Ask the Author: Courtney Hunt
Answered Questions (9)
Courtney Hunt
I'm making my way through the marvelous 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. It's a series of serialized novels set in Edinburgh. I'm currently on the 5th installment (out of 12) and can't put them down.
I've also been reading a lot of nonfiction. Late last year, I listened to Bad Blood about the fall of Theranos. I'm currently reading Inheritance by Dani Shapiro too. Both fascinating books.
Like everyone else, I loved the Netflix Tidying Up with Marie Kondo show. I've listened to her first book on audiobook and am now listening to Spark Joy.
I've also been reading a lot of nonfiction. Late last year, I listened to Bad Blood about the fall of Theranos. I'm currently reading Inheritance by Dani Shapiro too. Both fascinating books.
Like everyone else, I loved the Netflix Tidying Up with Marie Kondo show. I've listened to her first book on audiobook and am now listening to Spark Joy.
Courtney Hunt
Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth from Jane Austen's Persuasion. It's my favorite Austen work because I love second chance at love stories.
Courtney Hunt
My undergraduate degree is in Renaissance and medieval literature so I took tons of Shakespeare classes in college. I think my all time favorite play is Hamlet because it's so rich--I get something new out of it every time I read it or see it performed.
I also always loved Midsummer Night's Dream (it's just too fun--and Puck is an amazing character) and Merchant of Venice. Love me some Portia!
I also liked the sonnets a lot--who are the Dark Lady and the Fair Youth? When The Pilot and I married, we had sonnet 116 read at our wedding ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds...")
FWIW, I do believe Shakespeare WAS Shakespeare--not Francis Bacon or whatever other trendy theory is being bandied about at the moment. Just my opinion ;-)
I also always loved Midsummer Night's Dream (it's just too fun--and Puck is an amazing character) and Merchant of Venice. Love me some Portia!
I also liked the sonnets a lot--who are the Dark Lady and the Fair Youth? When The Pilot and I married, we had sonnet 116 read at our wedding ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds...")
FWIW, I do believe Shakespeare WAS Shakespeare--not Francis Bacon or whatever other trendy theory is being bandied about at the moment. Just my opinion ;-)
Courtney Hunt
On any given day, I'd rather alphabetize my spice rack while getting a root canal than actually write. Sometimes the hardest thing is just to sit down and start typing. I use "Once Upon a Time" a lot to start a scene or just freewrite for a bit or answer a question (like "What does the kitchen in the scene look like?"). Waiting for inspiration to strike to get your daily words in is a good way to never write a word. Gotta just write.
If the question is more about what inspires me to write a specific story (which is another way of saying "where do you get your ideas?"), it depends. Some years ago, I attended an improv workshop at Washington Romance Writers. I learned an important technique that improvisational actors use to keep the scene going: "Yes, and..."
So, if I get an idea to write about a group of people colonizing Neptune as they sail off in their spaceship, the Star of the Sea, I don't say to my muse, "Are you crazy?" I say, Yes, and...then they go straight on to Pluto or Yes and...then they crash into Jupiter or Yes and...they sail into the rings of Saturn... The idea might be insane but the best way to develop it, to get to a viable, workable idea, that might someday become a story, is to greet it with Yes, and... and keep adding to it.
I have never, personally, found writing critique groups very helpful. But a writing brainstorming group is a lot of fun. I still chat nearly daily with my writing friends over Skype, tossing around ideas. I recommend the practice to anyone wishing to keep their creativity supple.
Now, I'm off to research Saturn's rings.
Remember, "Yes, and..."
If the question is more about what inspires me to write a specific story (which is another way of saying "where do you get your ideas?"), it depends. Some years ago, I attended an improv workshop at Washington Romance Writers. I learned an important technique that improvisational actors use to keep the scene going: "Yes, and..."
So, if I get an idea to write about a group of people colonizing Neptune as they sail off in their spaceship, the Star of the Sea, I don't say to my muse, "Are you crazy?" I say, Yes, and...then they go straight on to Pluto or Yes and...then they crash into Jupiter or Yes and...they sail into the rings of Saturn... The idea might be insane but the best way to develop it, to get to a viable, workable idea, that might someday become a story, is to greet it with Yes, and... and keep adding to it.
I have never, personally, found writing critique groups very helpful. But a writing brainstorming group is a lot of fun. I still chat nearly daily with my writing friends over Skype, tossing around ideas. I recommend the practice to anyone wishing to keep their creativity supple.
Now, I'm off to research Saturn's rings.
Remember, "Yes, and..."
Courtney Hunt
In my experience, there are three ways that writer’s fail. The first is not to finish their work. Not revising is the second. And not understanding the promotion requirements the third.
There are many obstacles to finishing work. Self-doubt seems to be the big monster here. I’ve never met a writer that didn’t suffer from crippling self-doubt from time to time. There’s no way around it, you must only go through. Keep on going to the the end, let nothing stop you.
I don’t pretend that this is easy, by any means. All of modern society seems hell bent on keeping us away from the keyboard at times. There’s no way that a harried, overworked, over-stressed stay at home dad or working woman, whether as a retail cashier or in the executive suite, can pound out 10,000 words a day. But maybe they can cram it in at the corners of their busy lives somehow.
Starting a daily writing practice is the first, and sometimes the hardest step. Chuck Wendig’s blog post on his amazing blog, Terrible Minds, worked for me. The key is setting the bar low enough that it’s not impossible to jump over on the worst days. I started my own daily writing practice of 350 words and continued for a 274 day streak.
Professional writers suffer from this too. There are plenty of days when alphabetizing my spices or organizing my kitchen cabinets seems more appealing than fighting to get the words down. I’m used to it now. I feel restless and cranky on days when I don’t write.
Writers write. No way around this requirement. Must be done.
Once a writer does reach the most blessed words in the english language “The End,” many newbie writers are surprised to realize that this is not, in fact, the end at all, but rather a new beginning. This is true both for self-published writers and for traditionally published writers. You need an editor—both a developmental editor and a copy-editor, maybe more. And you need to be able to take their advice because you all have the same goal—to make your story the best that it can be. Self-published writers have other tasks here too—cover art, formatting, etc. Many don’t want to put the effort into revision and, especially self-pubs are guilty of this, slap the book as is up on Amazon or the e-retailer of choice, sit back, and wonder why it doesn’t sell.
Once the book is live, many authors turn to promotion. This is far too late. It’s never too early to create your website, start tweeting, face booking or whatever other social media accounts you need. You must engage with your readers early and often, to build your readership. It’s not terribly costly in terms of money but it is a time sink.
Then, of course, this process must be repeated, over and over again, for the rest of your career. Promotion and getting words on the page become a daily focus and a sometimes impossible balance. Maybe you learn something as you go along, but, there always seems to be something more to learn, some new skill, that must be applied to the new work. None of us ever reach mastery in the craft of writing. There is always something new, something different to learn, with each new project.
I often have multiple projects at various stages in the revision process also. There are a lot of moving parts. I often feel that, if only I could give up sleeping all together, I’d manage to get it all accomplished. A well-balanced life is our great modern myth. You’re as like to find a unicorn in your backyard as you are to create a truly balanced life.
But if you want a richly creative life, and to leave a legacy with your words, well, then, you know what to do.
Put your butt in the chair, your hands on the keyboard…and write.
There are many obstacles to finishing work. Self-doubt seems to be the big monster here. I’ve never met a writer that didn’t suffer from crippling self-doubt from time to time. There’s no way around it, you must only go through. Keep on going to the the end, let nothing stop you.
I don’t pretend that this is easy, by any means. All of modern society seems hell bent on keeping us away from the keyboard at times. There’s no way that a harried, overworked, over-stressed stay at home dad or working woman, whether as a retail cashier or in the executive suite, can pound out 10,000 words a day. But maybe they can cram it in at the corners of their busy lives somehow.
Starting a daily writing practice is the first, and sometimes the hardest step. Chuck Wendig’s blog post on his amazing blog, Terrible Minds, worked for me. The key is setting the bar low enough that it’s not impossible to jump over on the worst days. I started my own daily writing practice of 350 words and continued for a 274 day streak.
Professional writers suffer from this too. There are plenty of days when alphabetizing my spices or organizing my kitchen cabinets seems more appealing than fighting to get the words down. I’m used to it now. I feel restless and cranky on days when I don’t write.
Writers write. No way around this requirement. Must be done.
Once a writer does reach the most blessed words in the english language “The End,” many newbie writers are surprised to realize that this is not, in fact, the end at all, but rather a new beginning. This is true both for self-published writers and for traditionally published writers. You need an editor—both a developmental editor and a copy-editor, maybe more. And you need to be able to take their advice because you all have the same goal—to make your story the best that it can be. Self-published writers have other tasks here too—cover art, formatting, etc. Many don’t want to put the effort into revision and, especially self-pubs are guilty of this, slap the book as is up on Amazon or the e-retailer of choice, sit back, and wonder why it doesn’t sell.
Once the book is live, many authors turn to promotion. This is far too late. It’s never too early to create your website, start tweeting, face booking or whatever other social media accounts you need. You must engage with your readers early and often, to build your readership. It’s not terribly costly in terms of money but it is a time sink.
Then, of course, this process must be repeated, over and over again, for the rest of your career. Promotion and getting words on the page become a daily focus and a sometimes impossible balance. Maybe you learn something as you go along, but, there always seems to be something more to learn, some new skill, that must be applied to the new work. None of us ever reach mastery in the craft of writing. There is always something new, something different to learn, with each new project.
I often have multiple projects at various stages in the revision process also. There are a lot of moving parts. I often feel that, if only I could give up sleeping all together, I’d manage to get it all accomplished. A well-balanced life is our great modern myth. You’re as like to find a unicorn in your backyard as you are to create a truly balanced life.
But if you want a richly creative life, and to leave a legacy with your words, well, then, you know what to do.
Put your butt in the chair, your hands on the keyboard…and write.
Courtney Hunt
Sometimes writer's block is just a sign I need a break. So, I might go for a walk, listen to music, take a nap, or watch a favorite show.
Sometimes, writer's block means that I don't know where to go next. And that can be fixed by switching up my writing routine, such as writing longhand in a journal or taking my trusty MacBook to the nearest coffeeshop.
And sometimes, it's just because my cranky old internal editor got loose during the drafting phase and I think everything I'm writing is dreck and drivel. The only thing for that is to keep on typing until it's not awful any more.
Sometimes, writer's block means that I don't know where to go next. And that can be fixed by switching up my writing routine, such as writing longhand in a journal or taking my trusty MacBook to the nearest coffeeshop.
And sometimes, it's just because my cranky old internal editor got loose during the drafting phase and I think everything I'm writing is dreck and drivel. The only thing for that is to keep on typing until it's not awful any more.
Courtney Hunt
Staying home all day and playing with imaginary friends :-)
It's sharing my stories with readers. It's such a thrill for me to hear from a reader on the other side of the world or know that my words helped someone through a rough time. It's the best.
It's sharing my stories with readers. It's such a thrill for me to hear from a reader on the other side of the world or know that my words helped someone through a rough time. It's the best.
Courtney Hunt
I'm currently writing the first in a planned duet of novels, titled Christmas at Starlight Lake. The second book will be Summer at Starlight Lake. I'm having a wonderful time researching the Finger Lakes region of New York and listening to cheerful Christmas music year round for inspiration.
I'm also hip deep in ghost research for my entry in the Common Elements Romance Project, titled Double Dating with the Dead, which will be out in the fall of 2018.
After that, I plan to pen the final installment in my Always a Bridesmaid series. Dylan has given me a tough time writing his book--I've drafted two different heroines for him that haven't worked. Let's see if the third time is the charm.
I'm also hip deep in ghost research for my entry in the Common Elements Romance Project, titled Double Dating with the Dead, which will be out in the fall of 2018.
After that, I plan to pen the final installment in my Always a Bridesmaid series. Dylan has given me a tough time writing his book--I've drafted two different heroines for him that haven't worked. Let's see if the third time is the charm.
Courtney Hunt
For the Starlight Lakes duet, I was at the beauty salon, getting my hair done. On one side, the client next to me was chatting about her memories of her family's lake house. On the other side, the hair stylist told a story about how she fell in love with her best friend's brother. By the time I'd finished getting my hair washed, Starlight Lake was born. Some ideas are like that--just dropped in the author's lap.
For the Always a Bridesmaid series (Forever a Bridesmaid, Once a Bridesmaid, Kiss a Bridesmaid, Desire a Bridesmaid, and Never a Bridesmaid), I got the series idea by chatting with my sister, a professional bridal makeup artist. On our annual family beach trip to Myrtle Beach, she told me about a recent wedding she'd worked where there was a professional bridesmaid. Intrigued by the idea, I was splashing in the surf with my then 6-year-old son when Erin and Lauren started chatting in my head. Of course, my blabbermouth muse always visits when it's most convenient for me... :-)
I bought a composition notebook at Rite Aid and, by the time we left the beach, I'd developed Erin, Lauren, and Erin's brother, Dylan. Erin and Matthew's story is featured in Forever a Bridesmaid, Lauren is the heroine of the second book in the series, Once a Bridesmaid. Dylan is the hero of Never a Bridesmaid, the fifth book in the series.
For The Lost Art of Second Chances, I wanted to write a second chance at love story and started that as my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) book in 2011. I hadn't been writing long when Nonna Belladonna showed up with a tale to tell and we headed off to World War II Italy.
For Cupid's Coffeeshop, I'd long wanted to write a series set in a coffeeshop as I think it's a fun way to meet people. I had so many ideas that I could make a 12 book series--so I did. The three Lockhart kids--Patrick, Joe, and Zoe--have one year to make Cupid's Coffeeshop a profitable and thriving business again. Each month's installment features a different couple finding their path to happily-ever-after, with a bit of help from Cupid! I love my little fictional town of Ashford Falls so much that I have two spin-off series ideas too. More to come in Ashford Falls.
For the Always a Bridesmaid series (Forever a Bridesmaid, Once a Bridesmaid, Kiss a Bridesmaid, Desire a Bridesmaid, and Never a Bridesmaid), I got the series idea by chatting with my sister, a professional bridal makeup artist. On our annual family beach trip to Myrtle Beach, she told me about a recent wedding she'd worked where there was a professional bridesmaid. Intrigued by the idea, I was splashing in the surf with my then 6-year-old son when Erin and Lauren started chatting in my head. Of course, my blabbermouth muse always visits when it's most convenient for me... :-)
I bought a composition notebook at Rite Aid and, by the time we left the beach, I'd developed Erin, Lauren, and Erin's brother, Dylan. Erin and Matthew's story is featured in Forever a Bridesmaid, Lauren is the heroine of the second book in the series, Once a Bridesmaid. Dylan is the hero of Never a Bridesmaid, the fifth book in the series.
For The Lost Art of Second Chances, I wanted to write a second chance at love story and started that as my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) book in 2011. I hadn't been writing long when Nonna Belladonna showed up with a tale to tell and we headed off to World War II Italy.
For Cupid's Coffeeshop, I'd long wanted to write a series set in a coffeeshop as I think it's a fun way to meet people. I had so many ideas that I could make a 12 book series--so I did. The three Lockhart kids--Patrick, Joe, and Zoe--have one year to make Cupid's Coffeeshop a profitable and thriving business again. Each month's installment features a different couple finding their path to happily-ever-after, with a bit of help from Cupid! I love my little fictional town of Ashford Falls so much that I have two spin-off series ideas too. More to come in Ashford Falls.
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