Ask the Author: Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
Answered Questions (6)
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
Creating characters that make other people feel something.
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
The thing about most fictional book worlds is that they're generally full of a lot of conflict and danger, and that's why stories set in them are so interesting to read. Unfortunately, that also makes them places I'd really rather not visit. (Plenty of conflict and danger here in this world, thank you very much.)
So, what fictional book world would I like to visit? That'd have to be someplace very low stress. Like the Hundred Acre Wood.
So, what fictional book world would I like to visit? That'd have to be someplace very low stress. Like the Hundred Acre Wood.
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
Tad Williams has a lot of stuff out from the last few years that I haven't had a chance to read yet because I've had other shit going on. I'm really hoping to be able to dive into that pile soon.
Also, THE STOLEN THRONE and THE CALLING by David Gaider were Christmas gifts that I'm very excited about getting to.
Also, THE STOLEN THRONE and THE CALLING by David Gaider were Christmas gifts that I'm very excited about getting to.
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
I had a creative writing professor once who told us, "There's no such thing as writer's block; you're just trying to write the wrong thing." That sounded like nonsense to me at the time, but I've since discovered the kernel of truth in that (very simplified) soundbyte.
When I'm stuck on something, it's usually because I'm trying to push the story where I want it to go instead of where the narrative has naturally taken me. Stepping back and radically rethinking what I'm trying to do can help me see a way past the obstruction.
Also, sometimes it's just the wrong *time* for me to be working on a particular project. In those moments, it's helpful to have more than one story going, so I can take a break without letting my writing get rusty by stepping into another narrative. Fanfiction (that may or may not be intended for other people to ever see) is especially great for this.
When I'm stuck on something, it's usually because I'm trying to push the story where I want it to go instead of where the narrative has naturally taken me. Stepping back and radically rethinking what I'm trying to do can help me see a way past the obstruction.
Also, sometimes it's just the wrong *time* for me to be working on a particular project. In those moments, it's helpful to have more than one story going, so I can take a break without letting my writing get rusty by stepping into another narrative. Fanfiction (that may or may not be intended for other people to ever see) is especially great for this.
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
I've been working, very slowly, on getting my thoughts together to write Book 3 in The Way of the Falling Star series. That's the main project for 2020, after I get Book 2 lined up for publication.
Here and there, I've also been working on more short stories to add to the collection of Asrellion stories I wrote in 2015.
Here and there, I've also been working on more short stories to add to the collection of Asrellion stories I wrote in 2015.
Alyssa Marie Bethancourt
Write! Keep writing! Finish things, then write more! Don't stress about things being perfect. The only way to get better is to keep writing.
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