Ask the Author: R.M. Snider
Answered Questions (7)
R.M. Snider
So, when I was about 5 years old, I had two girl cousins close to my same age given up for adoption. I'd love to know what's become of them!
R.M. Snider
My best advice is to practice. Writing is like a sport. To be good at it you have to practice. I began seriously writing in 2008 and I didn't officially publish anything until 2017. That nine years wasn't wasted- it was practice. My writing has even improved since I began publishing. With each new book, people have told me my writing's gotten better and better. That's a great compliment and I plan to keep "practicing" for many years to come!
R.M. Snider
I can't honestly say what's the best thing about being a writer, because I love it all! I don't work for anyone but myself. I get to live in a dreamworld of my own creation all day long. I get to share stories that I love with the world. Writing allows me to be creative. My thoughts come out more clearly when I'm writing down my words versus when I'm speaking them. I love being a writer!
R.M. Snider
So, I've definitely had writer's block. I began writing in 2008 and I wrote and wrote and a bunch of it was crap. But it's like a sport—you practice and get better. As I've learned how to write better, I've learned better ways to deal with writer's block, too. For one, I listen to where God is guiding me. I know that'll sound weird to some people, and that's ok, but it works wonders for me. I can feel inside myself when I'm writing something and it's just not coming. It's like making a glass of lemonade by squeezing one lemon at a time. Then, when I say, "Ok, God. What is it You want me to say?" Then, eventually, I'll hear it somehow (through music, taking a walk, just through living life) and all the sudden the ideas are flowing and it's like pouring lemonade from a pitcher. I always know that when I'm squeezing one lemon at a time, I need to stop for a while. It can be as quick as a trip to the restroom and, while I'm washing my hands, it'll all become clear. Or it might be taking a walk outside. Or listening to music while I'm driving in my car. Or listening to a podcast or even reading the Bible. (Side note- I'm kind of funny about what I read while I'm writing. When I'm writing fiction, I tend to stay far away from reading other fiction, aside from what I read to my kiddos at bedtime. I just don't want my head caught up in too many fictional worlds.) So, for me, writer's block is all about listening to where God's taking my story. He's a way better writer than me and I'm eager to write His story because I look at history and I see how complex and creative it is and I know God's got this. He's gonna give me the words to write if I just listen.
R.M. Snider
So, I'm working on The Good King and the Quest for the Seven Relics (or something like that) which is the first book in The King Peter Series. This came about basically because I have three little kiddos age <11 who think that getting in the car with me means I should tell them a new story. So, I made up a story about King Peter one day. And then they wanted another. And another. And before I knew it, we had half a dozen or so stories. I really hadn't intended to write a series, but when I finished The River Series, I put all my potential books out on the table and had a conversation with God and just asked which one He'd like me to write next. He kept saying, "The Good King," and I knew that in my heart, but I still tried to argue with Him for a while. I would say, "Yeah, but what about this other book. It's about xyz and it'll be really cool." But God wasn't buying it and He kept drawing my heart back to The Good King. So, here I am, working on The Good King. My kids are helping me. They're good at critiquing me and offering their opinions, so much so that I'm listing them as co-authors when we publish.
R.M. Snider
Mostly, I'm inspired through my dreams. Sometimes I wake up and I'm like, "Dude, that dream had all the feels," and I know it's something I need to write down. That's totally how I got my original inspiration for The River Series. Further, as I wrote it, I listened to music by some of my favorite artists (Jonathan Thulin, for King and Country, We Are Messengers, Zach Williams) and the words (and emotions evoked) from the songs literally inspired scenes and the direction the story went. I also learned to pray everyday before I began writing and that really helped keep me on track to write what God wanted me to write.
But The King Peters Series has evolved out of an entirely different process. I just began telling my kids stories about King Peter (fictional, not from Narnia, NOT my brother who also happens to be named Peter, lol). My kids wanted more King Peter stories, and so I'd begin with an idea or an image that popped into my head and then it would evolve into an entire story, usually with a moral theme. And there's naughty children and then, as I began writing, I added fantasy creatures like dragons and talking stars. The River Series was set as much within the confines of accurate history as I could image. In contrast, The King Peter Series is just from my imagination of what medieval times would be like if dragons roamed the earth and there was a land called Calloway. So, it's been fun and so much lighter in theme. I'm really enjoying the break from heavy subject matter. But I hope to go back to the heavier stuff at some point.
But The King Peters Series has evolved out of an entirely different process. I just began telling my kids stories about King Peter (fictional, not from Narnia, NOT my brother who also happens to be named Peter, lol). My kids wanted more King Peter stories, and so I'd begin with an idea or an image that popped into my head and then it would evolve into an entire story, usually with a moral theme. And there's naughty children and then, as I began writing, I added fantasy creatures like dragons and talking stars. The River Series was set as much within the confines of accurate history as I could image. In contrast, The King Peter Series is just from my imagination of what medieval times would be like if dragons roamed the earth and there was a land called Calloway. So, it's been fun and so much lighter in theme. I'm really enjoying the break from heavy subject matter. But I hope to go back to the heavier stuff at some point.
R.M. Snider
My first three books were a YA series that had heavy, realistic themes set in history about 100 years ago. But now...
I'm going in a different direction entirely. My kids (ages 10, 9, 6) always ask me to tell them a "new" story, meaning I have to make one up on the fly. I began telling them "King Peter" stories and, now, it's turned into a series that I'm penning with the help of my three littles. It'll be for the middle grade market and will likely be a series called (you guessed it) The King Peter Series. The first book will be called "The Good King and the Quest for the Seven Relics" or something like that, and I'm listing my kids as co-authors since they've been my biggest critics, fans and editors.
I'm going in a different direction entirely. My kids (ages 10, 9, 6) always ask me to tell them a "new" story, meaning I have to make one up on the fly. I began telling them "King Peter" stories and, now, it's turned into a series that I'm penning with the help of my three littles. It'll be for the middle grade market and will likely be a series called (you guessed it) The King Peter Series. The first book will be called "The Good King and the Quest for the Seven Relics" or something like that, and I'm listing my kids as co-authors since they've been my biggest critics, fans and editors.
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