Phillip Margolin 6-03-10
The audience who went to listen to Philip Margolin read from his newest novel "Supreme Justice", were in for a surprise. He didn’t read and it wasn't missed.
Time and time again I have listened to authors who have talent and drive to put pen to paper and yet deliver readings that are pedantic, condescending or even sophomoric. (Yes I got a new thesaurus) I had always heard from author Robert Dugoni that Margolin was great to see in person and he was spot on.
The trouble is with some authors that they come across scared of readers who actually want to hear them speak. Margolin, a defense attorney has argued death penalty cases and once in front of the US Supreme Court so this veteren writer not only wasn’t afraid the thirty people wait for him at Third Place Books he was estatic to present that night.
Margolin arrived late after talking with the previous author moved the microphone away so that the echo of his booming voice would not distract from the message. With the energy of a new writer Margolin laid it all out that evening as if he were the featured speaker at Thrill Fest.
Then another miracle occurred He started from the beginning of his career and let loose a compelling journey that led him to this point. Margolin opened by telling his personal story about going from Defense attorney to block buster selling author of some fine legal thrillers. Now you would think that by this time the telling the stame story would wear on any author. Margolin comes across as a man who success has translated from a "look at me" writer to a "I did it and so can you."
I expect this from new authors trying to make a name for themselves, not from a veteran.
Two nuggets from Margolin on the craft of writing his way.
-He works from an outline anywhere from 25-60 pages. This is not the Roman numeral outline but as he puts it what he calls a “talking outline”. He talks through the story and if it doesn’t come to full circle and all the loose ends tied up, then he corrects it.
-He doesn’t write a single word until the outline is finished and the ending is complete. Period.
-Outlines can take him as long as three to five months to write for plotting.
Says Margolin, “I never get writers block because I work from an outline.”
The man has passion for being a lawyer and for being a writer came across loud and clear and anyone who gets the chance to see him speak should.
Have I ever read any of his novels? No, but I buy in the future.
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