Ask the Author: Leah R. Cutter
Answered Questions (8)
Leah R. Cutter
Why was my grandfather estranged from his brother? We didn't even know that my grandfather had a brother until after he'd died and his heirs contacted my family. We knew about my grandfather's two sisters. But none of them ever mentioned that was another brother. The other family knew about the existence of ours, but they also had no idea why the two were so estranged.
Leah R. Cutter
Yes there is! It's scheduled for later in 2015.
Leah R. Cutter
I do read when I'm writing. However, right now I'm reading for two workshops, so not so much for myself.
For the anthology workshop, I have 240+ short stories to read by the end of February.
For the Fantasy workshop, I'm currently reading "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman.
Before that, I read a book for research, about the Tong Wars in San Francisco.
For the anthology workshop, I have 240+ short stories to read by the end of February.
For the Fantasy workshop, I'm currently reading "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman.
Before that, I read a book for research, about the Tong Wars in San Francisco.
Leah R. Cutter
I am planning on writing more with these characters. I have an idea for the second novel already - "Tainted Waters." Set during the Minneapolis Aquatennial.
Leah R. Cutter
I believe strongly in the triangle of writing metrics, as proposed in this blog post:
http://thisblogisaploy.blogspot.com/2...
Basically, I have to know what I'm about to write. I don't have to know all of it, or have the entire thing outlined. I just have to know what I'm about to write at this moment.
Then I have to generate excitement about what I'm going to write. Outlining this small section, thinking about it, making up more cool stuff...all of that helps me get excited, which gets me inspired to write.
Time of day helps as well, though I've found that when I'm truly inspired, time of dat matters less.
http://thisblogisaploy.blogspot.com/2...
Basically, I have to know what I'm about to write. I don't have to know all of it, or have the entire thing outlined. I just have to know what I'm about to write at this moment.
Then I have to generate excitement about what I'm going to write. Outlining this small section, thinking about it, making up more cool stuff...all of that helps me get excited, which gets me inspired to write.
Time of day helps as well, though I've found that when I'm truly inspired, time of dat matters less.
Leah R. Cutter
"A Sword's Poem" - which is a historic fantasy novel, set in Heian era, Japan, around 900 AD.
The main character is a kitsune - a fox fairy. A Taoist sorcerer kills her mate, steals his soul, and re-forges it into a sword.
All she has to do is find the sword and break the curse...but it's never as easy as that.
The main character is a kitsune - a fox fairy. A Taoist sorcerer kills her mate, steals his soul, and re-forges it into a sword.
All she has to do is find the sword and break the curse...but it's never as easy as that.
Leah R. Cutter
Making up stuff. I adore all the world building and character building. But I also love listening to these characters, seeing how they interact with each other, with the world. It's all about creating something out of nothing. That's what I really like about being a writer.
Leah R. Cutter
I don't tend to get writer's block, which I define as wanting to write but not having any words.
There have been times in my life when I haven't written, but there was so much going on in my life, I didn't want to write. I didn't need to write. And I didn't miss it. (For example, like right after the death of my mother.)
I do get project block. This happened just yesterday. I was trying to start a new chapter. For this novel, every chapter is from a different character. So I wasn't continuing with the voice from the previous chapter.
I started the chapter at a specific time and place, and found I couldn't really write. So I threw away what I'd done, and started again, earlier. But that wasn't right either. So I threw that away, and restarted again, finally discovering the correct time and place for that chapter to start.
There have been times in my life when I haven't written, but there was so much going on in my life, I didn't want to write. I didn't need to write. And I didn't miss it. (For example, like right after the death of my mother.)
I do get project block. This happened just yesterday. I was trying to start a new chapter. For this novel, every chapter is from a different character. So I wasn't continuing with the voice from the previous chapter.
I started the chapter at a specific time and place, and found I couldn't really write. So I threw away what I'd done, and started again, earlier. But that wasn't right either. So I threw that away, and restarted again, finally discovering the correct time and place for that chapter to start.
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