Ask the Author: Anna Questerly
Answered Questions (4)
Anna Questerly
Fortunately, I've never had to deal with writer's block. Can't imagine what that would be like. I think I'd buy a bottle of Merlot and chat with my characters until they straightened up.
Anna Questerly
EVERYTHING! There is nothing else I can ever see myself doing. I love getting the initial spark of an idea and following it to see if it's a 'story'. I love talking with my characters and living in the worlds I create. I love the magic of rewriting, seeing that first draft come to life.
Okay, I don't enjoy proofreading twenty million times. But that's part of being a writer these days.
I love working on the cover with my graphic designer, going to book signings, and connecting with my readers. I enjoy seeing my books in my bookstore. And I like hanging out with all of my author friends.
It's all good!
Okay, I don't enjoy proofreading twenty million times. But that's part of being a writer these days.
I love working on the cover with my graphic designer, going to book signings, and connecting with my readers. I enjoy seeing my books in my bookstore. And I like hanging out with all of my author friends.
It's all good!
Anna Questerly
I give this same advice in every writing class I teach. If you want to be a writer, you have to sit your butt in the chair and write your first draft all the way to the end. Then rewrite it.
It's really that simple. I hear from so many people who say they have great ideas for books, but can't commit to butt-in-chair time to get it written. I can sympathize with everyone of them. I was much the same way for a long time, until I got the best advice I ever received from my daughter.
She said, "Stop trying to write the great American novel and write a few short stories, first."
That's how The Minstrel's Tale was born. I wasn't a short story fan at the time, (I am now) but loved fairy tales. I started writing fairy tales and couldn't stop! Still wanted a novel though, and I remembered one of my all-time favorite books when I was a child was 1001 Arabian Nights. I loved the whole concept of stories within stories.
It's really that simple. I hear from so many people who say they have great ideas for books, but can't commit to butt-in-chair time to get it written. I can sympathize with everyone of them. I was much the same way for a long time, until I got the best advice I ever received from my daughter.
She said, "Stop trying to write the great American novel and write a few short stories, first."
That's how The Minstrel's Tale was born. I wasn't a short story fan at the time, (I am now) but loved fairy tales. I started writing fairy tales and couldn't stop! Still wanted a novel though, and I remembered one of my all-time favorite books when I was a child was 1001 Arabian Nights. I loved the whole concept of stories within stories.
Anna Questerly
A few years ago, I was so sick of hearing the political arguments, hearing about all of the wars we were fighting, and thought that with the knowledge and technology we have today, we should be doing so much better.
By now we should have a utopian society. I checked around and although there are many dystopian novels, there weren't any recent utopian books.
I loved living in the world of Pangaea and can foresee the day when we may come close to such a society.
By now we should have a utopian society. I checked around and although there are many dystopian novels, there weren't any recent utopian books.
I loved living in the world of Pangaea and can foresee the day when we may come close to such a society.
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