We are happy to have our #YA author Chrissy M. Dennis here today discussing her writing process and A Sinking Star.
What does your writing process look like?
When I actually get an idea, I spend more time outlining than actually writing. I design character templates so I can tap into my characters, I scour Google maps to get a feel for whatever city they live in, I write down every single little idea I could possibly come up with, and then try to get everything in a decent order. My first couple of books had 50-page outlines, single spaced! I’ve since moved to using spreadsheets, providing less detail but more freedom to come up with ideas as I go. The novel I am currently working on, I’m attempting with NO outline. It’s stressing me out.
What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
The biggest tip I would have is NEVER give up. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s seriously been my experience. I probably have somewhere between 200-300 rejection letters under my belt from the years. There were many times I wanted to quit, but something in me just said I needed to keep trying. I’m thankful I did 😊 It worked out in the end. I would also tell aspiring authors to read, read, read. I think that is the best writer’s education anyone can get.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Working as a youth pastor, being a mom (I’m a foster mama), playing with my kitty, reading, thinking that I probably should be writing 😉
What do you do when you experience writer’s block?
Cry, LOL. More often than not I just leave it alone and focus on reading. The more I read, the more excited I am to write again.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences?
Yes and no. As I have written many foster care situations, I often get people asking me if I myself was a foster child. I was not, nor had I ever met any. But it was a passion of mine from a young age. So that certainly comes out in my writing. As for real life experiences, there are definitely aspects of my writing that is based on very raw, emotional experiences I have gone through, but this doesn’t show up in every scene.
Where can readers find you online?
I’m on Facebook and Twitter (Just search for Chrissy M. Dennis), and my website is www.chrissymdennis.com
Author Bio:
Chrissy M. Dennis lives in Saskatchewan, Canada with her calico kitty. She is a Youth Pastor and enjoys beating her students at “Uno” every chance she gets (and despite what they’ll tell you, no she does not cheat). Chrissy also loves to read, do jigsaw puzzles, and of course, write, trusting the Lord will use her books for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom through the healing work of the Gospel.
BOOK LINK
Book Blurb:
At 17 years old, Evie Boone just wants to survive high school and keep her sisters safe. When their broken mother returns home after disappearing for weeks, nothing Evie can do will keep the cops from messing with her plan to lay low. Worse, there’s nothing she can do to stop the father who walked out on her and her sisters nine years ago from opening his home to them.
As Evie wrestles to salvage her crumbling life, her father and his new family pursue Evie with a gentle love the likes of which she’s never known. Are they for real, or is it all an act? Can she ever go back to the life she knew before her mother’s arrest? And if she’s honest with herself, does she even want to anymore?
Anaiah Press 