Elliot's advice on coming up with characters is profound.
Take a peek.
Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?
In fifth grade our teacher had us start to keep journals where we
could write about everyday life or make up short stories. As my life wasn't
that interesting I would fill my journal entries with short stories. In sixth
grade I wrote two books about me and my friends in the setting of spies. From
there my stories only grew, becoming more original and finally just before high
school I decided I wanted to write books as a career.
How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?
I spend most of my work time in my room writing on my lap top while
listening to music. Sometimes silence helps but most times I like to have music
playing because sometimes the silence can feel oppressing and overwhelming.
What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite
part about writing?
My favorite part about writing is coming up with the stories and
characters. Most times when I write the words just flow and I'm always
surprised where the story and characters lead me. My least favorite part about
writing is often starting the story as I don't always know how to do that, I
know what I want to happen but often times I have trouble getting from point A
to point B. Sometimes I even have trouble starting a sentence at the beginning
of a chapter as I know what I want to happen in a chapter, but again, not sure how
to get there.
How do you come up with your characters? Why would readers
want to get to know them?
A lot of times for characters I start out with a trait that I find
interesting then grow the character from there. I like to write about
characters that I like to read about or that have (unique) traits that make
the story interesting by seeing how they would react in certain situations. I'd
like to think my characters are relatable and that readers could see themselves
reacting in similar ways to the character in the situations they find
themselves. Sometimes characters can be unrealistic in the way they act and I
try to make my characters as human as possible, with just a bit of artistic
license as sometimes we as people have too many flaws and aren't always able to
overcome them.
What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?
I've tried several things to market my books ranging from blogs, to
signing up to member sites for writers, to having a teacher at a local school
read my books to students. As a writer you just have to keep trying and not give up. Take a
lesson from your own characters and keep battling that dragon, or solving those
murders, whatever your genre.
How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?
I try to work everyday for at least five or more hours in the
morning. In college I would write at night, basically whenever I could and when
I felt motivated by the story. That didn't always help me get a lot of work
done. Sometimes you just have to
force yourself to write, even if it's just a sentence, or a paragraph.
Sometimes having multiple projects going can be good as you can work on one of
those when your main project just isn't inspiring you.
What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book
out?
Right now I am working on the next book in the Undercover
Angels series which focuses on the Holy Spirit and learning what he is and how
he affects our lives as Christians. My newest book is the second installment in
the Undercover Angels: Elemental Blades, a three part addition to the entire
series. I hope to have the third book out soon.
I have several projects on the back burner that I'm hoping to get
to once I'm done with all my planned books for Undercover Angels. After the
fantasy of those books my next project is going to be a little more normal
focusing on a group of teens and their struggles with life in high school.
Though they might be facing a little more turmoil all at once than most teens I
hope to help those in similar situations to know how to deal with things like
drugs, peer pressure, and changes in your circle of friends. But I won't be
able to work on that project for awhile.
What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish
but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?
Just keep writing and reading. There is always going to be someone
out there who you think has more talent than you, and maybe they do, but that
shouldn't stop you. As long as you are passionate about your work and your
stories are important to you, keep going. As long as you are striving to be
your best and working to grow your skill the only thing hindering you is you.
Don't get in your way.
Force Three: Season One
Elliot is a college graduate with a digital imaging degree.
When she's not writing her novels, she writes and creates art for her online comic-strip, "Subject to Change: College Woes," featuring spin-offs of her long-time friends who went off to college (without her!). She also designs art for t-shirts and other products, featuring the crazy antics of the Subject to Change gang.
Learn more about Elliot here:
ElliotDylan.com
Email: elliotdylan@elliotdylan.com
Nice cover art there! ;-) With the digital imaging degree, I'm assuming she did them herself... well done! They look great.
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