Joining our cadre of Idaho Author Interviews is Dr. Troy Rohn who has just published his nonfiction book, Brain Medicine: Breakthroughs in Gene Therapy for Anxiety & Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders, an “accessible overview of the neuroscience of mental illness, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the emerging field of gene therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders, and a personal account of living with anxiety and the ways in which it has affected me”.
Do you have a writing routine? Where and when do you write?
I wrote this book in my free time outside of the lab and my faculty duties. The early morning hours and late evening hours are my preferred times for focused writing. Typically, I am a short, focused burst of writing rather than a long writing session. I like to write at my desk or in a quiet public space where I can concentrate.
Do you have any patterns or rituals associated with your writing time?
For the most part, I do not have rituals for writing. I am a momentum writer. Once I start writing a paragraph, I keep writing it until I am done. Then I revisit earlier parts of the book to refine the wording to ensure everything is as clear as possible.
I spend as much time crafting the words, figures, and/or schematics as I do writing the words. For me, the words and the figures/schematics are equally important. Therefore, I use BioRender illustrations as a huge part of my writing. I can spend as much as a month or more crafting a single figure.
What do you do when you hit a wall with your writing?
When I am stuck I typically take a break from the words and revisit the concept or material that I am trying to write about. I try to understand what I am trying to say and how I can best communicate that information to my readers.
Do you plan your book in advance or discover as you go?
I would say that I have an overall outline of the book, and the scientific parts are all planned out in a linear fashion. But the more personal parts, and the parts that explain the science in more detail, kind of developed as I wrote. So it was a guided exploration, rather than just writing the book from start to finish.
What’s the last book you read that made you go “wow!”?
Right now, I’m reading The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle in the French original version, La Planète des Singes.
The book is a classic, but it’s fascinating to read in the author’s original language. The tone, the philosophical depth… It’s a totally different experience and makes me even more aware of how science fiction can be used to explore very real issues concerning the human condition.
Who do I most like to recommend for reading and why?
I often recommend books that make complex science accessible to people who don’t have a scientific background. These are authors who can make very complex things read intuitively and be meaningful. I try to do the same in my book on Brain Medicine.
What’s on your To Be Read pile?
My reading list consists of books about neuroscience, philosophy, and science fiction. Generally speaking, I am very interested in books that help to explain how the human brain works and how it influences our behavior. In addition, I am also very interested in the future of human medicine and how it could develop.
As someone who is trying to learn a second language beyond English, I also enjoy reading books in French, which, in my experience, forces me to read more slowly and to have a more intense and profound interaction with the text.
What advice do you have for readers?
Stay curious. You don’t have to understand things right away. Some of the most interesting ideas require a lot of reading and can be very challenging, but are worth it in the end. Write the book that you want, not what you think editors, agents, or your audience may desire.
Who is the author of the book you most wish to discuss with over a long dinner? Why?
It would be a great pleasure to have a long conversation with the late Oliver Sacks: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (1985)
→ A collection of case studies about patients with bizarre neurological conditions
→ Example: a man who literally couldn’t recognize faces (including his wife’s). Mr. Sacks was a neuroscientist who wrote many books that described in great detail the clinical cases of his patients. At the same time, he wrote in a very human and storytelling fashion, making the books a great read for anyone interested in science and in people. His basic belief was that neurology isn’t just about brains but is more about people. I try to do something similar in my work.
Do you have early memories of reading or writing?
My love affair with science and learning began at an early age and was always particularly drawn to science fiction. It was only later in life that I found that writing was an excellent medium to clarify, organize and to share my knowledge with others.
What books or authors have influenced you most?
My preferred books are those that explain science to readers. In trying to write Brain Medicine, I attempted to seek out the best of these authors and to understand what they had done.
One of the authors that has had a great influence on me is my friend, and colleague, Dean Radin. He recently published his book, The Science of Magic, which attempts to validate psychic abilities with rigorous science. He is a great communicator of extremely complex subjects.
What do you most enjoy about being a writer? What do least enjoy?
What I like most about being a writer is that I can explain complex topics to people. I believe this is a gift I have always had, and why I enjoy teaching. What I like least is that there are many ways to explain the same topic and sometimes it is very difficult to reach the perfect balance between accurate information and clear writing, especially when writing about science. Also, how to make anything about science enthralling? Not an easy task.
What would you tell a new writer?
Don’t wait until you have mastered writing. Write before you think you can do justice to the ideas you want to share.
It is in the editing and revising process that you will come to a deeper understanding of your content and achieve the clarity that you are striving for. There are now a lot of online resources that can help new authors. For example, I used Reedsy for professional editing services. They were an excellent, affordable resource for me as a beginning writer.
Find Dr. Rohn online
- BSU Faculty page
- His book’s website (which includes links to his social media accounts)
