Beth Dotson Brown’s ideal writing situation is to have at least a couple of uninterrupted hours to write, where she can just let go. She loves the creation of the first draft when she does little self-editing and simply lets the story flow. That helps her discover what the story is. It typically turns out to be only a general bunch of words rather than a full story at that point, but it’s something to start with when she moves to her second draft, where she gets to know the characters and plot better.

Her favorite place to write is anywhere she can write without distractions. She has written in her office, at the beach, in a cabin in the woods, etc. Her home office looks out onto the garden in her backyard and onto a birdfeeder. This serenity gives her eyes lots of gazing breaks.

As far as having a specific time of day to write, she feels the creative urge is at its highest in the morning before the cares of the day have a chance to jump in. A nice cup of tea and sometimes a little dark chocolate provide inspiration.

Beth takes the panster approach to writing but sees the value of an outline, getting to a rough one after three or four drafts to help make sure the plot is on course to hold the interest of the reader. Firstly, though, she spends a significant amount of time listening to the characters and getting to know them. They drive her stories, so she spends time with them while on walks, cooking in the kitchen, and working in the garden. It’s like getting to know a new person who doesn’t quite trust her to tell her everything the first time around, so she likes to spend quiet time listening to her character. Then, she typically goes immediately to the page to write what she has learned, perhaps to even write a scene—once she knows the characters and the plot has evolved into an actual story. Only then can she move forward by looking at each word and each sentence to work on the craft of writing.

“There’s a different kind of enjoyment out of looking at the precision of the words. At some point, I share the work with writer friends who give me feedback that helps with the next revision. Then, the final step before completion is editing for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. As a longtime writer, I’ve learned to stop before I go too far and work on the plot. I’m often happy to simply follow characters through their lives and see what they do, but that’s not what will keep a reader interested in the story. It took me some time to learn that.”

That Feeling of Holding that First Published Book in Your Hands

“I’ve been working toward having a published novel for years and years, so when Rooted in Sunrise arrived, it was a sacred moment that I was sharing with all the people who had helped me along the way, some even in ways they didn’t realize. I have a chair that belonged to my grandma, and I sat in that chair so often as a teenager to write. So that’s where I sat to open the box and pull out that first book. I felt like I had a whole group of people right there with me.

Story Ideas

Beth’s ideas often come from something she observes that she wants to explore further. The first short story she sold was her attempt to finish a story someone had related to her. However, they were interrupted, and she never heard the end of the story, but it haunted her to the point that she needed to finish it. For her debut novel, Rooted in Sunrise, she was in her cellar during a tornado warning. Ava, the main character, came to her with a different perspective on possibly losing her house than she had as a homeowner.

“I needed to write about her to better understand her point of view and to see what she would do if she lost her home.”

Genres

Literary Women’s Fiction.

“I don’t think I chose it; it chose me. That seems to be where my stories fit.”

Why Write?

“I write because I have to. I feel like I was created to write. For years, I wrote feature articles and columns. I always hoped that my work would build understanding among people and lead to a more just and peaceful world. I feel a little of that with my fiction but the stronger feeling is that I want to walk in someone else’s shoes to see what’s the world’s like from their perspective. That’s why I like to read as well. I’ve tried putting my writing aside to see if I’m drawn back to it, and I always am.”

The Reader

“Primarily, I want readers to feel like they’ve been able to escape into the story and find something there that they need or appreciate. Even though I’m the writer, I don’t control what readers get out of the story. I learned that early on when classmates critiqued a piece of mine and saw so much in it that I didn’t. Each reader had his or her own perspective. I must be comfortable knowing the story will mean something different to each reader.”

Advice

“Write, write, and write again! Be sure you establish a good writing habit. A writers’ group can help with that. I’ve met too many people who have wonderful ideas but it’s hard for them to get those ideas on paper consistently so they can finish a piece of writing. Don’t jump to learning about publishing until you feel confident in your writing.”

Favorite Authors

“I’m always discovering new authors who I enjoy. Some of my favorites are Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, and Adriana Trigiani. During the past year, I’ve also met a number of debut authors whose books I’ve enjoyed. I look forward to reading what they write next.”

Beth Dotson Brown is a freelance writer, editor, and curious life observer. She enjoys writing articles and short stories, both of which have won awards, and is the author of Yes! I Am Catholic, published in 2007, and contributed to A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors. Her collection of one-act plays, Mothers, Daughters and the Spaced in Between, is available through Heartland Plays. Beth lives in a quiet Kentucky town where she gardens, cooks, teaches, and works to make peaceful and positive contributions to the world. Reach Beth at https://www.bethdotsonbrown.net/.

Rooted in Sunrise is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Sunrise-Beth-Dotson-Brown-ebook/dp/B0DDWBFKJR/