The “Confessions of
a Writer” tag is a game of great fun! Especially if you want to know a little
bit more about your favorite authors.
To read the original
rules of the Tag, go here.
Here are my answers
to the questions:
The Questions:
- When did you first start writing? Was being a writer something you always aspired to be?Nope! I wanted to be a scientist. I have always loved animals and the outdoors. I got my B.S. in Geology and Environmental Science at UMass Lowell. I had never written a thing until my senior year in college, and then I discovered that I had a fantasy novel that I HAD to write. When I was looking at grad schools for Geology, I realized that my “true path” (if you will) was writing genre fiction (I have always been an avid reader) and I got my M.A. and Writing and I haven’t looked back since.
Although, I still love rocks and mineralogy. Igneous petrology will
always have a place in my heart. J
- What genre do you write?
I write speculative fiction (SF), meaning I write across the entire
science fiction-fantasy genre. (I am afraid of the dark, so I tend not to write
horror, which is part of SF) J I am currently writing Space Opera, but my first love (and next planned
series) is High Fantasy.
- Can you tell us a little about your
current work in progress? When did you start working on this project?
I am writing the second book in TheEmpress Game trilogy, published by TitanBooks. It is tentatively titled Cloak of War, but don’t quote me on that.
It’s Space Opera in the vein of Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy, with a
kick-ass female protagonist and an empire on the line.
- What was your first piece that you
can remember writing? What was it about?
An easy one for me, because it wasn’t until my senior year of college. I
had zero training in writing. I had always believed English to be my worst
subject, b/c I received C’s in middle school, so I never took AP courses or
Honors courses in English in high school, only the sciences, and avoided it in
college.
Once I realized that after a lifetime of reading fantasy novels, I wanted
to write one, I had to train myself to be a writer, but there is a TON to know
about craft. An amazing amount. I had the fantasy story that I wanted to write
in my head, but I didn’t want to “waste” the “Book of My Heart” on the process
of learning how to write, so the first thing I wrote was actually a Historical
Romance. (Regency, if you know the genre)
I enjoy reading them for their clever dialogue and they have a
predictable structure, so I was able to focus on the craft of writing while
working within a set structure/plot. That way I didn’t have to learn everything
at once. Once I learned a lot about the craft of writing (and had been
critiqued) and finished that novel, I applied for the SHU Masters program and
wrote the Book of My Heart, an unpublished High Fantasy novel titled Sworn Sword.
Side note: The historical romance did get published with a small press.
As a starter book, I’m still proud of it, since I learned so much while writing
it.
- What’s the best part about writing?
Rewriting. I absolutely HATE writing first drafts. But rewriting? That’s
where the magic happens, the rough sketch becomes something beautiful and the
language can be refined. Ideally, I’d like to do 3 passes on a manuscript (with
time in between) as a revision process. Sadly, the publishing schedule (and my
slow writing speed) doesn’t allow for this.
- What’s the worst part about writing?
Lack of oversight keeping you on task. I have a lot of experience working
from home and keeping myself on task, and I still
prefer working on a clock to being in charge of my own time. Sometimes it’s
hard to force your butt in the chair when no one else is watching you or
keeping track of your efforts.
- What’s the name of your favorite
character and why?
My fave character of all time is Tae, the protagonist of Sworn Sword, the high fantasy Book of My
Heart. The entire reason I gave up my career in Geology and became a writer was
to tell Tae’s story. She is amazingly tough, driven and focused. But she is
tortured, haunted, driven by demons. She has risen to the top of her profession
as a swordfighter but it will never be enough for her. She can never be good
enough to make up for what she failed to protect in the past. I loved exploring
her drive versus her prejudices versus her trust issues versus her warped
self-image. She’s an amazingly pained character that I’d like to get back to
some day.
- How much time a day/week do you get to
write? When is the best time for you to write (morning or night)?
I prefer to write from the moment I wake up until I run out of steam in
the afternoon. I mean I directly roll out of bed, get dressed, grab my bowl of
cereal and eat it while starting writing. I can be at the desk and writing in
less than 5 minutes after waking up.
I worked full-time as an editor while writing full-time as well for 4 years.
It was killing me slowly. Or, perhaps, not so slowly.
Once I got my 3 book contract with Titan Books and needed to be writing a
complete novel in one year (I had been taking 2 years per book before that) I
realized that I couldn’t do both. Luckily for me, I have the most supportive
husband in the world, who has been encouraging me to quit my job and write full
time for the last 3 years. I finally made the leap and as of a month ago, I now
write full time (all day). I tend to be useless as the evening rolls around.
That’s what Netflix is for, right??
- Did you go to college for writing? Or if
you haven’t been to college yet, do you plan to?
My undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Geology and my masters degree is an
M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction. Before I went to grad school, I had no formal
training in writing. I highly recommend Seton Hill’s Writing Popular Fiction program
(now an MFA program) for anyone who writes genre fiction and wants to take
their writing/career to the next level.
- What bothers you more: spelling errors,
punctuation errors, or grammar errors?
Couldn’t care less about any of them. Only bad writing and
ridiculous/unbelievable motivation bother me.
- What is the best writing advice that
anyone has given you?
“Writers write.” It’s that simple and that hard. If you’re
creating stories and characters, putting words on the page, you’re a writer.
Doesn’t matter if you’re getting paid or recognized or any of that. If you’re
writing, you’re a writer.
If you’re just talking about being a writer but not actually putting
stories and words to paper, you’re not a writer. If you published years ago,
have 5 doctorates in the subject, but never intend to put pen to paper again?
You’re not a writer. You were a
writer.
- What advice would you give to another
writer?
“There’s no such thing as writer’s
block.” I believe this wholeheartedly. If you’re
sitting at your desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, waiting for words to
come and nothing happens, you don’t have writer’s block, you have “only trying
one method” block. Writing is not a one-process affair.
People talk about “plotters” and “pantsers” and the truth is, there’s no
pure thing. Every writer, whether they realize it or not, is using an amalgam of
techniques to push their way through. If you’re staring at that blank page and
thinking “I have writer’s block,” what you need to do is try another technique.
When the words won’t come for me, I switch to a different arena for
working on the story. First, I try to outline the scene instead of writing it.
I ask myself, “what am I trying to accomplish in this scene?” “what does this
scene need to do?” “Where am I headed?” and I start to rough out an idea of
where I want to go and what I want to happen.
If that doesn’t come to me, I look at character goals. Where are they
headed? What does the character want? I will work on Goal-Motivation-Character
sheets, learned from Debra Dixon’s excellent book called Goal, Motivation,
Conflict. (Not surprisingly).
If filling out and re-evaluating those sheets doesn’t help, I turn to my
whiteboard. There I outline the major plot points I’m carrying through the
novel. Where am I trying to get to? How do all of these plot threads relate?
If that doesn’t work I go for a power-walk. While walking (yay Vitamin-D
and exercise!) I open my mind to anything. I work on a different subplot, I go
over a new character’s backstory. I get away from my current block and just let
the creativity flow. When I get back home, I write down whatever I’ve learned,
planning to use it later. Often, that’ll direct me to where I want to go with
my current scene.
If that doesn’t work, I take a break and read a book on the craft of writing.
I actually rarely finish these b/c as soon as I start reading, I get ideas for
how to apply their teachings to my current problem.
If that doesn’t work I talk to my critique partners (who read my rough
draft as I go along). Jen Brooks and Diana Botsford. If I’m stuck I ask them where they see the novel going. What they envision, what they expect from
what I’ve written so far. Usually I disagree with all of it, but it gets me
thinking on what I DO what to write.
Jen Brooks, Author of In a World Just Right
Diana Botsford, Author of Four Dragons and The Drift
So, in summary, when you say “I have writer’s block” what you’re really
saying is, “Sitting at my desk and staring at a blank page isn’t getting it
done.” Writers have to be flexible. You have to be willing to try ANYTHING to
move forward.
If none of that works? Maybe you need a break. Take a nap. Have a glass
of wine. A brownie. Clean your house. Spend time with your family. Just
remember that that book is there, waiting for you, and it’s up to YOU to figure
out how to tap into it and get it written.
- Besides writing, what else do you enjoy
doing? What are your hobbies?
Not surprisingly, I read a great deal. Perhaps surprisingly, I read almost entirely outside of my genre. A lot of famous minds will tell you that if you’re not reading everything current and historic in your genre, then you’re not doing your job as a writer. Me? I think that’s crap. I have a lifelong love of SF and grew up devouring it. Once I started writing in the genre, however, I reduced my reading of it.
Oh, I still read the biggies that everyone is talking about, but more
often than not you can find me reading suspense, thrillers, historical novels
and even romance. Reading is my escape and writing SF is my love/job. When I
read, I want to take a break from work.
Beyond that I love to spoil my rescue bulldog, Grace.
We live in Florida and I love to go to the beach and snorkel every chance
I get, especially if we can escape to the Florida Keys for the weekend. I’m
also a big-time gamer, getting hooked with Neverwinter Nights and Elder Scrolls
back in the day. I never played Everquest, but I am a horrible WoW junkie.
- What is the best book you’ve read this
year?
It’s a fantastic Science Fiction Romance with the most amazing pacing.
The action kicks in on page 1 and never lets up. I was asked to review and ARC
of it and very happy for the chance to do so!
Here is the blurb I wrote for it:
"With explosive action, kick-ass heroes and romance that hits all
the right notes, STARRIE gives fans of science fiction romance everything they
want—at a breakneck pace. Plan to stay up all night finishing this one, it’s
impossible to put down!"
- What is the best movie you’ve seen this
year?
I’ve seen ExMachina and you’d think that would be my fave. I’m going to stick my neck
out and say that I enjoyed the lower budget The Machine
better than Ex Machina. (Don’t tell anyone!)
However.
The best movie I saw this year was just after Christmas, when I was home
with my mum and family, and my husband James was horribly ill. We watched Maleficent with
Angelina Jolie and I was blown away. I cried. My heart hurt after watching it.
For me, that is a moving tale, and
heroine worth cheering for.
Side note: I am a life-long Disney AND Angelina Jolie fan, so, it might
as well have been Rhonda-crack.
- What is your favorite book or series of
all time?
No brainer. Melanie Rawn’s TheDragon Prince trilogy, every time.
- Who is your favorite author?
This is almost impossible to answer. I honestly enjoy the work of my two
crit partners, Jen Brooks and Diana Botsford so much, that I am one of those
lucky author/fans who gets to work with her fave authors on a daily basis.
Beyond that?
Melanie Rawn will forever hold that place in my heart. No matter who
writes something “better,” her works of “The Dragon Prince” trilogy and the
unfinished “Exiles” trilogy hit me in my formative years, and the deep emotion
and ties of loyalty in those books helped me to become the person, sister,
daughter, wife and writer that I am today.
If I could say one thing to Melanie Rawn it would be “thank you.”
If I could say two things it would be “OMG finish the Exiles trilogy!!!”
- What are your plans for the rest of the
year in terms of your writing?
I just, as of today, finished the rough draft of the second book in my
space opera trilogy The Empress Game.
From here, I want to do as much revision as I can before the book is due to my
editor on November 1st. Then I’ll get right to work on book 3 in the
trilogy.
- Where else can we find you online?
I probably use Facebook the most: https://www.facebook.com/RhondaMasonWriter
The second best place to get info is my website: www.rhondamason.com
And I am sporadically on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RMasonWriter
In the spirit of the
game of tag, I am tagging the following:
Christina Westcott: http://www.christinawestcottauthor.com/
Jen Brooks: http://www.jenbrookswriter.com/
Diana Botsford: http://dianabotsford.com/
Calico Writes: http://calicowrites.com/
Tonya Burrows: http://www.tonyaburrows.com/
