Alice
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ruta, I read your books last year at school; I especially loved "Out of the Easy". I've always dreamt of being a writer but find it hard to maintain my creative writing amongst all my schoolwork. Would you have any advice on how to keep up my writing?
Ruta Sepetys
Hello Alice!
I'm so thrilled to hear that you're a writer! I completely understand that it's difficult to find time to write when you're so busy at school. I clearly remember being so exhausted when I was in school, I had no creative energy left to write. My advice is to be gentle with yourself. Don't give yourself difficult deadlines or force writing because it could steal your joy and love of the craft. Approach it in small pieces. Give yourself a small writing prompt, or try to write in a "sprint" - just five to ten minutes here or there. And perhaps carve out time to write in the early morning, over the weekend, or during a vacation. But if you don't even have time for that, don't worry about it. Think about your stories when you're driving, walking, or on breaks. "Mind writing" can be equally effective. And keep reading. Reading nourishes a writer's creativity!
Best of luck. You can do it!!!
I'm so thrilled to hear that you're a writer! I completely understand that it's difficult to find time to write when you're so busy at school. I clearly remember being so exhausted when I was in school, I had no creative energy left to write. My advice is to be gentle with yourself. Don't give yourself difficult deadlines or force writing because it could steal your joy and love of the craft. Approach it in small pieces. Give yourself a small writing prompt, or try to write in a "sprint" - just five to ten minutes here or there. And perhaps carve out time to write in the early morning, over the weekend, or during a vacation. But if you don't even have time for that, don't worry about it. Think about your stories when you're driving, walking, or on breaks. "Mind writing" can be equally effective. And keep reading. Reading nourishes a writer's creativity!
Best of luck. You can do it!!!
More Answered Questions
Lucy
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi! In both of your books, you write about some historically brutal circumstances and the people involved really suffered, they had to endure the cruelty of other people's actions and survive. I wanted to ask you if it was ever hard to hear the real life stories people told you during research. How did you deal with it? And how did it affect the way you portrayed the emotions of the characters in your stories? Thanks!
Cora Berry
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ruta! I first read "Out of the Easy" when my friend made me promise I would read it because she enjoyed it so much. After reading it I checked out "Between Shades of Gray" and could not put it down. I was absolutely taken by your writing and by Lina. I'm not sure I can put into words how much I liked it! Not going to lie, I cried for hours after finishing it. Did you always know you wanted a career as an author?
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