David Vanavermaete: from a vague idea to his own fantasy world

Sometimes a writing adventure doesn't start with a grand plan, but with an idea that just keeps haunting your mind. That was also the case for David Vanavermaete. He had never harbored the ambition 

to become a writer, but for a long time, he had carried with him a vague image of a protagonist going on an adventure in a fantasy world. One day, he decided to put that idea on paper. Without grand   expectations, simply with the thought: I'll see what happens.

 And so began his story as a writer.

 

  

 Writing alongside daily life

David does not necessarily write at fixed times at a desk. He often finds time to work on his story on the train or when the children are in bed in the evening. It is those small in-between moments that give him the opportunity to continue building his own fantasy world.

Initially, writing was also something he preferred to keep to himself. He didn't immediately broadcast it. When his writing project eventually became more concrete, the first reactions from people around him were rather brief and matter-of-fact: “Okay, nice.” Fortunately, during the writing process, he also received enthusiastic reactions from his colleagues. And those reactions made it clear that his story sparked curiosity. When colleagues start asking: “When is the next chapter coming?”, you know you have readers who want to discover what happens next. For a writer, that must be particularly motivating.

A Harry Potter fan through and through

If you ask David which books he enjoys reading himself, you get a familiar answer: Harry Potter. He has read the entire series no less than five times!

That says something about the appeal of stories in which you can completely lose yourself. A world where characters grow, adventures unfold, and you, as a reader, can discover new details again and again.

Fantasy naturally also offers plenty of room to create your own world and bring characters to life. And that is exactly what David does with his own stories.

A piece of yourself in your characters

Characters sometimes originate from an idea, but gain more and more depth during the writing process. Sometimes, traits of the author himself even creep into the story.

David's wife notices this too. She recognizes certain traits of David in the character Evelyn. For instance, there is a tendency to question things and sometimes view situations in black and white.

It is an interesting aspect of writing: even when you invent a story set in a completely different world, recognizable human characteristics can make characters feel real. Perhaps a small piece of the writer is hidden within every character.

His biggest dream: a fanbase full of theories

What does David hope to achieve as an author? His greatest wish is to build a fanbase that not only reads his work but also dives right into it.

Readers who dissect his stories down to the last detail, try to discover hidden clues, and come up with theories among themselves about what might happen in the next book. A group of readers who speculate about possible twists and wonder which direction the story will take.

Isn't that a beautiful dream for every fantasy author? That you not only tell a story but also create a world that readers continue to ponder long after turning the last page. From an idea to a story that keeps growing

David Vanavermaete's story shows that you don't always need to start with a detailed plan to create something beautiful. Sometimes, one character, one idea, or one imaginary adventure is enough to set an entire writing journey in motion.

What began with a simple "I'll see what happens" grew into a story he continues to build upon, chapter after chapter. With the support and curiosity of his colleagues and the dream of an engaged fanbase, David looks ahead to what his fantasy world still has in store.

And who knows, readers might soon be discussing hidden clues and possible plot twists in his next book.

For the greatest compliment for a writer? Perhaps it is that readers not only want to know how the story ends, but especially what happens next.

 

David's Book 

The world of DarkLights: The Awakening

 Evelyn was living a simple and ordinary life when her magical abilities awakened. Wanted by the Inquisition, Evelyn has to hide in the Eldermorn Institute, where she learns to control her powers. But who can she trust? Dark schemes are unfolding, people are disappearing, and soon, Evelyn finds herself in a race to find a relic that could engulf the world in darkness. She will need all the magic she can conjure, but an overwhelming dark urge is burning deep inside her that she cannot control. How far is she willing to go to save the day?

 

 

 

Instagram profile of David  Amazon