The Author Interviews, Round 3: #10: Lindsey Anderson
Round Three of the Author Interviews closes withLindsay Anderson, author of Syrin.
Where do you get your ideas from?I listen to classical or instrumental music and develop a scene to go with it. Characters and places have popped up from there. Then I elaborate upon them. Also, ideas build while I write. Sometimes a background character steps forward into a stronger supporting character. Madrid did that in Syrin.Why do you write?It is another way to create! I draw and paint and sometimes my ideas are long and elaborate. Writing is the best way to capture those ideas. I love how it is a simple medium but can build worlds.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I like how science fiction can be whatever you want. As simple or as complicated as you would like it to be. I like to take real things and ideas and stretch them, so I read a lot of current science news. Sometimes those real things inspire new and original ideas.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I haven't had what I would call a "bad review" yet. I have had my share of criticism or critique and rejection. Criticism can be jarring at first, but I read it objectively and do my best to understand the writer's point of view. Oftentimes they can be helpful for future works. Rejection is rejection. I don't put a lot of emotional stock into it and view it with as much a business mentality as I can.What do you find difficult about writing?Writers block is the most difficult. With my sequel to Syrin, I have been going through a few re-writes and seem to get stuck in the same place. I know where I want the story to go, it's getting it to that point.Do you ever outsource your work?I haven't outsourced my work. I'm not sure what that would be...What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I can see the appeal of both. Indie: you are faced with a lot more work before AND after you publish, but you're published! Traditional: they do the marketing and such for you, you're more easily in stores, your book is in the public eye but it is a lot of work and patience and time to find an agent or publisher.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Once I have an idea, I elaborate on it in my mind. Sometimes that is laying in bed with headphones and flicking through music tracks. Then I write down a list of characters and biographies to get a background on them and give them different motivations. From there I create cultural notes on the world. Throughout this process I tend to sketch out things as best I can. Once I have direction, I start to write the first draft. If something isn't working, I don't force it. If I need a second opinion on a plot idea or direction, I get one by having someone read what I have so far. Syrin had a few versions. It was an idea I had in high school. It has changed a LOT. Only two characters remained the same and the rest were changed or chopped. Especially the main character.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing! Practice makes perfect! What really got me going to actually finishing my first novel (which is still a work in progress until I can do it justice) was when my father and I would send each other 10 pages of our work to one another each week. That helped me finish my first draft and sometimes that is the hardest part. Once you have a draft, you have a map and you can better know where you are going.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?I had just published 12 months ago. I would probably tell myself to start contacting blogs and getting a better social media presence right away. Perhaps have a better plan in place on building reviews.Many thanks to Lindsay Anderson for this interview. Please show your support by downloading a copy of the book!
Where do you get your ideas from?I listen to classical or instrumental music and develop a scene to go with it. Characters and places have popped up from there. Then I elaborate upon them. Also, ideas build while I write. Sometimes a background character steps forward into a stronger supporting character. Madrid did that in Syrin.Why do you write?It is another way to create! I draw and paint and sometimes my ideas are long and elaborate. Writing is the best way to capture those ideas. I love how it is a simple medium but can build worlds.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I like how science fiction can be whatever you want. As simple or as complicated as you would like it to be. I like to take real things and ideas and stretch them, so I read a lot of current science news. Sometimes those real things inspire new and original ideas.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I haven't had what I would call a "bad review" yet. I have had my share of criticism or critique and rejection. Criticism can be jarring at first, but I read it objectively and do my best to understand the writer's point of view. Oftentimes they can be helpful for future works. Rejection is rejection. I don't put a lot of emotional stock into it and view it with as much a business mentality as I can.What do you find difficult about writing?Writers block is the most difficult. With my sequel to Syrin, I have been going through a few re-writes and seem to get stuck in the same place. I know where I want the story to go, it's getting it to that point.Do you ever outsource your work?I haven't outsourced my work. I'm not sure what that would be...What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I can see the appeal of both. Indie: you are faced with a lot more work before AND after you publish, but you're published! Traditional: they do the marketing and such for you, you're more easily in stores, your book is in the public eye but it is a lot of work and patience and time to find an agent or publisher.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Once I have an idea, I elaborate on it in my mind. Sometimes that is laying in bed with headphones and flicking through music tracks. Then I write down a list of characters and biographies to get a background on them and give them different motivations. From there I create cultural notes on the world. Throughout this process I tend to sketch out things as best I can. Once I have direction, I start to write the first draft. If something isn't working, I don't force it. If I need a second opinion on a plot idea or direction, I get one by having someone read what I have so far. Syrin had a few versions. It was an idea I had in high school. It has changed a LOT. Only two characters remained the same and the rest were changed or chopped. Especially the main character.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing! Practice makes perfect! What really got me going to actually finishing my first novel (which is still a work in progress until I can do it justice) was when my father and I would send each other 10 pages of our work to one another each week. That helped me finish my first draft and sometimes that is the hardest part. Once you have a draft, you have a map and you can better know where you are going.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?I had just published 12 months ago. I would probably tell myself to start contacting blogs and getting a better social media presence right away. Perhaps have a better plan in place on building reviews.Many thanks to Lindsay Anderson for this interview. Please show your support by downloading a copy of the book!
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