Thanks so much Jennifer for talking with us today, and welcome to Creativity@Work.
1.
When
did you first start writing?
I started writing poetry in grade school - in fact, I
was determined to be a poet all through into college. Then for some reason I
switched to prose. I occasionally write a poem - very occasionally.
2.
What
are your books about? Are you self / traditionally published or hybrid?
I write a variety of science fiction and fantasy - my
first book was space opera, my second near future sci-fi/horror with
non-traditional zombies. I'd call myself hybrid - I was with a publisher, but
they went out of business and now I'm self publishing. I'd go with a publisher
again if they had something to offer me. I also write short fiction and am
always submitting to magazines and anthologies.
3.
What
led to your love for literature? Any favorite books / teachers / writing
mentors?
I've been a voracious reader since I could read. I got
hooked on science fiction when my dad gave me a copy of 20,000 Leagues Under
The Sea. (I wish I knew what happened to that book - it was bound in blue and
gold. Yes, I was the kind of kid you could give nice books to and know they'd
survive). And Tolkein. The Hobbit. That's when I decided I wanted to write that
some day.
4.
What's
your writing process like? Do you outline? Do you write by hand / type /
dictate?
Outline? What's that? I only outline if I'm writing
some kind of freelance assignment that requires it. RPG books need an outline.
For novels? I let the story take me where it wants to go. I write on a computer
because even I can't read my handwriting.
5.
What's
your editing process?
I do one quick read through for obvious stuff. Then I
go through line by line, carefully, to look for real mistakes. Then my beloved
husband proofreads it. Then it goes to a publisher or my editor. If I'm self
publishing, it gets another thorough edit after the editor's done with it, and
then proofread again. I don't like my books going out with mistakes. I often
read things out loud when editing - it's a great way to spot mistakes.
6.
What
did you find most / least useful in learning to write?
Least useful: Books about writing. You'd think a writer
would learn well from books - not this one. Most useful: My writer friends,
definitely. And lots and lots of practice. The only real way to learn to write
well is to write and keep writing.
7.
Do
you have a writing routine / schedule? Any specific rituals?
I don't have rituals. I know some people do. I tend to
write a chapter, take a break, write a chapter. I'll devote a big chunk of time
to a project and normally have two or three going on at once so I don't get
bored/sour. But no "rituals" or specific schedule. I generally try to
be done with freelance work and fiction by about 6pm, but it doesn't always
work out that way.
8.
Where
do you feel most inspired to write?
I'm the anti-coffee shop writer. I feel most inspired
in my home office or somewhere quiet. I have to tuck myself away in a corner.
9.
Describe
your desk / writing corner / favorite writing spot.
Oh man. Messy. I'm not a neat person in general and I
get worse when I'm busy. We're talking stacks of books, plushies, stress balls
(none of which are actually balls), photos. Clutter everywhere.
10.
Do you listen to
music while you write? What kind of music?
Absolutely. I find it hard to write without music.
I'm also the only person I know who can write to music that has lyrics. As for
what kind...it's mostly soft rock, but I've also developed a recent fondness
for Abney Park. Big fan of Queen. But it varies a lot. I've got some jazz, some
electronic. I don't do playlists either. I'm weird in that the music doesn't
have to "match" or be anything specific.
11.
Do
you ever get writers' block? What are some ways you get around it?
Writer's block? I remember writer's block. I pretty
much don't get it any more. I say the way around writer's block is to sit down
and write. Use a prompt if you have to. Sometimes I'll spend a lot of time
pacing before starting a short story and it might look like I'm blocked, but
it's more "shaking an idea loose." I know that's not very helpful.
But putting one word in front of another is the way to go, in my mind.
12.
Do
you now, or did you ever have any day jobs? Did they add to or detract from
your writing?
I've had a ton of day jobs. Right now I freelance.
Every day job has detracted from my writing because, to be honest, I've never
managed to find a job I actually liked. If I did, then I think things would be
different, but I don't handle retail well and I find sitting in an office kind
of draining. It's different for a lot of people. I make sure to get away from
my desk and recharge, though.
13.
How
do you make the time to write?
That's not an issue so much as juggling client work and
fiction and RPG work. Trying to find the right balance between the two so I'm
making money and still having the energy to do the fun stuff. I plan my week so
I'm working on different things...I have a weekly schedule that pretty much
assigns projects to time blocks.
14.
How
much research do you do? What kind?
Depends. I do most of my research on the internet these
days, but some stories don't take much research. On the other hand, I wrote a
hard science fiction short last year where I spent more time on the internet
tracking down a virtual orrery and messing around with it until I got the
planets in the right location for what I wanted to do than I spent writing the
story. I also make use of the local library. If I'm doing hard science fiction
or historical fantasy then, yeah, lots of research. Secondary world fantasy
it's all worldbuilding, which is a different thing.
I also take every opportunity I can to do something
weird - I've done trapeze school, gone dog mushing, all kinds of things. And as
I live outside DC I also have access to the Smithsonian, which has come in
handy.
15.
How much marketing
do you do? Which platforms are you most active on?
I probably don't do enough
marketing. I'm most active on Tumblr, trying to get more active on Twitter, but
I find I get "lost" or engrossed in Twitter if I hang out there.
16.
What's the most fun aspect of marketing? The most
challenging?
Oh, I'm the writer who
hates marketing. Going to conventions is the only part of it that's fun - for
somebody who's normally introverted I have a bizarre enjoyment of meeting new
people and speaking in public. Doing social media stuff isn't as fun for me. I
find it hard not to have it feel forced. I'd rather have my best advertisement
be my next book.
17.
What
project are you working on now?
I'm working on two things right now. The first is
Making Fate, makingfate.jenniferrpovey.com, which is a web series based on
Norse mythology (not always accurate, it's fictionalized, but). Then I'm doing
final edits on Shadowwalkers, which is an urban fantasy/paranormal romance with
not a single vampire in it. Sparkly or otherwise.
18.
What
books do you like to read? What are you reading now?
I mostly read science fiction and fantasy, occasionally
horror and sometimes I'll pick up some interesting non-fiction. I'm re-reading
Peter F. Hamilton's Void trilogy right now. Pretty good book, although the fact
that he constantly uses download when it should be upload annoys me as much as
it did the first time. Sorry, Peter.
Bio:
Jennifer R. Povey is in her early forties, and lives in
Northern Virginia with her husband. She writes a variety of speculative
fiction, whilst following current affairs and occasionally indulging in horse
riding and role playing games. She has sold fiction to a number of markets
including Analog, and written RPG
supplements for several companies. Her most recent release is the apocalyptic
science fiction novella trilogy The Silent Years. She is working on
an ongoing urban fantasy serial that can be found at
http://makingfate.jenniferrpovey.com/.
The Silent Years
Dorothy Mayling thought her worst problem was an ongoing family feud - then the Silence came and assaulted her family, the people she was determined to keep safe.
Helen
Locke fought to hold together a bastion of civilization against the zombie-like
Silents and those who would rather be savages alike.
And
young Becky was a survivor, raised in the aftermath, and only wanting to live
her life - when the true horror of the plague was revealed.
These three novellas, originally published
separately as Mother, Crone, and Maiden are now available in one combined
edition.
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