Beautiful People is a linkup hosted by Sky @ Further Up and Further and Cait @ Paper Fury, where writers answer questions about their books/characters (except this month it’s all about the author!). It’s designed to help you get to know your book better! (And also give us a sneak peek of your works-in-progresses.)
I’m excited to participate in this month’s link up (even though I’m terribly late . . .I think most post by the 5th) but never fear. First things first . . . coffee*!
Now that that’s out of the way. Let’s get started
Q U E S T I O N S
1. How many years have you been writing? When did you officially consider yourself a ‘writer’?
I’ve been writing stories since I was about six. My first ever story had something to do with a dollhouse and the family that lived in it. When did I first consider myself a ‘writer’? I guess I’ve always felt like I was a writer. A very wise woman once told me at my graduation “You write. Therefore you are are a writer.” I’ve never forgotten that.
2. How/why did you start writing?
Because I love making stuff up. And my mom was a huge encourager.
3. What’s your favorite part of writing?
Is it a cop out to say everything? I love creating the worlds and meeting the characters and pour their story out all over the pages. At the same time I love going back and sharpening that story during the edits (even though I’m fairly certain they might kill me).
4. What’s your biggest writing struggle?
TIME. Seriously. I’m working on edits, so most of the time I’m chained to my computer (there will be a laptop in my future that will help with the chained to desk part just a little). With three kids, Litfuse, a husband, a house, and everything else, time is def the biggest struggle.
5. Do you write best at night or day?
I have learned to write best whenever I can steal pockets of time. Right now it’s pounding everything out on the weekends. Last weekend I had four revised chapters and 3 chapters critiqued all sent to my #WriteNight gals. I love it when I have days like that.
6. What does your writing space look like?
Most the time, it’s in some state of chaos.
7. How long does it typically take you to write a complete draft?
My last draft was completed in a little over 6 months. The last handful of chapters took me about four of those months because I was pregnant with Oliver and mostly spending my time on the couch concentrating on not throwing up.
8. How many projects do you work on at once?
I’m working on one and thinking of another.
9. Do you prefer writing happy endings, sad ones, or somewhere in between?
Ripping the reader’s heart out is preferred (sorry, guys).
10. List a few authors who’ve influenced your writing journey.
Lauren Oliver will always and forever be my favorite. Love her way with words. Shannon Dittemore and Kiera Cass are the best. More recently Mary Weber and Sarah J. Maas are super, super inspirational.
If we’re honest I love Tricia Goyer. I was told by a professor in college that I could not be a successful writer and stay at home mom. Tricia completely blows that out of the water. Not only is she a writer and stay at home mom, but she’s a homeschool mom, completely pours herself into teen moms at her local teen MOPs group, and is working with a production company to get her books turned into a television show. Amazing. I know.
11. Do you let people read your writing? Why or why not?
My #WriteNight girls have read my stuff from the very beginning. Now that I’m into what I hope to be my last set of edits, I have an Alpha 2 team that is reading my book serially (and keeping me on track weekly when they haven’t gotten their weekly dose).
12. What’s your ultimate writing goal or dream?
To finish. Get published. Entertain.
13. If you didn’t write, what would you want to do?
Maybe garden?
14. Do you have a book you’d like to write one day but don’t feel you’re ready to attempt it yet?
Nope. Right now it’s all about my current project!
15. Which story has your heart and won’t let go?
My current story 🙂 can’t wait until I can share.
**This amazing gif was from this wonderful via a google search.
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