Ask the Author: Chloe Spencer
Answered Questions (9)
Chloe Spencer
Sometimes, it can be hard to find inspiration! I try to read and watch TV/films when my ideas are lackluster. If I'm not experiencing writer's block, but I am just kind of not in the mood to write, I'll turn on music. Sometimes I'll use music that matches the mood/tone of the scene that I'm writing, but other times I just need to focus/zone out, and so I'll just listen to lo-fi hip hop.
Chloe Spencer
The best thing about being a writer is being able to create something that's particularly important to me, and finding that it resonates with other people. I want my writing to bring joy to the lives of others in some way!
Chloe Spencer
Write every single day, and be sure to write for your own pleasure. If you try to write things specifically with the purpose of getting published, you will not improve as a writer, and furthermore, you might be hurting your interest in writing.
I also encourage you to read and watch as many things as you can, across a variety of genres. Do not reread Harry Potter over and over again if you haven't read Tolkien or Anne McCaffrey. Books are a good resource to learn about sentence structure and prose writing, but films/TV are going to help you learn how to write realistic dialogue.
If your goal is to eventually get published, there are a lot of great resources out there. You can sign up for the Freedom With Writing newsletter, and they send you tons of information about contests and essays every day. Literarium and The Submission Grinder are also excellent resources for short story and novel submissions!
Social media is also critical. I'm guilty of probably not being as social media savvy as I should be. Use Twitter to look for anthologies/submissions and network with other writers. Join Facebook groups and guilds to meet with other industry professionals. They can help develop your skills, or possibly connect you with editors and agents.
I also encourage you to read and watch as many things as you can, across a variety of genres. Do not reread Harry Potter over and over again if you haven't read Tolkien or Anne McCaffrey. Books are a good resource to learn about sentence structure and prose writing, but films/TV are going to help you learn how to write realistic dialogue.
If your goal is to eventually get published, there are a lot of great resources out there. You can sign up for the Freedom With Writing newsletter, and they send you tons of information about contests and essays every day. Literarium and The Submission Grinder are also excellent resources for short story and novel submissions!
Social media is also critical. I'm guilty of probably not being as social media savvy as I should be. Use Twitter to look for anthologies/submissions and network with other writers. Join Facebook groups and guilds to meet with other industry professionals. They can help develop your skills, or possibly connect you with editors and agents.
Chloe Spencer
A fog descended upon the dark, desolate highway. When he glanced down to check his directions on his phone, he realized his battery was dead.
Chloe Spencer
I think it would be interesting to either travel to Narnia, or Daredevil's Hell's Kitchen.
Chloe Spencer
I have a ton of books that I purchased but haven't yet started or finished.
Like A Love Story - Abdi Nazemian
This Time Will Be Different - Misa Sugiura
Springfield Confidential - Mike Reiss
Like A Love Story - Abdi Nazemian
This Time Will Be Different - Misa Sugiura
Springfield Confidential - Mike Reiss
Chloe Spencer
I'm working on a couple projects which are shh, a secret, and an artbook based on the RPG I made, Grunge. I'm also working on another couple of side projects related to Grunge, which are also shh, a secret.
Chloe Spencer
For my most recent book -- which is set to release in July, but I can't reveal yet-- I was actually inspired by the events of A Christmas Story. I thought about how the horrific things that Scrooge encountered in his nightmare motivated him to be a better person... and that made me think about what sort of dire circumstances would motivate me to treat others better, or to be more gracious towards others in my own life.
Chloe Spencer
When I'm dealing with writer's block, the best thing that I can do is get up from my desk, and go for a walk. Listening to music AND walking helps to clear whatever anxieties that I may have about writing. Getting some fresh air or listening to a great new song also inspires me!
Otherwise, if I'm feeling kind of tired, there's nothing like a good movie. I try to watch movies from a variety of genres, but action movies especially help with writing sci-fi and fantasy scenes!
Otherwise, if I'm feeling kind of tired, there's nothing like a good movie. I try to watch movies from a variety of genres, but action movies especially help with writing sci-fi and fantasy scenes!
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