Ask the Author: Deborah M. Gray
Answered Questions (7)
Deborah M. Gray
Most people would have deleted this by now because it is such a ridiculous question, but I laugh every time I read it.
Much love,
your sister
Much love,
your sister
Deborah M. Gray
My most recent book, The Exporter's Handbook to the U.S. Wine Market, came about because of my profession as consultant to the wine industry. I found myself answering and clarifying many of the same issues over and over again. The U.S. wine industry is complicated, baffling and highly regulated. No wonder foreign suppliers can't grasp the concepts! So I decided to decode what I thought were the most pressing or repetitive issues for those who are seeking to export their wine to the U.S. and make this an easier process for them.
Deborah M. Gray
It's almost like a pressure cooker. Despite many other demands on my time, I reach a point where I absolutely have to carve out some time to write. It may be because I have so many notes or documents that require organization, it could be because a new idea sounds so compelling that it won't leave me alone or it's just been too long since I actually sat down a wrote.
Inspiration is usually a pretty visceral thing for me. It's not something ephemeral that can easily be ignored.
Inspiration is usually a pretty visceral thing for me. It's not something ephemeral that can easily be ignored.
Deborah M. Gray
I am currently working on a revision of my first book, to update some concepts and issues that have arisen since it was first published in 2011. It doesn't make the first book obsolete, but it does bother me when even small things might be inaccurate or currents trends not adequately covered.
My next project after that will be a memoir.
My next project after that will be a memoir.
Deborah M. Gray
Write because you want to, or need to, and not because you think it will be a quick way to fame and/or riches or the next bestseller. It may be; who knows. But this is not the case with most published books (never mind the ones that never see the light of day!) so you have to find the motivation and inspiration from within. Do it for yourself. Is this what you want to write? Is it authentic? Do you have something to say? It doesn't have to be original, but use your own voice to make it different.
Keep going. You don't have to have large blocks of time available to you to be successful. If you write in short bursts, but consistently, you will eventually finish. And remember that this is a career that requires patience, tolerance, perseverance and a thick skin. Don't take rejection or poor reviews personally. The former may be because it doesn't fit one person's notion of what will sell and the latter is just one reader's opinion.
Keep going. You don't have to have large blocks of time available to you to be successful. If you write in short bursts, but consistently, you will eventually finish. And remember that this is a career that requires patience, tolerance, perseverance and a thick skin. Don't take rejection or poor reviews personally. The former may be because it doesn't fit one person's notion of what will sell and the latter is just one reader's opinion.
Deborah M. Gray
The opportunity to express thoughts and images that are whirling around my head or on notes and files on my computer. I love watching a book build and the sense of satisfaction when it is complete, but the act of writing and the compulsion to write is what drives me.
Knowing that readers have appreciated my work is immensely gratifying and the awards I achieved for my first book gave me such a thrill. Writers are notoriously insecure and mercurial about our writing. We careen between being certain that this is something that the world needs to read and the equal certainty that it is pure dreck. A good review or an award may not pay the bills, but is still valuable in terms of validation.
Knowing that readers have appreciated my work is immensely gratifying and the awards I achieved for my first book gave me such a thrill. Writers are notoriously insecure and mercurial about our writing. We careen between being certain that this is something that the world needs to read and the equal certainty that it is pure dreck. A good review or an award may not pay the bills, but is still valuable in terms of validation.
Deborah M. Gray
With my non-fiction books, I always start with a Table of Contents. When I hit a snag or wonder where I'm going with an issue or the flow, I can refer to the TOC and get back on track.
In fiction, clearly writer's block is more of a problem because I don't have any published fiction works yet! But that's more a function of time and focus. However, I love Scrivener for organizing novel timelines, characters and chapters. The bulletin board feature allows you to see everything at a glance, sometimes a great help when you realize that the MC is supposed to be one place when she's really in another!
In fiction, clearly writer's block is more of a problem because I don't have any published fiction works yet! But that's more a function of time and focus. However, I love Scrivener for organizing novel timelines, characters and chapters. The bulletin board feature allows you to see everything at a glance, sometimes a great help when you realize that the MC is supposed to be one place when she's really in another!
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