This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Tiffany Reisz has popped in to answer a few questions about her book, The Saint, which is a prequel to her Original Sinners series. This book is the first in a new series of novels and sees Nora Sutherlin, Manhattan’s most famous dominatrix, telling the mysterious story of her past.
Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?
When I’m drafting a book, I get up in the morning, drink my coffee and find a cozy place to write. I’ll set a daily writing goal of maybe 3000 words (sometimes 5000) and write until I reach my goal. When I’m finished, I’ll think about what I’m going to write tomorrow and jot down notes.
When you are writing, do you use any celebrities or people you know as inspiration?
Very rarely. Usually I create the character first and then I find a celebrity who could play him or her in the movie just because fans ask. The character exists in my head first. The celebrity after.
What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?
I’m not sure what does and does not qualify as women’s fiction. If I had to guess, I’d say my favorite was The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel. I fell in love with the oddball heroine and didn’t care if she ended up in a relationship or not as long as she was happy and continued taking care of the girls who were entrusted to her. Wonderful magical book.
What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?I’m a planner and a plotter but I’m never married to my outline. If something better comes up while I’m writing, I will toss the whole outline and start from scratch. I do about twelve drafts of the big books.
What was your journey to being a published author?
I wrote and I wrote and I wrote. Then I sold a novella to Harlequin which gave me the confidence to try to sell my novel, The Siren. I got an agent who sold The Siren to Mira Books and the rest is history. There are no shortcuts to having a writing career.
What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That anyone can do it. No one believes anyone can be an architect or a scientist or a marathon runner, but we believe anyone can pick up a pen and bang out a great novel. Trust me, it’s not easy.
What advice can you give to our readers who want to write a novel of their own?
Don’t. Seriously. If you can live without writing, then live without writing. It’s unbelievably hard work and will take over your entire life.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on a series proposal outline for a sexy, funny modern fantasy series I want to write.
Thanks, Tiffany!