Ask the Author: Caroline Lisa
Answered Questions (6)
Caroline Lisa
The two novels that I've written have been inspired by wanting to give the people the characters are based upon a voice. The stories have come from research, newspaper articles and subjects that arise as part of my day job within children's services.
I'm looking for my next inspiration though. I think I've been more reserved starting something as I'm now aware of how much you invest in creating a novel - how much time and energy. I want to be completely sold on an idea before investing in the next project. At the moment I'm still waiting for that spark of inspiration...
I'm looking for my next inspiration though. I think I've been more reserved starting something as I'm now aware of how much you invest in creating a novel - how much time and energy. I want to be completely sold on an idea before investing in the next project. At the moment I'm still waiting for that spark of inspiration...
Caroline Lisa
NaNoWriMo was a good tool for me - it's an event in November each year online to help people get motivated writing. It helped me get most of my manuscript written for CRY OF THE GHOST.
Sometimes I have set myself daily quotas of words to write - and for me, I find it easier to edit something down - so I don't worry about things being perfect straight away, just to keep writing. Often sections will be deleted, but it helps to move the story forward.
When I'm writing a story, I also keep writing in my head. I will write at night my quota and then during the day on the way to my day job, in the car, I'll keep thinking about the next scene, perhaps asking myself questions about how the character is going to respond to something. This helps to get back to writing the next day, as it is then really just a case of getting down the thoughts that I've mulled over during the day - rather than staring at a blank computer.
Sometimes I have set myself daily quotas of words to write - and for me, I find it easier to edit something down - so I don't worry about things being perfect straight away, just to keep writing. Often sections will be deleted, but it helps to move the story forward.
When I'm writing a story, I also keep writing in my head. I will write at night my quota and then during the day on the way to my day job, in the car, I'll keep thinking about the next scene, perhaps asking myself questions about how the character is going to respond to something. This helps to get back to writing the next day, as it is then really just a case of getting down the thoughts that I've mulled over during the day - rather than staring at a blank computer.
Caroline Lisa
There are so many different things to being a writer. The creative side, the enjoyment of formulating a world and characters is liberating and fun.
Then there's other aspects, such as seeing the impact my work is having. It is what I set out to do in the first place with SONG OF THE CROCODILE and to start to see how it is now raising awareness of FGM - that's wonderful.
Overall, the best thing for me is the sense of achievement - particularly when there were times when it wasn't easy to keep writing.
Then there's other aspects, such as seeing the impact my work is having. It is what I set out to do in the first place with SONG OF THE CROCODILE and to start to see how it is now raising awareness of FGM - that's wonderful.
Overall, the best thing for me is the sense of achievement - particularly when there were times when it wasn't easy to keep writing.
Caroline Lisa
Two things. Write - and Read!
You may notice in my replies, that my spelling isn't the best. I struggle with Grammar (it just took me three attempts to spell that). Don't let anything stop you trying. People can help along the way - friends can encourage you, help you proofread, tell you if a story makes sense. But you have to have something to work with.
I often think of writing like a rock. A diamond is found hidden, by chiseling away. But if you don't have a rock - you can't do anything. You can always edit, but you need something first. So give it a go, you never know where it might lead to.
Read a lot too - to find out how others do it.
Writers Digest is also a great resource and helped me along the way.
You may notice in my replies, that my spelling isn't the best. I struggle with Grammar (it just took me three attempts to spell that). Don't let anything stop you trying. People can help along the way - friends can encourage you, help you proofread, tell you if a story makes sense. But you have to have something to work with.
I often think of writing like a rock. A diamond is found hidden, by chiseling away. But if you don't have a rock - you can't do anything. You can always edit, but you need something first. So give it a go, you never know where it might lead to.
Read a lot too - to find out how others do it.
Writers Digest is also a great resource and helped me along the way.
Caroline Lisa
I'm working on the final proofs for the paperback launch of SONG OF THE CROCODILE and also working on the second draft of CRY OF THE GHOST - another compelling novel set in Africa.
During a gap year in Tanzania, Jessie's weekly calls home suddenly stop. It's every mother's worst nightmare, but Kate finds herself on her own trying to discover what has happened to her daughter. She travels to Africa to look for her, but in doing so, discovers a truth exposing horrors that permeate throughout society.
During a gap year in Tanzania, Jessie's weekly calls home suddenly stop. It's every mother's worst nightmare, but Kate finds herself on her own trying to discover what has happened to her daughter. She travels to Africa to look for her, but in doing so, discovers a truth exposing horrors that permeate throughout society.
Caroline Lisa
My current work in progress, CRY OF THE GHOST - came to me out of the research I was doing for my first novel, SONG OF THE CROCODILE. I discovered some things that were happening in Tanzania that kept me up at night and subsequently I felt I needed to develop a story to bring a voice to what I'd found out.
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