About Ginny L. Yttrup:
Ginny L. Yttrup is the award-winning author of Words, Lost and Found, Invisible, and Flames which releases September 22, 2015. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. Publishers Weekly dubbed Ginny’s work “as inspiring as it is entertaining.” When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, critiques manuscripts, and makes vintage-style jewelry for her Esty shop, Storied Jewelry. She loves dining with friends, hanging out with her adult sons, or spending a day in her pajamas reading a great novel. Ginny lives in northern California with Bear, her entitled Pomeranian.
What inspires you to write?
As a child, I escaped my circumstances through the world of story. I was and am a voracious reader. Now, I write to provide others with stories that not only allow them to escape for a time, but more importantly, stories that both entertain and inspire. I find inspiration for my novels in many places–other books, news coverage, movies–many outlets can and do trigger ideas. But most often, I find conversations with other women are the impetus for a new story idea. Through hearing someone’s personal story or their take on a current event, I often sense the seed of a idea sprouting.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am a full-on seat of the pants writer. Not by choice, but because seat of the pants writing is the only “process” that works for me. (Yes, I put quotation marks around “process”–my apology to other seat of the pants writers who believe SOP writing is an actual process.) For me, the thoughts don’t/won’t flow until my fingers are on the keyboard with a blank chapter staring me down. Oh, I’ve tried typing an outline, chapter summaries, synopses, but…no. Nada. Instead, I have a first sentence knocking around in my mind and a sense of who my protagonist is, or at least who she wants to become. When I have those two pre-requisites, I begin. The story doesn’t flow, it dribbles. But after 10,000 words, the dribble turns to a steady stream. I work best in the early morning following the consumption of one cup of coffee. Any more coffee, and I’ll have to get up and clean the house or do some other physical activity. One sentence + one cup of coffee = my recipe for success.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
As an extreme introvert, I only have so many words to offer each day–written or spoken. So I don’t talk to my characters and risk wasting words. I do, however, let them guide me as I write. I rely more on a sense, something difficult to describe, but completely other than speaking or listening. It is a knowing that takes place between myself and my characters. If I write something that doesn’t fit who the character is–I’ll know. It’s a mysterious process–even to me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Read. Persevere. Read. Persevere. Read. And hire a writing coach. Honestly, that’s my best writing advice. Read what you love. Write what you love. And just keep doing both over and over and over. Then hand your work off to a professional and let them read it and critique it. Allow them to share their experience and knowledge with you. Learn. And then re-write your work as many times as it takes.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
After completing my first manuscript (Words–B&H Publishing Group–2011), the pursuit of publication seemed like the natural next step. I attended a writers conference, submitted three sample chapters to an agent, and when he requested the entire manuscript, I cleaned it up and sent it to him. I traditionally published three novels and love the synergy of working with a publishing team. However, I decided to independently publish my fourth novel, Flames, because I had so many friends enjoying the self-publishing process. I consider myself a hybrid author at this point, but I’m thoroughly enjoying learning the publication process and may try a few more independent publications before going back to contracted work. Time will tell…
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I believe this is an exciting time for authors! There’s more freedom to express ourselves and publish our work without having to first build a platform or acquiesce to what a publishing company deems marketable. Having said that, it’s also a challenging time for many traditionally published authors as contracts seem harder to obtain. What’s ahead? I don’t know, but there will always be readers, so there we’ll always need new books. My guess is the changes will only enhance the marketplace.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: I write women’s contemporary fiction focused on issues everyday women face.
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Ginny L. Yttrup Home Page Link
Link To Ginny L. Yttrup Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
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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.
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