Ask the Author: Rexi Lake
Answered Questions (6)
Rexi Lake
Seeing the words on paper and bringing my characters to life. It really doesn't matter if anyone reads it besides me (although that is a huge feeling of accomplishment). But the satisfaction comes in getting the story out of my head. Giving the characters life on the page. For me, that's the best thing about writing.
Rexi Lake
Don't worry about the after publishing part until you've written the story. And write. Write a lot. And write often. Then edit. You will find things every time you reread your work. Change this, tweak that, scrap the whole chapter, start over, watch your tenses, did you describe his eyes as brown and then again as grey?
My first book went through I don't even know how many rewrites. Then it was edited constantly by myself and an editor multiple times. I'm sure if I were to reread it again right now, I'd find at least five things to change or correct.
My first book went through I don't even know how many rewrites. Then it was edited constantly by myself and an editor multiple times. I'm sure if I were to reread it again right now, I'd find at least five things to change or correct.
Rexi Lake
Anything and everything can be an inspiration. From talking to friends to watching a couple at a table across the restaurant from me. Bits and pieces of personalities come from a slew of people around me and I mesh them together to create the perfect character for the story.
A quiet night, some classical music playing, and no interruptions from a restless toddler are usually the best times for me to write. But I've also managed to do some excellent work during my lunch hour. Yes, I have a day job. Inspiration can strike anywhere, even in an accounting office. lol
A quiet night, some classical music playing, and no interruptions from a restless toddler are usually the best times for me to write. But I've also managed to do some excellent work during my lunch hour. Yes, I have a day job. Inspiration can strike anywhere, even in an accounting office. lol
Rexi Lake
Claimed by Christmas took years to write. It started as a tongue in cheek tale of friends and the ups and downs of their love lives. It was moderately based on my own life and what was happening with one of my friends at the time. Except for the characters names and appearances, nothing survived of that initial draft.
About 2 years after that, I read Roni Loren's "Nothing Between Us" and I got inspired to change the original draft into an erotic novel. The tension was already there between Kat and Brett, so I amped it up a little. Jase was initially supposed to be the competition, but as soon as I started to write him, everything started to click together like puzzle pieces. When I wrote the prologue, about ten drafts later, I found my voice and my characters came to life in my head.
I hope the characters are as real to readers as they are to me.
About 2 years after that, I read Roni Loren's "Nothing Between Us" and I got inspired to change the original draft into an erotic novel. The tension was already there between Kat and Brett, so I amped it up a little. Jase was initially supposed to be the competition, but as soon as I started to write him, everything started to click together like puzzle pieces. When I wrote the prologue, about ten drafts later, I found my voice and my characters came to life in my head.
I hope the characters are as real to readers as they are to me.
Rexi Lake
Well, I'm currently writing Book 2 of the Just Say Yes series. And editing is being done on a novella that goes along with Book 2.
For those of you who've read Book 1, Book 2 is about Rissa and takes place during the event Kat helps plan.
For those of you who've read Book 1, Book 2 is about Rissa and takes place during the event Kat helps plan.
Rexi Lake
I have lots of different ways to deal with writer's block. Mostly, it just comes down to writing. Getting the words out however I can. I'll do journaling exercises or write some poetry or write a few short stories about my characters. Sometimes those short stories, little windows into the character's life, end up in my books.
The other thing I do is brainstorm with a friend. When I get caught and can't move a book forward, we talk it out. We talk about the scene itself, where I want the book to go, if there's enough conflict, if the character is acting appropriately for the way I've created them, and anything else that comes to mind. Sometimes we preplan other stories in the series.
Usually one of these things will jar me loose from the block and get me back on track.
The other thing I do is brainstorm with a friend. When I get caught and can't move a book forward, we talk it out. We talk about the scene itself, where I want the book to go, if there's enough conflict, if the character is acting appropriately for the way I've created them, and anything else that comes to mind. Sometimes we preplan other stories in the series.
Usually one of these things will jar me loose from the block and get me back on track.
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