About Sarah Noffke:
Sarah Noffke is the author of The Lucidites Series. She’s been everything from a corporate manager to a hippie. Her taste for adventure has taken her all over the world. If you can’t find her at the gym, then she’s probably at the frozen yogurt shop. If you can’t find her there then she probably doesn’t want to be found. She is a self-proclaimed hermit, with spontaneous urges to socialize during full moons and when Mercury is in retrograde. Sarah lives in Southern California with her family.
What inspires you to write?
Three things: The work itself, readers, and my family. I started writing because I was compelled to. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done professionally. Before when I worked in an office building doing “business-type” things, I used to leave as soon as 5 o’clock rolled around. I couldn’t wait to be done. Now, I can’t wait to start working. I don’t want to quit at the end of the day. And it’s something I would do for free…and have.
Readers are a relatively new motivation for me as a new author. But now I’m completely hooked by them. When I shared my books for the first time and people actually liked them I got the biggest high. Then the next best thing happened: people had questions, ideas, and inspiration all connected to my books and characters. Receiving my first fan art was an extremely memorable day! Readers make it even more fun because I know when the books are finished for me, they will just be beginning for others. It’s a great motivator to finish.
And finally, I write for my family. Whenever I write, in the back of my head, I’m nervously curious what one person will think: my husband. He’s my first reader. My biggest supporter. I write most of my stories for him. I guess after all these years I still want him to think I’m cool. And I also write for my daughter. She’s the muse who started this series. She’s Roya in some ways. And more than anything I want to show my daughter that if you want your dreams to come true then you make them. There’s no magic. No genie. You sit down and do what it takes
Tell us about your writing process.
I’m certain that in time I will have a consistent process, but for now I don’t. I didn’t outline the Lucidites series. For that reason, I’m in awe of the themes that strung together. I owe this credit to connecting with the writer inside me. See advice for aspiring writers for more on this.
I usually write the clearest first thing in the morning. And by that I mean, before the sun comes up. Actually, my characters became so real in my head toward the end of the series that they usually awoke me with their babbling. “Yes, yes Aiden. I hear your little scientific diatribe. Let me just put on my glasses and I’ll write it down.”
I also love to write at night. Having the house quiet and relaxing with a glass or two of wine really helps the flow. But honestly, I write when I can and when the ideas strike. Sometimes I have to pull the car over to jot down an idea. Or I repeat something over and over until I get out of the shower so that I can write it down. And as far as how much…? Well some times I’ve given myself goals. 2000 words by the end of the day, Sarah, got it? But actually what works best for me is just to have goals as far as coverage goes. I need to get through this scene and start the next by the end of the day.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
They wake me up almost every morning around 4 am talking in my head. Once I sit down to actually write, I try to get out of their way and just let them talk. If I take myself out of it then usually something really surprising happens, that I don’t feel is connected to me or something I’d say through them.
What advice would you give other writers?
Every writer has advice on this topic and it’s all worthy. It’s advice from other writers that’s made me who I am. With that being said, I don’t want to repeat what most say, but I’m going to anyway. My promise is that I’ll try to say something new too.
So most will tell an aspiring writer (and they’re correct) to read as much as possible, write every day, and read books on how to write.
Alright, now here’s my something new that I give to only you: Become intimately acquainted with the writer inside you. This is not a person the world outside will know. This is the part inside you that only you know, that tells stories inside your head, and imagines fantastic things when the normal day-to-day is going on around you. You’re the only one who knows this person and the only one who can interpret their stories. Make a habit of closing your eyes once a day and meditating with this person. In time you will be so connected to them that their words will flow from you effortlessly. Most writers I know will agree that their books do not come from them, but rather through them. This happens when you open up this channel.
And if that sounds too metaphysical for you, well then just check out Stephen King’s autobiography, On Writing. He’s a genius.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided that I wanted to have control over the content, cover, and timing of when my books were released and so I indie published. My advise is figure out what you want as an author. Do you want control or do you want someone else making those decisions. And don’t think that if you are traditionally published that you can sit back and not market the book yourself. That was a big factor for me.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It’s already changed so much in the last few years. I see more self-publishing because traditional can’t keep up with demand. I think there will be more education for indie authors so that they produce better products.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: YA sci-fi fantasy
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Sarah Noffke Home Page Link
Link To Sarah Noffke Page On Amazon
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