Category: The Write Path

A regular series where writers of all levels answer five questions about writing.

July 15, 2014 The Write Path 3 Comments

THE WRITE PATH – Patricia Kabu

THe Write Path

Patricia Kabu

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Patricia Kabu.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Patricia’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

After reading a whole lot of books, which is a whole lot, I realized that there are no romance books which were sited in Africa, especially Ghana, my country. So I want to write something about my beautiful country.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

The toughest part of writing is when you get stuck trying to add a special moment in the story, but nothing comes to mind. Hmm, it’s frustrating still, but you have to wait. Something will come up.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

My aha moment was when I saw a beautiful moment between a couple on campus. I remember every minute of that moment. It made me realize I could write beautiful words from what I see around me.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I admire most writers, especially any writer who is able to hold my imagination. I wish to be more like them, if possible.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

I want my ideal reader to be someone who keeps an open mind about life. Who enjoys reading romance books.
I realized that to be able to write more, you have to write about all that happens in your life. It usually helps.

To get in touch:
My Facebook account is Patricia Kabu
My Twitter account is PatriciaKabu

July 10, 2014 The Write Path 3 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Alyssa White

THe Write Path

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 2, 2014 The Write Path 5 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Jules Court


THe Write Path

Jules Court

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Jules Court, author of Rescuing Love. A short blurb from her website: “The last thing recently fired attorney Becca Lynch wants is a man, but Coast Guard rescue swimmer Alex Petrov might be just what she needs.”

Writer or not, you’ll be able to find much of yourself in her answers.

Jules Court

Jules has graciously agreed to give away a

FREE eBOOK of RESCUING LOVE 

to one of my readers.
Leave a comment (at the top, where it says X comments), and on July 9, she’ll pick a name out of a hat (real or metaphorical I’ll leave to Jules).

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear belongs to Jules.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I’ve been an avid reader my entire life. I remember starting school already knowing my alphabet; I’d forced my older sister to teach me what she was learning. I was also a born storyteller and a bit of a tyrant. I’d demand that my friends act out with our Barbie Dolls these elaborate scenarios I created, and Heaven help anyone who went off script. No ad-libbing in my productions.

Throughout my childhood, I scribbled stories, and even had a brief flirtation with poetry in high school (the angst was great in this one). So, when it came time to pick colleges, I informed my parents that I would be attending a certain pricy liberal arts college and majoring in Creative Writing. They weren’t having it. Instead, I attended a large state university on a partial scholarship and majored in something more “practical”. (Full disclosure- I mostly majored in Beer and Boys.)

After college, I joined the working world and my writing dream just kind of drifted away. I laughed at my childhood delusions about being a writer. I lived in the real world now. That probably would have been it for writing and me, if I hadn’t made a spectacularly terrible life decision.

I went to law school.

It was a soul-sucking, self-esteem crushing pit of despair. I turned to reading to escape. But not reading my casebooks like I should have, no, I discovered Romance novels. My prior concept of the genre was: all bodice ripping, all the time. But, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Plus, romances contained two things I desperately needed: hope and a guaranteed happy ending. They kick-started my dormant imagination. Soon, when I was supposed to be briefing cases for class, I was pounding away at my own romance novel, instead.

I did graduate from law school (and, surprisingly, not at the bottom of the class), and I even passed the Bar. But I knew, I wasn’t a lawyer. I was a writer.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

Facing the blank page. I like editing, I like tinkering, but I hate that blasted blank page. It leaves too much room for doubt to slither in. That little voice in the back of my head whispering that I suck, that I’m not really a writer, that everything I write is trash. Whenever I’m unsure of where my story is going, I feel like I’ll never have another idea. That’s it. We had a good run, but it’s over.

Once I make it through that first draft, it’s still not all golden words dripping from my pen. I have good and bad days, but at least I know I can finish a story. My advice to new writers is never abandon a story. You have to prove to yourself that you can finish something, even when a new, shiny idea that you haven’t screwed up yet is beckoning. Resist and keep wrestling with the pig you’ve got.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

Recently, I picked up a story I’d relegated to the bowels of my computer, because I thought it was an embarrassment. But, reading it with fresh eyes made me realize two things: 1) Yeah, it wasn’t great, but it could be fixed, and 2) (more importantly) I couldn’t tell the difference in the writing between what was written on a day each word was chipped out of my brain with a pick axe, and what was written on a day the words flowed like honey, and little birds twittered about and braided my hair, while a unicorn farted rainbows. So on a difficult writing day, keep going. It’s not as bad you think; it’s just your perception.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I’m a huge fan of Dorothy Parker. I’m always pushing The Portable Dorothy Parker on people, because it contains her short stories as well as her poetry and reviews. She’s mostly remembered for her wit now, but her short stories are masterpieces of tight, sharp writing. You could cut yourself on her prose.

Within the Romance genre, I’m an unabashed Meljean Brook fangirl. She writes some the smartest, tightest plotted paranormal/steampunk books out there, and she still manages to put a satisfying and deeply characterized romance into each one. Also, Courtney Milan writes some seriously intelligent, well-crafted Historical Romances.

5. Describe your ideal reader. Who do you write for?

This probably makes me sound more egotistical than Tony Stark, but I’m writing for me. I write (or try to write) the books I want to read. My ideal reader likes romance books with heroines who have a spine and heroes who aren’t abusive jerks but are actual nice guys- not fedora wearing, friend-zone whiners, but men who like and respect women.

A big thank you to Carmen for giving me the space to spout off my many opinions. I’ve got a Contemporary Romance entitled Rescuing Love available from Bookstrand Publishing at www.bookstrand.com/rescuing-love and Amazon. You can also check me out at www.julescourt.com.

 

BLURB

 


Recently fired attorney, Becca Lynch, only came home to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to strap on a bridesmaid dress and accompany an old friend down the aisle. Just one week of pretending that her life’s great and she’s not secretly falling apart.

A complication of the male variety is the last thing she wants. But a blistering encounter with a handsome stranger in the employee bathroom of her hometown bar might be just what she needs.

As a rescue swimmer for the United States Coast Guard, Alex Petrov doesn’t think twice about jumping from a helicopter into raging seas if lives are at stake, but off the clock, he prefers calmer waters.

Hooking up with a stranger, who turns out to be his roommate’s sister, just isn’t something he does. Until Becca.

But passion doesn’t worry about bad timing, and love can prove a more uncontrollable force than any ocean wave.

June 24, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH – Cora Maxine

THe Write Path

Cora Maxine

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Cora Maxine, author of Choices: Make Me Paranormal.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Cora’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I love to write. That’s one thing that got me through writing my first full-length novel, Choices: Make Me Paranormal. I knew that even if no one bought a copy, I had fun writing it and wouldn’t regret the time spent. I’ve been creating stories for several years, but it was only in the past couple years that I got serious about putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

​Waiting for reviews. An author can go crazy waiting to see what readers think about their finished product. I obsess over what readers are going to think and check for reviews several times a day after publishing.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

The moment I realized that it doesn’t take years to write a novel. I worked as a freelance writer for almost 8 years and it’s nothing for me to turn out a few thousand words per day. I knew if I could put just half of that time into fiction, I could write a novel every couple months.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

H.P. Mallory is the biggest inspiration in the writing world for me. She started as an indie author and got picked up by a big publisher; it’s the story that all writers dream of. Also, she was one of the first urban fantasy authors I read. She’s inspired me in so many ways.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is someone just like me – female in her 30s who loves the paranormal. When I write a novel, I’m writing something that know I would want to read, something with paranormal elements and sexy male characters.

Links:

www.coramaxine.com
www.facebook.com/coramaxine
www.twitter.com/cora_maxine
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6541045.Cora_Maxine

Author Bio:

Cora MaxineCora Maxine lives in Western North Carolina and uses the towns around her as inspiration for her urban fantasy novels. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found reading, baking, and spending time with her amazing boyfriend and houseful of pets.

June 19, 2014 The Write Path 6 Comments

THE WRITE PATH – Matthew W. Harrill

THe Write Path

Matthew W. Harrill

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about fighting their way through the writing landscape, from their early beginnings to where they are now. My guest today is Matthew W. Harrill, author of Hellbounce, which has just been released.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Matt’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

Matthew HarrillThat’s actually a quite difficult question. I don’t necessarily consider myself a writer as such, more someone who has a job but has written a few stories. I have a way of storytelling that people seem to be agreeable with. My first novel, ‘The Focus Stone’ (available on www.lulu.com) was the extension of a short story that just never finished. I’m quite creative naturally, and I have read a LOT of fantasy books, enjoying the larger series (I love being immersed in a world). I also have a brain awash with so many pointless random facts. It looks like I was always destined to put pen to paper.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

Spelling, grammar, uncertainty as to whether the audience will suspend their disbelief and buy into the story. For me with Hellbounce, the most difficult part initially was proceeding with a much smaller word count per chapter. My Epic Fantasy series ‘The Tome of Law’ had chapters ten thousand words long. My goal, as set by my mentor David Farland (www.davidfarland.net) was to go between 2-2500 words per chapter, about 12 pages of text in standard editing format (12pt courier, double spaced lines etc etc – it helps give you an idea of what will be showing on the final pages). Initially, I was stumped, but having a word count in mind actually helps one focus on what is important, and as such I have found that my story flows a lot better, the hooks are easier to place. I have heard thus far from many different people that once they get started, they can’t put Hellbounce down. You can’t ask for more than that.

Matthew Harrill
3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

The moment of epiphany:

No, but the idea is fun!

Dave

Quoting “Harrill, Matt” :

Dave,

I was just wondering, have you ever come across a story whereby hell
is literally freezing over? I was wondering if the concept of the
inhabitants of hell coming back up to earth for help because they
are under attack from something that is taking that cliché literally
and trying to destroy the realm had ever been used before. I thought
it could make quite a story.

Matt

That’s where it all started, with a simple email and a unique selling point that became the book below:

Hellbounce
4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I have a bizarre and varied list of people I count as influences on what I have written. Obviously David Farland has been crucial in my development as a writer. He has always been there for me to bounce ideas off of, and as a writing guru of great magnitude, he has helped me make many right choices regarding style and content. I admire his books greatly. They are so easy to read. I am also a massive H P Lovecraft fan, and initially I wanted to create something Lovecraft-esque for Hellbounce. However it evolved into something that I can only describe as quintessentially ‘me’. Oddly, I do count the fictional author Hank Moody (from the TV series ‘Californication’) as an influence. Writing can be that fun.

Is there a line I wish I had come up with? The funny thing is when my publisher asked for teaser quotes, and I had my editor go through my story, she came back with some absolute gems, even to the point that I did not believe I had written them. I think I’m happy with my own creations:

Matthew Harrill

5. Describe your ideal reader.

I think somebody who is prepared to think out of the box, is prepared for a surprise, a bit of a shock, a smidgeon of romance would be my ideal reader. I never started out writing this series with a target audience in mind. There is so much science to writing: marketing, audience research etc. I had an idea and I did my best to get it down on paper. There is no way I am the finished article, so in my opinion things can only get better with every book that is out there. My next book, Hellborne: The ARC Chronicles Part 2 is in editing and will be out soon, so anybody that has read book 1 won’t have long to wait. Book 3 – Hellbeast – is in my research phase. I go into great detail compiling notes, maps, scenes etc. I write each scene as if I am there, visualising it. I have been told my story has a movielike quality. It’s not text to me. It’s screen already.

I hope to keep everybody involved when my website, blog and mailing list all go live, hopefully within the next couple of weeks at www.matthewharrill.com. Anybody interested in Hellbounce can find it on Amazon at www.amazon.com/dp/B00KNLZO4S/. I find myself privileged to be surrounded with an excellent team as I undertake this journey. Faith Bartow my publisher, Rebecca Cartee my editor, Clarissa Yeo my cover artist and Michael Lowndes my marketing advisor are all top people. This is a team effort. I’m just the point man!

June 16, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH – Kathryn E. Jones

THe Write PathIn this series, guest bloggers tell us about fighting their way through the writing landscape, from their early beginnings to where they are now. My guest today is Kathryn E. Jones, author of Conquering Your Goliaths, Marketing Your Book on a Budget, and book one of the Susan Cramer Mystery Series, with book two out in September.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Kathryn’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

When I first became serious about being a writer, I was pregnant with my first daughter. Before that, I’d taken creative writing classes but never felt like I was really that great at writing. I never had a teacher that said, “You have a future in writing,” or anything like that, and so when the thought first came to me that I’d like to try writing, there wasn’t really any previous slaps on the back to get me going. To be honest, I had morning, afternoon and evening sickness and was just trying to fill in the long hours of being sick on the couch. When it occurred to me that I might write, it was merely an idea to do something fun and perhaps, fill in a bit of the daily gaps.

After writing my first story, “Weebles Wobble” (which is pretty terrifying, I can tell you), I decided that I liked writing and would one day be a success. It took 8 long years following that first story to break into print.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

The toughest part about writing is getting up and doing it. Getting started. I always have excuses, but I’ve learned through the years to ignore them and get to work; because writing IS work.

And yes, I have weaknesses in writing. I think we all do. In the beginning, I struggled big time with voice and basic sentence structure; now I push myself to add more setting to an otherwise empty world. I love dialogue and do well at it. Coming up with a captivating setting is another story. But I continue to work on it.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

Years ago, when I was writing a short story entitled, “The Awakening of George Mahooney,” I suddenly realized the story was coming to me as if I was merely the transcriber of something very real. It was like George was standing next to me telling his story. It was incredible then and still is. I still get goose bumps every time I think or talk about it. I have had many of these experiences since that first story, and every time it’s as if I am merely listening and writing down what I hear. At times like these, when I’m not correcting every line as I go, or looking at the paragraph I’ve just written; when I’m truly listening, the writing comes the easiest.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

My favorite line from Galaxy Quest: “Never give up, never surrender.” I love this, because as a writer giving up is never an option, even when you don’t feel like writing. Writing is a job, but it’s more than a job; it’s a career.

It’s something I do daily, something that keeps me breathing and moving forward in life. If this sounds sappy, so be it. I don’t know who I’d be if I could not write.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is someone who is open to new ideas; someone who wants to improve his/her life and isn’t afraid to act on their belief that they can do so. I primarily write Christian fiction, but I have also written Christian and Business nonfiction (for writers). I am currently working on my second cozy mystery, so, even in this, I find that open readers are the best readers.

I try to reflect the positivity I share in the Christian works I write. It isn’t enough to write a book to help others, it’s important to me that I live what I have written. And that means that I am out there when it comes to book signings, blogging about writing, and so forth. It isn’t enough for me to be a great writer, I want to be there for those who are trying to be more in their own life.

image image image

 

 

 

 

 

Want to find out more?

http://www.ariverofstones.com
http://www.ideacreationspress.com
http://amazon.com/author/joneskathryn
http://www.goodreads.com/KaJones
http://www.twitter.com/kakido
http://www.pinterest.com/kakido
http://www.facebook.com/kathrynelizabethjones.author

 

June 10, 2014 The Write Path 12 Comments

THE WRITE PATH – Marie Dry

THe Write PathIn this series, guest bloggers tell us about fighting their way through the writing landscape, from their early beginnings to where they are now. My guest today is Marie Dry. I can see a lot of myself in her answers (and not just our gratitude to Mary Buckham for making us better writers). I hope you can, too.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Marie’s.


1. What made you want to be a writer?

I made up stories even before I could read, and I couldn’t wait to go to school to learn to read. I wrote my first little story at seven and then from about age thirteen I have always been working on some new story. For me it’s not a question of wanting to be a writer, but more that I have no choice. The characters in my head demand that I write their story.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

The toughest part for most writers is the self doubt. Is it a good idea, will the readers and editor like your character, will you be able to write the story and do it justice? Moving on from questions like that plaguing me is the hardest. Luckily, the characters in my head would never allow me to give up on them.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

I had several since I started to seriously work on my craft. The courses I took with Mary Buckham really helped me take a step forward. She gives examples of writing that works and doesn’t work, and seeing what doesn’t made a light go up for me. Especially in her course on the twelve steps to intimacy. The concept of show don’t tell was another aha moment. It took me long time not to simply replace telling with better telling.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I have always been a big fan of Jayne Ann Krentz and have read her since I was in high school. When I read a Hunger like no other by Kresley Cole I was depressed for a whole week because that book was so good.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

I have been an avid romance reader since I was a little girl and see myself as the average romance reader. And that is who I am writing for. I make time to read to stay up to date with what is happening in the world of romance.

Any final words?

Yes, thank you for hosting. I really enjoyed our chat.

You can visit Marie’s website at www.mariedry.com.

Her book is out June 21, so why not check out and pre-order Alien Mine now?

image

June 4, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH – Laura Welling

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about fighting their way through the writing landscape, from their early beginnings to where they are now. My guest today is Laura Welling, author of Talent To Burn, which is released this week. imageFor more information on the author and her book, see below. But first, let’s get to know Laura a little better.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Laura’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I have been writing as long as I can remember! It started when I was four and wrote my first book, about spies. It filled an entire notebook with mostly pictures. I also taught myself to type around then, because I decided my handwriting was too babyish. When I was in kindergarten I typed out a long story about dinosaurs, which the vice principal made me read to the whole school. I was so terrified I could barely see through the tears to read it, but I have never been scared of public speaking since.

The point of this is that it wasn’t a conscious decision: it’s something I’ve been doing for my entire life. I can’t imagine not being a writer.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

At this stage in my life, making the time. I have a full-time job, a four year old, and a farm. I have learned though that if you wait for the time, it will never come. You have to make it. Taking a workshop with Kerri Nelson inspired me – she has a bunch of kids, and a job, and writes a huge number of books every year. The key is to learn to get something done in fifteen minutes or less, and find those gaps. If you wait for a solid day, it will never happen.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

Not a particular one, but this is generally how my brain works if I’m trying to solve a problem, writing or otherwise. I’ll throw myself into it – total immersion in the problem. Then I find the trick is to go do something unrelated: go for a walk, take a long shower, take a day off. My subconscious will often pop the answer up for me and it’s as if I always knew it. This is very helpful for plotting, for example.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

This is a very long list of writers indeed. Most recently, some of my favorite authors are Ilona Andrews and Kristin Cashore. Incredible world-building, and a lyrical writing style on both counts.

5. Describe your ideal reader. 

I write for myself! I think you have to. If you try to please other people…well, you’d have to be a mind reader. If I write to please myself, chances are, some other people will like it too.

About the book:

TALENT TO BURN by LAURA WELLING

imagePassion burns. Betrayal scars.

Cat Wilson grew up a misfit among misfits. She couldn’t read minds, see the future, or start fires like the other Talented kids inside the shadowy Grey Institute. Finally she ran, leaving her beloved brother, Eric, behind. She’s been running ever since.

When she learns that Eric has escaped, leaving deadly fires in his wake, Cat is torn between fear for her brother, and unwanted attraction to the messenger, a charming, Talented ex-con who lives for the next adrenaline rush.

Jamie Murphy is sure his group of outcast Talents can help Eric—if they can get to him before the cops or the Institute, and before he kills again. Cat’s aversion to Talented bad boys is like a wall of ice, but to his surprise, he doesn’t have to use an ounce of his own unique gift to find a way through it.

Yet locating Eric is only the beginning. In the battle to pull him back from the brink, Cat must find the courage to unlock a fearsome Talent of her own. And pray the psychic backdraft doesn’t destroy everyone she loves.

About the author:

When’s she’s not writing, Laura Welling wears a lot of other hats: mother, farmer, and software engineer. She’s Australian but lives in the United States on a horse farm, which she shares with her family, an over-sized dog, and various horses, cats and chickens. She is a compulsive reader of all genre fiction, who started reading before the age of two, and never stopped. She wrote her first “book” when she was five—a spy story, which has since been joined in a bottom drawer by various other early attempts.
This book was inspired by some of her favorite stories: Anne McCaffrey’s science fiction novels, Marvel’s X-Men comics, and The X-Files television series.

Blog/website: http://laurawelling.com
BUY THE BOOK: Samhain | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Google Play

May 15, 2014 The Write Path Post a Comment

THE WRITE PATH with Julie LaVoie

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about their paths through the writing landscape, from their early beginnings to where they are now. My guest today is Julie LaVoie, an awesome writer I’ve known for years.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Julie’s.

1. What made you want to be a writer?

The compliments. Ha! Kidding. No, actually, I’m not. Since the very first book I wrote in first grade (where I told the world that my little brother liked to kiss me when he danced with me) to my eleventh grade research paper on STDs, my teachers ranted and raved about my “natural” writing ability. They said it had a fresh tone and that I was going to do something wonderful with it in the future. To date, my writing talent has been used for school absence excuses and emails to my son’s football coach, but I’m not giving up just yet. I still have half a century before I croak (fingers crossed).

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

All the rules. Sometimes I wish you could just write what’s in your heart and that publishers will eat it up. But I’ve learned the hard way that telling is a no no. Filtering is a no no. Too many gerunds are a no no. Then there’s the word duplication and the clichés, and many more rules I haven’t even learned yet! (Oh, and don’t forget about the overuse of exclamation points!!) But alas, publishers are a picky people. They want polished, succinct writing. For me, the rules take the fun out of writing. When faced with this sticky conundrum a writer must evaluate whether they’re writing for themself or for an audience. If it’s for them, they can fill their pages with every cliché imaginable. No one will ever see it. But if they’re writing for others, then they’re going to have to suck it up, learn the rules, and implement them. Ahem. As I am currently doing with the help of my very knowledgeable writing partner, who shall remain nameless (her initials are CF ;)).

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

Oh dear. I can’t say I’ve had an aha moment where I’ve seen the light, per se. Wouldn’t that be lovely? What I do experience quite often actually comes from my gut. At least that’s where I like to tell people it comes from. You’d all think me zany if I said it was from my writing fairy who whispers in my ear. What I’m talking about is trusting my instincts. I don’t plot out my books. Or use timelines or grids of any sort. I know how I want it to start and how I want it to end. Who I want to fall in love with who, and then I start writing. My characters take me down this way and that, things falling into place that I never could have planned if I tried. For example, just yesterday I had a character dropping a jar of mayonnaise after being surprised. This was my attempt at painting a picture for the reader. Well, what do you know, later in the scene I needed her to fall onto a knife. And I thought, “Hey, I’ve got greasy mayonnaise on the floor. How perfect for her to slip on and fall.” Completely unplanned, yet worked out chillingly perfect. That’s my writing fairy-er-gut for you. So I’m not sure if I answered this question correctly or not, but the point I think I was trying to make was even if you don’t have a particular aha moment, trust your writing and trust yourself.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I hate this question. If I had a writing weakness it would be my lack of reading what’s currently out there. Since having my three boys I just don’t have the time to read. When I was younger, I read and read and read. During summer breaks, I don’t even think I left my bedroom, just laid in my bed reading (does it count if the window was open?). My favorite genre was historical romance and I ate up Victoria Holt books. As I grew older I opted more for the thriller suspense-type novels by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Tami Hoag, James Patterson, and even Dean Koontz. But lately, the only books I read are from my writing partner and any other beta reads that come my way. So if I had to base my answer on past authors I’ve read, I’d have to say Victoria Holt, just because it was her writing style that captivated me enough to keep me housed up in my bedroom from morning to night. Not to mention the tea and crumpets phase she inspired. Oh, Earl Grey, how I love you.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader would be in the sixteen to thirtyish age range. My love scenes are curtained enough to be appropriate for younger readers, but the content is definitely mature enough for an older reader to appreciate, and even relate to. However, that’s just for my current project, a YA dystopian. I also have a paranormal romance on the back burner and a handful of children’s books. One could diagnose me as having “Writer’s ADHD.” But I do believe my favorite age to write for is the teenage/young adult audience so let’s stick with that answer.

Carmen, thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog. I fully enjoyed it and hope you ask me back again.

You can visit Julie at http://juliemlavoie.wordpress.com