Ask the Author: Susan Brooks
Answered Questions (6)
Susan Brooks
I personally believe that writer's block is a myth. It pops up because the writer doesn't know where the story is going—and I say this with first hand knowledge having used to not outline my stories—but if you outline, and you know where the story is supposed to go, then you can't get blocked.
Susan Brooks
My favorite thing is coming up with ideas. The rest is work.
Susan Brooks
Take the time to learn writing craft. Go to a fiction writer's conference. Why? Because you learn a lot of craft from reading, but you will save a lot of time and trial and error by learning what commercial fiction is, and what the genre requirements are. Read books on writing craft. Practice writing. And outline. I used to not outline at all. I just wrote what I felt was right, but it took a lot of time to do that and most wasn't publishable in reality. Now I just consider that time as practice. But if you are serious, outline and learn the craft of writing fiction.
Susan Brooks
I am working on two stories right now, both very different from each other. One is a mystery, and one is women's fiction. Plus, I am beginning to outline a sequel to A Trick of the Light—and it actually may be two simultaneous sequels—one for Wyatt, and one for Meri. But the sequel is still in my brain steeping.
Susan Brooks
When I was a little girl, I just wrote. I am not sure how that started. I wrote poems for my grandma. I wrote short stories. I did this off and on. I read quite a lot as a child and even won an award when I was in the 1st grade. There was a summer reading program at the local library and I read more books than all the other kids. I think they just go together, reading and writing.
Susan Brooks
Ideas come from everywhere. Reading. Watching TV. Experiences from life. My subconscious stirs all these things up and presents ideas for stories all the time. Sometimes they pop up while I am in the shower or driving in the car. Occasionally I will wake up out of a dead sleep and have to get up and write the idea down before I forget it. I suspect it is just my creative process based on how my mind works. I have a long list of book ideas that I am working on.
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