Ask the Author: Theresa Halvorsen
Answered Questions (7)
Theresa Halvorsen
I'm working on a paranormal romance titled Rivercity Widows. It's set in Sacramento, CA and is about a widow whose stepdaughter accidentally unleashes a ghost after using a ouija board. High-jinx ensue.
Theresa Halvorsen
I've always wondered if my sons, who are identical twins, might be a little Wild. As young boys they always seemed to communicate more than just verbally. They deny it, but would they really know? Or would they just think it's "normal"?
Theresa Halvorsen
1) If you write, you are a writer. And no one can tell you differently.
2) First drafts are usually (not always) terrible. Get the words out and then fix them. No one should see your first draft. That’s just for you.
3) Read, read, read. Read things outside your comfort zone. Pull stories apart to figure out how the author made you feel or think a certain way. What words did they use in what order? It’s ok to copy writing techniques.
4) Tell the horrible voice in your head to ‘shut the f**k up!’ (that actually does work!)
5) There are no ‘new’ ideas, so don’t worry if you think of something someone else has thought of or has been done a million times. You will put your own spin on it and make it unique.
2) First drafts are usually (not always) terrible. Get the words out and then fix them. No one should see your first draft. That’s just for you.
3) Read, read, read. Read things outside your comfort zone. Pull stories apart to figure out how the author made you feel or think a certain way. What words did they use in what order? It’s ok to copy writing techniques.
4) Tell the horrible voice in your head to ‘shut the f**k up!’ (that actually does work!)
5) There are no ‘new’ ideas, so don’t worry if you think of something someone else has thought of or has been done a million times. You will put your own spin on it and make it unique.
Theresa Halvorsen
Writing! Seriously though, I enjoy writing about characters who look at their lives and decide they have to make a change. And then bumble and fumble around to make that change.
Theresa Halvorsen
Writer's block is a totally psychological trap. You have a rough day, you have to fight to the get the words out and you tell yourself, you have writer's block. Then the next time you sit down to write, you tell yourself, 'I hope that nasty writer's block has gone away'. And chances are, it didn't. It's like insomnia--as soon as you tell yourself you have insomnia and can't go to sleep, you might as well give up.
So how do I deal with it? I write almost every day. I schedule my writing days and if the words are difficult, I'll give myself word count goals with rewards. I generally have multiple projects going, so if things get really bad, I'll just switch projects. I don't like to do that, because I lose momentum and start to have too much overlap between characters in different works, but that's better than psyching myself into believing I have writer's block.
So how do I deal with it? I write almost every day. I schedule my writing days and if the words are difficult, I'll give myself word count goals with rewards. I generally have multiple projects going, so if things get really bad, I'll just switch projects. I don't like to do that, because I lose momentum and start to have too much overlap between characters in different works, but that's better than psyching myself into believing I have writer's block.
Theresa Halvorsen
I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Oz. As a child, I used to fall asleep hoping I would wake up in Ozma's castle. I would love to meet Ozma, the Patchwork Girl and Polychrome and see those lands Baum created.
Theresa Halvorsen
I have so many books! I've been really focusing on indies, and small press publications such as Gulch Jumpers. Of course Ilona Andrews and Jodi Taylor, two of my favorite authors, have new books out too, so I'll be reading those over a summer weekend.
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