About E. L. Tenenbaum:
Hello! I’m one of those people who think that a bookstore is the happiest place on earth. My love for stories in different shapes and sizes has led to a degree in journalism, a stint as a script reader and a few runs as a writer/ director for community theater, musicals specifically.
What inspires you to write?
Writing is something I love to do so much, my fingers get itchy, my mind becomes unsettled if I stay away for too long. Inspiration and ideas come from the world around me. It can be in a little scene I witness or from something I hear or see that strikes me in a certain way. There are so many stories tucked into every corner of life, and writers are lucky to spot them and share them with others.
Tell us about your writing process.
I find that everyone has their own way of doing things, and, while it is good to get tips from others, the best thing to do is find what works for you. In that regard, I only start a story once I know the ending. Once I get it, I usually let the story simmer a while until I can really see the characters or certain scenes that will take me where I want to go. The clearer these things are, the easier it is to write the story. I don’t work with official outlines or spend too much time mapping things out before I begin. I figure out a place to start and then just let things go from there. Often, the characters or their intentions may change as I go along, and I like to allow that to happen regardless of the way I thought they would be when I first set out to write the story.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t really interact with my characters, aside from trying to put myself in their head and look at the world the way I think they would. For me, I think it the best way to make relatable characters.
What advice would you give other writers?
1. Read Diligently – pay attention to the how of the story as much as to the what.
2. Know Your Craft – We all learn how to put sentences together in grade school. Writers recognize that there is more to writing a good story than that. Read about others, learn from others, study what is out there, refer back to #1.
3. Be patient – writing and publishing are long processes. Stick with it, it is worth it.
4. persevere – not everyone makes it on their first try, not every book is good enough to be published. Just keep going.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was lucky enough to be picked up by a small publisher, and am so thankful for the experience it gave me. If you can, go with someone else because working with professionals really makes a difference. Now, I am part of their publishing community and get to interact with their authors, which is a tremendous help, benefit and support system.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I have heard good arguments for all types of directions publishing may take in the future. For now, I think it will work a lot like the film industry. There are still the major players, like the big studios, who offer the best chances of success and visibility. Next are the indie-publishers, who still get a book out there on a professional level. Then come the self-publishers, which are very much like people who make their own films, they just give everyone a chance to see their name in print. One of the greatest feelings in the world!
What genres do you write?: YA, Fantasy, Contemporary
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
E. L. Tenenbaum Home Page Link
Link To E. L. Tenenbaum Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
