Christina Westover's Blog - Posts Tagged "fiction"
I once heard a radio talk show host make a comment to the effect that if people sacrifice their values for a relationship, then the relationship is doomed to fail from the beginning. I started imagining what such a scenario would look like in a movie--people leaving marriages, people abiding by the rules they don't believe in because they are "in love." People sacrificing everything for a relationship, until they feel they have nothing left for themselves, and when it fails, they are left completely broken--or, are they? This concept became a novel which I titled, "Nowhere To End."
I don't know how everyone else works, but for me, sometimes the simple things which we come across everyday make the most interesting stories.
I knew a woman who fell in love with a married man, had an affair, became pregnant by him, and now he is married to her and they are raising their child together. I wondered what it would be like to be the result of an affair--especially if your whole life was spent suffering at the hands of jealous siblings who felt their family life was robbed from them because of YOU. This idea became the entire premise for my novel "Precipice"--a book which shows how sibling rivalry can lead to murder.
The trick to thinking up the perfect story is to make the idea something most people are familiar with, something they can relate to. You must be willing to look at everyday ideas from new angles, to present them in ways which make them seem like new ideas. There must always be the element that what is being presented is NEW, even though we are using words to convey the same human emotions which have been felt since the beginning of time.
This element of making an everyday idea, an old idea, NEW, is also what helps bridge the present and the past. After all, what is literature but documentation of ideas and feelings of a certain time period? When we present ideas which transcend time, then we have an idea which will be read and remembered well into the future.
Next time you are people watching, beware of that bolt of energy which surges through your spine when an idea comes into mind, for it can only mean that you're onto something great--in fact, you're thinking up the perfect story!
I don't know how everyone else works, but for me, sometimes the simple things which we come across everyday make the most interesting stories.
I knew a woman who fell in love with a married man, had an affair, became pregnant by him, and now he is married to her and they are raising their child together. I wondered what it would be like to be the result of an affair--especially if your whole life was spent suffering at the hands of jealous siblings who felt their family life was robbed from them because of YOU. This idea became the entire premise for my novel "Precipice"--a book which shows how sibling rivalry can lead to murder.
The trick to thinking up the perfect story is to make the idea something most people are familiar with, something they can relate to. You must be willing to look at everyday ideas from new angles, to present them in ways which make them seem like new ideas. There must always be the element that what is being presented is NEW, even though we are using words to convey the same human emotions which have been felt since the beginning of time.
This element of making an everyday idea, an old idea, NEW, is also what helps bridge the present and the past. After all, what is literature but documentation of ideas and feelings of a certain time period? When we present ideas which transcend time, then we have an idea which will be read and remembered well into the future.
Next time you are people watching, beware of that bolt of energy which surges through your spine when an idea comes into mind, for it can only mean that you're onto something great--in fact, you're thinking up the perfect story!
Stylish, innovative, and intelligent, Lux Zakari is an author whose novels truly reflect the changing times. Powerful, headstrong, and complex, her leading female characters prove that any genre of fiction is worth reading if written well. After all, the true path to a woman's heart is through her mind, and Zakari's erotic novels are a perfect example of this!
What is it you love about erotic fiction?
I can’t help writing erotic fiction! All my writing takes a turn for the sexy, and that was the case even before I started writing erotica. I find it inevitable when I’m writing about love and the like. Most of my characters are involved in intense, slightly obsessive life-changing relationships, so there’s no way I want to skimp on the doin’ it.
When did you decide you wanted to write, not just fiction, but erotic fiction?
I used to be extremely shy about writing erotica. My characters would start inching toward the bedroom and I’d be like, “Ah! I can’t!” I was just too embarrassed; it felt like something I just should not be writing about. It wasn’t until the urging of a good friend, a fellow erotica writer, that I decided to try my hand at it and we worked on a smutty novel together. When our collaboration came to an end, I decided to take on the genre myself—and wrote Coercion.
How did you overcome any inhibitions you may have felt over writing material which some might find offensive?
Not all my inhibitions have been overcome. I’m still hesitant about telling people what I write about in fear of weirding them out or casting expectations on myself, but no worries. These days, I mostly see it as like my little secret, one only a lucky few know.
What is it about writing that makes it a perfect medium for you?
I dabble in a variety of artsy mediums, like painting, drawing and photography, but nothing truly captures what I’m trying to convey like words do. I love playing with combinations derived from the alphabet, searching for the absolute best way to phrase a sentence. I also really enjoy storytelling and all the problem-solving that comes along with it. And honestly, writing helps me work through issues in my own life. In a way, I sort of trick people into reading exaggerated a/o fictionalized pieces of my journal and all the crazy thoughts in my mind. Each of my novels is like a snapshot of my head at certain points in time, and I hope it shows a path of growth.
Your work often shows strong ties to the past and the character’s journey forward—what is it about the past you wish to preserve?
I feel like the past is crucial when detecting patterns both good and bad and, ultimately, learning about one’s self. Most of my characters have to look backward, and inward, and think, “Okay, everything’s all fucked up, but why? What am I doing wrong? What can I learn here?” Also, why should we forget the past? Yes, some of it is painful, but some of it is so awesome and beautiful, and it can help us get through the painful nows so we can have beautiful, awesome tomorrows.
What types of ideas inspire your emotionally and psychologically complex characters?
Truly, all kinds! Everything starts off as an idle “what if?” premise that occasionally winds up snowballing out of control. For example, I came up with Secretly More when musing about how hot it’d be if a girl was in some Eyes Wide Shut scenario and had no idea that the guy she was with was someone she knew who’d been in love with her forever. Then I had to stop and think, “How would that work? And furthermore, how could I write that as forgivable?” I think it’s good to challenge one’s self as a writer by justifying a character’s behavior when he or she does something you don’t at all agree with.
What would you say is your strength as a writer?
I believe I do well at creating dialogue and creative sex scenes, as well as putting myself in each character’s place; I believe in everything they do because I understand why they do it. But mostly, I feel my strength is that I’m having fun when I write, and I think a reader can tell!
For you, what is technically difficult about writing a sex scene versus a love scene?
Pacing in a sex scene can get tricky; you don’t want to rush through it, but like all things, it can’t last forever. Also, even though I love words, I find that I “use up” a lot of the ones that don’t make me out-and-out cringe, so sometimes that’s a struggle to keep that in check. And sometimes, quite honestly, writing a sex scene can even be boring when all I want to do is just write some witty, flirty banter. Still, nothing can beat making a sexy, novel idea work. And it’s a real high to turn someone on using words—that’s influencing someone’s imagination and body by arranging letters a certain way without ever being present.
Which artists inspire you?
Most of my inspiration is derived from music artists. I am easily swept up in a song and when I write, I often create soundtracks for my books to help motivate me to write. As for which musicians inspire me, it all depends on the nature of the story. For Coercion, it was Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and the like; for Finale, it was Depeche Mode and the Eurythmics. I have a story in the works that is heavily influenced by Florence + the Machine.
What is the message you hope readers gain from your work?
I’d like readers to wring some hope out of my work, and I hope my writing gives them insight to their own lives. I like the idea that I could be communicating with and helping someone without knowing it. But mostly, I hope that my novels will be recognized as damn good stories, regardless of a happy ending.
If you would like to know more about Lux Zakari and her latest novel "Secretly More," please look at her website:
http://luxzakari.com/
Thank you so much for the interview Lux!
What is it you love about erotic fiction?
I can’t help writing erotic fiction! All my writing takes a turn for the sexy, and that was the case even before I started writing erotica. I find it inevitable when I’m writing about love and the like. Most of my characters are involved in intense, slightly obsessive life-changing relationships, so there’s no way I want to skimp on the doin’ it.
When did you decide you wanted to write, not just fiction, but erotic fiction?
I used to be extremely shy about writing erotica. My characters would start inching toward the bedroom and I’d be like, “Ah! I can’t!” I was just too embarrassed; it felt like something I just should not be writing about. It wasn’t until the urging of a good friend, a fellow erotica writer, that I decided to try my hand at it and we worked on a smutty novel together. When our collaboration came to an end, I decided to take on the genre myself—and wrote Coercion.
How did you overcome any inhibitions you may have felt over writing material which some might find offensive?
Not all my inhibitions have been overcome. I’m still hesitant about telling people what I write about in fear of weirding them out or casting expectations on myself, but no worries. These days, I mostly see it as like my little secret, one only a lucky few know.
What is it about writing that makes it a perfect medium for you?
I dabble in a variety of artsy mediums, like painting, drawing and photography, but nothing truly captures what I’m trying to convey like words do. I love playing with combinations derived from the alphabet, searching for the absolute best way to phrase a sentence. I also really enjoy storytelling and all the problem-solving that comes along with it. And honestly, writing helps me work through issues in my own life. In a way, I sort of trick people into reading exaggerated a/o fictionalized pieces of my journal and all the crazy thoughts in my mind. Each of my novels is like a snapshot of my head at certain points in time, and I hope it shows a path of growth.
Your work often shows strong ties to the past and the character’s journey forward—what is it about the past you wish to preserve?
I feel like the past is crucial when detecting patterns both good and bad and, ultimately, learning about one’s self. Most of my characters have to look backward, and inward, and think, “Okay, everything’s all fucked up, but why? What am I doing wrong? What can I learn here?” Also, why should we forget the past? Yes, some of it is painful, but some of it is so awesome and beautiful, and it can help us get through the painful nows so we can have beautiful, awesome tomorrows.
What types of ideas inspire your emotionally and psychologically complex characters?
Truly, all kinds! Everything starts off as an idle “what if?” premise that occasionally winds up snowballing out of control. For example, I came up with Secretly More when musing about how hot it’d be if a girl was in some Eyes Wide Shut scenario and had no idea that the guy she was with was someone she knew who’d been in love with her forever. Then I had to stop and think, “How would that work? And furthermore, how could I write that as forgivable?” I think it’s good to challenge one’s self as a writer by justifying a character’s behavior when he or she does something you don’t at all agree with.
What would you say is your strength as a writer?
I believe I do well at creating dialogue and creative sex scenes, as well as putting myself in each character’s place; I believe in everything they do because I understand why they do it. But mostly, I feel my strength is that I’m having fun when I write, and I think a reader can tell!
For you, what is technically difficult about writing a sex scene versus a love scene?
Pacing in a sex scene can get tricky; you don’t want to rush through it, but like all things, it can’t last forever. Also, even though I love words, I find that I “use up” a lot of the ones that don’t make me out-and-out cringe, so sometimes that’s a struggle to keep that in check. And sometimes, quite honestly, writing a sex scene can even be boring when all I want to do is just write some witty, flirty banter. Still, nothing can beat making a sexy, novel idea work. And it’s a real high to turn someone on using words—that’s influencing someone’s imagination and body by arranging letters a certain way without ever being present.
Which artists inspire you?
Most of my inspiration is derived from music artists. I am easily swept up in a song and when I write, I often create soundtracks for my books to help motivate me to write. As for which musicians inspire me, it all depends on the nature of the story. For Coercion, it was Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and the like; for Finale, it was Depeche Mode and the Eurythmics. I have a story in the works that is heavily influenced by Florence + the Machine.
What is the message you hope readers gain from your work?
I’d like readers to wring some hope out of my work, and I hope my writing gives them insight to their own lives. I like the idea that I could be communicating with and helping someone without knowing it. But mostly, I hope that my novels will be recognized as damn good stories, regardless of a happy ending.
If you would like to know more about Lux Zakari and her latest novel "Secretly More," please look at her website:
http://luxzakari.com/
Thank you so much for the interview Lux!
