Ask the Author: Dorothy Barrett
Answered Questions (6)
Dorothy Barrett
I'd hit up the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter.
The itinerary would include:
1. Hanging out with Hermione. Maybe Harry and Ron too.
2. Taking in a quidditch match.
3. Drinking way too much butter beer in Hogsmeade.
4. Flying lessons with Madam Hooch.
5. Buying the Lamborghini of broomsticks from Diagon Alley.
6. Trying not to die whilst riding my Lambo-broom.
7. Getting my grub on in the Great Hall.
8. Taking a long hot bath in that gi-normous tub with all the bubbles. (Minus the ghost chick.)
9. Casting my Patronus. (Unicorn, of course.)
10. Reading every romance novel in the Hogwarts library. (I know they have some in that restricted section.)
The itinerary would include:
1. Hanging out with Hermione. Maybe Harry and Ron too.
2. Taking in a quidditch match.
3. Drinking way too much butter beer in Hogsmeade.
4. Flying lessons with Madam Hooch.
5. Buying the Lamborghini of broomsticks from Diagon Alley.
6. Trying not to die whilst riding my Lambo-broom.
7. Getting my grub on in the Great Hall.
8. Taking a long hot bath in that gi-normous tub with all the bubbles. (Minus the ghost chick.)
9. Casting my Patronus. (Unicorn, of course.)
10. Reading every romance novel in the Hogwarts library. (I know they have some in that restricted section.)
Dorothy Barrett
Well, for PJ's character specifically, I got the idea from a chick I've seen on YouTube. She does these fan reaction videos to her favorite TV shows, and she wears all this wild makeup, and she's always swearing, and just really over-the-top. That kind of persona fascinates me. It makes me want to dig, to get behind the psychology of it.
Dorothy Barrett
This may sound obvious, but I think it's important to pick a genre or subject matter you're passionate about. If you're not totally into reading an angsty teenage vampire romance, you probably aren't going to enjoy writing one.
Also, that voice in your head, the one that keeps telling you that you can't do something, something like write a novel, for example... tell it to shut the hell up. Then you sit down, put words to paper, and let your story unfold.
Also, that voice in your head, the one that keeps telling you that you can't do something, something like write a novel, for example... tell it to shut the hell up. Then you sit down, put words to paper, and let your story unfold.
Dorothy Barrett
I'll answer this by saying that I have a couple rituals that put me in the right frame of mind to write. First, I blast a ton of pop music before I dig into a scene. Playful songs for the fun stuff, sexy ones for the sizzle, rock for the action, that sort of thing. Second, I light my favorite rolled beeswax candle because I like the way it melts, and when I'm zoning out during the writing process, I like to fidget with the wax. I call it my fidget candle. (Don't try this unless you understand the process of candle-hugging. Yes, it is a thing. Look it up. I dare you.)
Dorothy Barrett
I'm drafting "Pretty Jane" , the third in the Browning series. Writing the PJ character in book two was so much fun I had to give her the lead in this one. She's just an absolute mess with all her crazy makeup and obnoxious flirting. Then there's that temper of hers, and the biting thing...
Beau Browning, strait-laced, sweater-wearing, accountant that he is, is about to get owned by this chick.
Beau Browning, strait-laced, sweater-wearing, accountant that he is, is about to get owned by this chick.
Dorothy Barrett
I keep to my writing schedule no matter how bad I'm blocked.
Monday-Friday, when my kids are at school and I can write without distraction, I take advantage of every hour I can. Some days I knock out a chapter, others I barely produce a page. Whichever way it goes, I keep to the schedule. Sure, I take breaks from time to time, but never more than a day or two. Avoidance is the enemy. When I'm avoiding the story, it's because I'm afraid, and the longer I avoid it , the worse the anxiety gets.
Monday-Friday, when my kids are at school and I can write without distraction, I take advantage of every hour I can. Some days I knock out a chapter, others I barely produce a page. Whichever way it goes, I keep to the schedule. Sure, I take breaks from time to time, but never more than a day or two. Avoidance is the enemy. When I'm avoiding the story, it's because I'm afraid, and the longer I avoid it , the worse the anxiety gets.
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