How Does Writer Nick Redfern Work?

“I usually start work each day about 6.30AM and go on to about 5PM, Monday to Friday, writing constantly, and then I stop.” –Nick Redfern

From Dateline Zero — Nick Redern is the author of The NASA Conspiracies: The Truth Behind the Moon Landings, Censored Photos , and The Face on Mars, Three Men Seeking Monsters: Six Weeks in Pursuit of Werewolves, Lake Monsters, Giant Cats, Ghostly Devil Dogs, and Ape-Men, FINAL EVENTS and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife (a favorite of mine), and many more titles that delve into the unexplained and anomalous. He is a favorite writer of fans of Fortean themes; and seemed to always have one book just out and another on the way.

Writing with an informed and non-judgmental tone, Redfern’s books treat the reader as an adult — he gives you the evidence he has found, and leaves many of the conclusions up to you. His healthy skepticism allows him to be open to anything, and ready for anything. It also allows the reader to suspend judgment, and see where the journey leads.

Speaking of journey: Redfern’s books are a thrilling adventure every time. One of my favorite titles from any author is his book FINAL EVENTS and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife, published in August of 2010. That book chronicals Nick Redfern’s conversations with a priest who had been talking with government agents, only to be called by someone who had worked for a secretive government agency himself. He is referred from one person to the next, shown government documents, and told incredible stories. About half-way through the book, one wonders if Nick Redern was chasing down information or being led around by the chain. Indeed, he openly says in the book (a few times) that he wondered if he was being fed misinformation.

Not only does Redfern have his name on books, but he’s busy at work as a contributer to Mysterious Universe; he writes for his own blogs such as UFO Mystic, and There’s Something In The Woods; and he’s also a contributor to Fate, Fortean Times, UFO Magazine, and Intrepid. On top of the blogs, the websites, and the magazines, he contributes to various anthologies; such as the fantastic anthology series Darklore. How the ‘H’ does he find the time to pull that all off?

There’s an entry for Nick Redfern at Wikipedia, I see that he got his start as a professional writer doing a lot of freelance work. “He has worked as a freelance feature writer for the Daily Express, Planet on Sunday, People, Western Daily Press, and Express & Star newspapers,” the entry reads. “Between 1996 and 2001 he worked as a freelance journalist for the following newsstand magazines in Britain: The Weekender, Animals, Animals, Animals, Pet Reptile, Military Illustrated, Eye-Spy, The Unopened Files, and The X-Factor.”

Being a freelance writer, a successful one, means having the self-discipline to get up early and get to work… with no other boss than yourself telling you to get your butt into the chair and get to work. Redfern had plenty of experience doing that back in the 90s.

Weirld.com has an interview with Nick Redfern, posted Friday, April 1. In it, they ask him: “Nick, you’ve investigated all kinds of paranormal strangeness … but you haven’t devoted much time to investigating ghosts. Why not? Do you believe in them?” He answers that question, and so much more. He talks a great deal about his work life and schedule in that lengthy reply; which is great for those of us who are interested in the writing life of accomplished writers.

[Read the full interview at Weirld.com: "13 Questions for 'The NASA Conspiracies' author & paranormal investigator Nick Redfern"]

Cryptozoology and Ufology are my two biggest interests when it comes to Forteana. And those are the areas I feel most capable of working in. And it has to be interesting too, of course! Personally, while there are various areas in which I have strong interests – the Contactee movement, werewolves, Men in Black stories, Mothman – there are some that I have little or no interest in, such as Tarot-Cards, Ouija-Boards, the Bermuda Triangle, telepathy, and ghosts.

When I say I have no interest, I mean chiefly from the perspective of doing intensive research into these areas. I’ve read a lot of books on such topics, but I have zero interest in researching and writing about, say, Tarot-Cards. Mainly because there are many people far more skilled in that area already – so why go rampaging around in an area you’re not overly familiar with? And that’s the same with ghosts: there are plenty of people who have been researching this area for years. What would be the point of me getting involved in it now, and having to start from scratch?

Plus, to be honest, ghostly phenomena just doesn’t interest me that much, in the same way some people in other Fortean areas could not care less about Bigfoot or Roswell. Plus, it would be boring if we were all into the same stuff! I think there is often a tendency for people to assume if we’re into one Fortean issue, we’re into them all! But, I’m not. Plus, I like to have a life away from Forteana too.

I usually start work each day about 6.30AM and go on to about 5PM, Monday to Friday, writing constantly, and then I stop. I have zero interest in having my head in books all the time, or constantly chasing mysteries. At night, after work for me ends at 5PM, me and my wife, Dana, will go to our favorite pubs, go to a gig (preferably very loud and punk guitar-based!), or have friends over, etc. I also watch a lot of English football (I hate the word soccer!) on the subscription channels – I usually watch that each and every week-night, if we are at home, from about 9PM to Midnight.

Forteana is actually a secondary aspect of my life – maybe even less than secondary! Do I believe in ghosts? Well…I believe there is a phenomenon that causes people to see ghosts. But, if you’re asking me do I believe this is a manifestation of the dead returned, I truthfully don’t know. It could be. It could also be the subconscious wanting to believe so badly that there is life-after-death that it outwardly projects imagery from the human-mind that acts as “damage-control” and gives the person some comfort that death is not the end.

Frankly, the idea of no life-after-death does not worry me at all. If there’s just oblivion, it’s no big deal. The thing to do is realize that as a very real possibility and make sure you have a bloody good time in the 80 years or so we’ll hopefully have.

A few things that I have noticed about people who are accomplished at what they do, meaning that they are able to make a living at what they want to do… For one things, they pursue what interests them, and align that with what they are good at. In this case, Fortean themes and writing.

The second thing: you need to put in more than a 40 hour work week. If you cannot do that right away, you should expect to be doing that at some point in the future if you want to be really accomplished at it. In other words, even if you really like it, it’s still work. So don’t shy away from work.

Nick Redfern is putting in 50+ hours a week! He’s producing more content than most even have time to digest. And, I for one, and thankful for it.

Read this article, and more, at Dateline Zero.