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Interview with Sarah Nicolas
Feb. 4th, 2019 07:33 pmToday, Lily's Reviews has a guest interview with Sarah Nicolas.......
Lily's Reviews: What is the biggest accomplishment you have achieved as a writer to date? The thing that made you feel like you hit a big goal?
Sarah Nicolas: For me, I think it’s always the most recent achievement that feels like the biggest. I don’t think I’m alone in this. It started with actually finishing a book, then sending my first query letter, then getting my first request, then getting my first personalized rejection, then writing another book and so on through getting an agent, getting multiple publishing contracts, getting a contract with an advance, hitting #1 in my category on Amazon. Mainly, I’m most proud of myself for not yet giving up because this can be a difficult business.
LR: How do you come up with character names?
SN: OMG, I am OBSESSED with character names. I think I spend more time on this than on plotting (don’t tell my editor). Every now and then I get a name stuck in my head that I just love (like Riya from KEEPING HER SECRET) and it’s quick and easy, but most of the time it is a process. I create excel spreadsheets with lists of names and research their origins and meanings and references in literature, TV, and movies. I scour baby name websites and check their historical and geographical popularity.
LR: If you could bring one character into real life and have a conversation with them which one would it be and why?
SN: No character has ever fascinated me as much as Bartimaeus from Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy. I read those books ten years ago but still haven’t found anyone else I’d rather have a conversation with in fiction. He is an ancient demon full of snark and wit.
LR: What does your writing day look like?
SN: I’m more of a marathon writer than an every-day writer. I work a full-time job and have a very active life, so I have to schedule writing sessions into my week. I work best with several hours at a time set aside for writing. I have friends who write an hour a day and it works wonderfully for them, but it’s not for me.
I have to have caffeinated beverages and snacks, unless I’m working late at night, then I love to have wine when I write. My writing brain works best from about 9 PM until about 3 AM.
LR: Is there any book that you would rewrite if you could?
SN: Like completely rewrite?
LR: When you are writing and you feel a bit stuck, what do you do for inspiration or to reset yourself back into the groove?
SN: It depends on whether I’m on deadline or not. Ha! If I’m on deadline, I usually just write through it, knowing that I can go back and rewrite or cut the stuff that’s not good. Honestly, it usually takes just a page or two of forcing it to get me back in the groove.
Having said that, I should probably do the same thing when I’m not on deadline, but I don’t. I often take long walks with my dog to reset my brain. Or I get distracted by twitter and lose a lot of writing time. Don’t do that. It’s not helpful.
LR: Who or what (if anything) do you listen to when writing and who is your favorite musician/genre of music to listen to?
SN: My writing music preferences are basic AF, because I find it helpful to listen to music where the emotions are really on the surface and also music with a strong, dancy beat. So I’m all about pop like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Selena Gomez.
LR: What is coming up next for you, writing wise?
SN: I’m working on a new Young Adult about a girl who does high school robotics. It’s a romance :-P
Thank you so much for the wonderful interview!
Sarah Nicolas may be found at the following places:
Sarah Nicolas Site
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Book Riot
Lily's Reviews: What is the biggest accomplishment you have achieved as a writer to date? The thing that made you feel like you hit a big goal?
Sarah Nicolas: For me, I think it’s always the most recent achievement that feels like the biggest. I don’t think I’m alone in this. It started with actually finishing a book, then sending my first query letter, then getting my first request, then getting my first personalized rejection, then writing another book and so on through getting an agent, getting multiple publishing contracts, getting a contract with an advance, hitting #1 in my category on Amazon. Mainly, I’m most proud of myself for not yet giving up because this can be a difficult business.
LR: How do you come up with character names?
SN: OMG, I am OBSESSED with character names. I think I spend more time on this than on plotting (don’t tell my editor). Every now and then I get a name stuck in my head that I just love (like Riya from KEEPING HER SECRET) and it’s quick and easy, but most of the time it is a process. I create excel spreadsheets with lists of names and research their origins and meanings and references in literature, TV, and movies. I scour baby name websites and check their historical and geographical popularity.
LR: If you could bring one character into real life and have a conversation with them which one would it be and why?
SN: No character has ever fascinated me as much as Bartimaeus from Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy. I read those books ten years ago but still haven’t found anyone else I’d rather have a conversation with in fiction. He is an ancient demon full of snark and wit.
LR: What does your writing day look like?
SN: I’m more of a marathon writer than an every-day writer. I work a full-time job and have a very active life, so I have to schedule writing sessions into my week. I work best with several hours at a time set aside for writing. I have friends who write an hour a day and it works wonderfully for them, but it’s not for me.
I have to have caffeinated beverages and snacks, unless I’m working late at night, then I love to have wine when I write. My writing brain works best from about 9 PM until about 3 AM.
LR: Is there any book that you would rewrite if you could?
SN: Like completely rewrite?
LR: When you are writing and you feel a bit stuck, what do you do for inspiration or to reset yourself back into the groove?
SN: It depends on whether I’m on deadline or not. Ha! If I’m on deadline, I usually just write through it, knowing that I can go back and rewrite or cut the stuff that’s not good. Honestly, it usually takes just a page or two of forcing it to get me back in the groove.
Having said that, I should probably do the same thing when I’m not on deadline, but I don’t. I often take long walks with my dog to reset my brain. Or I get distracted by twitter and lose a lot of writing time. Don’t do that. It’s not helpful.
LR: Who or what (if anything) do you listen to when writing and who is your favorite musician/genre of music to listen to?
SN: My writing music preferences are basic AF, because I find it helpful to listen to music where the emotions are really on the surface and also music with a strong, dancy beat. So I’m all about pop like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Selena Gomez.
LR: What is coming up next for you, writing wise?
SN: I’m working on a new Young Adult about a girl who does high school robotics. It’s a romance :-P
Thank you so much for the wonderful interview!
Sarah Nicolas may be found at the following places:
Sarah Nicolas Site
Book Riot
