The world can be a problematic place, and it is not always the troublemakers that make the most trouble.

“If you’re not involved, you might be part of the problem. The world wants something from you. The universe wants something from you. And you should probably try and come up with that something,” author Chris Lynch said.

Lynch, the author of Walkin’ the Dog, a book available in March 2024, shared his views on what he thinks is one of the most pressing problems the world faces today: bystanders. The people who do not get involved and do not try to help are the ones behind all the worst societal issues. Lynch calls these kind of people “inactivists.”

“Not somebody who doesn’t care but [someone who doesn’t] tend to join,” Lynch said.

He thinks that it’s important to be a part of society. Even if there is an issue that does not concern someone, they should still be concerned.

As an author, Lynch tries to write about things that matter. He thinks that books should be about something, which is why he wrote Walkin’ the Dog. Lynch’s upcoming novel tells the story of a boy who he dubs an inactivist. The book explores the young boy’s journey into becoming a part of society.

Lynch has a close connection with this book. Lynch’s relationship with Walkin’ the Dog has grown since he signed a contract for it in 2015. Since then, he has encountered many roadblocks.

Facing personal problems and the unfortunate passing of his editor, his book was delayed. He had to find a new beginning for himself. He formed new relationships and came back ready to release his new story.

Lynch uses many elements in his books that give them a myriad of meaning. One thing that he enjoys writing the most is dialogue.

“When I look back at my actual real life, I see moments. I see the set pieces. I see the events. I don’t see the transitions,” Lynch said.

He likes to write those moments for his characters using fun and entertaining dialogue. He strives to get to people to laugh through his books.

“I don’t aspire to write books that I don’t aspire to read,” Lynch said.

Comedy is important to him, but he believes that it is also necessary to incorporate other, deeper things too. He wants his books to have drama, comedy, and tragedy: everything that is seen in the world today. He used to switch between funny books and books that deal with more challenging issues, but now he puts everything together in all his novels, which goes back to his idea that everything needs to be about something.

The harder content is important, but he loves the humor the most.

“I have a pathological need to laugh, personally. It’s like the most important thing in the world to me, so that’s what I aim for,” Lynch said.

The hardest thing for him as a writer is the constant question, “What do I think now?” Lynch said. It can be hard to escape, but he says that he must keep asking himself and must keep thinking about what he is doing. If he does not, he will stop writing.

He believes that having discipline as an author is critical. It is imperative to keep working and to never wait or give up.

“You have to be there doing your writing in order for special things to happen. Waiting for it doesn’t work,” Lynch said.

He thinks that adaptability is another skill that has helped him and would help anyone in life. When his circumstances change, it is important for him to be able to change along with them.

He shared that it can be tiring to constantly ask himself what he thinks.

“You don’t realize it because you’re not doing anything particularly physical, but it can still be taking it out of you. And it does,” Lynch said.

He had to adapt himself as a writer to do the necessary work instead of writing wastefully. He now writes with a stronger purpose, so everything he does is meaningful, and most will not be thrown away. He recognizes that he cannot write as much volume as he used to without getting drained, so he adapted to his circumstance.

Lynch is not on social media. He does not think it would be good for him to constantly be looking at what other people are doing.

“It’s good for me to just pay attention to what I need to do,” Lynch said.

It is not important for him to get out in front of everyone and get a standing ovation, but he appreciates good reviews and approval from his peers. Those are the things that matter to him, not necessarily the awards.

“Maybe it’s superficial, but that’s almost what I work for,” Lynch said. Reviews, good and bad, stick with him and have the most meaning to him.

Lynch splits his time between Scotland and Boston. He does the majority of his work in Scotland, while most of his family is in Massachusetts. He appreciates both places and what the two different living environments offer him.

As a writer and in his life, Lynch thinks he is exactly where he needs to be. He believes that he is giving the universe what it wants most from him.

For a review of Lynch’s book, Walkin’ the Dog, click here: https://www.fhstheflash.com/9865/entertainment/walkin-the-dog-book-review/