Ask the Author: Ayn Carrillo Gailey
Answered Questions (6)
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
I'm working a novel about a food writer who decides to settle down with her beloved significant other who has been begging her to do so. However, when she sits down to accept his proposal, he hits her with the news that changes the entire course of her life and sets her on a journey that transforms her ideas of love, sex and friendship.
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
I research and read about interesting things and that usually sparks an idea. I also have had personal life experiences that informed my last book and columns I have written.
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
Ah, there are so many things I love about being a writer. My husband Samuel W. Gailey is also a critically-acclaimed novelist so I know his opinion on the matter, too. We love working from home. It means I can work on my pajamas, we can spend more time with our amazing daughter and we make our own schedule. It also means we can work remotely. Recently, that enabled us to see our dream come true and move from Los Angeles to a very remote island in the Pacific Northwest. Not one traffic light on the entire island.
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
Understand your character's want vs. need. And, make sure your catapult/inciting incident is as strong as possible. Both of these elements help give you the momentum you'll need to write a novel and your characters the richness they'll need to make a compelling read. Here are some great free tips on these things here: https://www.novellab.co/on-writing-blog/
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
I'm what's also known as a book whisperer. I write books and articles and coach others, including high profile people or near celebrities. I always tell them there is no such thing as writer's block. It is normal to hit "walls" but if there weren't walls and challenges everyone and their mother would write a book. We don't want that. There are lots of tricks and habits with the craft of writing that can get you through. If anyone is struggling with character, I have created a video course for writers on that with my husband, critically-acclaimed novelist Samuel W. Gailey. If you email me at my website www.ayngailey.com I can send you a free code to take the class.
Ayn Carrillo Gailey
I wrote my memoirish book "Pornology" because someone accused me of being pornophobic and I realized that they were right. I was complaining about porn and negatively judging it, yet I'd never tried it. So, I set out to research a porn-to-do list of all the things I was apprehensive about. In the end, I learned that like with carbs, there is good porn and bad porn. My current novel that I am writing is inspired by my family's obsession with good food.
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