Jae Hood
asked
Colleen Hoover:
Hi Colleen! A friend once shared with me the story of how you began writing. As a mom of three and not traditionally educated as an author, I found it incredibly inspiring. Do you mind sharing your writing process? Do you plot/outline? Follow a specific formula for plotting/outlining? Or perhaps you’re a pantser? Tell me all the things!
Colleen Hoover
My only formula is to not follow a formula. Every single book is a completely different writing experience. I think my number one rule for myself is to never make this feel like a job. Writing is something I love as a hobby and I don't like feeling like it's work. So I don't set word count goals or deadlines for myself. I only write when I feel like writing. I sometimes go months with writers block and don't write a single word, but I don't stress about it. I know my mojo always returns, so I'll spend the times I'm not feeling creative just watching TV and soaking up other novels. There's so much more to writing than just putting words to paper, so I look at reading and watching TV as research.
I also ignore everything going on in the publishing world. I think if a writer pays too much attention to what tropes are the most popular and what books are selling best, it will influence their writing in a negative way. You start to think of it like a business, and I don't want to think of this like a business. I want to write the stories I feel like telling, whether they are popular or not. Because in the end, I'd rather release a book I'm proud of that doesn't sell well than release a book I'm not proud of that sells well.
So basically, go with your heart. Ignore all the writing advice you get, because every writer is different and not every process works.
I do have one writing ritual, though! When I know I have a long writing day ahead of me, I have to wear a brand new pair of socks. I don't know why. For some reason, I have it in my head that fresh, new socks make me a better writer.
It's not a good habit to have. I donate a lot of socks to Goodwill.
I also ignore everything going on in the publishing world. I think if a writer pays too much attention to what tropes are the most popular and what books are selling best, it will influence their writing in a negative way. You start to think of it like a business, and I don't want to think of this like a business. I want to write the stories I feel like telling, whether they are popular or not. Because in the end, I'd rather release a book I'm proud of that doesn't sell well than release a book I'm not proud of that sells well.
So basically, go with your heart. Ignore all the writing advice you get, because every writer is different and not every process works.
I do have one writing ritual, though! When I know I have a long writing day ahead of me, I have to wear a brand new pair of socks. I don't know why. For some reason, I have it in my head that fresh, new socks make me a better writer.
It's not a good habit to have. I donate a lot of socks to Goodwill.
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