Interview
On Writing and Such
In response to Agent Ranch Hand (Ranch) and Sunny A Morgan’s chain letter
Hi. I’m Heather. I fancy myself a writer. Ranchy made this questionnaire with hyper-reclusive people like me in mind. Live conversations with people terrify me, but I’m witty AF by the third draft.
So without further ado…
Why and when did you start writing?
I’ve known that I wanted to be a writer since I was like 12. But despite the encouragement of a few teachers, crippling insecurity kept me from pursuing it. Then Life reared its ugly head with its bills and drama. My only writing outlet for a long time was roleplaying forums and fanfiction. And a few false starts.
The years since COVID have been transformative, to say the least. I’ve since had an epiphany that has left me overcome with the compulsion to make something happen with the mountain of story material that has been doing the Macarena in my head for… well, a long time.
Enjoy that earworm. You’re welcome.
If you had to give up either snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?
I don’t snack much when writing and I will often forget that I have a drink sitting there because I am so in the zone. The only music that I can write to is classical. Anything with lyrics is too distracting. I just need some level of background noise that’s not too loud.
What does your writing process look like?
Uhhhm… process?
I generally write a super-loose plot outline. Then after a few thousand words, my characters tell me where I can shove my outline and they do their own thing.
So then as much as I love writing spicy scenes — and believe me, I love writing spicy scenes — it’s important that they are there to serve the story, not the other way around. It’s always my aim to treat readers (and myself) to as much rewarding steam as I can without letting it feel dropped in.
Which is your favorite season to write in, and why?
Any time except that blurry transition between seasonal changes (like now) because then I’m too blocked.
What would you say your worst writing habits are?
I am wordy AF, so editing takes longer than it probably should because I killed my intended pacing or I got stuck on describing something trivial. Even the answer to this question started out 2 paragraphs longer.
Do you like audio books, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
I used to be resistant to e-books until I caved and bought a Kindle with paperwhite. Now I love it. There is definitely something magical about holding a physical book and storing it where you can revisit the memory of it forever. But sadly I had to sell them all.
The only audiobooks I’ve listened to were a couple of Dresden Files books. They were awesome. If I had more time to kill, I’d probably expand my audio library.
If given the chance to live anywhere in the world so you could write a book, where would it be?
I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland and England, where the vast majority of my ancestors came from. My fantasy lore is mostly rooted in Gaelic and Arthurian folklore.
In three words, how would you describe your works?
Three words? I just got done saying how wordy I am!
Sapphic Genre Fiction?
From where do you get your ideas?
I am heavily inspired by the TV, movies, and comic books that I grew up on. And other genre books, of course. I’ll pick and choose ideas from across the spectrum of genre entertainment, then grab some past experience or memory and throw it in a blender with a heaping dash of extra spice.
Do you feel like you would be a better writer if you wore sparkly socks when you wrote?
I don’t do sparkles. Do my Captain Marvel socks count? Then yes I am.
Do you have a preferred font to write in?
TNR 12 because that’s what the editor I eventually hire will want. I’ve tried other fonts, but then I’d get hung up on them so I just went with the cleanest one. Maybe Georgia since that’s the font of choice for thrillers.
Picture this: You feel uninspired, and you’ve sat at the computer for an hour without writing any words. How do you get your creativity flowing?
That is not hard to picture at all. I wish I had an answer to that. I guess the way I counter it is by having so many projects going semi-simultaneously. At least one of them will inspire me. But that’s not a “method” I would recommend.
Do you have a favorite story, article, or poem in your catalog of work that I can find here?
Honestly? I’m still proudest of the first thing I wrote on Medium, which is fanfiction. I set out with the intent of writing a sex romp fantasy and it ended up a sweet romance. It was my first experience where my characters slapped me upside the head and were like, “No! Tell our story right, bitch.”
At some point, I will change all of the DC trademark stuff and flesh out a more original superhero universe fit for publication.
What’s the hardest part about writing your bio?
Not sounding boring because I hate talking about myself.
Do you have a favorite word? What is it and why?
Oh jeez. Uhm. If I do, I’m not conscious of it.
Would you say that writing energizes or exhausts you?
It absolutely energizes me. Nothing can ever beat the high of nailing a scene. There’s bonus endorphins for working in a really cool turn of phrase.
What is your writing kryptonite?
DIV sex. If there’s ever a guy in a sex scene, it’s only about the foreplay and the emotions, and then fade to black. And that’s if that ever happens at all, which is unlikely. One of the challenges I face with Wilde Liaisons is getting Gwen out of situations where a guy she’s spying on might get past third base. The first scene where that happened ended with a great punchline.
Actually, that might be a fun running gag… Hmm.
What is your writing superpower?
I don’t know if I’d call it a superpower, but I’ve been told I write pretty snappy dialogue. The pitfall there is not turning into Joss Whedon where every character in the scene is too hip for their own good. So I always do my best to vary my “voices” so to speak.
I’ve also been told by a reader that they felt like they were right there in the scene. That was the best compliment anyone could give me. I always strive for a cinematic feel.
What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Short spans of time tend to be measured in heartbeats or breaths.
I love doing tension buildup with a long list of minor details about a scene followed by something like…
And then she moved.
Blame Timothy Zahn. But that’s not all that unusual I don’t think.
Not sure if this counts, but normally I hate present tense. It’s distracting. But I write my Hundos that way because it‘s’ not a whole story. That’s just a glimpse in time, so it fits.
Similarly, I will slip into present tense when we’re in a dream or the psychic plane to give it a surreal quality. Or if someone is moving at superspeed like The Flash. It’s the one artsy thing I do.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a story?
I will research enough about a city or country to make things feel authentic. I did quite a bit of research on Hong Kong and Chinese languages for Wilde Liaisons. I’ve also gone pretty far down the rabbit hole of folklore and vampire lore to set the stage for Darke Desires.
There definitely is a line of “too much” research, though I’m not sure where that is exactly. When it stops you from actually, ya know, writing the story I guess. Similar to the idea of studying craft for years without actually writing. Nah, I’m not guilty of that at all.
Honestly, you just need to know enough to fake it convincingly. Fans call out Jim Butcher all the time for his strange grasp of Chicago geography, but we forgive him because he gets lots of other things right. And I’m not about to try to summon demons or practice real witchcraft, but I need any little details I throw in to sound interesting while not being so cliché that a Wiccan who picks up my work would just roll their eyes at me.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
There is a huge metaphysical element to writing. Like imaginary characters bitchslapping me and throwing my outline away. There is also something incredibly cathartic about it.
I can’t imagine anyone writing genre fiction who doesn’t at least acknowledge the spiritual aspect of it. Yes, there are all the mechanical aspects of the craft. Be clear, show don’t tell, keep the reader’s attention, don’t be (too) repetitive, vary up your dialogue tags, etc. But I suspect that the only ones who care exclusively about that side are nonfiction writers.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
When reading the stories I’ve published on Medium to date, one might conclude that I hate men because the very few that appear are either antagonists or idiots. I swear I don’t. It’s just kind of nature of the #Sapphic tag that men are background characters.
But to answer the question… Honestly? Nothing. People are people. Their sex is just one aspect of how they will react to situations and move through your plot.
A word of blunt advice that people may not like… if you find anything about writing the opposite sex difficult, especially in erotica, then you may want to rethink going down this road. Readers will sus you out in an instant. If you have trouble writing convincing people, no one will care what they are doing, especially when they’re fucking.
Do you ever take random writing breaks to dance? If so, when do these breaks occur?
When that high hits because I nailed a scene with one of those super memorable award-winning lines and I’m like HELLS YEAH.
Do you use any special writing software? If so, what is it, and what are a few of your favorite perks of it?
I actually pay Microsoft to use Word. I tried Open Office, but important parts of it are just too clunky. And stuff like Scrivner and other author-centric programs have all kinds of bells and whistles that I just don’t use. Lately, I’ve been warming up to Google Docs since I learned you can use it offline, so I might stop giving tribute to Mr. Gates.
Do you feel like it is more important to have strong characters, mind-blowing plot twists, or epic settings?
Certainly, having great plot hooks and throwing unexpected swerves at your CHARACTERS is super duper helpful to make your CHARACTERS more memorable. And, especially if you are writing fantasy, the setting that your CHARACTERS are moving through really needs to be engaging and fun for the reader to imagine themselves in.
But without solid characters, no one will care about either of the above.
There was one of those too-clever-by-half popular memes that made the rounds a few years back and resurfaces every now and then. It outlined how Indiana Jones did nothing to contribute to the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Nazis still would have found the Ark and still would have opened it and died whether he was there or not.
To which I mockingly respond… Yeah and? The movie is an epic that launched a franchise because of the awesome main character. And yet, it was a plot-driven story (just like the pulp adventures of old that the film was clearly inspired by).
Who or what motivates you to work hard?
My desire to be true to myself and not lose what’s left of my mind to the soul-sucking corporate culture that I’ve been trapped in for way too long.
Writing full-time is my retirement plan.
Who’s a writer you’re obsessing over right now?
Victoria Rush. Her erotic fairy tales and time traveler series are mind-blowing.
Since this is a Medium questionnaire, who’s a Medium writer you are obsessed with, and can you tag and slap a link to your favorite stories?
So I’ve become really picky when it comes to F/F erotica. The stories I added to this list are a cut above. I do not bookmark to this list lightly…
As for specific authors, I have come to really admire Lisabet Sarai. I’ve even read some of her straight-sex stuff, which coming from me is a big deal. She’s given me a lot of great advice. Her writing is beautiful and her sensibilities are very much in tune with mine, though she’s much better than I am.
What would the title of your biography be?
The Broken Road.
How do you come up with names for your characters?
Hoo. That’s a tough one. I don’t have a system, per se. I mean Gwen Wilde and Emma Darke just kinda came to me.
For secondary characters that don’t need to be as catchy, most of them are made up of a pastiche of personalities from my past. I will often take names from the different people they represent, mash them together, and/or put a subtle spin on them. Anastasia Matchenko, for example, is taken from two girls I had mad crushes on.
Can you give a shout-out to a fellow author?
I owe a lot to G.G. Wylde for heaping so much encouragement upon me and being my biggest cheerleader when I arrived on this crazy platform.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Why?
Urban Fantasy. As a kid, I read a lot of fantasy novels. And I read a lot of comic books. It made me wonder why authors were not putting all that cool mystical stuff into a more real-world, modern-day setting. Why were comic book writers the only ones who got how cool that was? Well them and Anne Rice. But she was about it.
As it turned out, other kids I had never met like Patricia Briggs and Jim Butcher were out there wondering the same thing. They just had the guts to make it happen. There’s a lesson in there somewhere. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
What would be three pieces of advice you would give someone who wants to become a writer?
Heh. Don’t.
Kidding. Kinda. There really are too many people out there who need a reality check. Unless you are content with it being a hobby, then go nuts. Write your ass off. That’s all the advice you need.
I’m just saying this road is not for the faint of heart. Of course, it took me *cough*-ty years to get my head out of my ass and I’m still here trying anyway, so what do I know?
Wow, that was a real “living in a van down by the river” pep talk, wasn’t it? Well then, so that said…
- Read. A lot. Both in your genre and outside it. Not to steal ideas and plots (though you will as a byproduct of your reading — as has been the way of things since Shakespeare) but to understand pacing, structure, and what makes good characters.
- Study people. Even if you are an INTP neurodivergent, socially awkward nerd like I am… you have to understand what makes people tick. What do they want? Why do they do the fucked up things they do? Why would someone choose to be a hero/villain — particularly when not motivated by the usual tropes? (ie. tragic loss or being the chosen one) What draws them to a certain kind of lifestyle or music taste? And in the case of this audience… why are they fucking each other? What are they getting out of it? How do they see the experience compared to their partner(s)? Otherwise, you might as well write a porn vignette featuring AI bots.
- Get a helmet. Writing to earn a living is hard work. The less time you invest outside of the putting words to paper part, the more money you’ll have to spend to make up for it. You think sitting down and making words magically appear on the page is tough? You haven’t known pain till you re-read what you finally wrote over and over again to edit and polish it. Now you’ve got to market it. How? By engaging with readers. Does that scare you? Too bad. Because if you don’t, they forget you exist and go buy someone else’s book.
- I know you said 3 pieces, but this one’s important even though it doesn’t apply to Medium so much. Assuming you’re not blessed with mad graphic design skills, don’t skimp on the cover designer.
Good luck, kid. Oh, and bookmark WordHippo.com.
What is one thing you strongly believe in?
Everybody has a story. Something made them the way they are, good or bad. And that story isn’t over yet.
What does being a successful writer look like to you?
I just want enough people to pay to read my work so that I can live comfortably without a 9–5 job or needing some kind of side gig like Walmart greeter in my old age.
Do you have a motto or life mantra?
I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And gosh darn it, people like me.
What movie or book character do you identify with most?
Susan Dushenka Ivanova
What are your top three guilty pleasures?
Napoleon Dynamite, 90 Day Fiance, and uhhh… some might qualify the Star Wars sequels as a guilty pleasure, but I didn’t hate them.
If you could have a kissing scene with a famous person, who would you pick?
Milla Jovovich
What’s the funniest typo you can remember writing?
Wait a sex.
How many drafts do your books generally go through before publication?
I’ll tell you when I publish a full book. Probably 3.
What is a behind-the-scenes tidbit of your life that would probably surprise your readers?
I used to be a big professional wrestling fan. I still follow it a bit.
Who plays your favorite MC?
Played, many years ago. Jennifer Garner.
What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve ever done in the name of love?
Oh God, I’m so boring IRL. My characters are total wish fulfillment.
What are the top five things on your bucket list?
See all of Great Britain.
That’s it. Told you I’m boring.
What do you say was the most spontaneous thing you ever done?
I know you wrote this question before finding out how boring I was. Sorry. Now you know why I’m writing all this instead of doing a live interview.
Who do you want to send this to?
Myself *cough*-ty years ago.
What are your favorite book covers?
The Forgotten Realms covers of old were gorgeous.
Do you recommend writing blogs or outside help to new writers?
Search 20booksto50k on Facebook or YouTube. You’ll find plenty of resources from there.
The ERWA is a great bunch of folks for erotica writers, too.
Do you have any pictures in your writing area? What are they?
Ya know, it’s crazy. Cameras don’t seem to work around me.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. THE FINAL QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE A WRITING BUDDY? SOMEONE WHO CAN HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE?
Does the voice in my head count?
So I’ve already tagged a couple of folks who I’d love to see followups from. I’ll add JA Martin, JK Mill, Vivian Blake, and Lucky Lover (Author). Make sure to tag Sunny A Morgan and Agent Ranch Hand (Ranch) so they can check them out. If you submit this to Crush, use the topic META. This also comes with an invitation to join Ranchy’s Twitter Space on Sundays. Read his original post with all the questions (linked up at the top) if you want to know more.
