Ask the Author: Emily Taylor
Answered Questions (9)
Emily Taylor
Hey, Mercedes!
Sorry for the late response! Goodreads doesn’t notify me when people send in questions, unfortunately. But I am here to help now!
When dealing with serious writer’s block, the best thing you can do is force yourself to write. It sucks. And it will be horrendous. But it’s the only way in the end of the day.
Search for something that makes you excited via a movie, tv show, book, song, manga, etc. Why did it make your gut clench? Is it a particular concept (heroine dresses up as boy to save family’s honour) or theme (greatest harm comes from the best of intentions), that stands out? What ever it is - figure it out and use that as the basis for your writing with your own spin.
Try to write every day whether it be 100 or 1000 words. This is a big call, but you need to make writing a habit; to be honest, this is still something I struggle with. But you don’t have to be writing a novel during this time. You can write short stories or even poems; whatever comes to mind. Just get it done! Over time, you will find it easier to reach larger word counts and you will notice you’re unconsciously linking all your writing together. This is natural.
Once you do find yourself writing a manuscript, don’t worry about making sense. The first draft will always be a cluster**k not matter how much you plan. So just let it all out and worry about the clean up in the second and third draft.
Next, it’s important to change your environment. If you usually write inside and at home, try taking your journal or laptop to a nearby cafe and writing there for an hour a day or a park. I find this helps me a lot because you take your time more seriously.
And finally, join a local writing group or find a writing partner. Having someone pushing you for updates is a big thing for me. NANOWRIMO (camp and official) is also a rewarding and exponentially helpful thing. This is a simple “competition” to write 50k in one month. There is often NANO meet-ups in the big cities, so see if you can get involved!
I hope this helps and good luck!!
Em.
Sorry for the late response! Goodreads doesn’t notify me when people send in questions, unfortunately. But I am here to help now!
When dealing with serious writer’s block, the best thing you can do is force yourself to write. It sucks. And it will be horrendous. But it’s the only way in the end of the day.
Search for something that makes you excited via a movie, tv show, book, song, manga, etc. Why did it make your gut clench? Is it a particular concept (heroine dresses up as boy to save family’s honour) or theme (greatest harm comes from the best of intentions), that stands out? What ever it is - figure it out and use that as the basis for your writing with your own spin.
Try to write every day whether it be 100 or 1000 words. This is a big call, but you need to make writing a habit; to be honest, this is still something I struggle with. But you don’t have to be writing a novel during this time. You can write short stories or even poems; whatever comes to mind. Just get it done! Over time, you will find it easier to reach larger word counts and you will notice you’re unconsciously linking all your writing together. This is natural.
Once you do find yourself writing a manuscript, don’t worry about making sense. The first draft will always be a cluster**k not matter how much you plan. So just let it all out and worry about the clean up in the second and third draft.
Next, it’s important to change your environment. If you usually write inside and at home, try taking your journal or laptop to a nearby cafe and writing there for an hour a day or a park. I find this helps me a lot because you take your time more seriously.
And finally, join a local writing group or find a writing partner. Having someone pushing you for updates is a big thing for me. NANOWRIMO (camp and official) is also a rewarding and exponentially helpful thing. This is a simple “competition” to write 50k in one month. There is often NANO meet-ups in the big cities, so see if you can get involved!
I hope this helps and good luck!!
Em.
Emily Taylor
Hello, Mercedes! I am 21 :)
Emily Taylor
Hey, sorry it took me so long to reply to your question! I wasn't notified and haven't checked my dashboard in a few weeks, evidently. But I'm here now. :)
Short answer: Investment in a story's world
Long answer: A 'page-turner' is something every author wants their novel to be referred to as; it means the reader cared about their story, and their characters-- enough to become 'invested' in that world. Or, to be more precise, the reader became emotionally attached to the characters.
When you create complex characters they come to life in the reader's imagination, and a friendship is often born. Remember, the reader is often in the head of these characters; that is very intimate, and because of that, the reader feels everything the character goes through.
So they turn that page hoping that the character overcomes their trials, accept and grows from their faults, and gets the ending they deserve.
Of course, plot plays a major part in exploiting the strengths and weaknesses, and exposing the true nature, of these characters. And it is through doing this, that you build the relationship between the reader and character.
And if you do it properly, even if the events are a little cliche or predictable, by being authentic with your characters and their emotions, that bond with grow stronger, and you will create that excitement and need to turn the page as the reader must know what happens next-- to their friends.
I hope that's a satisfactory answer,
Em.
Short answer: Investment in a story's world
Long answer: A 'page-turner' is something every author wants their novel to be referred to as; it means the reader cared about their story, and their characters-- enough to become 'invested' in that world. Or, to be more precise, the reader became emotionally attached to the characters.
When you create complex characters they come to life in the reader's imagination, and a friendship is often born. Remember, the reader is often in the head of these characters; that is very intimate, and because of that, the reader feels everything the character goes through.
So they turn that page hoping that the character overcomes their trials, accept and grows from their faults, and gets the ending they deserve.
Of course, plot plays a major part in exploiting the strengths and weaknesses, and exposing the true nature, of these characters. And it is through doing this, that you build the relationship between the reader and character.
And if you do it properly, even if the events are a little cliche or predictable, by being authentic with your characters and their emotions, that bond with grow stronger, and you will create that excitement and need to turn the page as the reader must know what happens next-- to their friends.
I hope that's a satisfactory answer,
Em.
Emily Taylor
My most recent book would have to be the untitled script I'm working on for uni. I wanted to write something about a father and daughter combo after being inspired by Adventure Time no less and the connection between the Ice King and Marceline. I mixed that with a bit of Walking Dead (Game storyline, not TV show) and a news report I read about sickness from meteoroids, with a hint of I Am Legend-- and wollah.
I had the basis for an epic short... That I need to be planning at this moment but currently doing uni readings in stead. Sigh.
I had the basis for an epic short... That I need to be planning at this moment but currently doing uni readings in stead. Sigh.
Emily Taylor
Everything.
A lot about writing-- or anything in the entertainment industry-- is about recycling, mashing together, and improving.
Therefore I get inspired by movies, tv-shows (yes anime), music, news, my friends, things I see around me, and tales I hear... I grab inspiration from wherever I can!
A lot about writing-- or anything in the entertainment industry-- is about recycling, mashing together, and improving.
Therefore I get inspired by movies, tv-shows (yes anime), music, news, my friends, things I see around me, and tales I hear... I grab inspiration from wherever I can!
Emily Taylor
Editing debut, A Soul to Take (Soul Stealers #1)
Writing Legacy of Angels (Partially Angel #3)
On hold, but will be working on soon-- Cinretta: Sorceress (Cinretta #3)
Writing Legacy of Angels (Partially Angel #3)
On hold, but will be working on soon-- Cinretta: Sorceress (Cinretta #3)
Emily Taylor
Read.
Write.
Work at it.
It will take years. Accept that now.
There is no such thing as perfection.
But you will improve.
Ask for help.
Get onto the platforms.
Create a fanbase.
Learn to love failure and see it as a stepping stone closer to success.
And love it.
Love your stories.
Love your fans.
Love the hard work and its fruits.
Because if you don't love it, why do it?
Write.
Work at it.
It will take years. Accept that now.
There is no such thing as perfection.
But you will improve.
Ask for help.
Get onto the platforms.
Create a fanbase.
Learn to love failure and see it as a stepping stone closer to success.
And love it.
Love your stories.
Love your fans.
Love the hard work and its fruits.
Because if you don't love it, why do it?
Emily Taylor
Sharing my stories with others.
I write because I love story-telling and allowing people into my world and causing them joy-- sometimes merciless pain-- but usually excitement.
There is no point in creating these tales, if no one can enjoy them with me.
What's the fun in that?
I write because I love story-telling and allowing people into my world and causing them joy-- sometimes merciless pain-- but usually excitement.
There is no point in creating these tales, if no one can enjoy them with me.
What's the fun in that?
Emily Taylor
A few different ways.
Usually it just takes switching from my computer to hand-writing in my journal. Other times I have to physically move out of my dungeon to outside in the sun. Even putting on headphones instead of using my speakers and isolating myself helps.
Word Wars are a big thing. For those who don't know, it's a writing game where you cram in as many words as you can into 10-30mins. You can play alone, but usually I play with old inkpop friends on facebook. But there are wars on twitter too-- and usually every single writing platform.
Finally, if I'm utterly stumped, I start researching and daydreaming. Day dreaming helps a lot actually. I try to figure why I'm stuck getting from point A to B-- maybe there isn't even a B and that's the problem. So I dream, and watch TV/Movies/Anime and read. I see what other authors have done and why that worked, and try to break everything down. I try and make myself excited again about the story and where we're going.
But sometimes you just shelve it for a week, work on something else, and allow your mind to unconsciously churn on it. Then when you get back to it-- beat it out. I've had projects on hold for months before returning to them. Sometimes I just need to reboot the whole thing and take it into a different direction.
But there you go. Long enough for ya? :P
Usually it just takes switching from my computer to hand-writing in my journal. Other times I have to physically move out of my dungeon to outside in the sun. Even putting on headphones instead of using my speakers and isolating myself helps.
Word Wars are a big thing. For those who don't know, it's a writing game where you cram in as many words as you can into 10-30mins. You can play alone, but usually I play with old inkpop friends on facebook. But there are wars on twitter too-- and usually every single writing platform.
Finally, if I'm utterly stumped, I start researching and daydreaming. Day dreaming helps a lot actually. I try to figure why I'm stuck getting from point A to B-- maybe there isn't even a B and that's the problem. So I dream, and watch TV/Movies/Anime and read. I see what other authors have done and why that worked, and try to break everything down. I try and make myself excited again about the story and where we're going.
But sometimes you just shelve it for a week, work on something else, and allow your mind to unconsciously churn on it. Then when you get back to it-- beat it out. I've had projects on hold for months before returning to them. Sometimes I just need to reboot the whole thing and take it into a different direction.
But there you go. Long enough for ya? :P
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