Ask the Author: Cynthia Breheny
Answered Questions (6)
Cynthia Breheny
I deal with writer's block by stepping away from the keyboard and placing myself in the character's position. I think about it like a movie playing out in my mind - "What would make the most sense here?" "What would I want to see them doing?"
Sometimes, you just have to think of the next big event and tie the two together. Honestly, writer's block is different in every situation.
I have a notebook that I write an outline for chapters in. Before I ever sit down at the computer, I try to write an outline first. That usually helps things move along.
Sometimes, you just have to think of the next big event and tie the two together. Honestly, writer's block is different in every situation.
I have a notebook that I write an outline for chapters in. Before I ever sit down at the computer, I try to write an outline first. That usually helps things move along.
Cynthia Breheny
The best thing about being a writer is getting to introduce someone else to a world you create. It's always fun to hear people react to characters you created or things that happen as though they're real.
Cynthia Breheny
My advice to aspiring writers is to read, read, read! Don't just read within your comfort zone - read comics, fantasy, biographies, everything that piques your interest! We tend to confine ourselves to pretty small boxes, thinking "Oh, I can't write that! That's just not the way those rules work." If nothing else, reading other works - exposing myself to other stories - helped me realize that we make our own boxes to think within and we can make them as big or oddly shaped as we want!
Cynthia Breheny
Several things, but in relation to my books, I just started on the second installment and I'm chipping away at a book trailer for the first. I'm doing all the artwork, animation, (most of) the voice work, and sound design myself. I'm hoping to have the trailer done by the year's end, but we'll see! It's definitely a challenge!
Cynthia Breheny
Lots of things inspire me to write - I carry a pencil, eraser, pen, and notepad with me at all times to jot down quotes and ideas as they come to me. However, the thing that gets me to sit down and write out a chapter is usually another good story. Whether I read one or am watching one on television, a strong story is always a powerful motivator!
Cynthia Breheny
The idea for this book was inspired by a mix of my siblings - particularly, my sister. She was at an age when she was constantly comparing her accomplishments to mine and I wanted her to realize that she could refine her own talents and didn't have to compete with me.
A secondary inspiration was the film, "Stardust". More specifically, the scene where the witch transforms the farm boy into a goat. I wanted to write a book that focused on a character who wasn't a hero or a villain. I wanted the character to be unassuming and drawn into something grand, completely by accident.
A secondary inspiration was the film, "Stardust". More specifically, the scene where the witch transforms the farm boy into a goat. I wanted to write a book that focused on a character who wasn't a hero or a villain. I wanted the character to be unassuming and drawn into something grand, completely by accident.
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