Beverly
asked
Justine Sebastian:
As a Louisiana woman of 52 who throws that word around "a lot", I'm just curious where you are from. I'm at work at moment, wishing I was home so I won't type the "word" just in case. I have always wanted to write and my own life is full of material. After the sun goes down, with a glass of wine and a keyboard is how I'd really like to work. Any advice for a southern girl, even though I'm 52, with a filthy mouth?
Justine Sebastian
Hi, Beverly, thanks for stopping by!
I'm from Louisiana and though I've moved around a lot in my life (more like I have a tendency to wander off) I always come back home to the south. I like the accents and the food WAY better. Hehe.
My advice to you is pretty simple... and yet, not... If that makes sense. It is this: Do not be afraid. Seriously. Don't worry about whether or not you may offend someone or piss them off. Don't fret about the special snowflakes of the world because they are legion and fact is, you can't please everyone. I find more and more writers basically pussing out on the important stuff and intentionally sanitizing their work because they're SCARED. Which, in turn, ruins what would otherwise have been perfectly good ideas.
If your MC has a filthy mouth and says "fuck" every other word, makes jokes about abortions gone wrong and occasionally makes small children cry... then let him/her/them do that. Personally, I find books like that far more enjoyable than I do books where everyone is PC in the extreme and/or there's a shoe-in-love-interest shoved down your throat by page ten. Hint: if you can spot them the second they show up, you should probably reevaluate your characterizations. The biggest question to ask yourself about romantic/sexytimes partners that stick around is: What does this character contribute to the STORY? If that answer is, "MC is in love with them for some vague reason no one can ascertain." then you should probably scrap that character. Or at least work very hard at developing them in terms of having a personality of their own. As a reader, I want to SEE why the MC is so smitten. And no, a nice rack or tight ass doesn't do it. That is my biggest peeve when it comes to books (and television... and movies... and... and... and... Yeah. Heh.)
Finally, just kick back and enjoy the ride. Don't think too much about it--if you have an idea then set aside some time and write. Don't plot. Don't outline. Don't arrange index cards around you in a druidic semi-circle of writerly magicalness. Just open a document (or grab a pen and notebook) and write. Do note, however, that I tend to not write like most writers in that regard. I am more than a "pantser". I'm more of a "streaking through the commons on a Friday nighter". ::ahem::
If you have anymore questions (and I haven't frightened you away with my rambling) feel free to hit me up again because fuck yeah. Happy writing!
I'm from Louisiana and though I've moved around a lot in my life (more like I have a tendency to wander off) I always come back home to the south. I like the accents and the food WAY better. Hehe.
My advice to you is pretty simple... and yet, not... If that makes sense. It is this: Do not be afraid. Seriously. Don't worry about whether or not you may offend someone or piss them off. Don't fret about the special snowflakes of the world because they are legion and fact is, you can't please everyone. I find more and more writers basically pussing out on the important stuff and intentionally sanitizing their work because they're SCARED. Which, in turn, ruins what would otherwise have been perfectly good ideas.
If your MC has a filthy mouth and says "fuck" every other word, makes jokes about abortions gone wrong and occasionally makes small children cry... then let him/her/them do that. Personally, I find books like that far more enjoyable than I do books where everyone is PC in the extreme and/or there's a shoe-in-love-interest shoved down your throat by page ten. Hint: if you can spot them the second they show up, you should probably reevaluate your characterizations. The biggest question to ask yourself about romantic/sexytimes partners that stick around is: What does this character contribute to the STORY? If that answer is, "MC is in love with them for some vague reason no one can ascertain." then you should probably scrap that character. Or at least work very hard at developing them in terms of having a personality of their own. As a reader, I want to SEE why the MC is so smitten. And no, a nice rack or tight ass doesn't do it. That is my biggest peeve when it comes to books (and television... and movies... and... and... and... Yeah. Heh.)
Finally, just kick back and enjoy the ride. Don't think too much about it--if you have an idea then set aside some time and write. Don't plot. Don't outline. Don't arrange index cards around you in a druidic semi-circle of writerly magicalness. Just open a document (or grab a pen and notebook) and write. Do note, however, that I tend to not write like most writers in that regard. I am more than a "pantser". I'm more of a "streaking through the commons on a Friday nighter". ::ahem::
If you have anymore questions (and I haven't frightened you away with my rambling) feel free to hit me up again because fuck yeah. Happy writing!
More Answered Questions
Rae
asked
Justine Sebastian:
Hello! I was wondering Firstly - will we be seeing more off todd? 2nd - is there a possibility of more books or snippets about Evarin and Daniel and them trying to like settle into some kind of normal? 3rd - I fucking love Sparrow Falls book, like fuck. Will there be more of them and specifically will there be more of them from the pov of my fave three musketeers? Esp. Aaron who i love so much and so deeply
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