Ask the Author: Tracey O'Brien
Answered Questions (6)
Tracey O'Brien
If You Can't Stand the Heat is actually my most recent book although I published it before Can't Hurry Love.
A few years ago I went to London to study French cuisine at a top culinary school. I spent three months learning and cooking and what an incredible experience it was.
While I was there I would write notes every night about my day, what I had learned, what I had cooked, what the chefs had to say about my food.
A few months later, once home, I thought what a great opportunity I had to use that experience and build a fictional novel around it. And so in my novel If You Can't Stand the Heat Livvy travels to London with dreams of becoming a chef. It's a tumultuous ride!
A few years ago I went to London to study French cuisine at a top culinary school. I spent three months learning and cooking and what an incredible experience it was.
While I was there I would write notes every night about my day, what I had learned, what I had cooked, what the chefs had to say about my food.
A few months later, once home, I thought what a great opportunity I had to use that experience and build a fictional novel around it. And so in my novel If You Can't Stand the Heat Livvy travels to London with dreams of becoming a chef. It's a tumultuous ride!
Tracey O'Brien
When I'm writing a book I tend to live with the characters day and night. So I'm constantly coming up with ideas, little additions, things the characters would say, funny moments. When you have all this going on in your head you can't wait to get it down. Having a notebook as a constant companion also helps.
That's how I keep inspired.
That's how I keep inspired.
Tracey O'Brien
I'm currently working on my third novel. I haven't got a title for it just yet. Last week I hit the first milestone - 25,000 words!
I'm really excited about this new book and hope to have it completed within the next few months.
I'm really excited about this new book and hope to have it completed within the next few months.
Tracey O'Brien
I'm of the view that to be a writer you have to be passionate about it. It's actually a lot of hard work and slog and I can't imagine you would put in the amount of effort that's required unless you really loved it.
So that's what I think is the best thing about being a writer. It means you've found the thing that you most love doing in the world. Sounds simplistic but a lot of people haven't yet found "their thing".
So that's what I think is the best thing about being a writer. It means you've found the thing that you most love doing in the world. Sounds simplistic but a lot of people haven't yet found "their thing".
Tracey O'Brien
Obviously styles and approaches to writing differ between authors. For me personally I try not to get too hung up on mapping out the book. Of course I have a clear idea of my characters and the general storyline, but I find it much more effective to just get started. Often the story will skew a bit from the original outline in any case. Writing is a fluid thing and sometimes you have to go with where the story takes you.
My advice for anyone wanting to have a go at writing a book is to just get the story down. Things like grammar and punctuation can all be fixed later. In fact it's always a relief for me when I get to the editing stage because at least the story is told.
One more thing - when you're starting out it is definitely better to write what you know!
My advice for anyone wanting to have a go at writing a book is to just get the story down. Things like grammar and punctuation can all be fixed later. In fact it's always a relief for me when I get to the editing stage because at least the story is told.
One more thing - when you're starting out it is definitely better to write what you know!
Tracey O'Brien
I can't say I have yet suffered from writer's block, but obviously there are days I feel more inspired than others.
For me personally the trick is to get out of the house to write. I do my best work in cafes with a nice flat white at my side. This is not only because a good cafe provides a creative environment but more because there are less distractions. I realise that sounds odd - surely a busy cafe is full of noise and distractions? Let me explain:
If I'm having trouble getting from one sentence to the next when I'm at home, I'll invariably get out of my chair and put the kettle on, put a load of washing on, make a phone call, anything to distract me from having to get to that next sentence. If I'm out at a cafe I can't just get up and wander away from the table - I have to sit there and work through it. Even if that means ordering another coffee. And I do. Works every time!
For me personally the trick is to get out of the house to write. I do my best work in cafes with a nice flat white at my side. This is not only because a good cafe provides a creative environment but more because there are less distractions. I realise that sounds odd - surely a busy cafe is full of noise and distractions? Let me explain:
If I'm having trouble getting from one sentence to the next when I'm at home, I'll invariably get out of my chair and put the kettle on, put a load of washing on, make a phone call, anything to distract me from having to get to that next sentence. If I'm out at a cafe I can't just get up and wander away from the table - I have to sit there and work through it. Even if that means ordering another coffee. And I do. Works every time!
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