Ask the Author: Lu Etchells
Answered Questions (9)
Lu Etchells
It's Monday. There's no coffee left.
Lu Etchells
I'm not sure I really have a solution.
If I'm just having an off-day, then I'll leave it. I'll walk away, do something else. I've never found there to be much point in pushing these things, my creativity definitely suffers if I force it.
If it's a longer running slump, then it's usually because there's something else going on external to my writing. It's rarely the characters or the process that's the problem. So, I'll grab a dog (there are 4 to pick from) and go for a walk in the woods to clear my head. Usually that helps me figure out what's bugging me - and pathetically it may just be that I really need to give the house a clean, or I've got a bill I need to pay that I've forgotten about.
If none of that works, then I just brainstorm. I look back at what I've got and try to find something I'm not happy with. If I can't write a chapter it's invariably because my subconscious is telling me it doesn't work, or there's something wrong with it. I can't force that. I have to listen, and go back and re do.
So far, a combination of the above has always lured me back to the screen.
If I'm just having an off-day, then I'll leave it. I'll walk away, do something else. I've never found there to be much point in pushing these things, my creativity definitely suffers if I force it.
If it's a longer running slump, then it's usually because there's something else going on external to my writing. It's rarely the characters or the process that's the problem. So, I'll grab a dog (there are 4 to pick from) and go for a walk in the woods to clear my head. Usually that helps me figure out what's bugging me - and pathetically it may just be that I really need to give the house a clean, or I've got a bill I need to pay that I've forgotten about.
If none of that works, then I just brainstorm. I look back at what I've got and try to find something I'm not happy with. If I can't write a chapter it's invariably because my subconscious is telling me it doesn't work, or there's something wrong with it. I can't force that. I have to listen, and go back and re do.
So far, a combination of the above has always lured me back to the screen.
Lu Etchells
Ooooh, how long is this list allowed to be?
So, Summer 2020 is going to look a bit like this for me:
Olive by Emma Gannon
Playing Nice by JP Delaney
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Elle Croft
Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland
The Last Charm by Ella Allbright
Though, I am happy to take more suggestions!!!
So, Summer 2020 is going to look a bit like this for me:
Olive by Emma Gannon
Playing Nice by JP Delaney
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Elle Croft
Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland
The Last Charm by Ella Allbright
Though, I am happy to take more suggestions!!!
Lu Etchells
My most recently published book was "Straighten Up and Swipe Right" and was published in Feb 2020.
The idea came off the back of a short story I'd written in November 2017 (Beware the Penguins). It was inspired by a conversation with someone about how you disabled characters didn't get enough page-time in books. Before I knew it, I'd written Martyn, a typical 30-something year old guy who just happened to have Tourette's, and his misadventure with speed dating.
Those few thousand words made me fall in love with this guy, and I wanted to find out what happened next. I spent some time mulling over ideas, and realised that the book wouldn't be about him, per se, but his best friend (also in Penguins).
I like having a link between all my stories, and seeing characters feed in to other stories. So, in some ways, it just happened organically from what I'd already written, or was playing with. After that I simply spent a lot of time drinking wine with my hubby and coming up with a few outlandish ideas of how things could go wrong ;)
So far, it's been my favourite book to write. The characters are just gorgeous!
The idea came off the back of a short story I'd written in November 2017 (Beware the Penguins). It was inspired by a conversation with someone about how you disabled characters didn't get enough page-time in books. Before I knew it, I'd written Martyn, a typical 30-something year old guy who just happened to have Tourette's, and his misadventure with speed dating.
Those few thousand words made me fall in love with this guy, and I wanted to find out what happened next. I spent some time mulling over ideas, and realised that the book wouldn't be about him, per se, but his best friend (also in Penguins).
I like having a link between all my stories, and seeing characters feed in to other stories. So, in some ways, it just happened organically from what I'd already written, or was playing with. After that I simply spent a lot of time drinking wine with my hubby and coming up with a few outlandish ideas of how things could go wrong ;)
So far, it's been my favourite book to write. The characters are just gorgeous!
Lu Etchells
The best thing is definitely being able to escape and make anything you want happen.
You know that feeling when you have an argument, and 2 hours later think of all the things you could have said? Well, when you're speaking for your characters, you get to say all those things.
You get to write alternative endings. You can make people fall in love with, or despise characters.
It's all just so much FUN! There are no rules, and it's very rarely you get to say that about a job.
The second best thing is the readers. Not only *my* readers, but just getting to talk to people who LOVE books. Finding like minded people, even if you have different tastes and genres, is really exciting, and no matter what, you always have something in common.
You know that feeling when you have an argument, and 2 hours later think of all the things you could have said? Well, when you're speaking for your characters, you get to say all those things.
You get to write alternative endings. You can make people fall in love with, or despise characters.
It's all just so much FUN! There are no rules, and it's very rarely you get to say that about a job.
The second best thing is the readers. Not only *my* readers, but just getting to talk to people who LOVE books. Finding like minded people, even if you have different tastes and genres, is really exciting, and no matter what, you always have something in common.
Lu Etchells
I've just taken a little break from writing after the publication of "When All That's Left Is Hope" in March 2018. Now though I'm back at my laptop and working on my new book, "Straighten Up and Swipe Right".
It's a comedy/chick lit style book, featuring Laura (from Dead Flowers and Beware The Penguins) who's on the hunt for a date to her best friend's wedding.
I'm really enjoying it at the moment, and am loving the characters come to life. They've been buzzing around my head for months, so I'm hoping to give them a lot of attention over the next few weeks.
It's a comedy/chick lit style book, featuring Laura (from Dead Flowers and Beware The Penguins) who's on the hunt for a date to her best friend's wedding.
I'm really enjoying it at the moment, and am loving the characters come to life. They've been buzzing around my head for months, so I'm hoping to give them a lot of attention over the next few weeks.
Lu Etchells
Hi Adam,
I think the hardest part for me is probably the editing afterwards. Writing is the easy (ish) bit, as long as the ideas are flowing. But having to go through and make sure you've kept everything consistent - not calling a minor character one name, and then referring to them as something else later on (a problem I found in my first book).
Closely followed by being a perfectionist, but also really very impatient. When I finished writing the actual story, I just wanted it done and published. I didn't want to keep reading, and rewriting, and re-working sections.
In future, I really should employ an editor!
I think the hardest part for me is probably the editing afterwards. Writing is the easy (ish) bit, as long as the ideas are flowing. But having to go through and make sure you've kept everything consistent - not calling a minor character one name, and then referring to them as something else later on (a problem I found in my first book).
Closely followed by being a perfectionist, but also really very impatient. When I finished writing the actual story, I just wanted it done and published. I didn't want to keep reading, and rewriting, and re-working sections.
In future, I really should employ an editor!
Lu Etchells
There are only two things an aspiring writer needs to do: read, and write.
In my opinion, reading is the only way you are ever going to be a good writer. Not only does reading anything you can get your hands on help you to understand what does, and doesn't work, what excites you, and what leaves you cold ... but it also lets you know one really important thing. Writers aren't perfect. Published writers don't have the answers.
I will always remember finishing a book that had been published by a well known house, and thinking "this is utter sh*t". In my opinion it's a book that should never have been allowed to see the light of day. I was offended that my money, time, energy and emotions had been wasted on such a disgusting piece of dross.
But, it got published. Some people loved it. And therein lies the absolute beauty of writing - everyone has a story to tell. Not everyone will love it. But some will.
Which means, no matter what YOU think of the validity of what you have to say, someone out there will love it. But, the only way they can read it is if you write it. So get on with it.
Write every single day. Even if it's just a sentence. Even if you just flesh out the plan for a chapter, or tidy up a character description. If you have a book in mind, just write something. Do something every single damn day that makes you take one step closer to the finish line.
If you don't have a book in mind, then write any way. Write flash fiction, write a version of something that actually happened to you, write an alternative ending to a story you love (or hate). Write something, anything. It's a skill, and you need to practice every single day. Only then will you get better. And you should always be getting better. No one's got it completely right yet.
Alternatively, if you want a simple life, be an accountant.
In my opinion, reading is the only way you are ever going to be a good writer. Not only does reading anything you can get your hands on help you to understand what does, and doesn't work, what excites you, and what leaves you cold ... but it also lets you know one really important thing. Writers aren't perfect. Published writers don't have the answers.
I will always remember finishing a book that had been published by a well known house, and thinking "this is utter sh*t". In my opinion it's a book that should never have been allowed to see the light of day. I was offended that my money, time, energy and emotions had been wasted on such a disgusting piece of dross.
But, it got published. Some people loved it. And therein lies the absolute beauty of writing - everyone has a story to tell. Not everyone will love it. But some will.
Which means, no matter what YOU think of the validity of what you have to say, someone out there will love it. But, the only way they can read it is if you write it. So get on with it.
Write every single day. Even if it's just a sentence. Even if you just flesh out the plan for a chapter, or tidy up a character description. If you have a book in mind, just write something. Do something every single damn day that makes you take one step closer to the finish line.
If you don't have a book in mind, then write any way. Write flash fiction, write a version of something that actually happened to you, write an alternative ending to a story you love (or hate). Write something, anything. It's a skill, and you need to practice every single day. Only then will you get better. And you should always be getting better. No one's got it completely right yet.
Alternatively, if you want a simple life, be an accountant.
Lu Etchells
Wow, this is a tricky one. For me, it's like asking "how do you get inspired to breathe?"
Writing is just this thing I have to do, to stay happy, sane and grounded. In that sense, I'm always inspired to write something. Anything!
In terms of where the inspiration for what I write about comes from ... oh anywhere and everywhere!
I love people watching, and when you do that, you start asking yourself questions about these strangers passing by. The woman running late - where is she going? Why is she late? What's going to happen if she doesn't get there on time?
That man with the flowers - who are they for? Why has he bought them?
Listening to the news or reading random articles online can often spark a thought, that before you know it, has snowballed in to an entire plot.
Overhearing a conversation in the supermarket check out and BOOM, before you know it, you've got a brand new character making a home in your brain.
Inspiration really does come from the most random of places at times - and I love it!
Writing is just this thing I have to do, to stay happy, sane and grounded. In that sense, I'm always inspired to write something. Anything!
In terms of where the inspiration for what I write about comes from ... oh anywhere and everywhere!
I love people watching, and when you do that, you start asking yourself questions about these strangers passing by. The woman running late - where is she going? Why is she late? What's going to happen if she doesn't get there on time?
That man with the flowers - who are they for? Why has he bought them?
Listening to the news or reading random articles online can often spark a thought, that before you know it, has snowballed in to an entire plot.
Overhearing a conversation in the supermarket check out and BOOM, before you know it, you've got a brand new character making a home in your brain.
Inspiration really does come from the most random of places at times - and I love it!
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