Ask the Author: Ella J. Smyth
Answered Questions (4)
Ella J. Smyth
I'm currently working on the spin-off series of Second Chance Academy, which features Amber's friend Beth. She travels to a parallel world to find her parents' killer. The series is set in Faerie, and Beth soon learns more than she can handle by herself. Good thing then that she collects a few guys along the journey. But who to choose? Hang on, it's reverse harem. She doesn't have to, lol
Ella J. Smyth
I don't really believe in writer's block. I do believe there is always a reason whyI can't write. Usually, it has to do with something I don't know...
Sometimes, I haven't developed my characters enough to know what they would do next. The solution is to do an interview with my characters and get them to talk to me about their background, what made them who they are.
Sometimes, I don't know where the story goes. I'm one of those writers who freezes unless I've got an outline. The solution is to create a rough outline--just enough to carry me forward.
Sometimes, I get bored with my own writing, and none of the characters speak to me. The solution is to step back, go for a walk, watch a movie. Anything to not think about the problem. Usually, my brain fills in the gaps, and I know how to move the story forward.
I live by 2 sayings:
1) There's no point waiting for your muse to visit. Chase her down, club her over the head, and drag her to your desk by her hair. Writing is brutal! :D
2) The harder you work, the more luck (and inspiration) you'll have.
So I poke away at it until the writer's block disappears. Thanks for asking!
Sometimes, I haven't developed my characters enough to know what they would do next. The solution is to do an interview with my characters and get them to talk to me about their background, what made them who they are.
Sometimes, I don't know where the story goes. I'm one of those writers who freezes unless I've got an outline. The solution is to create a rough outline--just enough to carry me forward.
Sometimes, I get bored with my own writing, and none of the characters speak to me. The solution is to step back, go for a walk, watch a movie. Anything to not think about the problem. Usually, my brain fills in the gaps, and I know how to move the story forward.
I live by 2 sayings:
1) There's no point waiting for your muse to visit. Chase her down, club her over the head, and drag her to your desk by her hair. Writing is brutal! :D
2) The harder you work, the more luck (and inspiration) you'll have.
So I poke away at it until the writer's block disappears. Thanks for asking!
Ella J. Smyth
Because I'm changing tack to include Reverse Harem in my future books, I've been reading Alex Lidell, Steffanie Holmes, and other RH authors. I'm having a blast!
Ella J. Smyth
I grew up in Germany and devoured fairytales, mainly Grimms' but also Hauff, Andersen, Bechstein and many others. Then I met my lovely husband and we moved to Ireland. I hadn't realized that the Grimm brothers traveled to Ireland in the 19th century and collected Irish fairytales. They published them and I was blown away by the crossover between two different cultures.
Anybody in my generation would also be aware of the importance of a writer Karl May who wrote Westerns focusing on the 'noble redskin' - yeah, he wasn't very culturally aware but nevertheless treated the American aboriginal nations with a hell of a lot more respect than others in the 19th century. Or even today when you look at the repetition of history in North Dakota Nov 2016. Just saying.
Anyway, this idea of cultural crossover stayed with me. My heroes come from diverse backgrounds - Adi is German and Honi Cheyenne. Mythologies from both cultures play a major role in the novel and really the book is about finding common ground amongst all the differences. The novel is serialized on my website so you can see for yourself if you like the idea.
Anybody in my generation would also be aware of the importance of a writer Karl May who wrote Westerns focusing on the 'noble redskin' - yeah, he wasn't very culturally aware but nevertheless treated the American aboriginal nations with a hell of a lot more respect than others in the 19th century. Or even today when you look at the repetition of history in North Dakota Nov 2016. Just saying.
Anyway, this idea of cultural crossover stayed with me. My heroes come from diverse backgrounds - Adi is German and Honi Cheyenne. Mythologies from both cultures play a major role in the novel and really the book is about finding common ground amongst all the differences. The novel is serialized on my website so you can see for yourself if you like the idea.
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