Ask the Author: Jennifer Hritz
Answered Questions (6)
Jennifer Hritz
There's a fine line between motivation and inspiration, isn't there? I can sit down at the same time every day and open my laptop, but just because I'm ready and willing doesn't mean that anything worthwhile will happen. It can be painful to realize that I've spent hours on one paragraph--and then reread that paragraph the next day and decide it needs to be scrapped. When that happens, I remind myself that every day is different and that a break might be what I need. Getting outside is huge. Movement's a big deal for me, whether that comes in the form of yoga or a walk or something entirely different (last week I bought roller skates). Trying my hand at something outside the realm of the written word--but that still feels creative--can help. So I'll bake cookies or something like that. Music can get me out of that headspace, too. But honestly, I think what helps the most is totally shaking up my routine. When I've felt disconnected from my characters and gotten out of town for a few days... Well, that changes everything. Distance from my everyday, a different view from my window, the chance to see or hear or taste something out of the ordinary: All of that brings me back to my work. I know it's not always possible to jet off on a vacation, but even taking a few hours to get away from the city or town where you live--even if all you're doing is having a coffee at a different cafe--can shift everything.
Jennifer Hritz
I love this question! What I like best about being a writer is that I always have a story in my head. I think about my characters all the time, and I can't imagine what people think about if they don't have a story to occupy their thoughts. I think about my characters when I first wake up in the morning, as I'm making lunch, as I'm driving to the grocery store... Literally, they occupy my thoughts more than anything else. And that fictional world of mine is so, so rich. Of course, I love the process of writing, and it feels phenomenal to share what I've written with my readers. But it's the day-to-day that fills me up!
Jennifer Hritz
Read, read, read! The more you read, the more you'll expose yourself to different styles (even if they're within your genre of choice) and the more you'll be able to experiment when it comes to your own writing. Then, follow your intuition. You don't necessarily have to follow the rules. I have no idea why I started leaving out quotation marks when I wrote in Joel's voice, but there's no doubt in my mind that it was the right choice to omit them. Most of all, carve out time to write. You might think you need a swath of time, and I get that! I love having hours on end to sink into my fiction. But I also wrote I, too, Have Suffered in the Garden over the course of two years by writing from 9 pm to midnight every Monday-Thursday (even though my son was a toddler at that time and woke up between 5-5:30 every morning). If you want to write badly enough, you'll do it. A little bit here and a little bit there adds up, and before you know it, you'll have a book in front of you.
Jennifer Hritz
I've been revising a few short stories lately, most that have a connection with the same fictional world of my novels and one that's a bit different. I'm also halfway through the writing of my fourth novel, which is also the fourth in my series. It's untitled as of yet, but it's dark and pretty intense. If you're a fan of Joel, James, and Adam, you'll definitely want to stay tuned to see what happens next for them!
Jennifer Hritz
This is such a great question and something I talk about all the time with the girls who take my creative writing workshops. For me, it's partly about discipline. I really do take my writing time seriously and try to hold that space sacred by avoiding social media, the phone, or any other kind of distraction. Most of the time, even if I feel uninspired when I open my laptop, something stirs once I touch the keyboard.
Of course, writing when I'm truly feeling inspired yields the best flow. I always listen to music when I'm writing, and certain albums still remind me of specific scenes in my novels. I'm also an advocate of movement. So many ideas have come to me while I've been practicing yoga or going for a walk. Setting the body in motion clears the way for creativity. Getting in touch with my characters feels key, too. Anything I can do to get into their heads, I'll do--whether that's sitting in a cemetery late at night or getting on the back of a motorcycle. I want to feel what they feel, so I try to place myself in their perspectives as often as I can.
Of course, writing when I'm truly feeling inspired yields the best flow. I always listen to music when I'm writing, and certain albums still remind me of specific scenes in my novels. I'm also an advocate of movement. So many ideas have come to me while I've been practicing yoga or going for a walk. Setting the body in motion clears the way for creativity. Getting in touch with my characters feels key, too. Anything I can do to get into their heads, I'll do--whether that's sitting in a cemetery late at night or getting on the back of a motorcycle. I want to feel what they feel, so I try to place myself in their perspectives as often as I can.
Jennifer Hritz
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more