David Wolverton (Farland)
(Updated Since His Death) I want to start by saying I was nervous the first time I posted this, and that remains true all these years later as I post this in his memory. I will never capture in words what I gained from David’s mentorship. Second only to my family, David Farland was the reason I aspired to write professionally. By his definition, he was a “Fantasy Author, Writing Instructor, Videogame Designer, Movie Producer, and was otherwise unemployable.” He pursued what he loved: writing, creating, and teaching others to do the same.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, often using it as a way to strip the crazy out of my mind to nail it to paper. Then, my brother Jordan recommended a book, saying, “You need to read this.” He handed me The Sum of All Men, the first book of The Runelords series. By the third chapter, I was hooked. After reading Brotherhood of the Wolf, the second book in the series, I felt inspired to share my chaotic thoughts with others. By the time I reached the third book, Wizardborn, I was eager to write something that might inspire others, as David’s books had inspired me. When I discovered he offered courses where he taught small groups in person, I jumped at the opportunity to learn from him.
David’s generosity and faith in others were evident from the first day in class. I learned a great deal during that Writer’s Workshop, and I am so saddened that his in-person courses will no longer be available for aspiring authors. The most valuable lesson I took away from David’s teachings is captured in my notes from the fourth day of class: Keep struggling, for the struggle is worth it. Help others along the way. You will only be rewarded for it. While I may have paraphrased it then, his wisdom remains in those words. His genius continues to live on in all who attended his courses and through his online courses.
David initially went to college to become a doctor, but his passion for writing lured him down a different path. He exchanged his scalpel for a pen, proving that writing could be as precise as surgery, especially when editing his and other authors’ works. When I shared Guild of Four with David, he said, “This will be the book you sell,” He deserves a great deal of credit for my journey to becoming a published author, and it breaks my heart that I cannot call him up today and tell him he was right.
Be Safe and Venture Bravely into the Night,
Your Chaos Realm Guardian
