Writing
Routines/Mechanics
- Do you have a writing routine? How often do you write?
-I do have a
writing routine. I try to write every day, at least 2k, though I
don’t always end up writing this much, it is definitely my goal.
(Otherwise I would never finish anything)
- How long typically does it take you to finish a piece?
-I used to be
terrible, I would start things and then take OVER A YEAR to finish
them, but now I am much better. It typically will only take me 2-3
months to finish something.
- Do you use outlines? Are you a pantser or outliner? Can you do both?
-I am some sort of
hybrid of both. I usually make a general outline of where my book is
going, though not with too much detail and the nitty gritty info is
subject to change. You know how characters go, always running off in
one direction with guns blazing without permission.
Writing
Inspirations/Process
- How do you come up with story ideas?
-I usually get my
ideas from everyday life like most writers. I find inspiration in the
simplest things. Like a man walking down the highway. A catch phrase
that clicks into something in my mind and spurns a plot theme, a
picture. Things like that.
- Do the characters just come to you or does it take a bit of work to get them straightened out?
-I have to say both
on this one. I have had characters come to me, whole and full of
their own issues, while I have had others that have taken longer to
evolve.
- Do you completed a first draft and then revise or do you revise as you go?
-I typically revise
as I go, though this doesn’t mean that I don’t make changes when
I go back over it, before sending it out to beta readers.
- Are you ever worried about offending anyone with a character or plot choice? How does that effect your writing?
-Oh, girl. All the
time! My characters seem to want to do things that people would find
crazy, awkward, or just down-right wrong. I try very hard to let them
do what they want, because in reality, that’s what people do and I
like for my characters to feel as real as possible.
Marketing/Publishers/Reviews
- Do you have pen name? (Don't worry, not asking you to share your real name.) How did you pick your pen name? What made you decide to have a pen name?
-I use my real
name. I considered using a pen name when I first started writing, but
found that I wanted my real name to be associated with what I had
written. I found it to be more rewarding.
- How do you deal with rejection letters?
-Rejection letters
are a part of being an author and they have helped me grow. I
wouldn’t be the writer I am today without a whole plethora of
rejection letters.
- How do you feel about reviews? Do you read your reviews? How do you move on from a horrible review?
-I definitely read
reviews. Like rejection letters, it is the bad reviews that help me
grow as writer.
Writing Genres/Heat
Levels
- What genres do you write now? What genres would you like to write/branch out to in the future?
-All I write is
romance (of course I am a romance junkie! Lol) I have spaced myself
out across several different romance genres though. Historical,
contemporary erotica, and paranormal.
- Heat Levels. What heat levels do you write? Can you write multiple heat levels? Are there any heat levels that you feel uncomfortable with?
-I usually write
toward a higher heat level. There are always some graphic scenes in
my books. ;)
- Do you write BDSM? How do you feel it is portrayed in books today?
-I don’t write
BDSM, but I love to read it. I don’t know much about the BDSM
world, not enough to write a book about it, but I find it very
interesting.
Writing: Types of
Stories
- What length of stories do you write? Do you find certain lengths of stories sell better than others? Do you prefer to write a certain length over others?
-I have written a
novella, a novelette, a short story, and a novel. LOL, so I can be
versatile. As far as what sells better, I’m not really sure, but I
know that I, as a reader, prefer to read books of novel length, so I
don’t plan on writing anything short in the near future…though
that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. ;)
- Have you written any pieces in an anthology? Does it help get more readers to standalone books? Do you think anthologies sell well?
-I have had the
privilege of being a part of one anthology. The HerStory anthology
that came out in March 2013. To be honest, I loved this experience. I
got to work with a bunch of amazing authors and got the chance to
expand my writing circle. Definitely something that I would like to
do again in the future.
- How do you feel about series? Do you think they sell better? Are easier or harder to write?
-I love series. I
love to read them and I’m currently writing one right now the first
of my paranormal series will be published later this year with
Dragonfairy press. For more info click here.
I think they are a great way to build an audience as a writer, but I
also have found that they post challenges to the writer because you
definitely have to have continuity.
Writing Background
- What type of formal training have you had with writing? Do you think it has helped or hindered you?
-I am a junior in
college and an English major. Focusing on English has definitely
helped with my writing. I have been exposed to a lot of classical
pieces through school as well as learned how to perfect my writing as
a whole.
- When did you first start writing? Do you remember your first story? First genre?
-My first story
that I wrote was titled Beautiful Nightmare. A paranormal novel that
ended up being over 125k. WOWZA. It is unpublished and is horribly
written, lol. It was my first though, and I will always love that
story.
Writing Support
Groups/Forums/Nanowrimo/Networking
- Have you done nanowrimo or any variation of nanowrimo? Do you think it helped or hindered you? Do you plan on doing it in the future?
-I haven’t tried
out nanowrimo, but I would like to in the future. I think it is a
great idea and opportunity to band writers together and get stuff
done!
- Do you do writing sprints? Do you think they help?
-I haven’t done
sprints before, but they do seem to help out others. I have
considered giving it a try, though I just haven’t yet.
Thank you so much
for having me Sally!
Megan’s debut
novella is a Historical Holocaust Romance titled Forbidden Angel.
Blurb: When
captured by the Nazis, Sarah finds herself in a concentration camp
that not only brings her closer to death...but closer to love.
Sarah Brenner, a young Jewish woman, is terrified when she finds
herself in the heat of a railcar bound for a work camp in Nazi
Germany. For years she, along with her mother and sister, had hidden
from the SS, but no one could hide forever. Her hatred for those who
have enslaved them is ever-growing, especially when they arrive and
she encounters the shockingly handsome Nazi doctor who can’t seem
to keep his eyes—or hands—off her.
Aurel Rothstein is
not your everyday concentration camp physician. The endless prisoners
and lack of care he's allowed to give have made him numb to the work
he so coveted. It isn’t until he comes face to face with a
beautiful prisoner that his heart becomes involved with his job—a
forbidden and fatal move to any Nazi.
When a vile soldier
takes direct interest in Sarah, she will be forced to make a choice
that will change her life forever: ignore the pull toward the
handsome doctor or give in to the forbidden passion he awakens with
only a look. Either way they both risk everything...
Buy
on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Angel-ebook/dp/B00AOF9U6Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356715861&sr=1-1&keywords=megan+d+martin
Author
Bio
Megan
D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In
her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things
that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment
System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks.
Website:
http://www.MeganDMartin.com
Blog:
http://www.MeganDMartin.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormegandmartin
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115096823539939478098/posts
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meeegann
Vine: Meeegann
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormegandmartin
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115096823539939478098/posts
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meeegann
Vine: Meeegann
Thank you so much Megan, for stopping by! :-)
