Ask the Author: Cassandra Park
Answered Questions (4)
Cassandra Park
When I was 5 years old and just learning to read, I said I was going to be a writer. And I'm happy that I've made my living with words since I was 20 years old, not always as a fiction writer, but in one aspect or another. I also get a kick out of seeing my name on a book cover or in a table of contents. But even better is when people read my work and tell me they liked it.
Cassandra Park
My main inspiration comes from reading other writers, but sometimes it also comes from movies or from real life. My characters are generally amalgamations of several people I know in real life.
Cassandra Park
Currently I am working on two novels, one about a submissive who needs to choose between two doms, and the other from a domme's point of view.
Cassandra Park
This is a tricky one, because sometimes when you have writer's block you start to get the idea in your head that you're not a "real" writer...even if you've been in print multiple times! Two of my books were self-published but my anthology was put out by a publisher before I updated it and put it out in print on my own. Prior to writing these books I worked for years in newspapers and magazines, and right now in my vanilla life I write my own blog as well as blogs for several clients. So the first step to getting over writer's block is re-convincing myself that I am a "real" writer.
The second step is allowing yourself a break, but trying to keep it short. I try to walk if the weather is conducive, or go to the movies or read another book for inspiration.
Third, I allow myself to write stuff I hate. This is hard—not giving up when what flows onto the screen reads badly to me. This may be the biggest challege for me, personally. Every writing session doesn't produce a gem. But some do, if you stick with them.
I don't think there is an easy solution to writer's block. Sometimes the answer is to allow yourself the break from writing (maybe do something else creative). But when the urge to write comes back, grab it and run with it for as long as you can. It will come back...at least that's been my experience.
The second step is allowing yourself a break, but trying to keep it short. I try to walk if the weather is conducive, or go to the movies or read another book for inspiration.
Third, I allow myself to write stuff I hate. This is hard—not giving up when what flows onto the screen reads badly to me. This may be the biggest challege for me, personally. Every writing session doesn't produce a gem. But some do, if you stick with them.
I don't think there is an easy solution to writer's block. Sometimes the answer is to allow yourself the break from writing (maybe do something else creative). But when the urge to write comes back, grab it and run with it for as long as you can. It will come back...at least that's been my experience.
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