Ask the Author: Emily McKay
Answered Questions (3)
Emily McKay
I know the standard answer is "working in my pajamas!"
But the actual best thing about being a writer is getting to play in a world that's not this world. Whether that world is an amazing fantasy world or just a contemporary world that is mostly like ours but you get to control the way things turn out.
There is something miraculous that happens when you let yourself be open to the story that wants to be told. It's hard to describe. But it's really, really fun.
But the actual best thing about being a writer is getting to play in a world that's not this world. Whether that world is an amazing fantasy world or just a contemporary world that is mostly like ours but you get to control the way things turn out.
There is something miraculous that happens when you let yourself be open to the story that wants to be told. It's hard to describe. But it's really, really fun.
Emily McKay
Whew ... this is a tough one.
I used to think that writer's block was a myth. It is not.
I think there are four kinds of things that are at the root of writer's block:
The first is: writing is so hard. And rewatching Friends is easy.
The second is: you've made a misstep in plotting or the story or whatever. You're lost in the weeds and you need to backtrack and figure out where you went wrong.
The third is: the book you're writing is bringing up personal emotional stuff that you're not ready to deal with. You will absolutely have to deal with that shit before you can write the book.
The fourth is: you might be suffering from something bigger, like actual clinical depression. I feel like creativity is often the first thing to take a hit if your suffering from depression. Don't know if you're depressed? Ask your friends. They will be able to tell you.
So, long story short, if you have writer's block, you first need to figure out which kind it is. Then you can deal with it.
I used to think that writer's block was a myth. It is not.
I think there are four kinds of things that are at the root of writer's block:
The first is: writing is so hard. And rewatching Friends is easy.
The second is: you've made a misstep in plotting or the story or whatever. You're lost in the weeds and you need to backtrack and figure out where you went wrong.
The third is: the book you're writing is bringing up personal emotional stuff that you're not ready to deal with. You will absolutely have to deal with that shit before you can write the book.
The fourth is: you might be suffering from something bigger, like actual clinical depression. I feel like creativity is often the first thing to take a hit if your suffering from depression. Don't know if you're depressed? Ask your friends. They will be able to tell you.
So, long story short, if you have writer's block, you first need to figure out which kind it is. Then you can deal with it.
Emily McKay
Sorry I'm sooooo late answering this! (It's been a crazy year!)
I'm most looking forward to reading Crave by Tracy Wolff, which I just bought from Audible and I am soooo excited about!
For romance (which I tend to read rather than listen to), I'm looking forward to finishing Penny Reid's Green Valley series. I think I've got two books left!
I'm most looking forward to reading Crave by Tracy Wolff, which I just bought from Audible and I am soooo excited about!
For romance (which I tend to read rather than listen to), I'm looking forward to finishing Penny Reid's Green Valley series. I think I've got two books left!
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