Consider This - Seven Questions

I recently received my copy of the Australian Society of Author's "Australian Author" magazine. A couple of great articles that caught my eye.

The first was about Writers and procrastination. That's me to a tee and one of the reasons I've been stuck not doing anything this year (last year was different, it was wake, train, work, home, cook, meeting, sleep, repeat and I was beyond exhausted).

The other article was 5 questions for 7 authors. Being just questions, I thought I would use the idea and tackle them myself:

1. What was your favourite author growing up and why?

Until I hit high school I tended to read only Nancy Drew. So, that would mean Carolyn Keene was my favourite author. But when I learnt, not that long ago, that Carolyn Keene was not a real person (just like H.I.Larry, the "author" of Zac Power is not a single, real person) but a conglomerate of writers all contracted to write under that name.

Once I discovered Sci Fi and fantasy my favourite writers were Frank Herbert (Dune Series), Isaac Asimov (especially the Foundation Series but also the short stories), Larry Niven (Ring World series) and Janny Wurts and Raymond E. Feist (Daughter of the Empire and Magician series). The new worlds they created so expertly and then told a tale in that world with many threads that ALL came together at the end. (Tolkein has to feature there, too, but not as much as these others.)

2. What were your first attempts at writing like?

I've been writing since Kindergarten, so that was pretty ordinary and I've only just been back and read some of it. Good beginnings, but little development.

My more recent foray into big person writing was a little better but fraught with all the usual writing mistakes, the worst being "Telling" the reader rather than "Showing" the reader. I cringe when I read early drafts of early stuff now.

3. What's the biggest challenge you've faced as an author?

I'm still facing it. Haven't overcome this one, yet. That is trying to convince someone who matters that my work is worthy of publishing and them paying me. I know a writer shouldn't write to be published, but what is the point of writing something you want to share if you can't share it? Rejections suck.

4. What has been your greatest career satisfaction so far?

Writing my two books and getting them out there and finding that people are REALLY enjoyed reading them. REALLY enjoyed them and want the next installment.

Also, completing my Master of Arts in Creative Writing with a Distinction average. My High School English teacher would probably not believe it. I hardly did.

5. In terms of craft, what do you think you're best at and where could you improve?

I'm best at the "what if", the concepts; getting the idea and starting and then knowing where I want it to end. I love writing action. I'm good at coming up with little twists that add to the background and the foreground.

I could improve at the middle bit. Getting them from start to end and not writing boring filler. I think my characterisations probably need some work, particularly of the main character. I tend to see the work through that person's eyes, so I see all the other characters very well but not the main character.

6. What would you like to see more and less of in Australia's literary scene?

I would like to see more of a go for the new writer and less of the same old getting the opportunities.

I would like to see recognition for good writing, rather than the name attached to it. And a lot less soul crushing.

I went to a writing conference recently and there were established authors winning prizes (that's fine, well done), but they were crying as though they had won Miss Universe. I thought "there is something wrong with out industry if even established authors can react this way to winning prizes."

I would like to see Middle Grade become an actual "thing" so there is a step between Young Fiction/Chapter Book and YA angst.

I would like to see less "literary" stuff winning things and more genre writing winning.

7. What's a misconception some people have of you and your work?

I'm a writer so I must be able to just churn out a good sentence at will. That my writing ability can translate to every and all situations. Mostly it can, but it takes just the same about of work and care as it does to craft a novel.

Also, a misconception is that I'm a writer, so I must have been an artsy, English head at school. Many are VERY surprised when I tell them I was the Maths/Science nerd and English was really hard for me. And thus (see my previous blog posts) they are surprised when they learn my writing process is completely different from what they expected of a writer.

There we go, a quick 7 questions. Post me some more if you are interested.