Ask the Author: Stephanie Patel
Answered Questions (7)
Stephanie Patel
After opening his eyes, he tried to spread his wings, only to discover they weren’t there. He called out for help, but all the angels had departed; a face loomed over him, a voice saying “Coo coo coo”, and with a sinking feeling he knew that his recent respite in Heaven was over.
Stephanie Patel
I don't think I've ever had writer's block. I've had long periods when other things took precedence, when my attention was so taken by living life that I wasn't interested in writing about it. I am a "gestalt" writer. I don't set a schedule for myself, as in: "I will write three hours each day, or so-many words." When I am "on", I can go for months at 8-10 hours a day. It's a passion, not a job. I don't create outlines. Initially, I don't write in a straight-line. I create scenes as they come to me, and then I let them flow into each other--so I may write chapters in the middle before completing the beginning, and may do a series of endings as I feel it, which helps me keep it all moving toward that point. In "Born in the 20th Century" I had an idea of the final scene, however it didn't write itself until most of the book was complete, in the last weeks of the final edit. I am, however, a perfectionist and will go through chapters dozens of times to pick up errors or try to say something better.
Stephanie Patel
I just love to create.
Stephanie Patel
Live life!! Draw from the life you've lived. Sit down somewhere and observe people, then write little descriptions or dialogue based on what you observe. Learn technique and practice it, practice it. Then, when you have a handle on it, don't lock yourself into the rules of writing. Do it YOUR way. Good writers follow the rules of writing. Great writers know when to bend them or depart from them altogether. They create new paths. Put yourself into your story and really feel it. Then tell it. Don't let other people bring you down. It's not THEIR story, it's YOURS.
Stephanie Patel
I have a number of books and stories in the works. Since I was employed full-time as a lawyer during my adult life, it was only until I retired that I could focus upon completing these works.
Stephanie Patel
I love to write. However, what inspired me the most through the years was my writing critique group, Writers at Titlewave, in Anchorage Alaska. We would each read aloud our contribution for the week, and it was so rewarding to get the feedback, to be able to see people's immediate reaction. In addition, I got great advice and a lot of help finding errors in my writing.
Stephanie Patel
My recently published book, Born in the 20th Century, has been in the works for many years. I wanted to write the kind of book I loved to read--very character driven, yet with a good plot, and very deep. I wanted to give readers something: laughter, maybe a few tears, and new perspectives on some very touchy subjects. I wanted to touch people, to draw them out and above their everyday problems. I also had a few books/authors I loved, and I sort of drew out the elements of each that I loved and put them together.
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