Ask the Author: Britain Kalai Soderquist
Answered Questions (6)
Britain Kalai Soderquist
Honestly, by reading other books. And watching movies... and playing video games... and watching my kids just being kids. Most of the time, though, it is because I am reading a book and I get so into the world of the story that I start thinking about what it would be like to put my own spin on a character or a magic system or some other element in the book. Sometimes I want to try my hand at the genre or a particular narrative method. Ultimately, though, I think my best inspiration comes from reading because I start wondering how I would do things differently, or what I could do to put my unique spin on something.
I guess technically that means I am inspired by questions too. I do love to ask and answer questions. :)
I guess technically that means I am inspired by questions too. I do love to ask and answer questions. :)
Britain Kalai Soderquist
I love the flexibility writing provides. My first job is being a mom to two energetic little kids, so my writing happens in fits and spurts. I also love the challenge of coming up with twists on old ideas, or completely new notions that are unique to my imagination. Writing isn't easy, especially now. Self-publishing has blown the door wide open for people like me who have always wanted to try becoming authors. Making your work stand out takes extra effort, and I love the challenge it provides.
Britain Kalai Soderquist
If I am struggling with a particular scene, I take a break from writing for a couple of hours, or sometimes a couple of days. I don't like to write unless I feel like the story is going to create itself as I go. In the past I have tried to force myself to work through a problem (and sometimes this is necessary), but for the most part it doesn't work. Be patient, move on to other things, and let the "eureka" principle go to work for you.
Sometimes I have writer's block for a particular part of a story, but I have other scenes that are begging to be set down. So I take a break from the scene that is giving me trouble and write out of sequence for a while. Emptying my mind of the scenes I want to write makes room for the scenes that I am not as excited about to grow on me.
Sometimes I have writer's block for a particular part of a story, but I have other scenes that are begging to be set down. So I take a break from the scene that is giving me trouble and write out of sequence for a while. Emptying my mind of the scenes I want to write makes room for the scenes that I am not as excited about to grow on me.
Britain Kalai Soderquist
Write every day, even for just a few minutes. Building a habit of daily writing will help you meet your goals as a writer, and keep your skills on a constant path of improvement. You can't write once every five years and expect to be as good as someone who patiently writes every single day.
Read, read, read! Only by reading can you see what ideas have not been thought of yet. And only by reading can you learn which genres and linguistic styles you like best. Your skill with prose will be greatly improved by reading. Don't forget to read the classics... we call them that for a reason, you know. Jane Austen is my favorite (obviously), but slogging through a little Dickens is a kind of rite of passage.
Read, read, read! Only by reading can you see what ideas have not been thought of yet. And only by reading can you learn which genres and linguistic styles you like best. Your skill with prose will be greatly improved by reading. Don't forget to read the classics... we call them that for a reason, you know. Jane Austen is my favorite (obviously), but slogging through a little Dickens is a kind of rite of passage.
Britain Kalai Soderquist
My current project is another fairytale retelling for my NaNoWriMo project. "Princess of the Peas" is a modern version of the tale "The Princess and the Pea." Set in Seattle, the plot follows a girl named Kate who has a problem: her cooking, especially magical cooking, always goes up in smoke... literally.
I am writing the story as a serial through Wattpad. If you want to check it out, head over to my profile page: https://www.wattpad.com/user/britaink...
Other projects include a retelling of a traditional Tahitian legend called "Black Pearls." That was my NaNoWriMo novel for 2013, so now we are in the editing process. I am also posting those chapters on Wattpad, so check it out along with "Princess" while you are there!
Once these stories are done, I really want to do another historical fiction retelling. Hint: it will be a war era story and feature wolves in sheep's clothing. ;)
I am writing the story as a serial through Wattpad. If you want to check it out, head over to my profile page: https://www.wattpad.com/user/britaink...
Other projects include a retelling of a traditional Tahitian legend called "Black Pearls." That was my NaNoWriMo novel for 2013, so now we are in the editing process. I am also posting those chapters on Wattpad, so check it out along with "Princess" while you are there!
Once these stories are done, I really want to do another historical fiction retelling. Hint: it will be a war era story and feature wolves in sheep's clothing. ;)
Britain Kalai Soderquist
I love fairytale retellings, but sometimes I feel like there are plot holes that need filling. For "Glass Roses," I was thinking about the Cinderella story one day and started asking questions: how does the daughter of a wealthy land owner just vanish from the social scene of the neighborhood? Why did no one come to check on her when she stopped being seen? If a male uncle/cousin etc. did not show up to claim the estate, it would have passed to Cinderella, because step-families got nothing in the eyes of the law for a long time... so why is she not protected by the family lawyer or steward?
Finding the answers to these questions led me to write a story in which society and etiquette play the role of magic in the fairytale. Historical fiction is my other favorite genre, and the Victorian era seemed to work so well for retelling the tale in a non-magical setting.
The letter aspect of the story was inspired by multiple sources, but specifically "Sorcery and Cecelia" by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, and of course Jane Austen's "Lady Susan." I have always loved diary/letter books, and I couldn't resist using the format to tell two stories in one, and during the golden age of letter-writing. The Victorians were some of the best letter writers out there!
Finding the answers to these questions led me to write a story in which society and etiquette play the role of magic in the fairytale. Historical fiction is my other favorite genre, and the Victorian era seemed to work so well for retelling the tale in a non-magical setting.
The letter aspect of the story was inspired by multiple sources, but specifically "Sorcery and Cecelia" by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, and of course Jane Austen's "Lady Susan." I have always loved diary/letter books, and I couldn't resist using the format to tell two stories in one, and during the golden age of letter-writing. The Victorians were some of the best letter writers out there!
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