An Interview with Heather Hayden
Wow, this one's come round really quickly. I try to post these on the first Saturday of the month, and this time that's the 1st!
I've not done much of note since I last wrote to you, all of three days ago. The Officer has launched well, and has some amazing reviews. Equality is nearing the point where I'm ready to say it's done - just a new chapter to write to balance it out, and a bit more weaving in of an incidental character.
One thing worth mentioning is that Liberty is 99c for the next few days to celebrate Independence Day.
Right, so today I am talking to Heather Hayden, author of Augment, about how she writes her young adult science fiction books.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Thankfully, no. I have vague recollections of rubbish that’s probably still floating around on floppy disks somewhere, but I’d rather not recall details! The first novel I ever wrote, though, is still fresh in my mind. I wrote Shadow Cats for National Novel Writing Month in 2007, and finished with over 60,000 words and a great sense of accomplishment. Although I haven’t looked at the manuscript in years, I hope that my writing has improved since then…still, everyone has to start somewhere, and I had a lot of fun writing about Shadassa (a mute orphan) and her shadow cat friend.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing as far as content?
Descriptions. Descriptions are my bane. Okay, that was a little melodramatic! In all seriousness, though, I do have a lot of issues with descriptions. My first drafts tend to be very light on them, which leads to my critiquers begging for more. Then, if I add too much, I need to go back and trim it down again... It usually takes a few back and forths before I reach a happy equilibrium.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, how does it affect your prose?
Most of my stories have soundtracks of varying length. Some only have a single song. I like using music when I write, because it helps me put in the mood. Also, if I listen to a song or set of songs long enough while working a story, hearing them will make me want to work on the story—there’s actually one song that still makes me want to pull out Feather of a Raven…even though I wrote that novel back in January of 2008. I don’t think music affects my prose, but it definitely can affect my productivity!
When you get a writing idea, what is the first thing you do with it?
If I’m not at my computer, I dive for pen and paper. I’ve lost ideas before not writing them down fast enough. Then, if I have space for another project, I’ll start writing. Otherwise, I’ll set it aside for the future, safely written down.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
For me, it does. Often I’ll find a new book because the cover catches my eye. However, if I’ve received a good recommendation for a book, I’ll check it out regardless of how good the cover is—after all, the cover’s just the cover. What I’m interested in is the story. The cover’s just a good way to grab my attention if I’m browsing for new reads.
Thank you. Good luck with Upgrade.
Though a part-time editor by day, Heather Hayden's not-so-secret identity is that of a writer—at night she pours heart and soul into science fiction and fantasy novels. In March 2015 she published her first novella, Augment, a YA science fiction story filled with excitement, danger, and the strength of friendship. She immediately began work on its sequel, Upgrade, which continues the adventures of Viki, a girl who loves to run, and her friend Halle, an AI. You can learn more about Heather and her stories through her blog and her Twitter, both of which consist of equal amounts of writerly things and random stuff she’s interested in.
I've not done much of note since I last wrote to you, all of three days ago. The Officer has launched well, and has some amazing reviews. Equality is nearing the point where I'm ready to say it's done - just a new chapter to write to balance it out, and a bit more weaving in of an incidental character.
One thing worth mentioning is that Liberty is 99c for the next few days to celebrate Independence Day.
Right, so today I am talking to Heather Hayden, author of Augment, about how she writes her young adult science fiction books.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Thankfully, no. I have vague recollections of rubbish that’s probably still floating around on floppy disks somewhere, but I’d rather not recall details! The first novel I ever wrote, though, is still fresh in my mind. I wrote Shadow Cats for National Novel Writing Month in 2007, and finished with over 60,000 words and a great sense of accomplishment. Although I haven’t looked at the manuscript in years, I hope that my writing has improved since then…still, everyone has to start somewhere, and I had a lot of fun writing about Shadassa (a mute orphan) and her shadow cat friend.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing as far as content?
Descriptions. Descriptions are my bane. Okay, that was a little melodramatic! In all seriousness, though, I do have a lot of issues with descriptions. My first drafts tend to be very light on them, which leads to my critiquers begging for more. Then, if I add too much, I need to go back and trim it down again... It usually takes a few back and forths before I reach a happy equilibrium.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, how does it affect your prose?
Most of my stories have soundtracks of varying length. Some only have a single song. I like using music when I write, because it helps me put in the mood. Also, if I listen to a song or set of songs long enough while working a story, hearing them will make me want to work on the story—there’s actually one song that still makes me want to pull out Feather of a Raven…even though I wrote that novel back in January of 2008. I don’t think music affects my prose, but it definitely can affect my productivity!
When you get a writing idea, what is the first thing you do with it?
If I’m not at my computer, I dive for pen and paper. I’ve lost ideas before not writing them down fast enough. Then, if I have space for another project, I’ll start writing. Otherwise, I’ll set it aside for the future, safely written down.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
For me, it does. Often I’ll find a new book because the cover catches my eye. However, if I’ve received a good recommendation for a book, I’ll check it out regardless of how good the cover is—after all, the cover’s just the cover. What I’m interested in is the story. The cover’s just a good way to grab my attention if I’m browsing for new reads.
Thank you. Good luck with Upgrade.
Though a part-time editor by day, Heather Hayden's not-so-secret identity is that of a writer—at night she pours heart and soul into science fiction and fantasy novels. In March 2015 she published her first novella, Augment, a YA science fiction story filled with excitement, danger, and the strength of friendship. She immediately began work on its sequel, Upgrade, which continues the adventures of Viki, a girl who loves to run, and her friend Halle, an AI. You can learn more about Heather and her stories through her blog and her Twitter, both of which consist of equal amounts of writerly things and random stuff she’s interested in.
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