Colleen Young's Blog, page 6

Fighting Prose Interview with Krista Harper!

Welcome to my in-depth writers series Fighting Prose. Where I talk to authors in the industry on what their process is like and what it takes for them to keep on creating, through all the odds.

Krista Harper

is my interview this wee...

Rusty is coming soon...

Rusty details

Coming soon...

“So that’s it!” she yells. “We can’t even be friends anymore?”

I stop. Her footsteps get closer to me. Could we be friends? I think of all the other girls that were my “friends.” I had to hear about every little detail of their lives, how their hearts got broken over and over. They never even noticed what their closeness did to me. My feelings for them got deeper and deeper. They all moved on with guy after guy, and I was never a part of the equation.

I shake my head, “I have enough friends.”

Wi...

Side by Side cover revamp!

💥𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭! ⁣💥

This is the final cover for 𝘈𝘭𝘭'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 & 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴. It's been through 3 & none of them felt right until this one. I hope you love it as much as I do! ⁣⁣⁣

Taking Flight is 5!

Can you believe that I’ve been published for 5 years now? I sure did think my career would look different by now but I am happy with where it is and looking forward to the future.

Get the best out of your beta-readers!

For reference, check out my video on IGTV where I talk all about my experience with beta-reading.

In the video I mention that I am exclusively using Google Forms for my beta-readers to submit questions. In case you’ve never used Google Forms before. Here is a great video tutorial that will take your through the step by step.

As for the questions that I asked:

Your name, in case I have additional questions:

Did the story hold your interest from the very beginning? If not, why not?

Did you get oriented fairly quickly at the beginning as to whose story it is, and where and when it’s taking place? If not, why not?

Could you relate to the main character(s)?

Did the setting interest you and did the descriptions seem vivid and real to you?

Was there a point at which you felt the story lagged or you became less than excited about finding out what was going to happen next? Where, exactly?

Were there any parts that confused you? Or even frustrated or annoyed you? Which parts, and why?

Did you notice any discrepancies or inconsistencies in time sequences, places, character details, or other details?

Were the characters believable? Are there any characters you think could be made more interesting or more likable?

Now that you know the BIG twist - is it believable?

If not, what were your big issues?

When did you finally figure out the twist?

Did you get confused about who’s who in the characters? Were there too many characters to keep track of? Too few? Are any of the names of characters too similar?

Did the dialogue keep your interest and sound natural to you? If not, whose dialogue did you think sounded artificial or not like that person would speak?

Did you feel there was too much description or exposition? Not enough? Maybe too much dialogue in parts?

Was there enough conflict, tension, and intrigue to keep your interest?

Was the ending satisfying? Believable?

Do you think the writing style suits the romance genre? If not, why not?

Google forms gives you the option to select, long answer/short answers/ yes or no.

Let me know if this helps you at all or if you have some tips I should be using for my next book!

Giveaway Time

I partnered up with 3 other amazing Romance authors to do this amazing giveaway. Click here to check it out & sign up.

Fighting Prose Interview with K. Reshay!

Welcome to my in-depth writers series Fighting Prose. Where I talk to authors in the industry on what their process is like and what it takes for them to keep on creating, through all the odds.

K. Reshay

is my interview this week!

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing since I was eight years old.

If you’ve written several books, which is your favorite?

That is definitely a tough question. I would have to say my first book, "Appearances." It gave me the motivation I needed to continue to write.

What's your favorite genre to read? Write?

I love drama filled suspense fiction. I like to write fiction.

How do you get in the mood to write?

I like to light a candle and play instrumental jazz music. I'll even add a glass of wine for steamy scenes.

How do your characters come together?

I like to come up with a physical description and some slight character traits first. Once I begin to write, the character takes on a life of its own.

How do you get your ideas?

I get inspired by life. A simple phrase can turn into a novel. As an author, I'm very observant.

Who do you admire in the writing world?

I admire the ability to turn simple thoughts into entire novels. I also love feedback from readers.

If you're not busy writing, what are you busy doing?

When I'm not writing, I'm busy working and spending time with my family.

Have you always been creative?

As far as I can remember, I've always enjoyed the arts. I took creative writing and drama classes when I was in school. I've always been an avid reader, as well.

Have you ever had writers block? If so, how did you get out of it?

I've experienced writer's block from time to time. To get out of it, I simply step away from my computer for a while. This allows my mind to decompress and creativity to come back inside.

When you sit down to write, is it easy or hard? If it's hard, what makes you keep showing up?

When I sit down to write, it's easy. It's something that I definitely enjoy and wish I could do full-time.

For a writer starting out what advice would you give them?

I would encourage them to find a great editor and have a budget in mind. Being a self-published author can be very expensive. I'd also wish them good luck. It is definitely a journey of self discovery.

What is your dream writing location?

My dream writing location would be on the beach with a drink and music close by.

In reference to your books, what question do you get asked the most?

I always get asked when the next book is coming out.

If you could bring one of your characters to life who would it be? Why?

One of my favorite characters is San from my latest novel, "All Things Work Out Well." She is a hair stylist working a dead end job with big dreams. She's incredibly driven and passionate.

What do you think makes a good story?

What makes a good story is an interesting plot. Readers get bored with the same old thing all of the time. It's important to be creative and really draw the readers to want to continue the story.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

As a child, I wanted to be a news anchor. I thought it was really cool to be on the t.v. relaying the events of the day.

Links to K. R.Website I Instagram




























































All Things Work Out Well

By Reshay, K.

“Thank you for letting me interview you and Good Luck with everything K! ”

— Colleen

If you happen to know an author that would be great for my Fighting Prose series be sure to send them my way!

Thanks for reading!

XoXo- Colleen

Taking Flight moving on up...

I was so excited to see Taking Flight move up the Coming of Age category on Amazon. This is the first time I have been on a top list of any kind and my heart just exploded with pride. I hope that all of the people that downloaded Taking Flight will discover they like my work and explore more!

Fighting Prose Interview with A.N. Willis!

Welcome to my in-depth writers series Fighting Prose. Where I talk to authors in the industry on what their process is like and what it takes for them to keep on creating, through all the odds.

A.N. Willis

is my interview this week!

How long have you been writing?

About 8 years

If you’ve written several books, which is your favorite?

Under Glass And Stone

What's your favorite genre to read? Write?

Thrillers of all types are my favorite to read, though I love all genres. To write, I love having some sort of supernatural or otherworldly element--whether it's ghosts or sci-fi. And I am growing to love historical settings, especially when there's a mystery involved.

How do you get in the mood to write?

Ideally, I write in the morning or at night when everything else is quiet. I like to visualize the scene first before I put down words. But many days, I squeeze in writing time whenever I can, and I just dive in.

How do your characters come together?

I usually feel that people are the sum of their experiences, so I get to know my characters through their backstories.

How do you get your ideas?

Anywhere! Especially reading history.

Who do you admire in the writing world?

Dan Simmons, because he writes masterfully in so many genres.

If you're not busy writing, what are you busy doing?

Homeschooling my kiddo and reading books.

Have you always been creative?

I need creative outlets for my sanity, and I've loved making up stories since I was a kid. But I was only brave enough to write a novel as an adult.

Have you ever had writers block? If so, how did you get out of it?

Yes! Writer's block is the worst. For me, it comes from fear. I explored my creativity in other areas, like poetry and ceramics. It helped me get in touch with why I'm a writer in the first place--I love to create stories.

When you sit down to write, is it easy or hard? If it's hard, what makes you keep showing up?

Hard at first, but it always gets easier. Anything worth doing is hard.

For a writer starting out what advice would you give them?

Write as much as you can, but pick one project and stick with it until it's done. Then write another. Learn as much as you can as you go, and don't be afraid to fail.

What is your dream writing location?

A secluded cabin in the mountains with food delivered to my door.

In reference to your books, what question do you get asked the most?

How did you come up with this? The answer: I don't know. The subconscious is weird.

If you could bring one of your characters to life who would it be? Why?

That would have to be Thomas, a protagonist in a new novel that I just started writing. He's a detective in 1880s Colorado, and he's going to be quite dreamy.

What do you think makes a good story?

Tension

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A Broadway actress and singer

Links to A.N.Website I Instagram


















































































Under Glass And Stone (Byrne House, Book 1)

By Willis, A.N.


















Doors Of Gold And Rust (Byrne House, Book 2)

By Willis, A.N.

“Thank you for letting me interview you and Good Luck with everything A.N.! ”

— Colleen

If you happen to know an author that would be great for my Fighting Prose series be sure to send them my way!

Thanks for reading!

XoXo- Colleen