About Pauline C. Harris:
Pauline C. Harris is the author of middle grade and young adult science fiction novels and published her first book at the age of fourteen. She’s currently working toward a degree in English. Other than writing, her time is consumed mainly by reading, playing the violin, watching old black and white movies, and trying to survive her college classes.
What inspires you to write?
I get inspired by any manner of things. A lot of times I’ll use playlists and pinterest to get my imagination going and then once I start to get excited about an idea it just comes. Or course, it always needs a little prodding, but I find finding inspiration a really important aspect to writing.
Tell us about your writing process.
I usually start with a title and rough idea. I always make a pinterest board for my story so I can visualize it, along with a playlist, so that the story can really come to life in my mind. Then I create a rough outline and start writing. The characters usually come to life and figure themselves out as I write. I’ve learned that my characters tend to be whoever they want regardless of what I had in store for them so I find it best to leave a little bit of wiggle room for any unexpected twists and turns I might need to add.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I definitely listen to them. I can remember many times where I had a set idea of what a character was going to do and they just flat out wouldn’t do it. Whether it just sounded unnatural or didn’t fit, I have to be in tune with my characters and figure out what works best for them.
Another way I try to figure my characters out is through imitation. I’ll act out scenes and try to see where my own emotions lie and then portray that in the character.
What advice would you give other writers?
Develop a thick skin early and never give up. There will always be people who hate what you’re writing, but you can’t let it get to you. Publishing isn’t supposed to be easy so don’t be discouraged when it isn’t.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’ve experimented a lot with different types of publishing. I tried traditional publishing to see how that was, I tried self-publishing to gain more control, and now I’m somewhere in between. I think it’s an important step for every author to find out where they want to be in this spectrum and what type of publishing they want to pursue. For me it was a lot of trial and error.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think there will always be a market for books, but that market is changing. People want fast paced, easy books, it seems. And digital publishing will definitely continue to grow. But I’m optimistic about publishing growth and change. I especially love how easy self-publishing has become and how easy it is for authors and readers to interact.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: young adult, science fiction, fantasy, middle grade, new adult
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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