Ask the Author: Gabrielle Squailia
Answered Questions (5)
Gabrielle Squailia
I'd tell her you never know when your breakthrough's coming, and that stream of consciousness writing and random bouts of poetry have served me very well. Those were the things that steadied me and allowed me to hone my skills while I figured out how to put a story together the way I needed to, and I'm still using them and still learning. I think that's the same kind of writer as every other writer: we're just making it up as we're going along.
Gabrielle Squailia
Over the weekend I took the train to and from the city, and it was the best reading environment I've had in years. Although lounging on my friend's couch while I was waiting for him to wake up and take me to brunch was pretty lovely, too. I have a three-year-old at home, so anywhere that isn't there is amazing, but I'm also lousy at reading when surrounded by my notes and research -- I keep going off the rails and back into my own writing.
For writing, there's no place like my office. It's a small, windowless room, and I've been working in here for so long now that my brain kicks right into gear as soon as I shut the door. I take long walks outside between sessions to keep my brain moving.
Before there was an office, I preferred to write at the library.
For writing, there's no place like my office. It's a small, windowless room, and I've been working in here for so long now that my brain kicks right into gear as soon as I shut the door. I take long walks outside between sessions to keep my brain moving.
Before there was an office, I preferred to write at the library.
Gabrielle Squailia
I've kept a giant cardboard box of notebooks and papers for the past fifteen years. There's always something in the mulch that I can pull out and revisit. It takes me quite a long time to get an idea ready to write, but intermittently playing with ideas and story structures keeps me excited and inspired no matter what stage a book is in.
If I'm fishing for a brand-new idea, I put together a targeted Book Stack and chew through it, taking notes as I go. My best ideas are mutations of ideas I've read elsewhere.
If I'm fishing for a brand-new idea, I put together a targeted Book Stack and chew through it, taking notes as I go. My best ideas are mutations of ideas I've read elsewhere.
Gabrielle Squailia
I eat a lot of goats. Okay, I eat a lot of baby goats. Okay, I eat a lot of baby goats fed exclusively on other baby goats. And I feed them on an altar made of baby goat-bones. Where they are summarily slaughtered and roasted. There's more, having to do with baby goats. It's a family recipe.
Also, my skull is naturally shapely. Like, Picard-level curves. That doesn't hurt either.
Also, my skull is naturally shapely. Like, Picard-level curves. That doesn't hurt either.
Gabrielle Squailia
If the words aren't flowing, I quit trying and go to the movies. If it's a movie I don't particularly like, even better -- imagining how I'd fix someone else's story almost always gives me a fresh take on my own.
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