About Maegan Cook:
Maegan Cook is a up and coming writer with many projects in the works (mostly unfinished). When she isn’t glued to a computer screen, she spends time working in the garden, catering to her dog’s every whim, and taking long drives in the country-side with her partner in crime.
What inspires you to write?
Most of my stories are character driven, I’m often inspired by a song, people-watching, or piece of art; and my mind starts to churn and scenes and character development begin to generate in my brain 9often going no where)
Tell us about your writing process.
I usually develop a character or a scene first, and the story blooms on that design or idea. I do (for the benefit of my sanity) create a loose outline of plot points, which often gets revised as the story develops and tightens. For instance, “The World Next Door” is based on a dream– which when promptly written down, served as a loose outline that I then had to fill in the characters and the connecting scenes for a finish product.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Oh my gosh, yes… writing dialogue can feel like some warped form of schizophrenia. Lol. I get into the head of my main character and let them take the wheel. It’s a powerful way to drive the story, but it can also take the writing to places it has no business being. Then it’s my job to keep on target toward the outline point for the scene or chapter and forcing my character back on track.
What advice would you give other writers?
Finish what you start. When inspiration strikes, take it and run. It doesn’t have to be neat, it doesn’t have to be perfect, that’s what revisions are for.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I would encourage people to look into the options and choose what’s best for them. Creative control and networking are the most valuable things I was looking for publishing my first couple of books, so I opted to remain in control and learn the trials of marketing by self publishing.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it’s going to grown to be more organic, big house publishing will have to learn how to be more flexible, or go the way of the dinosaur as indie publishing takes control of the market.
What genres do you write?: Fantasy, sci fi, YA, romance, manga
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
