the most important task first each day. He added that the book he wants to write may not be the one anyone else wants to read, but he urges writers to “write it anyway.”
Reflecting on the current era, Treat remarked that we are witnessing the end of many things and the potential birth of new ones, and that writers must be witnesses to these changes. He concluded that the excitement of being a writer today lies in documenting these transformative moments.