Ask the Author: Kelly Fitzharris Coody
Answered Questions (5)
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
Another tough question! From so many places - my God! From everywhere to dreams, conversations that I've had in line at the grocery store, to influences from my own past. It takes a village - sometimes - in order to mold a spirited story into something that's cohesive and, well, good.
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
My second book, The Undoing. I have had excerpts of this published in Honeysuckle Magazine back in 2014 and I am still continuing to mold the story and the characters in a way that ties it all together and makes for a good read. I love writing books - it is my passion and my strength - I really enjoy the process when I can feel the book coming together and the characters taking on voices of their own. It's satisfying and exciting all at the same time. I've also got a few other manuscripts that are about 20 thousand words in that I've yet to finish. I've always got multiple projects happening at once.
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
Stop trying to write what you think everyone wants you to write - and write with your own voice, from your gut, and tell YOUR story. No one else can tell it but you. And do not censor yourself. It will water it down and take the life and color out of it. Now, even with that being said, I'm not saying you'll never hit a few bumps in the road. You will, inevitably, write something that's just absolute crap. But without that experience, how will you improve? The more you both read AND write AND edit, the better you will get. Do not take rejections to heart - ever - ever, ever, ever. Laugh them off. Continue to work on your craft and be the best you can be. It will pay off.
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
This is a tough one - because I don't view writing as a job that I'm doing for anyone. It's something that I do for myself. Being a writer is in my DNA, it's interwoven into the fabric of my being. So if I were unable to write, I might implode, explode or meet my fate through spontaneous combustion.
What if that's the ROOT CAUSE of spontaneous combustion?! I may have just solved a mystery! ;)
What if that's the ROOT CAUSE of spontaneous combustion?! I may have just solved a mystery! ;)
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
I will answer honestly - my own shortcomings, failings and idiosyncrasies! How great is it to be able to use your unresolved past or raw feelings to fuel a piece of writing? It's fantastic! It's the best way to write something truthful, compelling, as well as cathartic for the author.
Kelly Fitzharris Coody
I take a break! As writers, we have to. If we sit and stare at the same manuscript, story or poem for hours on end, the words all begin to blur together on our computer screens. And, especially if you're editing your book, you CAN get "too close" to your manuscript in a sense - meaning that at a certain point, your edits aren't doing the story any more justice and they aren't adding value. "Killing your darlings" is one thing, but that can also lead to frustration - and make an author doubt the quality of something that's been in the works for years. ALSO - do not censor yourself. The SECOND that you start to think, "Oh my God, my mom might read this!" then you can kiss your good writing goodbye. It's the truth.
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