We’ve all had those nights where we stayed up to the crack of dawn writing a term paper. You can feel the goop in your eyes forming around the 4 a.m. mark from starring at the computer for too long and you guzzle down some mountain dew. Then you feel angry around 5 a.m. when the crappy vending machine on the bottom floor of Club Cook eats your last bit of change and you are forced to finish out the paper without your can of life-saving elixir.
But what if you spent the last three years of your college existence staying up all night acting out that same routine, only you were writing novels? That’s what one Towson student has done. Meet Zachary Lindner, a junior english major who has written over 20 novels during the past 3 years, 8 of which have been published (seriously, you can go buy them on Amazon right now). Prepare to feel seriously inadequate.
Zachary Lindner writes young adult and contemporary novels. Some of his books include Tinsel Town and Love At First Assassin. He published his first two books himself and then he was able to get the other six books published through Publish America. He wrote his first book when he was 17 years old.
Zack with his book, The All American Family
Zack is extremely passionate about writing. “I’m like obsessed with writing,” he said. He can write 18 to 19 pages in 3 hours and it only took him 13 days to write his first book, Tinsel Town, which is 462 pages.
Besides books, Zack also writes poetry and short stories. He also happens to enjoy the Nickelodeon shows Doug and Rocket Power. Currently he is working on a book series to be published later this year. In addition to writing, Zack takes 6 classes, hosts a radio show, and has a job (he recently left his second job at Book Holders).
“Writing is my passion,” he said. “Once I get in the mood, I can’t stop. I like being under pressure.”
But its not all work for Zack, he likes to have fun too. “I have all kinds of stories, I fell into an elevator once, I just live my life to the fullest,” he said. “Who cares what people think! There is always something to live for.”
Zack and his good friend Katie
If you are a writer and want to get your work published, Zack has some advice for you.
“Take criticism with a grain of salt,” he said. “Don’t let it tear you down. No one thought that a wizard going to school was going to be a big hit [in Harry Potter]. Don’t let anyone stop you.”
He also suggests that aspiring writers work really hard on the writing aspect to produce a good product and not focus on the publishing part first.
“Especially with self-publishing, really think that what it looks like now [grammar errors, etc.] is what it is going to look like when they print it,” he said.
Zack and his best friend Amanda
And when it comes down to it, Zack loves his friends and is just trying to have the best college experience ever.
“I love everything about Towson. I knew from the moment I stepped on campus this was the place for me,” he said.