Behavioral Analysis Unit

By John Gilstrap

I have been a member of International Thriller Writers since the very first year of its existence. ITW is a great organization for writers in all stages of their careers, membership is free, and they have some terrific publications. Among these publications is “The Big Thrill”, the association’s monthly newsletter. A new feature within the newsletter is a column called The Big Thrill’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, which asks authors to answer 20 questions. My turn in the breach was last month, and I thought I’d share a few of the questions and my answers. I’m hoping y’all will take a stab at answering them for yourself.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I’m not sure that “perfect happiness” exists. We all have those thrilling moments—the birth of a child, the big success at work, or even a quiet walk in the woods with your best friend—but those are counterbalanced by the other stresses of life. Perhaps a parent is ill, or a sibling just lost his job. I think the real definition of happiness is finding the handle to balance the good and the bad, always trusting that even in the worst times, better times are coming.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I overthink and analyze everything. Having spent many years as a safety engineer, cause-and-effect analysis is baked into my DNA. I don’t enter a place without noting where the exits are. When I drive, I’m always driving—I’m not taking in the beauty of the world. I can’t turn it off, and it can be exhausting.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Dishonesty. Lie to me once on a substantive matter and we’re done. Betray a confidence and we’re done. Trust is fragile. Once broken, I don’t know that it can be repaired.

What is your favorite way to waste time?

I can sit in one place for long periods of time and just watch. Whether it’s waves crashing onto the beach, or a breeze blowing through the forest, or people in a shopping mall, I find great contentment in sitting quietly and paying attention

What’s your favorite place in the world?

Well, home, of course, but I don’t think that’s what you mean. As a visitor, I have travelled all over. I’ve spent at least two days in all 50 states, and I’ve seen most of Europe, and a good chunk of Canada. That’s a lot of beauty. For natural beauty, Bryce Canyon, Utah and Lake Louise in Alberta are right up there, as are the Amalfi Coast and Italian Vineyards. My favorite cities are Paris, Prague, Lisbon and Reykjavik. But after visiting all of those, nothing beats the back porch, watching the deer and wild turkeys do their thing in the forest.

What is your favorite word?

My favorite word, if I’m being honest, is the F-bomb. While I never use it in my books, it’s a staple of my everyday vocabulary. It’s the only word cathartic enough to ease the pain of a stubbed toe, and it’s a universal modifier of every noun.

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

This one’s easy: Shut up and write. Talking about writing, reading about writing, attending classes on writing is not writing. While those things may be beneficial, they are more likely just time sucks. Writing is the acting of committing words to the page—or to the screen, I suppose.

Okay, TKZ family. It’s your turn.

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About John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author of Lethal Game, Blue Fire, Stealth Attack, Crimson Phoenix, Hellfire, Total Mayhem, Scorpion Strike, Final Target, Friendly Fire, Nick of Time, Against All Enemies, End Game, Soft Targets, High Treason, Damage Control, Threat Warning, Hostage Zero, No Mercy, Nathan’s Run, At All Costs, Even Steven, Scott Free and Six Minutes to Freedom. Four of his books have been purchased or optioned for the Big Screen. In addition, John has written four screenplays for Hollywood, adapting the works of Nelson DeMille, Norman McLean and Thomas Harris. A frequent speaker at literary events, John also teaches seminars on suspense writing techniques at a wide variety of venues, from local libraries to The Smithsonian Institution. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, weapons systems, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. John lives in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

27 thoughts on “Behavioral Analysis Unit

  1. Perfect happiness – a day at the beach

    Trait I most deplore in myself – the ability to ignore housework

    Trait I most deplore in others – Suckuppery

    Favorite way to waste time – a day at the beach

    Favorite place in the world – Fairhope, Alabama (my home town) at sunset. The sun sets exactly in the middle of Mobile Bay (as viewed from the Big Pier) and has ruined me for sunsets anywhere else in the world.

    Favorite word – love. It really does conquer all.

    Best piece of writing advice I’ve ever received – Why aren’t you sending your stuff out?

    • I may have asked this before, but… where in Fairhope?

      Mom lives off of 181, below Fairhope Avenue, and is good friends with folks who help run the Page and Palette on Section Street.

      I’ve seen the sunset you of which you speak… watched if from the back porch of the VFW at the last (and the last), LA Songwriters Festival a few pre-vid years back…

      None of this analyzes my behavior, of course – or maybe it does… ?

      • We lived on Pecan Avenue in the Fruit and Nut district, not far from the VFW. I really miss those sunsets. Before we moved there we used to summer in a house on Fels overlooking the bay. No a/c but used to sleep to the sound of waves and the feel of the bay breeze. Haven’t lived there in many years and rarely get home. My brother lives in Daphne and he’d love for us to move back. Page and Palette is the best! Say hi to your mom for me and tell her I’m jealous! Go Pirates!

  2. Perfect happiness – Time on the water with family – salt water, fresh water, on a boat, wading up a creek with a fly rod, sitting on the lake shore or the Gulf beaches…

    Trait I most deplore in myself – May I list two (and no, one is not indecision)?
    ● Procrastination – but I’ll get back to this later…
    ● Perfectionism – whatever I’m working on, it’s gotta be right – the first time – or at least before I show anything to anyone…

    Trait I most deplore in others – Unkindness/rudeness…

    Favorite way to waste time – Creative things – Watercolors, Music, Drawing –

    Favorite place in the world – Wherever she is…

    Favorite word – Serendipity – surprised?

    Best piece of writing advice I’ve ever received – Applies to most things I enjoy – Readin’ ’bout it ain’t doin’ it…

  3. Perfect happiness: At this point, it is the moment that I wake up in the morning. It means that I get to have at least a part of one more day. Thank you, God.

    Trait I most deplore in myself: Analysis paralysis.

    Trait I most deplore in others: Hypocracy.

    Favorite way to waste time: Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.

    Favorite place in the world: New Orleans.

    Favorite word: It’s a phrase, consisting of John’s favorite word followed by “…me!”

    Best piece of writing advice (or any other advice) I’ve ever received: Eat the frog first.

    Thanks John!

  4. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

    Surrounded by family.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

    Impatience. Now can we please move on?

    What is your favorite way to waste time?

    I never waste time. I kill it on occasion, e.g., when I’m waiting in line. Then I like to play backgammon on my phone.

    Favorite place in the world?

    The beach at Ventura, CA.

    Favorite word?

    Justice.

    Best writing advice?

    Walk and chew gum and the same time. Write to a quota and study the craft. One-two, one-two…

    • I lived in Ventura County for 15 years and spent many hours beside the ocean there. For a while, I lived in a condo a block from the beach. I haven’t set foot in the Pacific since I left that area, 14 years ago. How soon the days of now tumble away to long ago!

  5. Perfect happiness: Finishing a project and seeing that an invention/story/process actually works, and maybe in the overall grand scheme of things it might be what I am supposed to be doing

    Trait I most deplore in myself: Analysis paralysis

    Trait I most deplore in others: Narcissism

    Favorite way to waste time: Sitting/inventing/sketching out a new story, new process, new tool, or new game.

    Favorite place in the world: West central, rural Ohio

    Favorite word: Love. My wife and I use it in greetings multiple times a day. Without it, I would be a grumpy old fart.

    Best piece of writing advice: Write every day.

    Good exercise, John.

  6. One of those questions hits on a few of the others: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

    I’ve never received this advice but one piece of advice I wish was tossed around a whole lot more is: “Make sure you don’t end up with any writing regrets.”

    Mentioned in the post & comments were things like overthinking/overanalyzing & perfectionism. Things that, if not controlled, will lead you to writing regrets. Perfectionism can result in believing you haven’t done enough research for your book, you haven’t revised enough, etc etc.

    I keep a running list of book ideas (fic and nonfic) that’s about 70 ideas. Granted, not all have been vetted to see if they will hold up as a workable story idea, but in execution, I’ve thus far only done a full manuscript on two, and partially written about 2 others.

    And I ain’t no spring chicken. 😎 So if I indeed want to have no writing regrets, I need to pick up the pace. 😎 😎

  7. Thought-provoking post, John. Thanks!

    Your comment: “I think the real definition of happiness is finding the handle to balance the good and the bad, always trusting that even in the worst times, better times are coming.”

    That really resonates with me. The publication of each of my books has been tempered by an unhappy event in a different sector of my life–illness or injury of a loved one, a flooded basement, major car breakdown, etc. Almost seems as if I’m being warned not to get too giddy!

    I’ll skip to the last question. Best advice came from my mentor Dennis Foley. “You can’t fail at writing. You can only quit. Never quit.”

  8. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Gee, I don’t know. I’m a happy person by nature. Nothing is ever “perfect” but I don’t need perfection to be happy.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
    I overthink and analyze everything, too. And I agree, it can be exhausting at times.

    What is the trait you most deplore in others?
    Dishonestly and negativity. I stay far away from both.

    What is your favorite way to waste time?
    Spending time with animals.

    What’s your favorite place in the world?
    Home. 🙂

    What is your favorite word?
    For right now, it’s gobsmacked. I like the way it rolls off the tongue.

    What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
    Study story structure, it’s a game-changer.

  9. Great post, John. Here’s my answers.
    What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    While “perfect” seems unattainable, I’d say being able to pursue our passions, such as writing, learning, creativity, making a difference in the world, etc.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
    Overthinking, especially in my writing. I can spend far too

    What is the trait you most deplore in others?
    Selfishness.

    What is your favorite way to waste time?
    I don’t like to waste time–I like to be doing something, reading, watching movies, playing a game, jigsaw puzzling star gazing, exercising, walking etc.

    What’s your favorite place in the world?
    My own home.

    What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
    That there is only one rule of writing: you must make the reader feel something. Suspense, intrigue, wonder, love, fear, tension, something.

  10. Love this, John…

    Perfect happiness: unattainable in this world. I’ll settle for happiness, which is watching videos and receiving pics of my grandchildren.

    Most deplorable personal trait: I take criticism personally. *Forehead slap*

    In others: Lying.

    Fave time-waster: playing Scrabble on my phone. (But it’s still about words, right?) 🙂

    Favorite place in the world: My front porch.

    Favorite word: Hello!

    Best writing advice: Just the other day, I received an email from an author/writing coach, who I’d whined at about my busy schedule leaving me no time to create. Too busy with online conferences/zooms/homework/helping other authors. He told me it was my fault for over-extending myself.

    Told me two things: “The good is the enemy of the best.” And…

    “FOMO”: Tell myself every day to slay the Fear Of Missing Out.

  11. Perfect happiness: no more pain

    Trait I most deplore in myself: falling in love

    Trait I most deplore in others: hypocrisy

    Favorite way to waste time: coming here

    Favorite place in the world: Ojai Valley

    Favorite word: proctocraniosis

    Best piece of writing advice I’ve ever received: give yourself permission to write badly

  12. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    Just to be happy.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
    Negativity — but I’m part Irish so it’s kinda in the genes

    What is your favorite way to waste time?
    Crossword puzzles

    Favorite place in the world?
    Anywhere I don’t HAVE to be.

    Favorite word?
    I, too, enjoy the f-word, but only in the privacy of my room.

    Best writing advice?
    Just do it.

  13. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
    I’m a woman of faith, so I think heaven will be perfect happiness.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
    I am too sensitive. Other people’s anger (I don’t mean at me) and the world’s pain and poverty and distress keep me up at night. I have to work really hard (usually I pray for help) to clear my head so I can sleep.

    What is the trait you most deplore in others?
    The ability (or curse) to believe something without checking it out, without checking other news sources or checking historic documents or the source or the rumor or news.

    What is your favorite way to waste time?
    Soaking in a hot bath. But I’m usually reading there, too, so it’s not really wasting time.

    What’s your favorite place in the world?
    Home. I love being around the hubster, haha, even after all these years.

    What is your favorite word?
    Grunt. I’ve got to find another word for my characters when they’re doing something with effort.

    What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
    Don’t publish too early. I wrote a lot of silly stuff early on, glad I didn’t publish it!

  14. Interesting post and I love seeing everyone’s answers.
    What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being in the zone with words and ideas flowing.
    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? procrastination…like I’m doing now.
    What is the trait you most deplore in others? Stupidity, and it’s not the same as ignorance.
    What is your favorite way to waste time? Research…but that’s not really wasting time. 🙂
    What’s your favorite place in the world? Wherever I am. You’re always going to be somewhere–you might as well like it.
    What is your favorite word? Yes!
    What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received? BICHOCK Butt in chair, hands on computer keys

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