About FanTC:
Fanny T Crispin (aka FanTC) is a Young Adult fantasy fiction author who recently dabbled in the increasingly popular Steampunk genre. She enjoys dressing up in costume and attending Renaissance Faires, collecting notebooks, people watching in cafes, and daydreaming on rainy days. She lives with her adopted cat-child–who’s very stubborn and finicky.
What inspires you to write?
Everything. The world is a plethora of observational inspiration. Street signs inspire me, flowers growing alongside the road, traveling, people. I jot down ideas in a little notebook I keep in my back pocket. Writing offers me an outlet of my thoughts and an inlet to free-flowing imagination. Growing up was very hard for me, because I always wanted to stay a “little [girl] and never grow up”. So writing allows me to tap into my inner child and go on adventures which otherwise would be impractical or even impossible in the real world.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am by nature a seat of the pants writer. I’m atrocious at preparing–for anything. But lately I’ve come to value the organizational benefits of plotting out a story beforehand. What I typically do is buy up a bunch of index cards and neatly and orderly jot down the characters, the world laws, the chapter outlines, and the overarching plot of the story. Then the cards get lost and all my planning goes to discord. So now I write all that information in a cheap notebook. Since I also write by hand the majority of the first draft, it’s easier to keep everything in one place. From there, I will type the whole thing in an OpenOffice or WordDocument for editing.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t recall ever interacting with my characters. I am the Narrator and Story Keeper. I’m only there to ride along on the adventure and take notes. I’m like the invisible companion to my characters, watching and waiting for them to make a decision or life-altering move. Sometimes they can sense my presence…like a ghost following them.
What advice would you give other writers?
Advice? I give the same advice every writer gives: just write. I don’t care how you do it, just do it. There is no magic method or secret solution, just write. Whether you’re a journalist, columnist, bloggist, novelist, or other, it’s all the same–just write. If you like notebooks, tablets, or cellphones, just write. When you can’t sleep, or are too tired, if you’re waiting for the bus, walking to school, or laid off from your job, just write. Through this all, keep your mind open, like a door cracked suspiciously open to take a peek at the strange world beyond. Take up your pencil, your stylus, your keyboard, and just write.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I did a lot of research into traditional publishing, querying agents, and even sent in some submissions. I got a few rejections, or sometimes nothing at all. But I’m a pretty independent person, and I got tired of people telling me “I can’t”. So I turned to self-publishing. I weeded out a few companies based on my personal preferences. I needed an avenue that would be the most straightforward, user-friendly option possible. I kept coming back to CreateSpace because of their affiliation with Amazon and user reviews. It really was what I was looking for, and the staff at CS were tremendously helpful. I’d recommend new authors do their homework. Each book is different, each path has its own bumps and twisted turns. Do your research; and be patient. Take the time to polish your work, your pitch, and your goals. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes help us grow.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I’m excited about the innovative publishing routes. There is truly something for every writer. But on one hand, the quality of work is sadly lacking. I believe if people would take more pride in their writing and invest in an editor (freelance editing is becoming huge, too. Do your homework), there would not be such a stigma on self-publishers or ebook publishers.
What do you use?: Professional Editor
What genres do you write?: YA fantasy fiction, Steampunk fantasy, Urban fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
FanTC Home Page Link
