About Isabel Curtis:
Author of “Before Life Happens”, in the process of writing a sequel, and around other 47 books.
When I’m not writing, I read. And in my spare time I buy too many books and more bookshelves. I’ll need a bigger house pretty soon.
I love travelling, and when I pack my bags it’s 98% books and 2% clothes.
What inspires you to write?
A movie, a song, a poem, a book, an image…anything can trigger my imagination and lead me to create characters/stories in my head. Once even the slightest plot idea is growing in my mind I let my inspiration take over and soon enough the whole book is coming to life.
Tell us about your writing process.
I’ve tried the outline-type of process but that’s just not for me. I can write down an overall idea of how the story will develop, but I don’t do the chapter-by-chapter outline strategy that some writers seem to love. I usually just sit at my computer and let the words flow on their own. I might start a dialogue between two characters not having the slightest idea of where that’s going to take me, and I like it.
I keep a notebook in my purse so if during the day (if I’m not sitting at the pc) I get an idea for a plot twist or a way to get over that writer’s block that’s been keeping me prisoner for a week I can write it down and then work on that the moment I get back to writing.
What advice would you give other writers?
First of all, I’d say: read a lot. Read books from authors who write the same genre as you, books like the one you plan on writing, and even other types of books. Just read.
Get a website, a Goodreads page, a twitter account and a tumblr blog.
Then, DO hire a professional proofreader/editor to help you with any typos or grammar errors you might have missed, readers hate that kind of stuff and might influence their reviews.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to self-publish right away: I’ve never wasted my time looking for an agent or a publisher, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try that in the future. But I like the idea of self-publishing, doing your own marketing/promotion, choosing your own cover, having a closer relationship with the readers… It’s a pretty interesting world and I like it, plus it’s not that hard nowadays to self-publish (there are many platforms out there that make the process pretty smooth and easy). It’s all just a matter of marketing and promotion.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think book publishing will introduce some more innovations in term of self-publishing tools and services, but traditional publishing will still be the preferred outcome for most writers: I think that won’t change. Readers will start looking for new genres, and I think New Adult authors have a great path ahead.
What do you use?: Professional Editor
What genres do you write?: Young Adult, New Adult,
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print
Website(s)
Isabel Curtis Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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.
