Interview with Cindy Chen
Published 2015-06-02.
When did you first start writing?
I wrote plenty of essays as an elementary schooler (took a academic writing course when I was younger... sounds insane, but it's something they offer at school in Taiwan!), but I didn't truly get into creative writing until when I was about... 14 or 15. And that was all limited to fan fiction. I did not write my first original work until the age of 16.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, and went to elementary school for three years before moving to the United States. Moving to the United States definitely helped me be more in touch with my heritage, but it also gave me the free time to pursue writing as a hobby (and later as a more serious one that led to publishing!). Whereas in Taiwan I had to study all the time, American education allowed me to go out of the box and try new things.
Who are your favorite authors?
J. K. Rowling, John Green, Josh Sundquist, Louisa May Alcott... and I remember being a huge fan of Joan Lowry Nixon as a young girl!
What motivated you to become an indie author?
My parents.
They really pushed me into publishing Sounds of War and make it available for people to read (They're all about going one step "above and beyond!"). I wrote it for my high school senior project, and I only intended on completing the book and stopping there, just because the timeline was so tight... but I pushed myself and here we are!
I also considered going traditional at the time, but it ended up indie because again... the timeline was so tight! (2 months) Mabe in the future, though. I definitely want to try out another aspect of the industry.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Creating. I love being immersed in this whole other world and putting my foot in somebody else's shoes. When I was little, I've always liked to think about what others might be thinking... because I'm usually so completely stuck in my own thoughts!
What's the story behind your latest book?
Sounds of War is set in Leningrad... and what inspired me originally was going to New York City to perform Shostakovich's 5th Symphony with my youth orchestra. I later learned that Shostakovich, as a Leningrader, actually composed his 7th Symphony as a dedication to the siege. Thus, the story of my book is born!
What is your writing process?
I usually start with an idea (well, duh), and then I doodle on a blank page for a while until I come up with something. I do a whole lot of preplanning before even starting my draft (because Sounds had two drafts... one failed due to the lack of preplanning!). I don't really understand when people say that preplanning constricts what they can do with their novel. It's bound to change, of course, and my outline, even after a lot of preplanning, changes itself. The story does what it does!
After that, I get to drafting, and the rest is history--editing, editing again, and so on.
Describe your desk
Too. Messy.
A really bad habit I have is leaving mugs on my desk. Coffee cups, tea cups, orange juice cups, water... you name it! (I think the record was 7 on my desk at once). My mom would look at me in disapproval every time she comes in my room.
Other than cups, I also have a mess of papers, books, and writing utensils. You know--the norm!
What are you working on next?
Two projects, with several other ideas on the deck. ;)
I'm working on a realistic fiction novel that gets in touch with my Taiwanese heritage... and another musical-historical fiction. Can't give away too much yet!
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I'm really into math (it's a big part of my major!), and so I do participate in math modeling tournaments and study in my own spare time. I also enjoy playing music, talking to friends, and running.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I think I have to... I have school and classes!!
Just kidding..! I think life is beautiful and I'm up everyday to experience it.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
