Ask the Author: Renée G. Benson
Answered Questions (6)
Renée G. Benson
I go for a walk or meditate or read when I can't think of something to write. It's not a time to panic. The brain uses this off time to rest and find new ideas. You have to feed the curiosity to nurture this habit we call writing.
Renée G. Benson
I love being a writer, but it is not easy to do it well. I think there are several highs you get from writing. The feeling you get when a really great plot idea, character, or moment of genius strikes you can make me very giddy with excitement. Once I get that moment on paper it feels like I accomplished something like climbing Everest. I am bubbling over with joy. Then comes months of agony cleaning and editing and getting feedback and making modifications and rewrites. Finally, after the editing and all is done comes another smaller high feeling that is overshadowed by anxiety. it's very stressful dealing with the final aspects, the layout, cover, and publication. Finally, I am over the moon with joy when I get my hard copy. The beautiful thing is that joyful feeling washes over me again and again when I read good reviews or hear from readers.
Renée G. Benson
My advice.
One: To be a writer you have to sit down and write. Don't sweat the small stuff. If your spelling or grammar fails you keep going. Get the concept down, and tell the story. There will be plenty of time for cleaning up the mess and hiring a good editor. Don't let the small stuff trip you up.
Two: Writers must be hard on the outside and soft on in inside. By that I mean, that a writer has to be sensitive to their surroundings, and the world, and have empathy with humanity to write well. But, they must have thick skin to accept the feedback and criticism that is inevitable. There is no escaping the readers, editors, publishers, and more who want to tear up your work. It happens. Stay strong. Listen carefully for any value and insight you may gain, consider the source, then move on.
One: To be a writer you have to sit down and write. Don't sweat the small stuff. If your spelling or grammar fails you keep going. Get the concept down, and tell the story. There will be plenty of time for cleaning up the mess and hiring a good editor. Don't let the small stuff trip you up.
Two: Writers must be hard on the outside and soft on in inside. By that I mean, that a writer has to be sensitive to their surroundings, and the world, and have empathy with humanity to write well. But, they must have thick skin to accept the feedback and criticism that is inevitable. There is no escaping the readers, editors, publishers, and more who want to tear up your work. It happens. Stay strong. Listen carefully for any value and insight you may gain, consider the source, then move on.
Renée G. Benson
This is a complicated question. I have several projects happening at once.
In process right now are:
1. Creating a new cover for my very first book "The Three of Them."
2. Outlining my next large novel which I hope to be my first mystery book.
3. Working on the layout for a journal writing course. I created the tool years ago and used it with clients when I was actively working as a therapist. It's time to make it available to everyone.
4. Marketing, marketing, marketing.
In process right now are:
1. Creating a new cover for my very first book "The Three of Them."
2. Outlining my next large novel which I hope to be my first mystery book.
3. Working on the layout for a journal writing course. I created the tool years ago and used it with clients when I was actively working as a therapist. It's time to make it available to everyone.
4. Marketing, marketing, marketing.
Renée G. Benson
I suspect some people are naturally driven to write. It is how I process life. It's my form of art. Life inspires me. It doesn't take much to make me write. I enjoy it so it is reaffirming every time. I love the feeling of creating.
Renée G. Benson
My most recent book, "The Adventures of Tom and Irving" was inspired by the need for something positive expressed to me by three separate readers. The world today is so full of disaster and hardship. The climate, the violence, the hate, the pandemic, and more are weighing heavily on all of us. When I released my prior book (the one before Tom and Irving titled "Fifteen Minutes on Illinois Street" ) people who read it were positive about it and yet, many were unwilling to read it because it dealt with the challenging rippling social effects of the pandemic. Their hesitancy and the spoken requests for something uplifting directed me to write something gentle and insightful with humor and friendship.
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