McKenzie is back again with another author interview. Today’s post features Elizabeth M. Lawrence, author of My Apple Tree from the Harvest Treats compilation. While this
is her first published piece, Elizabeth is no stranger to the intricacies of
publishing – she is the Head Editor at Renaissance Romance Publishing. Here is
her Q&A with Kenna -
*****
McKenzie: How do you get your
mindset to write a young adult theme?
Elizabeth: I didn’t really set
out to write a YA story originally. My initial idea did deal with a young boy
and girl, but it followed them into adulthood. I revised and expanded the story
quite a bit, and in the end, it seemed to fit into the YA category. I think
that if I had an idea for another story or book that was YA, it wouldn’t be
hard to get into that mindset. You’d be surprised by how many adults vividly
remember what it’s like to be a teenager. It’s a tough period in life, and the
memories of the feelings and thoughts you had tend to stick with you, no matter
how much you grow and change.
McKenzie: How are you able to get a good plot without
over-explaining?
Elizabeth: One tip they give
often in writing style guides and writing workshops is “Show, Don’t Tell.” It’s
a delicate balance. You have to give the reader enough background to understand
the events in the story, but it’s better to let the characters reveal things
through their actions, their facial expressions, and their interactions with
each other. When you’re hanging out with your friends, one might tell you a
story about something that happened, but you’re going to be able to visualize
what she’s describing by the words she uses, her body language, and even the
pitch of her voice. You can tell before she says it that she was angry or
embarrassed or excited from those clues. Writing works the same way – if the
writer shows the reader what the characters are feeling, it allows the reader
to be right there in the moment with the characters. That makes the entire
reading experience and the reader’s understanding of the plot much more dynamic
and exciting.
McKenzie: How much time do you
put into an average story?
Elizabeth: Months and months and
months. I can write a first draft pretty quickly in maybe a month or two, but
shaping and honing and polishing and reworking it takes a lot longer. I usually
will put a manuscript away for awhile and work on other things so that I can
come back to it with a fresh perspective. Sometimes years pass before I will
consider a piece really finished.
McKenzie: When and why did you
start writing?
Elizabeth: I’ve always written
stories as long as I can remember. Even if I don’t actually write them down, I
get ideas everywhere I go – whole characters and scenes will just pop into my
head as I go about my business throughout the day. I think most writers have
that experience, and we start writing the stories down just to get them out of
our heads!
McKenzie: Has there ever been a time when you couldn’t
think of any ideas?
Elizabeth: Not really – I have
tons of ideas all the time, but they’re not always “complete.” I might have an
idea for a scene but not the full story around it, and that’s when I get
stumped and have to wrack my brain for more ideas that are specifically for that
particular set of characters in that particular situation. That’s the situation
in which I will really find myself stuck until a solution occurs to me.
McKenzie: How hard is it to keep
your writing from interfering with your personal life?
Elizabeth: I think usually my
personal life interferes with my writing – and I don’t mean that in a negative
way. Most writers would love to just write all the time. It is personal
relationships and housework and bills and families and errands that pull us
away from our computers or notebooks and force us to be in the real world. That’s
not a bad thing. I love my husband and kids and friends, so I’m not sorry to
have to spend time with them. Also, writers need to interact with the real
world and real people, otherwise we wouldn’t understand real life enough to
write about it. My family and my responsibilities to them will always be the
most important thing, so it’s not hard to put them first (unless I’ve got a
REALLY good idea!). Writing’s like any other job; you’ve got to get the work
done to make a living. Going to work physically takes you away from your family
if you have a “traditional” kind of career – the only difference is that as a
writer I’m still home while I’m working.
McKenzie: Do you tend to use your
kids/friends’ names in your stories?
Elizabeth: Rarely. I will use
names that I associate with certain types of people, but I tend to stay away
from namesakes. It’s tough for me to imagine writing a love story in which the
male lead is named after my son, for example. Especially since I’m not going to
let him date until he’s at least thirty-five. I’m much more likely to base
characters’ personality traits on people I know; depending on what those traits
are, I may or may not actually tell the person about it. Very close friends
might recognize the inspiration behind a scene or a character, but I do try not
to make it obvious.
McKenzie: How do you stay
committed to your writing?
Elizabeth: I’m very fortunate to
have a career that I love. Writing is something that’s in my blood, and I enjoy
it tremendously. It’s challenging and a lot of work and often heartbreaking,
but it is a part of who I am. Even when it looks like I’m just staring out into
space, I’m working on my writing. It’s easy to stay committed to something that
you love, that brings you joy, and that helps you be the best version of
yourself possible. For as much effort as I put into it, it gives back so much
to me in return. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
*****
These answers are great! Thanks,
Elizabeth, for humoring McKenzie and me. To my readers, stay tuned tomorrow to hear from another Harvest Treats author.
Don’t forget, Harvest Treats will be released on
September 25th, and be available on Nook, Kindle, and Smashwords in
assorted ebook formats, and on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback.
Lovely Interview, Elizabeth and McKenzie!
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