Ask the Author: Sandy Barker
Answered Questions (8)
Sandy Barker
Hi there! I am currently working on a follow up to The Christmas Swap where they visit Bali. I love armchair travel too at the moment and am so glad you're enjoying reading my books.
Sandy Barker
Hi Bev. Thank you! Yes, I've traveled to all locations I write about. Some I've lived in too. Thank you for asking and happy new year!
Sandy Barker
Inspiration comes, sometimes thick and fast, sometimes so quietly or tentatively, you have to be paying attention. It comes in so many forms, that you have to be ready to let it flourish, and always have a way of writing it down. I sometimes send myself text messages so I don't forget.
Sandy Barker
Write, read, learn and participate - not necessarily in that order, but all of those things are important.
You absolutely must write - even short-form - to hone your skills and keep them sharp.
Read, read, read - good writers are (more often than not) great readers. You will learn from the writers whose work you read. There's an almost osmosist (I made up that word) way of absorbing great prose or ideas. The writers you read are your mentors,
Study and learn. Read widely about writing, take courses about building your author profile, and participate in author communities. Ask questions, answer questions, read discussions. Share, read, learn and grow as a writer.
You absolutely must write - even short-form - to hone your skills and keep them sharp.
Read, read, read - good writers are (more often than not) great readers. You will learn from the writers whose work you read. There's an almost osmosist (I made up that word) way of absorbing great prose or ideas. The writers you read are your mentors,
Study and learn. Read widely about writing, take courses about building your author profile, and participate in author communities. Ask questions, answer questions, read discussions. Share, read, learn and grow as a writer.
Sandy Barker
When the characters tell me what's going to happen. I am not an author who plans out everything I write, even a blog post. The idea comes, I let it percolate for a few hours or a few days - sometimes longer - and then I start writing. I have a general idea of where I am going, but I am often pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns my writing takes. It is ridiculously fun to play in this way.
Sandy Barker
Blogging - even just a quick blog of a few hundred words can get the creativity flowing again. Sometimes, I will start a blog post that goes nowhere and never gets published, but the best way to get through a block is to write.
Sandy Barker
I wrote it as a love letter to my partner, Ben, who I met 11 years ago when I was chronically single and travelling in Greece. I've shamelessly stolen a little from our love story for the book, and I also had a great deal of fun creating the character of Sarah.
Sandy Barker
I have just started the sequel to You Might Meet Someone, called I Think I Met Someone. I am still in the planning stages, but have lots of great ideas percolating.
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