Ask the Author: Cara Brookins
Answered Questions (9)
Cara Brookins
Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire in The Time Traveler's Wife are my favorite couple. One of the most compelling things about their relationship is the way Adult Henry sees Clare as a child in a protective and friendship roll. it's endearing to see him learn about her childhood and family. Then of course as they try to have a child and survive the bizarre unpredictability of his time travel disorder, they navigate ordinary couple stress in extraordinary ways. Beautiful.
Cara Brookins
Hi Jane, I've been itching to write fiction again. I've actually started two mystery series. One will be in the women's comedy genre with divorce and voodoo dolls, and the other will be a suspense series involving an obituary writer and a terrorist attack. I hope to have both announced next year, now to carve out enough time to finish writing them.... Oh, and I have a couple nonfiction books in the outline stages, but I need a short break from reality before I dive in. Writing about the truth of real life stings and it's best to take time to build strength again. My theory is that large amounts of hot cocoa are the secret to building strength, so I'm already working on this. ;)
Cara Brookins
Most of my book ideas start as a wiggle from something I read as a news story or a piece about science or history. Then I start to think, "Oh, what if this sort of character had to face a similar situation." Sometimes the final story resembles the wiggle idea only in an abstract way, but it remains an inspiration. I have notebooks filled with story ideas. Sometimes I get frustrated when a new idea hits. I wonder, "Now when am I ever going to find time to write all of these!"
Cara Brookins
I feel compelled to write all the time. It's really the only time I feel like I'm doing what I should be. Every other bit of life feels like I'm cheating on writing. How to find the time to write outside of life tasks and especially outside all the time it takes to run a writing business is the larger and more difficult question. I'm constantly asking the world to pause, it hasn't listened yet but I'm an optimist.
Cara Brookins
I'm working on two fiction series as well as a couple nonfiction projects for writers. One mystery series is a bit of a comedy, though it has a dark side. The other is a suspense series, and it's in very early stages. I can't wait to see where it goes.
Cara Brookins
Two things I wish I had done earlier are to write constantly and to start publishing in a single genre and age group. Writing constantly without regard for publishability would have helped me find my voice more quickly. And writing for a narrow audience at the onset would have honed my voice and audience early. Branching across genres after your established is fine, but starting narrow gives you a huge business advantage. A third bit of advice is to understand from the onset that you are running a business. Learn everything about managing a small business!
Cara Brookins
I've always had a curious, playful spirit. As adults and really even as children, we're discouraged from being playful far too often. When I'm writing, I can be as ridiculous and playful as I'd like. There are still rules of good writing and plot of course, but a part of my mind is completely free-- what could be more fun than that!
Cara Brookins
Writer's block is a warning, like a road block. It means something has gone wrong with your plot. You can't just plow through it without breaking your story. You have to step back and evaluate how you've written yourself into a corner and either change the planned path forward by taking another road to the conclusion, or by backing up and fixing whatever went wrong. Writers will feel better about blocks if they think of them as pauses rather than brick walls.
Cara Brookins
I want to be a full time writer, so I set enormous goals for myself and I'm merciless with my self-imposed deadlines. If I don't meet them I give up sleep, fun, everything & anything until I meet my goals. The best way to stay motivated for this level of dedication is to set a hard target of what you will consider 'success' and every single day spend a few minutes imagining what it will feel like when you achieve it. This way you will know what you're fighting for and feel it. Once you feel the success, nothing can make you stop until you have it! I hope this helps. Keep writing!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more