Writing

The Demonslayer's Handbook

The Demonslayer's Handbook began in 2004 as the structure for a concept album of the same name, but which ended up taking on a life of its own. Currently, the first manuscript is written, and being reviewed and edited. After I decide the best way to go forward with marketing and distribution, I'm hoping the book will be in stores by Spring 2009.

On Writing:

Many people think that a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota is worthless, and I almost certainly couldn't disagree with this less. For instance, it completely strips you of any moral or religious upbringing you might have had. It also instills a healthy sense of paranoia, causing you to doubt everything and trust no one. It consumes so much of your time, that you will have to completely give up on sleep, relationships, television and social activity. Caffeine will become your new God.

There are also disadvantages.

For instance, by the time you are done, you will have amassed enough debt in student loans that you could have purchased your own third-world nation, and proclaimed yourself to be 'smart'.

One surprising advantage of writing research papers and theses (rhymes with 'feces') all day every day is that you cannot help but to become a very fast typist. An eight-page paper on Kant's 'Metaphysics of Morals'? Ha! You will be able to knock that off the night before it's due! And because you have so many papers to write, you probably will. (Given that you forgo sleep, relationships, television and social activity, and replace your soul with caffeine.)

I'm not suggesting that any fool who can type quickly makes for a good writer, but it certainly helps. It also eases the pain when I look at my student loans, to know that at least there is some skill that translates to the real world.

Anyway, I really enjoy writing and storytelling, and I've discovered that the two have a great synergy. You can check out my current projects; like the occultish, horrorish, actionish novel, The Demonslayer's Handbook, or my short Hellish-Norse-Fiction-Adventure Suicide Kings.

Conrad Zero - Minneapolis Musician Author and Demonologist

Writing