Ask the Author: Michelle Reynoso
Answered Questions (7)
Michelle Reynoso
When I wrote the first book in The Girl, the Pendant and the Portal series, I knew there would be a book two and three, so when I started drafting The Light of the Dying (book 2), I understood that the journey in this book had to be different from the beginning (book 1) and the end (book 3). Middle books can be hard to keep pacing without sacrificing all the layers that were established in characterization and story foundations in the prior book. So the idea for the book spawned from the need to continue Faith's exploration of both her connection to this new world of Enlitra while also battling the force of the Him character her in a modern world, and her evolving relationships with her friends and her new boyfriend. In essence, the story is a fast-paced, action driven story and many of the elements are inspired by things that happen around me. To give you an example, there's a car crash scene; everything leading up to the crash is ficticious but the crash itself was inspired by an actual accident that I witnessed...a car veering off the road and then crashing into a 7-11 parking lot. I elaborate on it in the book, but the idea for that element came from something in real life. Another example, is how the book opens, with Faith in the hospital recovering from her injuries during the battle that ended book 1, EN. Those hospital scenes were inspired by time I spent in the hospital when my husband was involved in a automobile accident (not related to the 7-11 crash, totally seperate incident). By bringing in details from real incidents it helps to bring the story to life.
Michelle Reynoso
Just do it. If you want to write a book, find the time and do it. It took me fifteen years to write my first novel. It was me working full time, raising a family, and finding small increments of time to write. I spent lunch breaks at coffeeshops, and sitting on the sidelines of the soccer field bundled in a coat with my laptop, brainstorming during commutes...whatever time I could find to write. I understand, believe me I do when someone says it's hard to find time. Make time. Fifteen years would have come and gone, and if I had never started I would not have finished. I used to look at other writers who whipped out two books a year and I was jealous, but I've learned to love my process and the time it takes for me to write. Granted, I've gone from 15 years to write a book, down to a year and a half, so I've improved, but still my process is slower than many other writers. And that's ok. The fact is to start and find a consistent schedule, and that is the biggest hurdle of all. Action Cures Fear. You can do it!
Michelle Reynoso
Writing is power. Words are power. Being a writer is like being a superhero. I create worlds, and people, and situations. I can bury myself in a story and be tormented by it at the same time. I can edit a conversation a thousand times until it is perfect, unlike real life where once the words leave our mouths we cannot recall them. As a writer, I have the power to create and destroy, manipulate and edit. Where else can you do all that and be both the proverbial "good guy" and "bad guy", and every character in between; in any place imaginable.
Michelle Reynoso
I am mapping out the final book in The Girl, the Pendant and the Portal series. This is going to be epic! So many loose ends will now see closure. Once the story is outlined, then it's on to bringing the ideas to life.
This series has been a master class in writing. The first book took me fifteen years to write and in that book I wrote and rewrote so many times I've lost count of how many rewrites I did. En helped me shape my voice. With book two just out in August 2019 (The Light of the Dying), I learned how to craft a sequel which comes with its own pitfalls and learning curves. I was able to get book two done in about a year and a half.
So now it's on to the conclusion of the saga. Let's see where this goes!
This series has been a master class in writing. The first book took me fifteen years to write and in that book I wrote and rewrote so many times I've lost count of how many rewrites I did. En helped me shape my voice. With book two just out in August 2019 (The Light of the Dying), I learned how to craft a sequel which comes with its own pitfalls and learning curves. I was able to get book two done in about a year and a half.
So now it's on to the conclusion of the saga. Let's see where this goes!
Michelle Reynoso
Currently reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt...had to read it before the movie comes out. Wow. I am LOVING this book! The prose is so rich and haunting it draws me in. Can't wait to see where this story goes.
Michelle Reynoso
Ugh, the dreaded writer's block. Yep, I've gotten it on many occasions, but when you have a looming deadline writer's block is something you have to learn to deal with. I am learning to work around it. Some of the changes I have found to be helpful when up against a block include changing my writing spot, moving to another section in the manuscript, switch to a new project for a day or two, or just giving myself a break for the day. Usually one of these hacks works to get through it.
Michelle Reynoso
I set a schedule to write something every day. It's just like going to the gym, the best way to get through not always being in the mood, or not being inspired, is to have a predetermined schedule and always stick to it. It's more about conditioning and less about 'feeling like doing it'. With that being said, if I'm up against a day that I really don't feel the material I'm working on, I give myself a break from that piece and work on something else - a different story, a character sketch, a poem. I also like to change the places I write, it helps to change the scenery.
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