Ask the Author: Shelley Burbank
Answered Questions (4)
Shelley Burbank
Okay, you've heard it before but I'll say it: Good writers are great readers. You have to read all the time.
But here is my spin on it: You sort of absorb what you read, so be mindful of what you are putting into your brain. Definitely read widely--experience many different genres--but be aware that the type of books on which you focus will make connections in your brain and inform your style. If you want to be a genre writer, read that genre. If you want to be a literary writer, read not only classics but also modern literary authors--the kind that win the prizes and publish short stories in The New Yorker.
When you start out, it's also perfectly normal and good to copy your favorite authors' styles. If you keep writing, you'll develop your own voice.
Last, it takes as long as it takes. I'm in my fifties. I've been writing with an eye toward publication since I was 13 or so. There are more options now, and you might break in much sooner than I did, but if you really love this work, don't fret about how long it's taking. The whole process is fulfilling. Okay, frustrating, too. But fulfilling. Enjoy the journey.
But here is my spin on it: You sort of absorb what you read, so be mindful of what you are putting into your brain. Definitely read widely--experience many different genres--but be aware that the type of books on which you focus will make connections in your brain and inform your style. If you want to be a genre writer, read that genre. If you want to be a literary writer, read not only classics but also modern literary authors--the kind that win the prizes and publish short stories in The New Yorker.
When you start out, it's also perfectly normal and good to copy your favorite authors' styles. If you keep writing, you'll develop your own voice.
Last, it takes as long as it takes. I'm in my fifties. I've been writing with an eye toward publication since I was 13 or so. There are more options now, and you might break in much sooner than I did, but if you really love this work, don't fret about how long it's taking. The whole process is fulfilling. Okay, frustrating, too. But fulfilling. Enjoy the journey.
Shelley Burbank
I am currently working on a the next book in the Olivia Lively series. This new story called Night Moves and is a murder mystery. Night Moves was supposed to be a novella, but it's took on a life of its own.
Because Olivia Lively is a private investigator, I don't intend all the books in the series to be about a murder. Final Draft is about plagiarism and proving a client's claim that his mentor stole his work. For book 3 in the series, I've been researching the idea of a case involving a stolen piece of Hollywood memorabilia. There may or may not be a dead body. I kind of have this desire to subvert the expectations of the genre and write non-murder mysteries. Readers: Let me know what you think about that. Would a mystery without a dead body, um, fall flat?
Because Olivia Lively is a private investigator, I don't intend all the books in the series to be about a murder. Final Draft is about plagiarism and proving a client's claim that his mentor stole his work. For book 3 in the series, I've been researching the idea of a case involving a stolen piece of Hollywood memorabilia. There may or may not be a dead body. I kind of have this desire to subvert the expectations of the genre and write non-murder mysteries. Readers: Let me know what you think about that. Would a mystery without a dead body, um, fall flat?
Shelley Burbank
When I'm in the middle of writing a novel (as I am right now!) I think about the story all the time. I know I need to make progress, so I schedule time at the desk and force myself to do it. It's satisfying to see the word count go up.
When I'm in a more playful mood--like when I write flash fictions for my social media and website--I find an intriguing graphic or photo, or create one on Canva and use that as a prompt. That more fun because I know I can finish it in one sitting. These tend to be chick lit/women's fiction rather than mystery.
When I'm in a more playful mood--like when I write flash fictions for my social media and website--I find an intriguing graphic or photo, or create one on Canva and use that as a prompt. That more fun because I know I can finish it in one sitting. These tend to be chick lit/women's fiction rather than mystery.
Shelley Burbank
Final Draft started as a flash fiction story. At the time, I gave myself a challenge to write a flash fiction every week and to try different genres, in this case detective fiction. I ended up posting the flash story on Wattpad where readers found it and said, "I can't wait to find out what happens next!" I realized they thought this was the beginning of a novel...so I wrote it for them.
The theme of plagiarism comes directly from my observation on Wattpad that young writers were extremely worried about other people stealing their books or their ideas. I thought they'd be interested in a mystery story about a professor/mentor who steals his student's manuscript and passes it off as his own. With over 500,000 reads on the platform, Final Draft (which had a different name at the time) did quite well. I'm excited it is coming out in print in March 2023!
The theme of plagiarism comes directly from my observation on Wattpad that young writers were extremely worried about other people stealing their books or their ideas. I thought they'd be interested in a mystery story about a professor/mentor who steals his student's manuscript and passes it off as his own. With over 500,000 reads on the platform, Final Draft (which had a different name at the time) did quite well. I'm excited it is coming out in print in March 2023!
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