Ask the Author: Ellen Y. Mueller
Answered Questions (5)
Ellen Y. Mueller
My lead character, Tracie, was a figment of my imagination. Over the years, I've known lots of people who grew up in dysfunctional families. I pulled some of Tracie's personality traits from a few of them. They were the inspiration since they had little to no voice. I had to write this book to shed light on the topic of domestic and emotional abuse.
When I wrote the story, I thought carefully about each scene and Tracie's backstory. Much of her history never made it to the finished page. But those details guided me. I had to know what mattered to her, what scared her the most, and why it was worse for her than another character.
Each of my characters had a past, and they were battling with their own demons. I had to know their backgrounds to write a novel that made sense.
Thank you for these great questions.
When I wrote the story, I thought carefully about each scene and Tracie's backstory. Much of her history never made it to the finished page. But those details guided me. I had to know what mattered to her, what scared her the most, and why it was worse for her than another character.
Each of my characters had a past, and they were battling with their own demons. I had to know their backgrounds to write a novel that made sense.
Thank you for these great questions.
Ellen Y. Mueller
Hi Shirley,
I think anyone who enjoys young adult reads or women's fiction will like this suspenseful book. I also enjoy reading YA, and I'm not young either. Readers have told me they like this story written from the teenager's perspective, and it was easy to forget they were reading.
This story is for anyone who likes a twisted tales about family saga or of coming of age. Though it's geared more for females, I'm sure some males would like the story, too. But I wrote it for teens and women.
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your question.
I think anyone who enjoys young adult reads or women's fiction will like this suspenseful book. I also enjoy reading YA, and I'm not young either. Readers have told me they like this story written from the teenager's perspective, and it was easy to forget they were reading.
This story is for anyone who likes a twisted tales about family saga or of coming of age. Though it's geared more for females, I'm sure some males would like the story, too. But I wrote it for teens and women.
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your question.
Ellen Y. Mueller
Writer's block is the symptom of not knowing where my story is going. When that happens, I stop a moment and focus on what I wanted the story to be about.
If a scene isn't coming to my mind, I put a pen to paper. I write down any word that comes to mind, and circle it. Then I repeat until the entire page is filled with words that may or may not become ideas.
I think about each idea, and how they might link with the others. Doing this crushes writer's block.
If a scene isn't coming to my mind, I put a pen to paper. I write down any word that comes to mind, and circle it. Then I repeat until the entire page is filled with words that may or may not become ideas.
I think about each idea, and how they might link with the others. Doing this crushes writer's block.
Ellen Y. Mueller
I love it when readers want to read the stories I wrote, and they enjoy the tale.
Ellen Y. Mueller
If you write, you're not an aspiring writer. You're a writer. To improve your skills, I recommend reading daily. You don't have to spend hours reading, but it's great if you can read a novel a week. On other days, read blogs and news posts.
It's helpful to seek out other writers who participate in critique groups. By doing that, you will be exposed to a genre you might not normally read. Pay attention to how other people write their stories. There's always something to learn.
It's helpful to seek out other writers who participate in critique groups. By doing that, you will be exposed to a genre you might not normally read. Pay attention to how other people write their stories. There's always something to learn.
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