New author thinks practice makes perfect

Writing has always been a passion for MSU alumnus Adam Holwerda, who used the self-publishing Web site lulu.com to publish his first book of short stories, “Clayton’s Secret Notebook.”

“I really like the idea (of Holwerda publishing his own book),” said biology senior Benjamin Larson, who has known Holwerda for four years.

“He’s getting out there a little more, but he’s never been hidden. I’m glad he’s trying to get in the public eye.”

Holwerda’s book is a series of short stories which allows the reader to either read it all at one time or in segments without feeling disconnected from the plot, the latter being how Larson chose to read “Clayton’s Secret Notebook.” He read it in three different sittings and said he found the stories captivating.

“I liked ‘Eleven Minutes’ the best,” Larson said. “It just kind of touched a part of me.”

Alex Clarke, Holwerda’s roommate, described him as a unique guy who is sometimes in his own world, which he said isn’t a bad thing.

“He’s always thinking of and making weird connections between what he hears from the little phrases people say that aren’t meant to be funny but are, the way he hears them,” Clarke said.

The stories Holwerda prefers to write aren’t mainstream reads. He typically writes about things that aren’t normally found on the shelves of the local book store.

“I like to write about the real world where things that don’t normally happen, happen,” Holwerda said.

It’s while the rest of the city is sleeping that Holwerda finds himself most productive and creative with his writing.

“No one is awake so I can’t go out and have fun,” Holwerda said. “It forces you to do something else. I would like to write in the mornings, but I’m not a morning person.”

Larson said that he would like to see him write a novel.

“He’s a very talented writer and he has ideas that he really pursues,” Larson said. “He said he was going to write another collection of short stories and then a novel to see what people like the best.”

Even though Holwerda would like to become a professional writer, his stories so far have just been for friends and family. He considers his first batch of stories “practice novels.”

“Ninety percent of all writing is practice writing. The growing part of writing is most important,” Holwerda said.