Lemon Lover
asked
Catherine Ryan Hyde:
Hello. My class is reading Pay it Forward, and it's an amazing, beautiful book. I would like to ask what motivated you to write and finish books, and why you wanted to become an author. I want to become an author when I grow up, and I've already written two book (both of them fanfiction) and I would like to ask how you plan out your stories and your advice for writing. Also, what is your favorite book that you wrote?
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Hi!
Being motivated to finish a novel is tricky and I don't know if there's an easy answer for it. I do know that if I'm very interested by what I'm writing it's much easier to keep going. So if the work starts to feel dull or slips off course, I'll sometimes give myself permission to put it down and work on something else. I think I wanted to be an author because I had a teacher who told me I had a talent for it, and I wasn't used to such compliments.
I do all my planning in my head, so I'm not sure my system would be much help to you. My advice would be to do whatever seems to get words on paper or in digital memory. Also I'd advise you not to write in too solitary a way, but rather to invite feedback on your work, even though it can be hard to hear. And the more you read, the closer that experience will take you to what you want to write.
My two favorites of mine are Boy Underground and Have You Seen Luis Velez? I think it's a tie.
Thank you for reaching out, and best of luck with your own writing.
Being motivated to finish a novel is tricky and I don't know if there's an easy answer for it. I do know that if I'm very interested by what I'm writing it's much easier to keep going. So if the work starts to feel dull or slips off course, I'll sometimes give myself permission to put it down and work on something else. I think I wanted to be an author because I had a teacher who told me I had a talent for it, and I wasn't used to such compliments.
I do all my planning in my head, so I'm not sure my system would be much help to you. My advice would be to do whatever seems to get words on paper or in digital memory. Also I'd advise you not to write in too solitary a way, but rather to invite feedback on your work, even though it can be hard to hear. And the more you read, the closer that experience will take you to what you want to write.
My two favorites of mine are Boy Underground and Have You Seen Luis Velez? I think it's a tie.
Thank you for reaching out, and best of luck with your own writing.
More Answered Questions
Rebecca
asked
Catherine Ryan Hyde:
Catherine, I have reached out before to let you know how strong my appreciation for your writing is, especially during such a crazy time in history. I hug each of your books to my chest when done, and thank them for taking me to such a wonderful place of human kindness. I just finished My Name Is Anton last night and it defined a love story for me. Well done. Bravo. Thank you. ?
Robert Seaman
asked
Catherine Ryan Hyde:
"When I Found You" was one of the first three books read when I began my reading spree that counts more than one hundred book a year. I also have just finished "Take Me With You". Where did you get such a deep and lasting empathy (faith) in people? I so admire it and have learned so much from your works. Thank you, Bob Seaman
Barb
asked
Catherine Ryan Hyde:
I am so excited to see that Pay It Forward is only $1.99 today. How do you write such good books?
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