Meet the Members: Will Holcomb

“Having a network of writers helps me grow as a writer. We do not “succeed” in a vacuum. We are all part of the success of others. “

— Will Holcomb

A member of the Writers’ League since 2016, Will lives in Smithville, TX.

Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?

Will Holcomb: Most of my current writing is what I would categorize as inspirational fiction. When people ask what I write about, I say “human potential.”

Scribe: What author would you most like to have a drink with, and what’s the first question you would ask them?

WH: Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. My first question would be, “What do you want to talk about?” and then I would just listen and see where the conversation goes. I love unscripted, free flowing conversation with thinkers and dreamers.

Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?

WH: The Dummies Guide on How to Build a Satellite Radio from Coconuts. But if you’d give me a second book, it would be Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. There are so many books I want to read, and I have very little time to read. I’ve read Zen twice and I’m thinking about reading it a third time.

Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?

WH: Connections and collaboration. Having a network of writers helps me grow as a writer. We do not “succeed” in a vacuum. We are all part of the success of others.

Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?

WH: I fell into writing simply because I started writing. When I started writing, the stories that formed in my head first were very strongly directed towards the future of humanity because that’s something I am excited and worried about at the same time. I’m not a planner. I just let what happens happen. I have a couple science fiction stories started, a superhero graphic novel, a rock opera with about 20 songs, another one-act play, and much more. I’m not running low on ideas yet.

Scribe: Here at the Writers’ League, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one Texas-related book that has come out within the past year that you couldn’t put down?

WH: Just one? Although they didn’t come out in the last year, I enjoyed two authors whose books take place in Texas. Catherine Chagra’s memoir, Dirty Darlings (2015), tells about her life growing up as the daughter of the biggest Marijuana dealer in the US in the 1970’s. Tim Bryant’s book, Dutch Curridge (2010), is a 1950’s noir taking place in Hell’s Half Acre (Ft. Worth area). It is a very interesting view into that period of Texas.

Will received a Pen & Fork scholarship to the 2018 Writers’ League of Texas Agents Conference given in the name of Eva Marie Gonzales, who embodied joy, championed individual expression, and continues to inspire us all. She lives on in the hearts of the Pen & Fork writing support group members, including (among others): Beth Sample, Rodney Sprott, Gina Springer Shirley, Betty Lew Bewley, Sue Cleveland, Dixie Evatt, Gogi Hale, Rosemary Hook, Sherry Lowry, and Ilene Markowitz Haddad.