Tuesday, May 17, 2011

10Q Tuesday ~ Sara Brookes


When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

My writing hours are broken up into a few times over the course of a day. My husband leaves extremely early in the morning for work every day, so I usually get up when he does and get a few hours of writing in. Then it’s off to the day job for me. After everything settles down with the family for the night, usually around seven, I can sit down for another few hours to write.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Usually getting the first draft done without stopping to go back and fix something. I’ve gotten better about just scribbling a note to myself and chugging on but sometimes, I have to scold myself to keep from fixing something. If it really bothers me, I will have to go fix just so I stop obsessing about it. But first drafts are for the crap writing in my opinion. If you can get it nailed first time out of the gate, I admire you.

Does your significant other read your stuff?

Yes! Every single story I write regardless of pairing or heat level.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Both. And they are invaluable! I cherish every time I get to work with them.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I’ve come to learn I’m a hybrid of the two even though I tend to lean toward pantsing. I can’t sit down and write an outline from start to finish before the book is written. Heck, I’m not sure I could even do it after the book is complete. But I will start a story knowing the beginning, one or two points I want to hit during the course of the story and the end. I just never know where those one or two point fall in the story.

Boxers or Briefs?

How about a third choice—bare as the day they were born.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

Yes. Every story I write has a playlist that usually gets put together during the first draft. Then, I’ll listen to it while I revise and edit. If it’s a story that’s being published, when edits are happening, I’ll pull back up the playlist and listen to it while I work. I’ve found, after a story is long been published, I can listen to that story’s playlist and immediately pull up in my mind the scene I identify with the song.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What didn’t I want to be? Astronaut, firefighter, draftsman, crossing guard, teacher, mom, cop, and writer all held places on the list. Three of things I actually became but I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which. *g*

Morning Person? Or Night Person? How do you know?
I’ve been a morning person most of my life. I think it’s because my parents were so I got used to that routine growing up. There was a period of a year or two when I was 19/20 years old where I went to work at 5 pm and got off at 2 am. I hated it. Not only for the hours but because my husband worked 4 am to 4 pm. Two ships passing in the night and we were newlyweds.

Do you play games? What kind?

I got hooked on video games when the Atari came out (and I’ve just dated myself with that admission). My dad and I would play so much and so long, the unit would heat up and shut down completely. In my teens it wasn’t an unusual occurrence for me to stay up all weekend long to play Mario or Zelda. Now it’s not usual for me to stay up on the weekends playing DraonAge or any of the LEGO games

14 comments:

Jessica E. Subject said...

Sara,

I am such a morning person too.

Bare is a great choice. LOL

I remember Ataris too, Commodore 64s, and the very first Gameboys.

I look forward to reading your Sypricon Masters series.

Maureen said...

Crossing guard...you know, we need more romances out there that feature a crossing guard...

Sara Brookes said...

@Jessica I still have my Commodore 64 somewhere in a box! I could never bring myself to get rid of it.

@Maureen My mother always thought it was the oddest thing for a child to want to be. But, at the time, I was of the opinion it was the best job out there because they made sure the kids were safe!

Maureen said...

I did the crossing guard thing when I was in 8th grade... Was threatened by some bad ass 6th grader for telling her to stop harrassing the special needs kids... ;-)

B*itch brought her big bro to set me straight... Years later he married my older sister. I totally shined him on at the time...

*shakes head

I loved my sign and reflective vest!

Rebecca Royce said...

I don't think of myself as a morning person but the truth is that I write better in the AM. Loved getting to read your answers!

P. Kirby said...

Lego games. Heh.

A few years ago hubby and I got Lego Star Wars. I game a lot--Gears of War, Modern Warfare, Halo, etc.--but for some reason, I sucked at Lego Star Wars. Couldn't get my little character to walk in a straight line. Was always falling off cliffs, walls, etc.

Sara Brookes said...

@Maureen See? Totally awesome to be a crossing guard!

@Rebecca Fresh brain perhaps. Um...not zombie-like nom nom, I mean. Just a fresh perspective on things with a brain that's had rest.

@P Kirby I LOVE the LEGO games. In fact...I just sitting here taking a writing break playing LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean. This silly little games are addicting.

Misa Buckley said...

I'm a night owl, but definitely agree that bare is best!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you all the way with that 3rd option. Gotta love commando!

Great post!

Sara Brookes said...

@Misa & Layna Always good to hear some back up on the bare option!

kathleen said...

I have a hard time getting through the first draft, too. I fix things all the time.

It's great to here your significant other reads your work.

Great post!

Barbara Elsborg said...

What a great partner to read your work. I don't have one of those. Well, yes, I have the great partner but he'd sooner gouge his eyes out with a pencil than read my stuff. Or maybe that's what I'd do to him when he started criticising it. I did ONCE let him read something and it came back covered in red biro. We both learnt from that.

And music! I'm so impressed you have music on as you work. I just can't operate unless the room is silent. I'm just going out to strangle that bird.

Sara Brookes said...

@Barbara He's always been extremely supportive of my writing--even when he's grumbling about me spending too much time writing. LOL But yes, he does criticizes too and he's usually right. Dang it.

Barbara Elsborg said...

Don't you hate it when they're right!! Not always good to tell them. LOL