We first met Suzanne, the author of The Locket, Friday night when she visited with me a bit. Now, we'll learn more about her from an interview, part of which I'll post now, and the rest will be posted Wednesday.
Q: Suzanne, you're both a writer and a writing coach. You created something called The Morning Nudge. Can you tell us about The Morning Nudge?
A: As a writing coach, I like to encourage my clients to get a little writing done every single day. When I first started coaching, I was sending out a weekly newsletter, but I suddenly thought how much more helpful it would be to my clients and other writers by sending them something every week day. That’s how The Morning Nudge came about.
I have a friend who calls it “The Morning Shove” because some days I just want writers to stop making excuses for not creating the writing life of their dreams. The only way to become a writer is to write! And the purpose of The Morning Nudge is to remind readers of that every day.
Q: What are your writing habits? Do you work on an outline before starting the actual story?
A: I write something every single day. When I’m working on a book length manuscript I work from an outline whether the book is nonfiction or fiction. However, even with an outline I find that many surprises pop up as I’m writing. And that's part of what makes the writing process so much fun.
Q: Is one genre easier to write than another? Why or why not?
A: For me, fiction is more difficult to write than nonfiction because I have to really, really focus on the world I’m creating when I’m writing fiction. I have to sort of enter this world, and it takes me a while at the keyboard before I’m able to do that fully. But once I’m there in my fictional world, I don’t want to come back to the real world, so I try to write for hours at a time.
When I’m working on nonfiction, I’m able to do that in short bits of time here and there. So it’s easier for me to get a lot of nonfiction writing done in a short amount of time.
Q: You always have a project or two in the works. The Locket just came out so tell us a bit about your other soon to be published stories. What was your inspiration for these stories?
A: I just finished another historical novel for Enslow. Right now I’m reworking several picture book manuscripts. I'm also working with clients to help them create 6 new information products within the next 6 months, and I'll be creating 6 of my own products right along with my clients. What inspires me the most - for anything I write - is people who do incredible things. I want to write things that show everyone how we can ALL do incredible things if we follow our passions and believe in ourselves.
Q: Which element of historical fiction writing comes more naturally for you—plot, characterization, description, dialogue? Which one gives you the hardest time?
A: Characterization comes easiest for me. I have to “feel” what the character is going through in order to write about this person. But I can generally do that. Description is sometimes difficult with historical fiction because every detail about the time and place must be accurate even though the actual events are not all true.
The rest of the interview will be posted Wednesday.
Suzanne's website
Suzanne LIVE on radio
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5 comments:
Suzanne,first let me say how much I LOVE your The Locket cover. Awesome.
Second, I find it so easy, like breathing, to write fiction. Ask me to write nonfiction other than writing articles, and it's as though someone has stuck a knife to my throat. Go figure.
Loved your interview. It gives me a better insider's view on who you are as a writer and person.
Nice.
It's always fun reading how other writers go about their work. (I look for techniques I can, er, steal.)
Malcolm
Suzanne, I've picked up a few things from your morning nudge in the past. I look forward to reading the rest of your interview and your book The Locket.
Joy aka Zebee, or is it the other way around?
Thanks for stopping by for the first part of Suzanne's interview. I'll add the second part Wednesday.
Good interview. I too like the cover. I was looking around and see that you have quite a few books out, Suzanne. Can you tell me what library binding is? I've never heard this before but maybe because I'm so new to the business. Looking forward to seeing the second part of the interview - E :)
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