Rory McDonald
asked
Penelope Douglas:
Hi Penelope! I was wondering if you ever had any problems with converting your ideas to writing at the start of your career? I love daydreaming about new book ideas, and I know they're good but I can never get into actually writing them, I'm just not happy with my writing.
Penelope Douglas
I don't think putting ideas down on paper was ever easy for me lol. I remember telling the friend who would become my editor "writing a book must be so tedious" when I'd heard that she'd written one. Now, here I am, eighteen books later.
Daydreaming is definitely the best part. I love gathering ideas, making Pinterest storyboards and playlists, and outlining, but the important thing to remember is to just start. Just begin. As they say "you can fix a bad page, not a blank one". For me, it was the desperation that was the motivating factor. I was living the same day over and over again, I wasn't growing, and I had to do this. I had to try. Luckily, I never expected anything to come from it, so I was pleasantly surprised ;)
A trick might be to write the dialogue first. Write out the conversation in a scene, just the talking. Or don't start the book at the beginning. Write the scenes you're imagining that interest you. If you're feeling a calling, you'll make it happen. Good luck!
Daydreaming is definitely the best part. I love gathering ideas, making Pinterest storyboards and playlists, and outlining, but the important thing to remember is to just start. Just begin. As they say "you can fix a bad page, not a blank one". For me, it was the desperation that was the motivating factor. I was living the same day over and over again, I wasn't growing, and I had to do this. I had to try. Luckily, I never expected anything to come from it, so I was pleasantly surprised ;)
A trick might be to write the dialogue first. Write out the conversation in a scene, just the talking. Or don't start the book at the beginning. Write the scenes you're imagining that interest you. If you're feeling a calling, you'll make it happen. Good luck!
More Answered Questions
Marii
asked
Penelope Douglas:
Just finished reading Corrupt. Also have to say I love your music taste! Anyway - where did you get the inspiration for the book, the revenge and planning? And I must say.. I felt like I was struck by lightning when I got to the steamy Kai-Rika-Michael scene.Wow. I didn't even know how to act.. considering I was reading this part on the bus :D
Mitsu X
asked
Penelope Douglas:
I finished Hideaway....and wow. Just wow! There is no way one word could sum the amazing feelings I felt when I finished! Just curious, will you be writing any romance with the female lead as an Asian? Or even different ethnic groups? Cause Kai was half Japanese and that was really really refreshing to read! Thanks again Penelope! Love your books always!
Penelope Douglas
107,865 followers
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more