A Goodreads user
asked
Stina Lindenblatt:
Did you always want to write romance novels? What's your advice for aspiring writers?
Stina Lindenblatt
Hi Briana,
When I was a kid, I wanted to write mysteries. One of my friends and I attempted to co-write one when we nine years old. We gave up after two chapters. This was in the days before computers, so she wrote the story because she had the nicest writing of the two of us. We had no idea how to write a book.
Later on, I wanted to write historical romances. Those were the first adult romances that I'd read. When I finally decided to write a book when I became a stay-at-home mother, I toyed between writing HR and writing middle grade novels. At the time, Harry Potter's third book had just been released and I loved the world building in middle grade fantasy series. I wrote one middle grade fantasy novel, but then decided it would be better off as YA (because it had romance in the story). The book has long since been shelved.
Eventually, I moved on to writing NA stories because I wanted to focus on the romance and I was drawn to writing that age group at the time. A few years ago, I started writing "older" characters who are in their late twenties or early thirties.
Advice. Wow. Let's see. I think the biggest for me is to keep learning. I wasn't born a great writer. In fact, I thought you had to be born talented to be a writer. My writing sucked in the beginning. I worked hard and learned as much as I could about plotting, characterization, setting, and the nuisances of prose that make for a compelling read. I still take/attend the occasional workshop if I find a topic of interest. I attended one on characterization (with Damon Suede) just this past weekend. I already write strong characters, but he was presenting in my city and I'd heard many great things about him. How could I not go?
I highly recommend Margie Lawson's emotion and deep editing courses. You can also get the lecture notes from her website. That made a HUGE difference in my writing.
I also recommend making friends with aspiring writers and published authors. You can learn so much from each other and cheer each other on. :) :) :)
When I was a kid, I wanted to write mysteries. One of my friends and I attempted to co-write one when we nine years old. We gave up after two chapters. This was in the days before computers, so she wrote the story because she had the nicest writing of the two of us. We had no idea how to write a book.
Later on, I wanted to write historical romances. Those were the first adult romances that I'd read. When I finally decided to write a book when I became a stay-at-home mother, I toyed between writing HR and writing middle grade novels. At the time, Harry Potter's third book had just been released and I loved the world building in middle grade fantasy series. I wrote one middle grade fantasy novel, but then decided it would be better off as YA (because it had romance in the story). The book has long since been shelved.
Eventually, I moved on to writing NA stories because I wanted to focus on the romance and I was drawn to writing that age group at the time. A few years ago, I started writing "older" characters who are in their late twenties or early thirties.
Advice. Wow. Let's see. I think the biggest for me is to keep learning. I wasn't born a great writer. In fact, I thought you had to be born talented to be a writer. My writing sucked in the beginning. I worked hard and learned as much as I could about plotting, characterization, setting, and the nuisances of prose that make for a compelling read. I still take/attend the occasional workshop if I find a topic of interest. I attended one on characterization (with Damon Suede) just this past weekend. I already write strong characters, but he was presenting in my city and I'd heard many great things about him. How could I not go?
I highly recommend Margie Lawson's emotion and deep editing courses. You can also get the lecture notes from her website. That made a HUGE difference in my writing.
I also recommend making friends with aspiring writers and published authors. You can learn so much from each other and cheer each other on. :) :) :)
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