Well, would ya look at that?
It's Monday again!
That means it's time for me to sit down with another author - so pull up a rock and let's do this thing!
Val Clark is an award-winning storyteller and visual artist, a literary fiction judge and experienced Creative and Memoir Writing workshop presenter. She’s addicted to reading, particularly YA, and writes across genres and ages. She indie published Lost, and Fount, YA/crossover fantasy novels. Her most recent short stories are After Plenty, published in Centres and Peripheries and Encounter with a Tyre Roller in the Encounter anthology. When not writing she loves teaching creative writing, chatting with fellow writers, helping them achieve their dreams. She holds teaching qualifications in Fine Arts and Drama, a Masters in Creative Writing and is a self-confessed writing workshop junkie.
Socials:
Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Gate
Firefly – gone too soon or overrated? Never wanted it to finish.
Coffee, tea, or cacao? Coffee of course!
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? The idea comes out of left field and I play with it in my imagination until I think I have a keeper.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? Work Schedule? What’s that?
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Mmm. Try to keep the plants in my garden alive. Read. Binge watch.
Is there a trope you find yourself going back to in multiple works? Or one you avoid? Twins separated at birth.
What does your family think of your writing? They have my back. Very supportive.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I’ve finished 5. Self published 2. Still trying to find a trad publisher or agent for my favourite, a parallel stories, middle grade/YA novel, I See Me.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they? Learn the craft, do courses, join writing groups online or face to face, grow a thick skin.
What do you think makes a good story? A well written, strong, engaging character arc with the character being active in solving their dramas, overcoming obstacles etc.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? It’s something I never thought about.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? Not sure what you mean here but I did travel to Bilbao, Guernica, UK and Paris in researching I See Me.
Does writing energize or exhaust you? Writing energises me. The editing and rewrites, not so much.
What are common traps for aspiring writers? Thinking that because you are articulate you can write well. Publishing, or sending off to publishers too soon.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I write the story that comes to me, but in a way that is accessible to readers.
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Absolutely. That’s me. A writer can learn how to lean into their characters’ emotions.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? I belong to a writers’ group and take on board their criticism. Helping newer writers with their work helps my writing as well. Some in my writing community also encourage me when I lose faith in myself.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book? I have written two books in the Chronicles of N’arth fantasy series, the third has yet to migrate from my head to the screen. The rest are stand alone.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? I think I have just spent it and have yet to reap the reward, joining Pitch to Publish.
What is your preferred format? Novels and 10 minute comedic plays.
Are you traditionally or self published? Or both? Do you feel there are advantages to one over the other? Self published. Problem is I’m not great at marketing. I know trad publishing won’t necessarily solve that, but I feel that I See Me deserves a bigger audience that a trad publisher would attract.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? 3 unpublished polished manuscripts. Maybe another 3 never to be finished.
What is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything? Duh, 42 of course!
What do you have coming next? Working hard learning how to pitch I See Me to US agents. Would love to see that one published!
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