I loved reading Her Spell That Binds Me, such a beautiful novel! I was curious to know what your writing process is like? Do you create vision boards with literary references or other things that inspire you? Do you have any rituals/routines you like to do before, during or after writing? Are there particular spaces you like to write, in your home or in public?
I'm also curious to know, what your favourite books are? Or the books you have re-read the most in your lifetime.
I’m so glad you enjoyed my book! Here are my answers to your questions:
I love a good outline. I like to have the whole story mapped out in front of me, going beat by beat and filling in the gaps more and more as I get new ideas.
Then when I start the book, I use the outline as a jumping off point so I have room to forge my own path while still having a general sense of direction. I try to write at least once a day, even if it’s only a few sentences.
I also take notes, notes, and more notes. Random words I like, names, phrases, ideas for spells, a character’s thoughts, or a plot point I want to consider later. Literally anything that pops into my head throughout the day that I don’t want to forget.
My biggest inspirations are movies, TV, and music, as well as books. I make a playlist of songs for every book I write. Some songs are more the vibe of the book while others are associated with specific scenes. I posted the playlists on Spotify!
I’ll also have a list of movies that I put on in the background while I write. Idk if that’s a writing process thing or an ADHD thing, might be a bit of both 🤣
For Her Spell That Binds Me, it was Pride and Prejudice (2005), Bridgerton, Dickinson, War and Peace (2016), Emma., and The Witch.
I’m currently writing Her Spell #2, and I’ve been rewatching Suspiria (2018) on a loop. I can’t stop watching it, it’s a problem. 🙃
I use Pinterest a bit but more so for social media stuff, like pictures and ideas for posts. Sometimes I’ll find a painting or picture that really speaks to me for a certain scene or character and I’ll save it in a folder for later. John William Waterhouse was a big inspiration for Her Spell #1.
I also cast the characters in the books with actors and made a grid with pictures and referred to it when I wrote character descriptions. Not every character has an actor associated with them but many of them do. Maybe at some point I’ll post about that but not for a while. People should imagine the characters for themselves first, I think.
I like to light candles and feel cosy when I write, with my cat sleeping next to me. I prefer writing at home so I have a controlled environment without as many distractions. I wrote Her Spell #1 during an unexpected period of unemployment so I knocked it out fairly quickly. Now I work full time again so I’ll write during my lunch breaks, after work, on weekends, whenever I can.
- The Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead - Incredibly underrated, I reread the series at least once a year.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - I would die for Charlie! I highly recommend watching Perks with the director/actor commentary. Stephen directed the movie as well.
- Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas - This book changed my brain chemistry 😳
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Loooove, the main character is so complex and the love story is bittersweet. The twist was great as well.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - It’s a perfect book and so comforting. I love the 90s movie adaptation the best.
Thank you so much for your questions!
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