Ask the Author: Liane Carter
Answered Questions (10)
Liane Carter
She had never seen him smile and that had always worried her. Tied to the chair, she tried to wriggle free, to scream against the tape over her lips as he opened his mouth and ate her alive,
Liane Carter
I wouldn't mind a day trip hopping from one book to another. If I could do that, at the moment I would choose 'Alice in Wonderland' and soak in the sights of the characters and all around me, 'The BFG' - once they are away from the other giants - so I could spend time with the Big Friendly Giant, and 'Call Me By My Name' to lounge around the pool, taste the apricots, cycle in Italy and play tennis.
Liane Carter
I wouldn't mind a day trip hopping from one book to another. If I could do that, at the moment I would choose 'Alice in Wonderland' and soak in the sights of the characters and all around me, 'The BFG' - once they are away from the other giants - so I could spend time with the Big Friendly Giant, and 'Call Me By My Name' to lounge around the pool, taste the apricots, cycle in Italy and play tennis.
Liane Carter
'Zen To Go' by Jon Winokur, 'The Little Book of Zen Quotes', 'Hyperbole and a Half' by Allie Brosh, 'We Were Eight Years in Power' by Ta-Nehisi Coates and 'Homecoming' by John Bradshaw.
Liane Carter
Duggit appeared in my mind and I sat up like a rocket in bed and started writing pages. I beamed the whole time at this wonderful character, a metre-high Dream Devil, who made me smile, laugh and who I adore.
Liane Carter
An idea will pop in my head and my insides jiggle in excitement and I can feel the smile on my face; characters appear visually in my mind and start chatting to me and I scramble for pen and paper to write the initial idea; I imagine worlds I'd like to live in; I walk in nature and am inspired by shapes of leaves, trees, insects, wave formations, patterns in sand. These things spark 'what ifs', imagery and dialogue in my mind. I've learned to take pen and paper and my Dictaphone everywhere as ideas come anywhere and it beats having to repeat the idea over and over until I arrive home so I don't forget it. My husband bought me a pen light years ago after getting sick of me turning the bedside lamp on and off every few minutes to write down ideas because fabulous answers and ideas come to me just as I'm dropping off to sleep; meditation also brings ideas. The emptier my mind is of busy thoughts, the more space for imagination.
Liane Carter
I'm editing 'The Chronicles of Joya' sequel ready to go off to my first editor. I've just received another manuscript back from my editor that I need to edit. It's non-fiction and very personal and heart-wrenching so I have to build up my bravery to go back in as I sobbed my heart out writing it and editing it before I sent it to her. So I will be going back to more tears and heart churning. And I am itching to get back to write the manuscript for the second book of 'The Dream Devils' series. I have 20,000 words of snippets of dialogue and the outline, the opening scenes and the closing scene and it's so tense and exciting. I also have other manuscripts started or first drafts completed and all pull at me at different times calling me to come back and be in their worlds. I'm blessed to have so many ideas.
Liane Carter
Write because you love to, because you have to, and love what you are writing. You spend a lot of time on a manuscript so love being there. You write the first draft, then edit, then it goes off to your first editor, then it comes back for you to edit again and then it goes off again and comes back and then it goes off for a line edit and comes back to you for revision. It's a long process and you have to read it and edit it a lot so if you don't love that manuscript, you'll be sick of it way before you've read it for the 12th time.
See feedback/criticism as a present. Know that the feedback is one person's opinion and so it's not personal. It's one person's view based on their education, likes, beliefs, training. When you find an editor who you trust and value, and that edit comes back to you, be excited. You are getting a box of nuggets in there to make your manuscript even better, to take it to new heights. Take those sugar suggestions and see how you can add sparklers and amaze yourself. If you devour the suggestions, you can grow so much. When my edits first come back, I have to run or dance around the room before I open them because I'm so excited.
See feedback/criticism as a present. Know that the feedback is one person's opinion and so it's not personal. It's one person's view based on their education, likes, beliefs, training. When you find an editor who you trust and value, and that edit comes back to you, be excited. You are getting a box of nuggets in there to make your manuscript even better, to take it to new heights. Take those sugar suggestions and see how you can add sparklers and amaze yourself. If you devour the suggestions, you can grow so much. When my edits first come back, I have to run or dance around the room before I open them because I'm so excited.
Liane Carter
So many things. Can I have more than one thing? If I can, here are three of my top rockets: words. I looooooooove words; creating worlds and people and being in those worlds and feeling what the characters feel and having an emotional rollercoaster ride of tension, tears, laughter and love for the characters; putting my truth on the page. I love that pushing myself and bravery needed to be raw and open and true. It's painful and insightful too.
Liane Carter
1. I ask myself what's in the way. Am I getting enough sleep? Am I taking time out? I can be a workaholic and my inner child likes to write AND play so it's amazing what an evening off with a combination of something like sketching, playing drums and watching a feel-good movie can do.
2. The block can be the writing telling me something: I'm not listening to what the characters are trying to tell me; there's an error in the manuscript; it's weak somewhere and needs to be pumped up; my instinct is stopping me so I can step back and see threads and possibilities to create more tie ins and twists and tension in the story.
3. I go to the sea or a walk in the countryside with my Dictaphone and pen and paper/pencil. Both stimulate ideas for me and I love both places. And when I walk answers come.
2. The block can be the writing telling me something: I'm not listening to what the characters are trying to tell me; there's an error in the manuscript; it's weak somewhere and needs to be pumped up; my instinct is stopping me so I can step back and see threads and possibilities to create more tie ins and twists and tension in the story.
3. I go to the sea or a walk in the countryside with my Dictaphone and pen and paper/pencil. Both stimulate ideas for me and I love both places. And when I walk answers come.
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