AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE:-
AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD CALL THEMSELVES A WRITER?
The moment the put words to the page. Writing is about creating art, and while some people get paid lots of money for that art, you’re still a writer even if you aren’t paid for it.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR?
None. They are synonymous. I am a writer, and I am an author. I don’t write for other people in the sense of creating my own stories and putting them out there. The labels don’t matter.
HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WRITING UNDER A PSEUDONYM, AND WHY OR WHY NOT?
I do write under a pseudonym. J.R. Froemling is technically one. I am considering another to try my hand at Harem writing, but that genre is exceptionally particular about who writes it.
WHAT DO THE WORDS “WRITER’S BLOCK” MEAN TO YOU?
It usually means I need to take a break. Walk away from what I’m trying to write and reset. If the words don’t flow, there is a reason. Either the scene is wrong and needs to be trashed, or I’m too distracted to focus on writing.
HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS?
I take them on the chin. I have a good cry, especially if they are just mean without any constructive feedback. If they have good feedback, I take that and work to make my writing better. If they don’t, I usually roll my eyes and ignore them.
ARE THERE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS TO MODELING A CHARACTER AFTER SOMEONE YOU KNOW?
Oh yes! All my characters have a piece of me in them. A lot of the male characters are modeled after my husband. It helps me relate to them, and it helps me write them in an authentic way. Even the villains/antagonists are a part of my husband and me.
WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS?
Editing. It’s boring. You can’t just read the story and enjoy it. You have to analyze and pick it apart. That always bogs me down. So, I try to put a few days between first edits and second edits. I don’t like to go past a third unless there is a glaring problem.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING OR WHEN DID YOU START?
I have been writing since I was a kid. I also have been a part of an online creative writing group since I was 19. I published my first novel in 2021.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WRITER WORKING ON THEIR FIRST BOOK?
Just write it. Focus on one chapter at a time and work your way through the book. Don’t worry about plot holes, editing, or any of that. Just get the first draft done. You can go back and do all the editing and fixing after the fact. But the morale boost of finishing the book will carry you through the editing process.
WHAT, TO YOU, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?Having a touch of realism in books where that’s appropriate. The characters remaining true to what they would do. It’s disappointing when a character who is one way suddenly acts another without a reason. Pace is the next thing. Books that slog on for pages upon pages about what they’re wearing, where they are, and all the nitty gritty details that are unimportant to the story make me put the book down. It took me two years to read The Two Towers because it was a slog retelling of Fellowship for the first half of the book.
WHAT COMES FIRST FOR YOU –THE PLOT OR THE CHARACTERS — AND WHY?
Characters, always. I’m a pantster. I get a character in my head, their personality, look, and then I toss them into shenanigans. I don’t like to be pigeon-holed into a pre-determined plot line. I did that for the book I am working on right now and it’s killing my ability to just write the story.
HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR PLOT AND CHARACTERS?
I write on the fly and take notes in Scrivener when I bring a character on board. Basic notes are eye, hair, skin color, followed by height, birthday, and weight. Then I make notes of their alignment and morals.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST CALL YOURSELF A WRITER?
Officially, 2021 when I published The Triple Six.
HOW DO YOU USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN AUTHOR?
I use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to communicate and relate to my readers. I have a Facebook page and group. I used to have twitter, but I hate the interface, so I dropped it. I’m also on Goodreads, Bookbub, and discord. Discord is really for my Patreon patrons to have direct access and get to follow along while I write.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE PART OF PUBLISHING?
Favorite Part – The thrill of making a cover and putting together the chapter headers. I make all my own things so it’s exciting.Least Favorite part – The interfaces and restrictions each site has are hard to keep up with. I really hate I can’t set promo prices for my books without giving up exclusivity in places.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO AN AUTHOR WHO WANTED TO DESIGN THEIR OWN COVER?
Invest in good editing tools. I’m an adobe person. I use photoshop for all my covers. I also pay for adobe stock so I can get models for covers. Really think about what you want your cover to say to your readers. It’s the first moment someone sees your work and will judge it.
