Ask the Author: Marie Patlan
Answered Questions (3)
Marie Patlan
Ha! I totally do. In fact, when I was in high school, I wrote some of my first fan fiction in a notebook during random free minutes in my classes and would sometimes make myself cry... that's a story for another time. ;) So how do I work through the tears? I let them out, and then I let the scene sit for a while, and then I return to it. Usually, when I'm reading it back, I'm able to see it a lot more logically than when I first wrote it. Having an analytical brain helps with this a lot. But if it's stuck in my head, if I'm protective of my characters and of what is happening to them, that's when I know I'm onto something. As an example of this, Declan and Cordelia were stuck in my head for YEARS. And now they're about to be out in the world. :)
Marie Patlan
This is an interesting question. SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL was originally a NaNoWriMo book, so I wrote it essentially in order. My only idea when I started NaNo (I used to be such a pantser) was that I wanted it to start at a rally that went wrong. As the book went through phases of self-editing and beta-reads, I realized that I didn't want to play my cards so early. So I split the opening scene into three parts, which are now the beginnings of the three parts of the book, and I went from there. :)
Marie Patlan
When I get writer's block, I usually go for a run. If I can fit a long one in (more than 5 miles is the best) I can really get into a groove and let my mind wander, which oftentimes helps me free up where I want to take the story. If that doesn't work, I write some book reviews - thinking critically about other published sometimes helps me figure out my own plot.
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