Ask the Author: Amanda G. Stevens
Answered Questions (6)
Amanda G. Stevens
There will be a fourth book in the No Less Days series, told from Simon's point of view. The man has a LOT to say.
Amanda G. Stevens
The Haven Seekers series was out of print (and out of ebook) for about a year but they are back now (as of September 2021) with a beautiful new look. They are also readable for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Amanda G. Stevens
Hello and thank you for asking! I am planning not less than two more books about the longevites after FROM SKY TO SKY.
Amanda G. Stevens
I’ll try to be a little more original than “keep writing” and “read all the time” (though both these are necessary!). It's vital that your characters are unique and realistic. A few ways to achieve this ... Prevent stereotypes by creating contradictions in their souls. Dig deep into their pasts until you know not only what they do, but why. Pepper them with unique individualities: what music and food does she enjoy, where does he feel most relaxed, what does she do with her body when she’s nervous, what would he rescue from his house if it was on fire? For me, knowing these things is an intuitive process (Stephen King says it's like unearthing dinosaur bones). I never really feel like I choose who the character is inside; it’s more like I discover what’s already there.
Another important thing is to listen to people around you. Dialogue voice is perhaps the single indispensable key to writing individual characters. Train yourself not to hear voices but to see them. What does actual speech look like on the page? After you know that, you can mold it into fictional speech.
You’ll also need to be able to edit yourself without pity, and the only resource you need to learn this skill is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. My advice is to read this book and do what it says. Without pity.
Another important thing is to listen to people around you. Dialogue voice is perhaps the single indispensable key to writing individual characters. Train yourself not to hear voices but to see them. What does actual speech look like on the page? After you know that, you can mold it into fictional speech.
You’ll also need to be able to edit yourself without pity, and the only resource you need to learn this skill is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. My advice is to read this book and do what it says. Without pity.
Amanda G. Stevens
Put away the laptop and pull out the notebook/pen. Let myself free-write about why I hate this scene and it's never going to work ;) then list the things the characters won't do and why, rail at them as needed ... usually in a page or two I've discovered what they WILL do next. Another tactic I use a lot: I write in third person/past tense, but when I'm stuck, I switch to first person/present tense. It obliterates barriers between me and the character, puts me even deeper into deep POV.
Amanda G. Stevens
A new series about a man named David who is keeping a fantastical secret. The first book releases from Barbour in spring 2018, and more details will be out soon!
Clarification: my original response involved the Haven Seekers series, which is now complete; Rose's comment is directed to that series. :-) And yes, FAR AND NEAR (Book 4) is the final book of Haven Seekers.
Clarification: my original response involved the Haven Seekers series, which is now complete; Rose's comment is directed to that series. :-) And yes, FAR AND NEAR (Book 4) is the final book of Haven Seekers.
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