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| Frequently Asked Questions on Sera How does one manage to be a good, hard-working student and a good, hard-working writer? Can you help, or are we just destined to a world of lost sleep and opportunity cost?
I don't have a particular method. Mostly I go to class and write as much as possible in my free time. School has always come fairly easy for me (except math classes. I'm not a math person), so I didn't have a hard time keeping on top of my schoolwork while working on the story. But there were also weeks when I didn't get to write because of the overload of homework I had. I tend to be extrodinarily grumpy when I lose sleep, so it wasn't often I gave up sleep for either homework or writing, but I would have to choose often which was more important--reading for a class or writing part of the next chapter in my book.
- What kind of setting do you write in? What conditions do you work best under? (Specific lighting, chair, computer, desk, background noise, etc.)
I'm still kind of experimenting with a routine because my schedule doesn't really allow me to be consistent. So far though, I've found that I am most productive with some kind of a deadline in mind, quiet--preferably instrumental--music playing in the background, and as few distractions as possible. I write on my computer almost solely, though I do have several notebooks for jotting down ideas or working while I'm away from my laptop.
I'm hoping that once I graduate I'll be able to have a more stringent routine, one that allows me to work more, better, and faster. :) Unfortunately, graduation didn't help much--I replaced school with working forty hours a week. This summer, however, I'm not going to be working at all; at least, not in a regular job. I'm hoping to use my immense amount of free time to finish a good portion of the Fallen series.
- What are your parents like?
My mother has always been incredibly supportive of my dreams and goals, no matter how many times those dreams changed. She is generous and kind and very goofy (which is where I inherited it from, I think). And if I look half as good as she does when I'm her age, I will be very happy. :D
My father was simultaneously the more lenient and the more strict parent. I went to him when I wanted sugary anything, and when I wanted permission to go somewhere I thought my mom might ask too many questions about. But he was also the one with the temper, one which I sometimes think I inherited from him. ;)
- What do you plan for your future?
I think I've given up on plans. Plans--at least plans for real life--tend to fall apart. I have goals I would like to reach (most of them involving writing) but, other than that, I have only vague ideas of what I would like to do. I want to design my own house one day. I want to travel a lot. I want to live somewhere where it snows. At this point, I'm willing to let life happen and see where it takes me. :)
- Has writing Fallen taught you anything/changed the way you look at life, the world, other books, etc?
Knowing that I had the imagination and the determination to complete an original novel was an amazing feeling, as was the relief of having the first part of this story told and the knowledge that there was still more to go. I don't think that Fallen itself has changed my outlook on life or books, but writing definitely has. For example, I am more apt to notice mistakes and make editing suggestions in my head while I read, and everything I see now has the possibility of ending up being tied into or spawning a story. Really delving into your creative mind and trying to be a successful writer means looking at the world as a storyteller and learning to differentiate between what makes good fiction and what doesn't. Some of the most interesting true stories just don't translate well onto paper.
- What kind of things do you look for in other people, such as friends?
I can't say that two of my friends have ever been the same. However, an open mind, loyalty, and a sense of humor are great traits in any person, I think.
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