Spotlight on Tera Lynn Childs
Q:How long have you been writing?
I joined RWA in 2002, but didn’t really get serious until I entered the Golden Heart the following year.
Q:How long did it take you to publish?
Just under four years.
Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?
OH. MY. GODS. was my fourth complete manuscript, so there are three others tucked away until the day Chick Lit resurrects or my historical voice returns or I
get tired of writing young adult (aka never).
Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?
That depends on how close I am to deadline. On an average day, I’ll get up, check email for an hour or so, and then head to Starbucks for 3-4 hours (I so cannot write at home). If deadline is looming, I might be at Starbucks for 6-8 hours. Yeah, they know me by name.
Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?
I have a few casual critique partners I can send stuff to when I need a quick read or a fresh pair of eyes. What I use more is my brainstorm buddy, West Houston’s own Sharie Kohler/Sophie Jordan. If I’m stuck or uncertain or just trying to work things out in my head, I’ll give her a rundown of the situation. Her fresh perspective almost always pinpoints a missing element or the right direction.
Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?
It’s different for every story. For my debut novel, I came up with the working title (GROWING UP GODLY) and had to come up with a story to fit. For the sequel, e story built from the existing characters. Of the three YA proposals I’m currently working on right now, one began with a title, one with a character, and one with a plot premise.
Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file, etc?)
I live and die by the spiral-bound notebook–the pretty, smallish ones with flowers or frogs or candy hearts on the covers–and use a different one for each book. If I come up with an idea while working on a book–which always happens, by the way, and it’s always a way better and more interesting idea, too!–I jot down a few notes in a new notebook and move on until I’m done with the current project.
Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?
Not bored, really, but I’ve definitely gotten stuck. That’s a danger with pantsing. Usually it’s at a point where I need a twist, a new conflict, or a scene dealing with the subplot. Once I figure out what’s missing, I can move on.
Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be…
Exactly what I’m writing. I love writing young adult
and I love mythology, so putting the two together
is my perfect book.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?
Get the agent first. Without my agent I would never have sold my first book and I would have had a nervous breakdown long before I ever got to contract.
Q: What is the worst?
Anything that starts with "Never…" or "Always…." There is no such thing as an unbreakable rule–as long as you know the rule and why you’re breaking it, then everything is fair game.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
The beginning–where everything is still new and fresh and exciting–and the end–where it all comes together.
Q: What is your least favorite?
Everything in between
Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?
The agent. I never submitted to editors because I wanted to keep the slate clean for my future agent.
Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?
Oh, thousands. I finaled in probably a dozen (including the Golden Heart). I won two (I think). I got one request … after I sold.
Q: How do your promote your books?
Since my main readership is teens, I put a lot of time and effort into MySpace–there are tons of librarians and booksellers on there, too. I’m part of a YA group author blog at BooksBoysBuzz.com and I have a pretty extensive website with bonus resources for students, teachers, librarians, and more.
Q: Free form – your chance to tell us anything you’d like – tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc.
While there is no formula for getting published, I firmly believe that anyone who keeps writing, keeps learning, and keeps growing as an author will wind up holding the umbrella in a thunderstorm–getting struck by lighting is only a matter of time.
