About Terri Deno:
I am a freelance writer living in the Midwest–which means after I spend all day writing, I get to write some more. Along with all of this writing, I also enjoy spinning my vinyl collection on my record player. And I know how the right soundtrack to any work in progress can make the difference between struggling to write a paragraph and blasting through a thousand words.
What inspires you to write?
The inspiration for my writing probably stems from my shyness. Instead of making an effort to interact with the people around me, particularly in public places, I tend to spend more time observing them. Through this observation, I’m able to think up all kinds of stories and scenes where they would fit. On a good day I can use something as simple as a young woman dropping her scarf on the ground and build a whole world around it.
Tell us about your writing process.
As much as I love to write, I’m one of those writers who will find any excuse to get up from my project to snack, make coffee, or even clean the bathroom if I’m working on a really tough spot in the plot. I know I’ll have a bigger editing job ahead of me if I sit down to write for more than two hours straight.
I also make a point to outline my projects, even if the outline is really basic. When I don’t outline projects, I get stuck in the middle. Some of my earliest projects are still sitting unfinished because of this.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t talk to my characters, but I still have to know what they are really made of, so I think about the absolute best and worst situations they could be in. Then I play it out to see how they would react. That gives me a better idea of how they should react to to situations within their story.
What advice would you give other writers?
It doesn’t matter if you are planning to publish everything you write or nothing at all—just keep writing and keep improving on your writing. Even if it is just a daily journal entry, make a point to write that day’s entry better than the yesterday’s. This is how you build your skills and find your voice.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I spend months researching the pros and cons of independent publishing before I released my first writing project. When I was in college, I was told that the standard way of doing things is to get short stories and poetry published in literary magazines, then try for an agent or go into an MFA program. This path didn’t seem to be the right fit for me. Also, it came down to the numbers. Whether traditionally or independently published, you still have to spend your own money and effort on marketing yourself. At least with independent publishing, you’ll be able to reach your maximum royalty potential, even if you have to reinvest it all into your marketing.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think traditional publishers no longer control the landscape. Because they still seem to be set in their ways, many more independent authors are finding success without the middle man. If an author does decide to go the traditional route, they can maximize their exposure and potential if they start as an independently published author first.
What do you use?: Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: romance, poetry, chick-lit
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Terri Deno Page On Amazon
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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.
