Ask the Author: Sarah Chadwick
Answered Questions (6)
Sarah Chadwick
Number one, don't panic. I remind myself, this is a point in time, not a permanent state of being. Then I give my self a good talking to ... you are resourceful and capable, you can get beyond this, followed by trying to recognize if the block is me, or external circumstances. If it's external circumstances, I set a timetable for getting back on track. If it's me ... then I go back to finding a small writing task that I can work though. It might be as small as finding the right word in a clumsy sentence, or tracking down a book that I need.
Sarah Chadwick
You get to think about ideas, words, sentence structure and readers. You can always justify reading, going to a library and good coffee. It's great!
Sarah Chadwick
Set achievable goals. For example, do you have time to write? Where do you work best? Schedule the time and place regularly, like a meeting or a date with yourself. Then work out your most immediate problem. It may be that you long to write but don't know what, or that you have an idea but it feels vague, or you have a specific paragraph that doesn't flow. For me, knowing the problem and breaking it down enables me to work in manageable chunks. It helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed with the enormity of the ambition.
If you get to the point of having a book, there is nothing better for you than having an agent in your corner. A good agent is a transformative experience.
If you get to the point of having a book, there is nothing better for you than having an agent in your corner. A good agent is a transformative experience.
Sarah Chadwick
Right now I'm working with my incredible agent and publisher to promote "Sweetness". When I started pitching the idea for this book, I was told by a couple of people that it was "interesting but niche". I'm looking for that niche! All you niche clitoris owners, or folks interested in engaging with one ... I'd love to find you. All you people interested in history, and the way that ideas are shaped, I'd love to meet you as well.
I'm also working on a play ... and I have an idea for another non-fiction book fermenting.
I'm also working on a play ... and I have an idea for another non-fiction book fermenting.
Sarah Chadwick
I love problem solving and research - at university a friend nick named me "footnote girl", so this is my starting point. What is the problem, what do I know about it and what are my unanswered questions. Then I imagine my reader ... if I am passionate or intrigued with a topic, will they be too? What have I got to tell them that is relevant or new? How can I communicate in a way that is engaging? The short answer is, I am inspired by questions and the idea of a reader in dialogue with me. I never feel lonely when I write. And a good gel pen is essential.
Sarah Chadwick
My starting point for writing the book was hearing a young woman ask, “How does sex really work? I mean, it's fun but how do I have an orgasm?” As I began thinking about her question, and understanding the orgasm gap that still exists, I began asking, why is female sexual pleasure so taboo? Why don’t we talk about female pleasure or the clitoris, when external stimulation is essential for 70 to 75% of all women to experience climax? And how come the anatomy of the clitoris isn't more widely known when scientists have had this information for centuries? Given that there are some fabulous "how to" books already out there, I decided to write a history of attitudes to female sexuality and the clitoris so that clitoris owners and their partners could step into their sexual selves, shedding centuries of misinformation and shame.
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