Ask the Author: Octavia Davis
Answered Questions (7)
Octavia Davis
Hello!
To be honest, my favorite fictional couple is not even canon. I but really enjoy reading about Scotty and McCoy from TOS! Star Trek. The season being is that both compliment one another in my opinion. While Scotty is known for his extroverted personality, McCoy is more private and very reflective. So I can see Scotty learning how to be less reactive because McCoy reminds him to calm down while Scotty teaches McCoy how to be more outgoing.
To be honest, my favorite fictional couple is not even canon. I but really enjoy reading about Scotty and McCoy from TOS! Star Trek. The season being is that both compliment one another in my opinion. While Scotty is known for his extroverted personality, McCoy is more private and very reflective. So I can see Scotty learning how to be less reactive because McCoy reminds him to calm down while Scotty teaches McCoy how to be more outgoing.
Octavia Davis
I walk away from the piece to clear my mind. I notice that when I'm physically active, the answers tend to come. I also reach out to fellow writers! I have friends who are published authors and they help me when I'm stuck. They ask me questions like "What would your character do in this situation?" "Would they say that?" "Would they do that?" "What are you trying to do here?" and so on. So it really helps when I reach out to others.
Reading other published works help as well. I usually inspired by paragraphs in books or articles I'm reading at the time, so sometimes it takes the work of others to rid me of whatever's causing the writer's block.
Reading other published works help as well. I usually inspired by paragraphs in books or articles I'm reading at the time, so sometimes it takes the work of others to rid me of whatever's causing the writer's block.
Octavia Davis
Having the freedom to do so, creating new realities and new people, using my writing to promote justice and awareness of oppression.
Octavia Davis
Be patient and be realistic.
I thought that I was going to make money if I just put The One Taken from the Sea of Stars on the net for free for thirty days. Though I did make some money it was enough to make ends meet yet. So you HAVE to be patient with yourself and the work you put out. This is also a good reason to have a solid support system around you--people that will keep you focused.
Also, NETWORK!! I can't tell you how important this is. No one will know about your work unless you tell people about it. Twitter, Goodreads, Scriggler, Facebook and LinkedIn are good places to start. A friend of mine suggested a newsletter, which helps a ton. But if your able to have a printed copy of your book, find a venue within your community to host a book signing and Q & A event. When people see and meet you, they now have a connection to you and your work.
I thought that I was going to make money if I just put The One Taken from the Sea of Stars on the net for free for thirty days. Though I did make some money it was enough to make ends meet yet. So you HAVE to be patient with yourself and the work you put out. This is also a good reason to have a solid support system around you--people that will keep you focused.
Also, NETWORK!! I can't tell you how important this is. No one will know about your work unless you tell people about it. Twitter, Goodreads, Scriggler, Facebook and LinkedIn are good places to start. A friend of mine suggested a newsletter, which helps a ton. But if your able to have a printed copy of your book, find a venue within your community to host a book signing and Q & A event. When people see and meet you, they now have a connection to you and your work.
Octavia Davis
I'm currently working on the character outline for the second installment of the series. There are going to be some new interesting characters and many twists and turns because of those characters. Of course, the existing characters--Martin and Lianna especially--are going to be going through some changes.
Octavia Davis
I've been writing since the sixth grade, actually. It's the only way I can express myself and create entire worlds. Because of my own mental health issues, writing and being a creative in general is also extremely therapeutic. It's to the point where writing is an extension of who I am and when I can't write, my entire being suffers.
Octavia Davis
My idea came from a piece of Sherlock fan art actually. For those unfamiliar with the fandom, there's a slew of Johnlock (Sherlock Holmes/John Watson) fan art with subcategories. One of those sub categories is called Octo!John, which is John as a half-man/half octopus.
Well, there's a piece of fan art of Sherlock holding Octo!John is his hand that got my wheels turning. I thought "What if I created a story about a man in London, England who fell in love with an female extraterrestrial?" When I tried to go the erotica route, it didn't feel authentic. I've realized then that I could use this story to express certain political views that I care about--human trafficking, slavery, the representation of women and trans folks, mental illness, etc). So that's what I did and the result is the first book.
Well, there's a piece of fan art of Sherlock holding Octo!John is his hand that got my wheels turning. I thought "What if I created a story about a man in London, England who fell in love with an female extraterrestrial?" When I tried to go the erotica route, it didn't feel authentic. I've realized then that I could use this story to express certain political views that I care about--human trafficking, slavery, the representation of women and trans folks, mental illness, etc). So that's what I did and the result is the first book.
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