Ask the Author: Emily Andrade
Answered Questions (6)
Emily Andrade
I am currently revising a longer work of high fantasy. I look forward to publishing it by Summer!
Emily Andrade
I wrote Little Andrea's Great Adventure many many years ago for a contest. It took me less than 2 months because of the time crunch, but also it just came out easily. Who can say why some writings come out faster than others? But when I got ready to submit it, I realized it was a historical fiction contest! So, I hung on to 'Andrea' and continued to revise her throughout the years.
As to how the idea came, I'm not exactly sure other than it's a mix of my early family life. I am half Mexican and my father does tell crazy stories like the one about a headless motorcyclist. There's also a dragon living underneath the church who will kidnap and eat you, if you don't go to church. My dad is also very funny, as is Andrea's.
I was a very good little girl and had friends with these same names. Cucuy is terrifying. I believed there was a monster in my closet and I love old churches. I remember visiting cemeteries a lot when I was younger because my mother does genealogy. Andrea's school is named after one of my favorite singers and I know many abuela's just like Andrea's and Angela's. I grew up watching old Westerns. We traveled and hiked, and I wandered by myself a lot when I was little. And my family is from southern California.
Surely there are more parallels and inside jokes, but these are just a few things that knitted together to form Andrea's story.
As to how the idea came, I'm not exactly sure other than it's a mix of my early family life. I am half Mexican and my father does tell crazy stories like the one about a headless motorcyclist. There's also a dragon living underneath the church who will kidnap and eat you, if you don't go to church. My dad is also very funny, as is Andrea's.
I was a very good little girl and had friends with these same names. Cucuy is terrifying. I believed there was a monster in my closet and I love old churches. I remember visiting cemeteries a lot when I was younger because my mother does genealogy. Andrea's school is named after one of my favorite singers and I know many abuela's just like Andrea's and Angela's. I grew up watching old Westerns. We traveled and hiked, and I wandered by myself a lot when I was little. And my family is from southern California.
Surely there are more parallels and inside jokes, but these are just a few things that knitted together to form Andrea's story.
Emily Andrade
You get to live twice!
Emily Andrade
I write every night without fail. So, I'm not always inspired, or in the groove. To get in the groove I listen to music and/or read a passage from a writer I love who I want to write like. Normally that's Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
If I'm already writing a story, I'll go back and read a bit of it to get back into it from the night before. Also, dreams, conversations, nature all inspire me with ideas. I use them to further encourage the creative juices.
If I'm already writing a story, I'll go back and read a bit of it to get back into it from the night before. Also, dreams, conversations, nature all inspire me with ideas. I use them to further encourage the creative juices.
Emily Andrade
For me writer's block is when I don't know what's going to happen in the story, mostly because I haven't paid attention to the characters enough, so I'm not sure what they would do. So to deal with it I have to go back and get to know them. Sometimes I do this logically, thinking it out and maybe writing out different versions.
I also give it a day or two to just gestate. Not panicking is essential.
But every time I have writer's block I meditate in my specific way. I listen to music, especially different kinds of songs that will generate various feelings and ideas.
I use everything from The Cranberries to Sia to Nine Inch Nails to The Last of the Mohican Soundtrack to Goldfrapp and Carmina Burana. It's important to use headphones, block out distractions like light and relax. Focus vaguely on the plot and your characters and let images come. Don't fight it or try and control it. Write down the images and ideas you see.
You may have to do this several times with several songs. This never fails to break through and show me what will happen next.
I also give it a day or two to just gestate. Not panicking is essential.
But every time I have writer's block I meditate in my specific way. I listen to music, especially different kinds of songs that will generate various feelings and ideas.
I use everything from The Cranberries to Sia to Nine Inch Nails to The Last of the Mohican Soundtrack to Goldfrapp and Carmina Burana. It's important to use headphones, block out distractions like light and relax. Focus vaguely on the plot and your characters and let images come. Don't fight it or try and control it. Write down the images and ideas you see.
You may have to do this several times with several songs. This never fails to break through and show me what will happen next.
Emily Andrade
Just write. Whether you're tired, uninspired, bored, sad, busy, poor, fearful, whatever, "just shut up and write", as writing guru Natalie Goldberg would say.
Do this every day. Plan out your time, if you have to, but practice every day.
Also, read. Stephen King says to read everything you can get your hands, eyes or ears on. Read the kind of writing you want to write. Read about how to write. Read about the world. All this will make you a better writer and a better human being.
I know these two points are elementary but they are so important.
Do this every day. Plan out your time, if you have to, but practice every day.
Also, read. Stephen King says to read everything you can get your hands, eyes or ears on. Read the kind of writing you want to write. Read about how to write. Read about the world. All this will make you a better writer and a better human being.
I know these two points are elementary but they are so important.
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