Ask the Author: Theresa Butler
Answered Questions (6)
Theresa Butler
I've always been attracted to the sexiness of a masquerade setting Venice, the play on the not knowing who anyone is (presumably) and the stolen moments between strangers. It was an interesting tableau that I wanted to explore. The first chapter was honestly the only thing I intended to write as a short story, but it sort of developed from there into what you see in the book.
Theresa Butler
Looking at pretty pictures. Going to museums. Listening to music. Sometimes watching movies or tv shows will spark an idea. Taking showers or doing dishes, which I use as musing times. Also long car rides with my writing partner where I can noodle things out with her. I also do a lot of people watching and that always helps me create characters.
Theresa Butler
Keep writing. Keep refining your skills. Listen to critiques, even though they're hard to take. Rely on others who have gone before you to help you along the way.
Theresa Butler
My greatest joy in writing is being able to escape. I know it sounds cliche, but I started writing as young girl because I wanted to escape into the fantasy of the worlds I created in my head, and have them play out the way I wanted. It has helped me incorporate real life into fantasy life and work out things I'm going through at any time. And it's relaxing. Except when I have writer's block and have to wheedle it out of the dark recesses of my brain.
Theresa Butler
My next project is a series of books about an American grad student in in a writing program (no, it's not a self insert, but I definitely drew from my own experiences) infatuated with her devastatingly attractive (aren't they all?) British professor. It's a little taboo. It's a lot sexy (hopefully), and there are secrets about his past that completely throws her world upside down. The first five chapter novella installment is tentatively titled "The Art of (Writing) Sex" followed up by a full length novel entitled "The Fiction in the Fairytale." I'm very excited about all of it--now I just have to finish writing it.
Theresa Butler
I try to take some time off of writing. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but I fully believe that writer's block is in large part due to a word/creativity deficit--if you've written too much and not kept up reading and doing other creative things like maybe visiting an art museum or something, you're not going to find the inspiration needed to keep writing. Of course, you can't let the time off go too long or you'll be out of practice and it'll be even harder to start writing again.
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