What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Getting these characters out of my head! Sometimes they pester me until I get up and write the scene they're acting out. I've come to the conclusion my brain is connected through some kind of portal to a future parallel reality, and I just watch TV and write the scenes down. The real crafting is in how to describe the scene, as well as using the most efficient vocabulary to convey everything.
The second-best thing about writing is knowing you're going to blow people's minds, or give them a hard giggle, or make them cry. I often wish I could be inside the reader's head as s/he gets to this part or that, wondering if they'll get my in-joke or subtle reference or play on words.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I had written seven books in my series before I could afford an editor. Once my first book was polished, I began shopping it around to traditional publishers and agents. I collected twenty rejections before deciding, what the heck, let's see what happens if I go indie.
I'm so glad I did! I love how indie authors gather together and share stories and help each other out all the time. I went to an 'author forum' on Facebook that principally assumed you were a traditionally published author, and I asked one question there about writing blurbs. Next thing I knew, I had seven or eight people messaging me to offer to edit my blurb for anything from $20 to $100, with no word on how to write or rewrite it. No, thanks; I have an editor already!
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