Ask the Author: Natasja Rose
Answered Questions (7)
Natasja Rose
I tend to wear flats or slip-on sneakers. Shoelaces require too much brainpower first thing in the morning.
Natasja Rose
It sounds kind of absurd, but from a young friend.
I had been telling her about "Cinderella Grows a Spine", which I was about halfway through writing. Once she eventually stopped laughing, she informed me that I was not allowed to just leave it there, and that she expected a sequel.
I finally asked her what she had in mind, and she said that she wanted to read something about Snow White. To humour her, I sketched up a basic storyline... and was promptly bitten by rabid plot bunnies. Next thing you know, I had my notebook out and was writing ideas of what could happen.
Thanks, Mich.
I had been telling her about "Cinderella Grows a Spine", which I was about halfway through writing. Once she eventually stopped laughing, she informed me that I was not allowed to just leave it there, and that she expected a sequel.
I finally asked her what she had in mind, and she said that she wanted to read something about Snow White. To humour her, I sketched up a basic storyline... and was promptly bitten by rabid plot bunnies. Next thing you know, I had my notebook out and was writing ideas of what could happen.
Thanks, Mich.
Natasja Rose
Usually by entirely random occurrences.
"The Highwayman's Legacy", for example, was a result of listening to Loreena McKennitt's cover of the poem by Alfred Noyes while on a 'ghost-tour', and a conversation with a friend that can be summed up as "well, yeah, being able to see ghosts would be cool, but how much of a pain would it be if you couldn't filter them out?"
"All You Can Be", as mentioned in the introduction, was inspired by abject frustration at all the misinformation there seemed to be about Asperger's Syndrome.
What turned out to be the first chapter of "Cinderella Grows a Spine" was written in response to an online argument about how Disney's cartoon Cinderella, produced in the 50's, stood up as a role model for young girls in today's society.
"The Highwayman's Legacy", for example, was a result of listening to Loreena McKennitt's cover of the poem by Alfred Noyes while on a 'ghost-tour', and a conversation with a friend that can be summed up as "well, yeah, being able to see ghosts would be cool, but how much of a pain would it be if you couldn't filter them out?"
"All You Can Be", as mentioned in the introduction, was inspired by abject frustration at all the misinformation there seemed to be about Asperger's Syndrome.
What turned out to be the first chapter of "Cinderella Grows a Spine" was written in response to an online argument about how Disney's cartoon Cinderella, produced in the 50's, stood up as a role model for young girls in today's society.
Natasja Rose
Several different things.
I'm about two chapters from finishing the sequel to "The Highwayman's Legacy", three chapters into another book that deals with Sophia's backstory from the "Timeless Tales" series, the prologue and several random highlights from the book that chronologically follows "Snow White Learns Stranger Danger" and sketching the outlines for a few more.
I'm about two chapters from finishing the sequel to "The Highwayman's Legacy", three chapters into another book that deals with Sophia's backstory from the "Timeless Tales" series, the prologue and several random highlights from the book that chronologically follows "Snow White Learns Stranger Danger" and sketching the outlines for a few more.
Natasja Rose
Ignore the voices who say that you can't do it, but don't quit your day job, either.
It's very rare to become an instant best-seller on your first book, but you'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Don't give up. Even Tolkien and Rowling had publisher rejections and years of relative anonymity before they made it into the spotlight.
It's very rare to become an instant best-seller on your first book, but you'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Don't give up. Even Tolkien and Rowling had publisher rejections and years of relative anonymity before they made it into the spotlight.
Natasja Rose
That answer probably depends on the individual writer.
For me, it's the ability to write what I want to read. If I want to read about what I think having superpowers is really like, or someone being dragged into an adventure and protesting the whole way, then I can write it myself. Some of the best things I've written have been born out of frustration that I couldn't find anyone else writing them.
For me, it's the ability to write what I want to read. If I want to read about what I think having superpowers is really like, or someone being dragged into an adventure and protesting the whole way, then I can write it myself. Some of the best things I've written have been born out of frustration that I couldn't find anyone else writing them.
Natasja Rose
I write something else.
I'm usually working on at least three stories at once, in varying stages of completion. If I have writer's block on one story, I work on another, or write a scene that will (probably) come up later in the story. Often, I have an entirely separate word document full of nothing but individual scenes or partial chapters that may or may not be included at a later point.
There are usually a couple that don't quite make it in, for one reason or another, but it helps me keep on track, and I'm less likely to forget ideas that simply haven't come up yet.
I'm usually working on at least three stories at once, in varying stages of completion. If I have writer's block on one story, I work on another, or write a scene that will (probably) come up later in the story. Often, I have an entirely separate word document full of nothing but individual scenes or partial chapters that may or may not be included at a later point.
There are usually a couple that don't quite make it in, for one reason or another, but it helps me keep on track, and I'm less likely to forget ideas that simply haven't come up yet.
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