Ask the Author: Teresa Edgerton
Answered Questions (5)
Teresa Edgerton
When I have a story that I feel it's impossible not to write, that I feel absolutely compelled to share with others. That happened more often when I was younger, in my thirties, forties, and fifties. And there are a million ways that the plots and characters for such stories some into my mind. A chance made comment in a conversation. Something I pick up in my research. "What if" questions that come up when reading other people's books. A walk in the park. Dreams. Being given a theme to write about, like the stories I've done for anthologies, and the stories I've submitted to the writing challenges at sffchronicles.com.
Teresa Edgerton
The third book in The Rune of Unmaking trilogy (which is going slowly, though I have the story all there in my head).
I'm also preparing to reprint the sequel to Goblin Moon, titled Hobgoblin Night (which includes The Gnome's Engine, plus three short stories, thus the new title). That should be out early next year, since all I have to do is go through the file and look for scanning errors. Unfortunately, I find myself wanting to revise a little here and there as I go. Which may be unfair to the earlier me who wrote the book.
I'm also preparing to reprint the sequel to Goblin Moon, titled Hobgoblin Night (which includes The Gnome's Engine, plus three short stories, thus the new title). That should be out early next year, since all I have to do is go through the file and look for scanning errors. Unfortunately, I find myself wanting to revise a little here and there as I go. Which may be unfair to the earlier me who wrote the book.
Teresa Edgerton
Perseverance is the most importance thing. Of course the more you write the more you learn and improve. But in submitting their work for publication too many writers give up too easily. Talent means nothing if you don't have the drive to keep on in the face of rejection. A smaller talent may eventually succeed by sheer persistence.
But if you don't truly love it, if you want to be a writer more than you want to write, then perhaps you should stop and find something else that you do love, and do that. If you can't give writing your whole heart, then maybe it's not for you.
Some people, whether they are ever published or not, just have to write. They can't give it up. They can't bear to be anything else but a writer. (Though they may have other jobs that put food on the table.) They don't need my encouragement, or anyone else's encouragement, to keep writing—though they may need encouragement about submitting their work.
But if you don't truly love it, if you want to be a writer more than you want to write, then perhaps you should stop and find something else that you do love, and do that. If you can't give writing your whole heart, then maybe it's not for you.
Some people, whether they are ever published or not, just have to write. They can't give it up. They can't bear to be anything else but a writer. (Though they may have other jobs that put food on the table.) They don't need my encouragement, or anyone else's encouragement, to keep writing—though they may need encouragement about submitting their work.
Teresa Edgerton
Sharing with other people the thoughts, dreams, fears that you somehow can't share in ordinary conversation. But it's also the worst thing, because it can be terrifying, it makes you so vulnerable.
I write fantasy novels, so one of the best things is being able to visit amazing worlds, worlds of my own creation, worlds of terror, heartbreak, beauty, whimsy.
And then it gives me an excuse to buy and read more and more books, because everything a writer reads is research and can make them a better writer. It's one profession that can combine business with pleasure, and unlike other professions of which that might be said, it's perfectly legal.
I write fantasy novels, so one of the best things is being able to visit amazing worlds, worlds of my own creation, worlds of terror, heartbreak, beauty, whimsy.
And then it gives me an excuse to buy and read more and more books, because everything a writer reads is research and can make them a better writer. It's one profession that can combine business with pleasure, and unlike other professions of which that might be said, it's perfectly legal.
Teresa Edgerton
Actually, I struggle with writer's block. A genuine block -- not the kind that lasts a day or a week, but the sort that lasts months or years -- can be devastating. But in my experience that kind of block is not the problem; it's the symptom. Like the symptoms of physical disease, it's not always easy to discover the cause. It could be a physical illness, like un-diagnosed diabetes or anemia. It could be clinical depression (which I believe is the most common cause). It could be traumas and stresses in your everyday life.
So the cure is not some silly little exercise your friends might suggest (or even some of their better ideas, which can work very well for the one day or one week depression), but to fix whatever is causing it. Sometimes it's easy. You go to your doctor and get blood work, and he or she tells you to take iron pills or watch your sugar intake, and before long you are healthier and back writing. Sometimes it's hard. You have to work your way through problems with your family or your personal relationships (although some writers find these material for their writing).
Sometimes you can't fix it and you just have to fight and do the best you can. I suffer from severe clinical depression, which is a widely misunderstood disease. There are a lot of treatments, a lot of medications that work for some people and not for others, so you and your doctor have to keep trying them out until you find the one that works. If there is one. In the meantime, you have to try and mitigate it, and one way is not to let people make you feel guilty or useless, which is what many people —well-meaning people, unpleasant people, people who just don't get what it is, all sorts of people— will try to do. The depression just gets worse, because you probably already feel guilty and useless.
I try to surround myself with things that inspire me, things that lift my spirits. I take walks, read good books, try to eat better.
So the cure is not some silly little exercise your friends might suggest (or even some of their better ideas, which can work very well for the one day or one week depression), but to fix whatever is causing it. Sometimes it's easy. You go to your doctor and get blood work, and he or she tells you to take iron pills or watch your sugar intake, and before long you are healthier and back writing. Sometimes it's hard. You have to work your way through problems with your family or your personal relationships (although some writers find these material for their writing).
Sometimes you can't fix it and you just have to fight and do the best you can. I suffer from severe clinical depression, which is a widely misunderstood disease. There are a lot of treatments, a lot of medications that work for some people and not for others, so you and your doctor have to keep trying them out until you find the one that works. If there is one. In the meantime, you have to try and mitigate it, and one way is not to let people make you feel guilty or useless, which is what many people —well-meaning people, unpleasant people, people who just don't get what it is, all sorts of people— will try to do. The depression just gets worse, because you probably already feel guilty and useless.
I try to surround myself with things that inspire me, things that lift my spirits. I take walks, read good books, try to eat better.
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