Five Things My Father Taught Me About Writing
By Daniel Palmer
May 10, 2018
Here’s a fact: I write Michael Palmer medical thrillers. I’ve been doing the job since 2013, which is the same year my father passed away. He died suddenly after collapsing in an airport upon his return from an incredible trip to Africa. Though many miss him dearly—his family especially—I’m comforted in knowing that he had experienced joy, wonder, and tranquility in his last few weeks with us.
It was some time after the letters and condolences stopped pouring in that my father’s longtime editor, Jennifer Enderlin, asked if I could continue my dad’s writing legacy. Readers love good medical suspense stories, but there aren’t many authors who can blend accurate medicine with great suspense—it’s a strange mix of skills, and if you knew my father, you’d know he was indeed a rarity.
I might not have an M.D. to my name, but a lot of my friends and family members do. I could figure out from them what I needed to know to cover the medical part of the equation and apply my skill in understanding what makes a good story and what makes for suspenseful reading to cover the rest.
If I’d said no, then that would have been the end of that part of my father’s story and his legions of fans worldwide would have had Resistant to savor as the final book in his impressive oeuvre. If I’d said yes, I’d have to seamlessly blend my tendencies as a storyteller with his—or to put it another way, I would have to take on a persona that was larger than life and channel it into a book that, for all intents and purposes, would read like a Michael Palmer medical thriller.
It was a tall order, but if I could do it, his fans would benefit and so would I—not only by keeping his writing legacy alive but also by feeding my father’s grandchildren, something he would have approved without reservation.
In fact, my father had wanted me to write Michael Palmer medical thrillers after he was gone for that very reason.
So could I do it?
My interest in writing (I published five novels before being asked to write under the Michael Palmer name) had grown from years of discussions with my father about his books. For him, the process of making a book “work” was an arduous one, and he had benefited greatly from the counsel of a select group of trusted advisors, of whom I was one. It gave me a unique glimpse behind the book-writing curtain before I had a curtain of my own.
Expectations would be high, not only from my father’s editor and his readers but from myself as well. Hey, no kid wants to sully the family name! I took stock of my father’s teachings over the years to see if I had the “write stuff” to do him proud.
Five lessons my father imparted about the writing life came to me, teachings that if I could live up to, embrace, or comprehend the way he did would give me the confidence to do these books justice. So without further ado, here are my father’s teachings that I carefully weighed and considered, in the order I considered them, before making my decision.
Be Fearless
When giving life advice, my dad would often say: “One day at a time. You can only do what you can do.” He’d also say, “Higgy piggy,” which was his shorthand for those pithy sayings. But when it came to writing, his motto was: Be Fearless. Follow your gut. Listen to people you trust. Do another draft. Throw the book away if you must. Try again. Just go for it—fearlessly, without anything holding you back.
The writer’s job is to write, and if you’re in some looping, pointless thought-spiral, chances are you won’t be entertaining to anybody, especially the reader. So I let the fear of disappointing my dad’s readers pass through me like a breeze as I thought about saying yes to writing his books.
Relax
If I became tense, the writing would be stiff. That was one of my father’s first lessons about good writing: get out of your head, and get into your heart. If I thought about the guy or gal on the subway reading my book and rolling their eyes, I’d clam right up and the prose would be as dull as a butter knife. Breathe in and breathe out and relax. “You can do it, kiddo.” That’s what my father would say. It’s good advice no matter what the profession or project. So I relaxed, but I still wasn’t sure if I had a book in me—his book, to be precise.
This Is Hard
And it really is difficult. To write well takes effort and practice. You’ve got to read and write to get good at reading and writing. It seems simple on the surface, but the effort is mentally and emotionally taxing. It’s like playing baseball or an instrument—you need repetitions to build up the muscle memory. But even then, it takes concentration and commitment to execute to the best of your ability.
So when I contemplated writing Trauma—the first of my Michael Palmer medical thrillers—and was blank on ideas, I remembered my father’s words: that it’s hard, to let it be hard, and that I needed to relax and be brave. When I did that, I saw a book in my head and thought—yeah, I can pull this off, Dad. I got this. Sort of…
Use Your Imagination
When he started, my dad was virtually a blank slate as far as creative writing was concerned. He had never even taken a course on writing. He had the discipline honed by years of memorization and study in med school, and he had read a lot of fiction, but he had no formal training. What he had to his advantage was a powerful imagination and a deeply ingrained sense of what was dramatic.
In 1980, his agent purposely sold his book, The Sisterhood, to the late Linda Gray at Bantam—a legendary editor who would be gentle and patient in teaching Dad how to channel his wild imagination into a novel. Over the years, my father helped me channel my imagination the way Linda helped him. He taught me to recognize when I needed to create another point of view, to rein myself in when my writing was becoming pretentious and self-serving, and to step up when I became mentally lazy. So could I channel my imagination into a book worthy of his name? I said yes to that, and moved on to his last teaching.
Just Do It
Let’s say someone (ahem, like my dad) wanted us to sing a silly song at a book talk, and I said no way. He’d say, “Oh, just do it.” So we did. Or let’s say someone wanted us to sing a different silly song at an awards banquet in front of hundreds of our peers and industry titans, with me on guitar, him on harmonica, and hand puppets as props. I’d say, “No way,” and he’d say, “Oh, just do it.” And guess what we did? Yeah, that.
It didn’t really matter what was being asked of him; if my father thought it would be fun, funny, or amusing to somebody, chances were he’d just do it. So I heard my dad’s voice in my head when his editor came to me about writing these Michael Palmer medical thrillers. And guess what I heard him say? So, yeah, I just did it.
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Read lots of Michael Palmer work, but never David Palmer … yet – will be adding yet another to by TBR pile!
Oops, *Daniel.
Great advice!
Sure glad I am over 18 so I have a chance to win!
Love the musical entertainment at Thrillerfest!! Just do it!!!!!
That is the best advice I’ve ever heard! ❤❤
As Daniel knows, I devoured all of his dad’s books and am well on the way to devouring all of his!
Love medical thrillers!
grandmanancyshep@gmail.com
I read every book Michael Palmer published, and am trying my best to read all of Daniel’s. His father would be so very proud of his work!
Daniel, one of the biggest thrills in my life was the blurb your dad wrote for one of my medical thrillers–in fact, he wrote six complimentary one-liners, and I have them posted above my computer. We were going to get together at ITW, but it didn’t work out that way. So glad you’ve taken up the mantle. Blessings.
Fabulous advice from a fabulous man, and obviously an awesome dad. We are all blessed by his work, and his life. He is missed
Great advice all around!
Sounds like a great read!
Always ready for one of Michael Palmer’s great medical thrillers!
Thank you for this opportunity!
I would love so much to win and have a travel to your world!
Sounds like an interesting book!
Thank you for the guest post and the entry opportunity!
Thank you for the giveaway chance!
This book looks good. Would love to win it.
Medical thrillers rock (the soul)!
Sounds like a great book, hope to win!
I always love a good medical thriller – looking forward to this one!
Wow! Would like to win. Thanks
sherie.lundmark@gmail.com
Would love to check out this new book!
I would love to win and read this. It seems there was a wise father and son involved.
thanks for opportunity too win!
I loved to win,
I’d love to add this to my summer reading list!
Looks like an interesting read
Good stuff. Been looking for some good medical thrillers, I will be sure to check this out!
Great read I bet!
I’,m a medical librarian, so I love medical mysteries.
Fascinating!
I’ve read your father’s work, but didn’t know about yours! (Rock, I live under) I’m excited to try a new author!
Sounds great! Thanks
yes please
Looks like a great book to read thank you
I’ve never read anything by Michael or Daniel Palmer. I’d love to win a copy; I’m interested in reading some thriller books by male authors because I just realized my current thriller book collection is mainly titles by female authors.
Thanks for the chance!
Dying to read this new one, thanks for the chance to win it.
can’t wait for this one!
How have I not read any of these by the father or the son? Interesting post and books I’m sure I will enjoy.
What a lovely tribute to your father. Look forward to reading your work. Thanks for chance to win!
cool
Intriguing mystery and interesting feature. Thanks.
Sounds great
Hi, I enjoyed reading what your dad taught you! Relax is a biggie to me… Thank you for the opportunity to win your book!!!!!
Cindi
Would love to read. Loved your father’s advice.
Terrific
Enjoyed your beautiful post about your father and your writing.
I’d love to win!
Looking forward to reading this novel!
I have read many books by both Daniel and Michael Palmer, and enjoyed them immensely. Will look forward to reading this new one! Hoping to win!
I have never read anything by Daniel Palmer, but this sounds like a book I would enjoy.
would love to win this
Great advice from your dad–so, just do it!
This sounds like a book I would enjoy.
This books looks really, really good and I would love to win a copy. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
I so want to win.
Can’t wait.
MOM and I love these types of books and would love to win a copy. Thank you very much!!
Sounds great
I’m sure your Dad is happy you have carried on his legacy.
Love Michael Pamer’s books ,can’t wait to read another one!
Sounds like a great prize.
Please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks!
Thanks for the chance
I adore medical thrillers and love your books! And the advice from your dad is priceless! Thank you for this chance!
sounds very interesting
Can’t wait!!!
I look forward to discovering a new mystery author.
I’ve read all of Michael’s books, starting with ‘The Sisterhood’. I even got to exchange a few emails with him. So proud of Daniel for continuing his Dad’s legacy.
I’d love the chance to read something by Michael Palmer!
I’ve enjoyed books by Michael Palmer. Would love to see what his son can do.
I just like to read and win books!
Count me in, please!
What a great way to honor your father’s memory. Can’t wait to check out your books.
Way to pick up and carry, or run with the torch. Can’t wait to read a great story as well as a continued legacy.
great article
I think your Dad would be very pleased. Thanks
I love medical thrillers and Michael Palmer is a long time favorite, I would love to win! I happy Daniel Palmer is carrying on his dad’s legacy 🙂
So wonderful to have had such a wise and caring mentor, and to have been such a receptive student. Would love read the results in The First Family.
It sounds like something I would enjoy .
Interesting.
I would like to read this book.
I haven’t read any of his books yet so it would be great to win one. Thank you for the opportunity.
I haven’t read any of his books yet so it would be great to win one. Thank you for the opportunity.
Sounds like a great read
Love medical thrillers! This one sounds like a page turner!
What an insightful interview, I loved the background of building the story and honoring the legacy but forging on to another chapter. Thanks for this opportunity
Loved reading the advice Daniel received from his father. I’m just another huge fan of the medical thriller.
Love these medical thrillers. Would like to win.
Medical thrillers are the best!
I love Michael’s books, and would enjoy reading this one. Thanks for this chance.
Interesting interview
very intrigued, can’t wait to read
Carry on tour dad’s good work. Would love to have a copy,
Looks like a very good book. Author sounds great too!
Words to live by.
I always enjoy his thrillers.
Great although a bit sad father/son story.
The advice is great not only for writers but for anyone seeking success in any endeavor.
Looks like good book.
Cannot wait.
love a good thriller
Love medical mysteries and thrillers.
One day at a time. You can only do what you can do I love that advice
Sounds like a good read. I would love to win this.
Great article. Thanks for the giveaway
THANKS FOR THE CHANCE good luck everyone
This book looks like something my husband would love to read…would love to give it to him for fathers day.
Oodles of great advice! I would love to win and read this book!
One of the simultaneously hardest and easiest things to learn as a writer was to be fearless, to step outside my comfort zone. If I said I couldn’t or wouldn’t write something, I could be certain a story involving precisely that would enter my mind within the week.
I haven’t read a medical thriller for years, so I am hoping to win this book!
Thanks for the chance to win
i would love to read this!
Palmer is a favorite of mine to read. Always on the lookout for his latest boo!
Sounds like good advice your dad gave you. It has paid off.
I think the five things your father taught can apply to just about anything in life. I love it.
thank you for the chance to win
Looks good!!
This sounds so interesting.
sounds good count me in
I love the advice to relax. It’s something I have a hard time doing!
Just put this on my to read list, thanks for the chance
I’ve read some Daniel Palmer books, but none of the Michael books yet. I have a couple in my library, so that may change.
This looks like a book that I would love to read this Summer.
can’t wait to read this book
I love to read the Michael Palmer books. I look forward to reading your new book.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Happy Monday!
This sounds wonderful. Thanks for the chance
Medical thrillers are so interesting. Would love to win. I appreciate the chance!
Thank you for the chance to win!
This sounds like a great read. Thank you for the chance.
This would be great
This sounds great!
It sounds like an interesting read. Thanks.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
very interested in reading it!
Sounds like another winner!
It sounds even more suspenseful than the LP!
I love medical thrillers. Don’t know how I’ve overlooked Daniel Palmer, but I won’t again.
Sounds good
So much to learn from our parents and great that you appreciate your fathers advice.
Oh I love this author and would love to win his book
Sign me up please!!
That video is priceless-and what a fabulous memory for you to have!
Daniel- I loved reading this story about following your Dad’s teachings and now being put to the test. I had only read one of his novels, before I knew he was your father, and thought he was terrific. Same for you. From a guy who didn’t have a father to help me find my way, I find your tribute to him inspiring. I hope I can shape a path for my sons. That’s what it’s really all about isn’t it? Be well my friend, and in the immortal words of Wet Willie, Keep on Smilin’.
The author shared cool memories and ideas. I believe that in addition to schooling, there must be self-study. This is what I owe to my father for showing me https://sky-writer.com/essaylab-review/ and I developed writing skills with non-standard templates. In fact, writing an essay or your own scientific research is not a gift; everything can be learned from professionals.
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