This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Sonja Yoerg’s debut novel, House Broken, focuses on veterinarian Geneva Novak, who understands the behavior of umpteen species, but is struggling a little with her very human family. Today, Sonja joins us to talk switching from science to writing, and how she’s happy to write slowly if she gets it right.
Where do you find inspiration for your books?
I start with a character. Luckily, my head is filled with all sorts of people who don’t exist, so someone to write about is always waiting for me. I honestly can’t explain what happens from there, other than to be mysterious and say the story emerges. House Broken began with Geneva, a woman who likes her ducks in a row, ready to swim. Life loves to mess with people who relish control, so creating conflict for her was dead simple. For starters, I gave her an alcoholic mother and two teenagers.
Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?
I try to get some words on the page early in the day and often fail. I’m not one of those writers who can spill 3,000 words a day. I’m lucky to get 500 because I am obsessive about getting it right the first time. Plus I get distracted. Sometimes I wonder how I ever got to the end of my first book. And my second. I believe so much of story creation happens when I am not writing, so I try not to fret about the achingly slow, shadowy process. Even if you only write a page a day, that’s a book a year, right?
When you are writing, do you use any famous people or people you know as inspiration?
No, I don’t seem to need that motivation. The ideas and the words themselves, the unfolding of the story, the challenge of being as honest as I possibly can, that’s what inspires me.
What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. It’s a small book that holds so much poetry and understanding, it takes my breath away.
What female writer has inspired you?
Every single one with a day job and kids.
Can you give us three book recommendations?
The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey. Who knew a book could make me want to live in the Alaska wilderness. It’s gorgeous and lyrical.
Plainsong, by Kent Haruf. His writing has taught me so much about the power of restraint.
Looking for Me, by Beth Hoffman. A lovely, original story, elegantly told.
What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?
Because my training is in science rather than writing, I tend to be experimental in my approach. I’ll try anything at least once and go with whatever works, recognizing that what works can change from book to book (and from minute to minute). I’ve tried plotting the whole thing. (I got bored and started writing.) I tried a combination of plotting and winging it. (I got confused but the method was better.) For the book I’m working on now, I only know what is happening in the scene I am currently writing, and sometimes I don’t even know that. It’s terrifying, but also fun.
The upside of writing slowly is I tend to write clean first drafts. I made one short revision of House Broken. For my second novel, The Middle of Somewhere (September 2015), getting the story right took a few drafts. As long as I feel I’m getting closer, I don’t mind revising. This surprises me, because normally I’m incredibly impatient. But if a trusted reader tells me something is amiss, there’s no way I’m going to let that book out of my hands until the problem is fixed. 
What was your journey to being a published author?
Thirteen years ago, before the publishing industry went through a sea change, I published a non-fiction book about animal intelligence, Clever as a Fox, so I thought I knew a little about the business. I didn’t, both because selling a novel is different than selling non-fiction and because publishing is a different animal now.
Like most debut novelists, I didn’t have any connections, an MFA or even a party trick, so I searched long and hard before finding an agent who would take a chance on me. Lucky for me that agent was Maria Carvainis, and she found House Broken a home with Claire Zion at Penguin. The ordeal, I mean ‘the process,’ from finished manuscript to a deal was about 18 months.
What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That having a good story to tell is the key to getting published. In my view, the primary correlates of success are hard work, professionalism and commitment. I’m a very stubborn person who doesn’t like being told “No,” and it’s worked in my favor.
What advice can you give to our readers who want to write a novel of their own?
Run away! No, seriously, if you’ve been toying with the idea of writing a novel for a long time and haven’t started, it may not be for you. I know so many writers who feel compelled to write under even the most dire of circumstances. If you are wondering if you can write, then you must try. Today. Otherwise, let it go.
What are you working on at the moment?
A coming-of-age story set in Vermont in the 1970s. At least that’s what I think it’s about. The story has a mind of its own, so who knows? When I’m not in an absolute panic about it, I’m enjoying it thoroughly.
Thanks, Sonya!