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Guest Post: Writing For An Audience by Susan Kaye Quinn + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Guest Post , Susan Kaye Quinn , The Spellbound Lover Posted on November 9, 2011 @ 7:00 am
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We are very happy to welcome author Susan Kaye Quinn here at Book Lovers Inc today. Her new novel, Open Minds was released this month and she is here today to celebrate her release! She has been kind enough to include an ebook copy of Open Minds to one lucky commenter! Please give Susan a warm welcome.When I first started writing fiction, three years ago, it was like an addiction. It gripped me, and I wrote day and night, stealing time from everywhere for this torrid love affair I was having with the written word. The mania subsided (a little), but I’ve never had a problem with motivation for writing. Motivation to do the laundry? Lacking. Motivation to clean the house? Well, I’ve never had that. But writing moved me, pulled me to my chair at the computer like gravity turned sideways.
Yet I was only writing for an audience of one: myself.
As time went on and I decided to seriously attempt to write for publication, I had a vague sense of audience. There was the nebulous audience of future agents I might query, and even more distant readers that might one day read my work. The closer audience of critique groups and partners, and eventually my own children (for my middle grade stories), gave me a sharper sense of audience. These were flesh and blood people that I cared about, that would read my story and help me make it better. But they seemed more like partners in the process than a true audience. After all, I was inviting them to help me change the story! And they seemed to like that, especially the kids and their friends.
My first true inkling of audience came after my first novel, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit, was published. First of all, there was no changing the story, once it was published. It was fixed in time, like an insect in amber, forever preserved as a sample of my writing craft at that time. (A truly frightening thought, if you stop to consider it.) Secondly, all kinds of people were reading my story. Not just my mom, or carefully selected writing partners, but random people that my mother-in-law gave the book to, or that picked up a copy at a signing, or downloaded it to their Kindle. When I attended a local book club meeting where everyone had read LLP, the rush was intense. They had read my book! And wanted to discuss it! It was the high, all over again, only fed back to me through the enthusiasm of my readers.That was phase two of the Torrid Love Affair, igniting a desire to have people read my work that was almost as strong as the desire to create it in the first place. There’s a saying that the writing experience isn’t complete until someone reads (and interprets) the work. I don’t know if this is true for everyone, but it is absolutely true for me.
Now, with my newly released novel Open Minds, I’ve entered a third phase. A lot more people are reading my work! (I popped by Goodreads two days after the book’s release and found six people “currently reading” the novel. My jaw dropped.) And they are leaving enthusiastic reviews! (I’ve been stunned by the response to the book, honestly. Stunned, exhilarated, overwhelmed with the desire to bounce in my seat.) But what takes this to the third level is that I’m writing the second book, Closed Hearts, while the first one is venturing out into the world. The books are intimately connected, as books in a series are. It is very clear to me, this time around, who my audience is, and what they think of Kira’s adventure so far. This knowledge spurs me on, makes me crave time at the keyboard, and fires my imagination for the sequel.
Phase Three of the Torrid Love Affair: I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
*********************
Open MindsWhen everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack TrilogySusan Kaye Quinn is available for $2.99 in e-book (Amazon US (also UK, Franceand Germany),Barnes & NobleSmashwords) and $9.99 in print AmazonCreatespace, also autographed copies available from the author).
Where to find Susan Kaye Quinn:
Subscribe to her Newsletter
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~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Susan has offered an ebook copy of Open Minds to a lucky commenter!
All you have to do is leave a comment or a question for Susan or answer this question:
Would you pretend to be something you are not just for a chance at being normal?
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on 19 November and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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"Would you pretend to be something you are not just for a chance at being normal? "
Nope, if I did I'd have stayed in the closet.
Thanks! jason {at} jasonkivela {dot} com
No way, I'm contrary down to the marrow. I relish my differences from the masses.
cas at sigmadog dot com
I love these answers. 🙂
So many things for a writer to think about when crafting a novel and yes, it's a wonderful feeling to have people reading and talking about your work in good terms.
Thanks for stopping by JL! 🙂
Great post, thank you!
Hmm, no I like who I am, so I am not going to pretend something I am not. Take me or leave me 😉
auriansbooks at gmail dot com
Answer: I probably would just to fit in if all my life I'd been shut out because of being different. But then later, I'd realize that being different is okay and I won't pretend to be someone I'm not anymore.
email: cruz042 at csusm dot edu
as a teen: definitely. now i don't know. i would have some problems being not who i am. it would be really difficult and in the end it would just hurt me. and because i know that fact i wouldn't pretend to fit in.
witchvela at web dot de
I pretend everyday. Nothing bad just I have found life is easier if I let people see what they want to see. My true friends know the real me.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
The book sounds interesting and is getting great reviews. I've already downloaded my copy!
I would have said yes a decade ago, now, I think it is too stressful to keep track of the lies and to try to maintain my cover. I can deflect only so far, but my social skills are not up to par to keep it up.
melorabrock {at} gmail {dot} com
@Susan Thanks so much!
this is on my list because the of the BookLovers review. 5 Bookies! good enough for me 😉
If I had the problems that some of the heroes and heroines of UF/PNR have…damn right I would pretend to be normal . Other wise you would be hunted.
thanks! sstogner1 at gmail dot com
I would definitely NOT pretend to be normal because I am extremely contrary and that would drive me completely batty!!!
jwitt33 at live dot com
Answer: Um… no. I've tried that and have never been very successful. I usually come away feeling depressed…
Susan, I love these words of yours: "It was fixed in time, like an insect in amber, forever preserved as a sample of my writing craft at that time." And it truly is a terrifying thought!
rachelmorganwrites[at]gmail[dot]com
Enter me, please! :o)
I think I spent my whole life pretending to be something I wasn't to seem normal. I'm pretty sure everyone does it at some point until they discover what they want in life.
jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail.com
I think these days being normal is overrated and everyone wants to be different and have individuality.
Very excited to read this book!
atRaquelJ28-twitter