Alyssa White
In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is writer Alyssa White.
So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Alyssa’s.
Hello! I am Alyssa Renae White and I am an aspiring author. I have completed a few pieces of writing and I am in the process of working on the edits and rewrites, that is if my A.D.D. does not kick in and send me off in other directions. Ever since I was little I had a passion for artwork of all forms, but I never got into reading – though I did like to write. A few years ago I set myself a New Year’s Resolution (that I kept), I was going to read more. Easter of that year I got the book that started it all: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. That set me running in high gear – my book addiction started. Once I worked with reading for a while, I was inspired to start working on my own writing. While I took a few creative writing classes, I never perused anything. Now my plate is full with writing, art, and completing my master’s degree in Elementary Education.
1. What made you want to be a writer?
I had always been a creative person and enjoyed making up stories to go along with the characters I created. After going on a reading binge I decided to try my hand at it and got addicted to the idea of being able to create what is bubbling in my mind with something other than visual art.
2. What is the toughest part about writing?
Many authors will tell you, the worst thing to happen to an author is to get the dreaded *block*. This block is something that stops you from creating, and I have experienced it in visual art and in writing. The writer’s block is probably the hardest thing for me to get through when it comes to writing. Another thing that I struggle with is getting the idea out of my mind and into print. There are so many things that I want to share with the world, things that are running through my mind, but somehow they get sidetracked when they are traveling from my brain to my fingers – I blame my elbows, it is always the elbows.
3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?
In the month of November 2013, I decided to join NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month) for the first time. I was terrified to do this because I had never shared much of my writing with others, and in some cases when I had it did not turn out how I hoped. Once I managed to narrow down my ideas I blew through 10,000 words in one short sitting. I was blown away by this achievement and that was the moment that I realized that I could do anything that I put my mind too. Anything I wanted to achieve my writing dream.
4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?
Oh my goodness, this is a tough one. There are so many great authors out there that have inspired me in my dreams of writing. I honestly could not choose particular authors or styles that I admire – but if you check out my goodreads page, it is easy to see the kind of books that I am drawn to. I am a very avid reader of Cozy Mystery and Historical Fiction/Romance and I was blessed to be able to meet some of the authors whose writing I adore.
5. Describe your ideal reader.
When I started out I wanted to write to please others – but after some serious analysis I realized that I want to write for myself. When I sit down to work on a piece of writing, I write it with the ideas and desires that *I* would want to read in my writing. As the song goes “you can’t please everyone, but you got to please yourself” and that is what I live by. If I am happy that is all that matters – no matter what situation I am faced with.
Contact:
DeviantArt: http://ladyghostduchess.deviantart.com/
Battlenet: arw#1468
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LadyGhostDuchess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARWhite84
Twitter: Alyssa_R_White
July 10, 2014
Wonderful interview Alyssa! Great insights into the process that most writers to through from dream to making their dream a reality. The difference between what most people want and what some achieve is doing exactly what you’re doing–moving out of your comfort zone, realizing that action/work is required to make a dream a reality and ignoring those elbows . Well, maybe not that last bit 🙂 Keep moving ahead and soon you’ll be holding your own book in your hands!
July 10, 2014
I admire what you do Alyssa. Sitting down and writing a novel is one of the most rewarding but also the hardest thing to do.
July 10, 2014
What a fun interview! I have Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder somewhere around here, I think lol. I need to read it. 🙂 Good luck with your writing!