Ask the Author: Val Prozorova
Answered Questions (8)
Val Prozorova
Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing!! Even if it's to develop your voice and nothing else. Even if it's to practice touch-typing. Even if it's to get just one story published.
Keep writing.
It's annoying to be told there's no easy way, but there really isn't with writing. Someone will love your work, others might not, but the more words you have out there, the higher the chance of meeting like-minded individuals and create your devoted audience base.
Keep writing.
It's annoying to be told there's no easy way, but there really isn't with writing. Someone will love your work, others might not, but the more words you have out there, the higher the chance of meeting like-minded individuals and create your devoted audience base.
Val Prozorova
A lot of my ideas come from listening to podcasts actually! A phrase, a place, a mention of something unusual and cool and I get that tick of a metronome in my head to write the idea down before it goes away. I have a whole list of notes on my phone for when the ideas hit me when I'm out of the house.
Val Prozorova
Ah! Thank you so much for your amazing rating and lovely initial comment! I'll admit I check every day for the full one.
We did have a final chapter before it got cut, that is a series of letters from Rose and Kitty to Henry and James as she grows up, that starts from a few months after James first meets her and ends at the Stonewall riot. All in all we had to cut 7 chapters (about 35,000 words!) and that was one of them. We are thinking of releasing that final chapter as a special e-book set over Christmas or something similar!
We did have a final chapter before it got cut, that is a series of letters from Rose and Kitty to Henry and James as she grows up, that starts from a few months after James first meets her and ends at the Stonewall riot. All in all we had to cut 7 chapters (about 35,000 words!) and that was one of them. We are thinking of releasing that final chapter as a special e-book set over Christmas or something similar!
Val Prozorova
Hi Barbara! Thanks for your interest. I am sending out e-versions of the book with a chance for everyone reading to win a signed paperback copy once the book is released. If you are still interested, feel free to send me a message with your email! I plan to send ARCs out this Friday!
Val Prozorova
Unfortunately, the only way I have found to deal with writer's block is to write through it.
More often than not, for me, personally, writer's block comes up when I am feeling inadequate or confused regarding my own work. I tend to read a new author, or go through some materials sent to me by friends, and see if I can apply new ideas from there into a piece I am currently working on. Sometimes, it's simply that the idea - though good - has not fully hatched yet, and I have nothing beyond a sentence or a feeling, but no grounding to base a story on.
So I tend to set it aside and write something new, or pick up a book I love and remember what it was I loved about it in the first place. Sometimes that brings me back to a good mental place where I can start working on my projects again. Sometimes I just need to wait it out.
More often than not, for me, personally, writer's block comes up when I am feeling inadequate or confused regarding my own work. I tend to read a new author, or go through some materials sent to me by friends, and see if I can apply new ideas from there into a piece I am currently working on. Sometimes, it's simply that the idea - though good - has not fully hatched yet, and I have nothing beyond a sentence or a feeling, but no grounding to base a story on.
So I tend to set it aside and write something new, or pick up a book I love and remember what it was I loved about it in the first place. Sometimes that brings me back to a good mental place where I can start working on my projects again. Sometimes I just need to wait it out.
Val Prozorova
Oh man... I have actually gotten a lot better at receiving my edited work back. I found it very difficult at first. Part of me knew it was to make my work better, but another felt that it must have been so terrible to begin with to warrant so many adjustments! So that's certainly a positive, I look at edits as they are meant to be seen, now: as improvements and suggestions, not a reflection of my work.
Other than that, I have to say I have been very lucky with my experiences so far. I have found some very supportive communities among the writers in anthologies I am part of, and I have felt very supported by the editors I have worked with.
I think the only negative I can think of is that many calls are very specific, and if you happen to not be accepted for one it is difficult to resubmit your stories. Of course, that makes you push your muse and write more... so perhaps that's a positive too!
Other than that, I have to say I have been very lucky with my experiences so far. I have found some very supportive communities among the writers in anthologies I am part of, and I have felt very supported by the editors I have worked with.
I think the only negative I can think of is that many calls are very specific, and if you happen to not be accepted for one it is difficult to resubmit your stories. Of course, that makes you push your muse and write more... so perhaps that's a positive too!
Val Prozorova
I am currently working on collaborative short stories and novels with my co-writer Megan McFerren, and starting an amazing new writing, art and mixed media project with Mel Walton. I am so excited!
Val Prozorova
Allowing the characters to use you as a mouthpiece. It's amazing when you write long enough that the characters start retaliating when you put them into situations they don't want to be in, or try to make them respond in a way they don't want to.
Then you know you've done well.
And that's the best part for me.
Then you know you've done well.
And that's the best part for me.
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