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Today, Katie McGarry is stopping by for a “How I Write” feature, and is generously giving away a signed copy of Pushing the Limits! Many thanks to Katie for participating!
About the author:
Katie was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Her YA novel, Pushing the Limits, debuted with Harlequin Teen on July 31, 2012.
Are you a planner (outline, etc.) or do you “pants” it?
I’m a mix between a plotter and a pantser. I usually free write the first couple of chapters in order to find out who my characters are and then I’ll stop and plot. Once I know the direction of my story, I’ll start writing again, but typically my characters love to tear up my plot, dance all over it, and head in a whole other direction.
My character, Noah, from Pushing the Limits was notorious for this.
Do you write daily or sporadically when you’re inspired?
I try to write daily, but the answer is I write whenever I can find time. I’m a stay-at-home mom of three very active children. My families’ activities and needs come first.
I squeeze in writing time whenever I find those few beautiful moments just between me and my lap top.
What kind of mood are you typically in when you write (happy, sad, etc.)?
When I write, I “become” my characters. Their highs are my highs. Their hurts become my hurts. I cried several times while writing Pushing the Limits, but I also laughed quite a bit too.
Where is your favorite place to write?
On my front porch swing.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received for writing?
The best piece of writing advice I ever received was: if you don’t emotionally hurt while you’re writing your story, you aren’t writing the right thing. If I go pages and pages without feeling a twinge of ache or making myself giggle, then I’m coasting. I don’t want to coast through my story.
Katie McGarry’s Debut
More “How I Write” Q&As!
Twitter: TTLGreviews
says:
I loved this interview! Especially what Katie said about having a deep emotional connection with her characters! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sara H. recently posted..The Paladin Prophecy by: Mark Frost Review & Giveaway!
I read and reviewed ‘Pushing the Limits’ and I really enjoyed it. I absolutely love fantasy, but it is so nice to read a good contemporary YA book in there, too. Great interview!
Audrey @ Ink and Page recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Things About National Novel Writing Month #NaNoWriMo
Twitter: silverlight00
says:
I loved Pushing The Limits! Placing yourself in your characters shoes, is a great way to feel every emotion, and translate those feelings to paper. It makes for a more realistic story.
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I love seeing how other authors write! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Valia recently posted..That Time I Went to a Book Signing
I loved this book, and I would LOVE a copy of it for my high school library. Our students would really enjoy it. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Being a stay at home mom, I am in awe of Katie. I can barely get anything done, let alone write a novel.
Thanks for this great interview.
Andrea @The Bookish Bace recently posted..{REVIEW} DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT (DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE #2) by LAINI TAYLOR
Twitter: marmaladelibby
says:
I can’t figure out how you write on your front porch swing! I would be SO distracted I think! I’d want to weed, or something like that instead!
Ange/Libby Blog recently posted..Cover Reveal: Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu
Twitter: JstAnotherStory
says:
I was kinda surprised that Katie has three kids. Wowza. I can see how Noah would disrupt the plans a bit. He seems like that kind of guy.
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Twitter: mizgillianberry
says:
I love hearing how different authors write. It’s such an individual process. I either need dead silence in the dark of my bedroom or the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop, because I’m weird like that. It’s interesting to know as a reader, too!
GillyB recently posted..Why I Love YA
Twitter: fakesteph
says:
I love the advice about feeling as you write. I just cried while writing an emotional scene for the first time ever and it was the most surreal awesome experience ever. When I read through that WIP, it was the only scene without any major changes that I wanted to make.
fakesteph recently posted..Book Blogger Hop: November 9-15, 2012
[…] Coon Peterson on her blog this week for her How I Write series. I found this very inspirational! She also interviewed Katie McGarry (author of Pushing the Limits) for the series! AND, Miranda Kenneally (author of Catching Jordan […]
Kind of book that make me forget to sleep or to eat. I loved Echo and Noah, hell, they have strong chemistry…My pterodactyl butterflies somersaulted in my stomach while reading it :p…
Signed copy? I would never get this chance…Thank you for this great opportunity
Hahaha, Noah! Sounds like him. 😉 I love the writing advice! That’s so totally true. Because if you don’t emotionall hurt while writing the story, then the readers probably won’t either. And everybody loves emotion! I definitely cried and giggled while reading Pushing the Limits!
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