Part I with Sandra
Part II is with me
Part III with Terri
Part IV with Teresa
Part V with Em.
So we will talk about how Heidi writes.
What is your writing process? Do
you follow a regular routine? Do you use pen and paper or computer? Work at
home or at the library/Starbucks, etc.
Most of
the times when I sit down to write a first draft, I overwrite. I turn off the
internal editor and go for it. I find this approach very pleasurable, creative,
and productive. It provides me a tangible way to tap into my unconscious. I
usually go back the next day to reread and edit. I am somewhat of a fierce
editor. I prefer to read tight writing. With the plethora of entertainment
forms available today, I don’t believe writers have much room to be indulgent.
Fantasy has truly come of age. Paragraphs and pages of description are no
longer necessary to create another world for readers to enter. Choice details
from the POV character, and integrity, create a believable world.
I
also believe in finishing the first draft. Completion provides momentum. It
also provides the writer with something to craft. Once that first draft is
complete, it’s much easier to analyze plot, character, setting, and world
building for what is working and what isn’t.
I
like to have a daily routine. I find the ritual makes it easier to start
writing. I write on my computer. I have trained myself to write at the
keyboard. However, if I am really stumped, I’ll go offline, pull out a pen and
pad of paper and go to work.
I
am fortunate to have a room of my own. It is where I write. I don’t write first
drafts anywhere else. Sometimes, I edit at a coffee shop. But I am most
productive in my room.
How do you balance writing with
other aspects of your life?
Since
writing is so demanding mentally, I like to balance it with more physical
things. Cooking, yoga, napping, playing with my cats. Anything that gives my
brain a rest and opportunity to recharge. I also love hanging out in my
backyard. Nature is a great antidote to hours on the computer.
When do you write?
I write
on most weekdays.
How much time per day do you
spend on your writing?
On days
that I write, I like to write four to five hours. That is ideal. That doesn’t
happen every day for a variety of reasons. But the more writing days I string
together like that, the better I feel.
What is the strongest criticism
you’ve ever received as an author? The best compliment?
I worked
with a really tough critique partner for a year. We met every three weeks.
After each session, I would come home angry and upset. But after I stomped
around the house for a few days, I would go back to review her comments. The
majority of them were on target. Although, I never attempted to publish the
novel that I worked through with her, my writing improved under her keen eye. I
will always be grateful for that experience. She made me a better writer, a
better storyteller, and helped me develop some necessary objectivity about my
work. It was a crucial phase in my growth as a writer.
The
best compliment?
I’ll
quote the feedback from one of NANDANA’S MARK beta readers:
Nandana’s
Mark has plenty of tension and conflict to keep readers engaged (Umbra vs. the
faeries; Melia vs. her sisters; Melia vs. her father, mother, and Umbra; Melia
vs. her social standing). What is really wonderful is that these different
conflicts all feed into and off of one another. None of them feel like they are
tacked on to add tension. Instead they feel like a natural part of the story.
When I read that, my heart felt
very happy.
Other than your family, what has
been your greatest source of support?
Other
writers.
How do you deal with rejection
and/or negative reviews?
I kind
of feel like it’s my responsibility as a writer to “suck it up, buttercup.”
Rejection and negative reviews have a painful element for any writer. I think
most of us want what we write to be loved. I sure do. But I am also a reader,
so no one has to explain to me how subjective a reader’s tastes can be. It’s
wise to focus on what we can control: the quality of our craft. But if a writer
is going through a rough patch and can’t get any love for their words, best put
on the blinders and keep writing.
Facebook
page: Coming Soon
Goodreads
author page: http://www.goodreads.com/Heidi_g
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/heidgwrites
Barnes
and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nandanas-mark-heidi-garrett/1112474235?ean=2940014866026
Apple:
Search the iTunes store
Is
your book in print, ebook or both?
Ebook.
2 comments:
Dean, Thank you for hosting me with the Blog Ring of Power!
Thank you for your time. Enjoyed having you as a guest. Good luck with your writing. Hope your books do well.
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