You’re A Writer: FAQ

By Courtenay May 2, 2023 Behind the Scenes, SAWPublications

Do you like FAQs? If I’m perfectly honest, I usually don’t. Not because I’m lacking in general interest, but because I hate scrolling down looking for the answer that “may be found on our FAQ page.”

This isn’t that kind of FAQ.

Rather, here’s a run-down of the author-related questions I’m most frequently asked in my personal life, as well as the answers I give—or would like to give, now that I’ve had time to step away and really think about the questions.

(And just before this one turns into a FAQ: no, that’s not me, in the picture. It’s just a smiling lady with a pencil who may or may not get frequently asked writer questions of her own.)

What Kind of Stuff Do You Write?

When I get asked this, I typically say, “historical fiction.” Then, feeling outrageously nervous, and unable to let the questioner come up with the next remark, I add, “for kind of the teen/young adult age bracket, mostly.”

And that’s probably true of 70% of my writing, 70% of the time.

Historical fiction for “young people” (to use an old-fashioned term my sister hates!) is unquestionably my passion.

However, I do enjoy writing the random short story, both historical and contemporary; the occasional non-fic article; poetry that I barely ever show anybody; and of course, day in and day out, somewhere around a thousand words of blog content most weeks.

Are You Working on Another Book?

That’s a question I get asked more frequently than even what I write. And the answer, for at least the past decade, has always been a resounding “Yes!”

Some people dream of writing a book. Others dream of being an author. Writing a book may be a one-time event, but being an author is a perpetual “continuous present tense.”

In point of fact, I usually have a bare minimum of at least three works-in-progress going at a given time. It’s not as outrageous as it sounds.

I started typing an explanation of why it’s not as outrageous as it sounds, and the explanation turned into a full-length post of its own, which I hope to share with you sometime in the near future. But for the present, the answer remains “Yes!”

I am definitely working on another book.

Is It a Sequel?

For a long time, I felt sort of badly answering this question. I don’t like to disappoint people. And it seemed like they would have found it interesting if my next book had been a sequel.

The trouble is, for years and years, it wasn’t.

I love creating characters. When you write a sequel, you get to continue with old characters (some of them very dear friends) but your opportunities for creating new characters are reduced.

However, in the past eighteen months, I have made a dip into the world of sequels. I’ve drafted one full-length sequel to my Civil War work-in-progress. And I’ve also drafted the first trio of the “historical cluster” stories that I introduced some of you to during the Know the Novel linkup last fall.

At the end of the day, though, my opinion remains pretty much the same. Sequels, while sometimes desirable, will never be my great passion. I still love standalones. And the novel I am currently drafting is not a sequel!

Don’t You Have to Do a Lot of Research?

Yep, I definitely do!

That’s probably true of any form of fiction. Probably true of any form of writing. But you definitely do notice it when you’re working with historical fiction.

The good thing is, I hugely enjoy research. It has on me an effect similar to caffeine on other people. It wakes me up—gets me exited. It is totally addictive. And turns me into an over-strung mess if I indulge in it more than I should!

I love research. Not all authors do, so I count myself blessed that it happens to be something I really enjoy.

Are Your Parents Writers?

If you ask my parents themselves that question, they’d probably answer “no.” They wouldn’t consider themselves writers—although in my opinion both of them can write.

They are, however, readers. And promoters of great books.

So while, in a certain sense, writing isn’t something I inherited, the culture of loving books—which is definitely the biggest factor that has moulded my writing journey—was a gift that came first and foremost from my parents.

Is Your Writing Financially Successful?

I thought about leaving this question out of the post. But at the end of the day, I want to be honest. And honesty compels me to admit, this question is part of my FAQs.

I also want to be truly sensitive in answering it.

Many dear, sweet people have asked me, out of the kindness of their heart, “Can you actually make a living doing that? Are your books selling? How many copies have gone so far?”

Their genuine interest in my life is something I would never want to treat lightly or callously—their curiosity is something we all, as human beings, share.

But it is still a question that I regret being asked to answer. It never has a very confidence-building effect on me, somehow. It tends to strengthen the parts of my character that do not glorify God, and weaken the ones that do.

What, after all, is financial success? Am I writing for financial success? Should I be writing for financial success?

But when I’m asked that question, I always feel not only that I ought to be judging my writing by the way it sells—but that the way it sells reflects on me as a horrible writer.

Is There an Answer?

Perhaps the most graceful reply, after all, is to return the question back to you.

Why do you ask?

Is it because you are curious about the possibility of pursuing writing yourself? Is it because you are anxious about my present or future well-being? Is it because you have an overflowing interest in life in general? Is it because, quite honestly, you couldn’t really think of another question to ask next?

Then let’s talk about whichever your answer was. They’re all perfectly valid! How much of my own financial details I share with you—whether we’re talking online or in person—is probably going to vary with each individual case. But I thank you so much for your interest, and your enthusiasm. I am blessed to have your questions in my life!

What’s YOUR FAQ?

Everyone gets asked questions in life. Some of those questions are one-time occurrences. Some of them surface again and again. I’d love to hear your personal FAQs—the questions you find people asking you again and again. And I’d love to hear your answers to the questions we’ve talked about above. Just use the comments section down below.

Looking for more peeks at the writing journey, see our previous post:

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"I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." Romans 16:19