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Dawn Rae Miller
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Q&A with Dawn Rae Miller - CLOSED
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Hi Dawn,Hello from another Atlantic hopping indie NA writer with an undergrad degree in politics ;-) What made you decide to write Crushed from a male POV, and what specific challenges did that pose?
Hey Dawn, thanks for sharing your story. I've always wondered about ghost writing and it sounds like in some ways it could be challenging. I also thought of being a personal shopper for a time lol. But if anyone who knows me knew that they'd probably laugh. Now I'm going to stalk the books you are allowed to sell under your name, and ponder which ones aren't. :)
Faith wrote: "Hi Dawn :-) What would you say is the #1 factor behind the success of your NA novel, CRUSHED and how do you hope to apply it to the release of your upcoming release with the male narrator?"
Funny, but I think the thing that has made Crushed successful is also the thing that divides people: The boy POV. Many readers have commented they find it refreshing to read a male POV that feels authentic, but a large group hate being in a guy's mind.
As for my new book, this MC has a different voice and lifestyle. I'm hoping my readers who love Fletch will have faith that I can pull off a different type of boy.
Laura wrote: "This is something i have always wanted to ask even though i am not a writer nor will probably ever be.What are the good/bad things about ghostwriting? Is it something you would recommend to an au..."
First, I love ghostwriting. I get a completed outline and I bring the characters to life. It's perfect work for when I'm in between projects and need a break from my own characters and worlds. My ghostwriting projects have challenged me as a writer because they've forced me to write in different tenses and genres, but they've also helped me grow as a writer.
Personally, I don't have a downside to being a ghostwriter - the money is good, the work is solid, and I love seeing things I've done in print. I once likened it to being a nanny - you care for and tend to the manuscript lovingly, knowing it doesn't belong to you, and later, when you see it on a shelf or in a magazine, you can be proud of the work you did to get it there.
As for breaking into ghostwriting, my former agent landed me my first job, and it required several writing samples and a lengthy contract. My other jobs have come to me via friends and contacts who know I can turn out a quality product discreetly. I'd recommend anyone getting into ghostwriting have a literary lawyer if they don't have an agent.
Emily wrote: "Hi Dawn,Hello from another Atlantic hopping indie NA writer with an undergrad degree in politics ;-) What made you decide to write Crushed from a male POV, and what specific challenges did that p..."
I'm back in the States, but I came unwillingly!
Crushed was originally a dual POV between the male MC and one of the female love interests. As I wrote, I realized Fletch had a better voice and a more interesting story, so I axed the girl bits.
The hardest thing about writing a boy POV was making sure it sounded authentic. I didn't want Fletch to sound like an idealized version of a teen boy dreamed up by a 30-something woman. I wanted him read real, and gritty, and sometimes wholly unlikeable, but ultimately sympathetic. This was difficult because my default reaction to things is more female than male: talk through problems, be more open with my emotions, etc. To nail the voice, I spent a ton of time studying boys and men, questioning my male friends, and really trying to develop BOY REACTIONS. It was exhausting!
Jennifer wrote: "Hey Dawn, thanks for sharing your story. I've always wondered about ghost writing and it sounds like in some ways it could be challenging. I also thought of being a personal shopper for a time lol...."You know, ghostwriters have a thing where if you accurately guess our books, we have to stand and silently leave the room, right? (steals from Yale's Skulls and Bones behavior)
Dawn wrote: "Emily wrote: "Hi Dawn,Hello from another Atlantic hopping indie NA writer with an undergrad degree in politics ;-) What made you decide to write Crushed from a male POV, and what specific challen..."
If anyone is interested, Dawn did an AWESOME guest post on my blog earlier this month about writing from a male POV http://bookishtreasures.blogspot.co.u... It seems to back up what Dawn just commented :)
Dawn wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Hey Dawn, thanks for sharing your story. I've always wondered about ghost writing and it sounds like in some ways it could be challenging. I also thought of being a personal shoppe..."So shall we just name books until you go all quiet then we will know what you ghostwrite? :P
Have you co-written anything and would you be ever be interested in co-writing a book?
Dawn wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Hey Dawn, thanks for sharing your story. I've always wondered about ghost writing and it sounds like in some ways it could be challenging. I also thought of being a personal shoppe..."Haha, snap, guess I can't guess then! Except you can't exactly leave the room on here lol.
Laura wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Hey Dawn, thanks for sharing your story. I've always wondered about ghost writing and it sounds like in some ways it could be challenging. I also thought of being a pe..."Great idea! :D
I've got to know, is there a sequel planned for Crush?
Yes I really enjoyed Crushed and would love a sequel. And you did an awesome job writing a male POV.
Nevaeh wrote: "Have you co-written anything and would you be ever be interested in co-writing a book?"I have a co-written project that is currently on hold because my partner has too many books due to her publishers this year. I thin the plan is to pick it up sometime next year and finish it (it's about 1/2 done).
Chanpreet wrote: "I've got to know, is there a sequel planned for Crush?"I wrote Crushed as a stand alone, but I've had so many people ask "What happens next?" that I've decided to do at least a novella, which, if I can get my act together, will be out sometime this year...but first I have to finish the final book in my Larkstorm series and my NA book for my agent...
Andrea wrote: "Yes I really enjoyed Crushed and would love a sequel. And you did an awesome job writing a male POV."Thank you!
If any of you are interested, here's an author chat I did Monday to celebrate Indie Author Month on the aLove4Lit blog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3YcX...
Fascinating insight on ghostwriting, Dawn! Love the nanny comparison...Dawn wrote: "Laura wrote: "This is something i have always wanted to ask even though i am not a writer nor will probably ever be.What are the good/bad things about ghostwriting? Is it something you would reco..."
Hi Dawn! I loved Crushed, its the only book I've seen for NA in a boys POV. but I wanted to ask you what's ghost writing? I've never heard of it before.
Laura wrote: "Hi Dawn! I loved Crushed, its the only book I've seen for NA in a boys POV. but I wanted to ask you what's ghost writing? I've never heard of it before."Ghost writing is where a publisher or "author" hires me to write a book using their outline or idea. My name is not associated with the book at all, which means someone else's appears on the cover. For example, all the Nancy Drew books were ghostwritten.
However, normally, this is done for non-fiction, celebrity books, but I ghostwrite Young Adult fiction.
Dawn wrote: "normally, this is done for non-fiction, celebrity books, but I ghostwrite Young Adult fiction."Can you tell us anything at all about the books you ghostwrite or can you not say a word? I'm mainly just interested in the genre. Like is it similar to the books you write under your own name or very very different?
Laura wrote: "Dawn wrote: "normally, this is done for non-fiction, celebrity books, but I ghostwrite Young Adult fiction."Can you tell us anything at all about the books you ghostwrite or can you not say a wo..."
I can't say anything that will identify it, but I can say that it's a commercial YA series that's contemp. My YA trilogy is fantasy/paranormal romance; Crushed is NA contempt...so I guess the ghostwriting combines the two? However, the voice is very different because I typically write first person.
What are the good/bad things about ghostwriting? Is it something you would recommend to an author who is trying to find their way in the publishing world? Also how has it affected you as a writer, has it helped or hindered?
I've always wanted to ask that just out of curiosity and hopefully the answers will be usefull to someone :)