Fighting Prose Interview with Sarah E. Green!

Welcome to my in-depth writers series Fighting Prose. Where I talk to authors in the industry on what their process is like and what it takes for them to keep on creating, through all the odds.

How long have you been writing?

Oh goodness...I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing. Maybe since I was six years old? I'm honestly not sure when I started, only that I didn't want to stop. I'd write short stories, poems (really bad poems), and songs (horrible, horrible songs).
I was that student in class who looked like they were taking the most thorough notes but was actually writing my own stories instead. I had scrap pieces of papers with a piece of dialogue or description, inner monologue or an entire scene written down whenever I was out with friends or was at work that I wanted to add to my stories when I got home.
But it wasn't until I was in 6th grade writing a chapter for a story that I let someone else read my words. My BFF (who isn't afraid to be brutally honest with me) asked to read it and I was so nervous, watching her with anxious eyes the entire time. When she finished, she looked at me and said, "This is really good." I was hit this euphoric sensation of knowing she connected with my story and characters. In that moment something inside me was like, "This is what I'm going to do."

Of your books, which is your favorite?

This is going to sound like such a cop-out answer, but they're all my favorite in some way. Break Line because it was my first book, my first baby. It's the starting point of my career. Under the Lies because it's my horcux. A piece of my very soul is woven into every page. And then we have my upcoming release, Moonlit Temptation, which was the book I had the most fun writing. That story just poured out of me and was such a joy to get lost in.

What's your favorite genre to read? Write?

I love reading everything but I'm a romance reader to my very core. If there's a swoony romance, I'll read the book no matter the genre. I'm also a HUGE fantasy reader.
And as much as I love writing contemporary I have this dream of writing an epic fantasy and a paranormal romance one day.

How do you get in the mood to write?

I don't know if I have a straight forward answer for this. I definitely don't wake up every day in the mood to write. Some days I don't feel like doing anything but I have to write. Not just because I'm on a deadline or a schedule but because I love it. There's something that just has to get the words out of me, it feels like I'm going to burst if I don't. Writing is my creative outlet and always has been.

How do your characters come together?

So I usually have my characters in my head long before I start their story. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest looking for quotes and images that just *feel* like that character, but I definitely flesh out my characters with each draft. I'm also a big believer that little details carry the most weight so I keep that in mind when it come to my characters. What are the little things about them? Their mannerisms?

How do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. Literally everywhere. Sometimes it's a simple image on Pinterest, other times it's when I'm out with family or friends and see something that makes my writer brain spiral with a story. Other times I'll get the title randomly and the story just explodes in my mind. And sometimes there's a trope I want to play with. But more often than not my stories start with a character and a single scene that spirals from there.

Who do you admire in the writing world?

Oh so many. Literally so many. But I'm really lucky to call some of the people I've looked up to for years my friends. Kandi Steiner is a big one. She's so inspiring to me and always has been. I love that she doesn't hold punches in her writing and writes fearlessly, always staying true to her characters while evoking such strong emotions from a reader standpoint. I also have a huge admiration for Krista and Becca Ritchie. They're writing wizards and are so dedicated to their craft, who also write fearlessly and explore topics that don't always get talked about. But there are so many people I admire and look up to in this industry that we'd be here for days if I started listing them all.

If you're not busy writing, what are you busy doing?

I've recently gotten really into cooking so I'm probably trying out a new recipe. But if I'm not in the kitchen, I'm journaling, reading, traveling. I love traveling. Especially road trips. Anything with exploring I'm down for. There's something about going somewhere new, even if it's in your town, that's magical and always leaves me feeling inspired.
I also play Pokemon Go so there's a high probability I'm playing that too.

Have you always been creative?

I have! So I grew up being really athletic. I've done every sport under the sun almost but spent many years dancing. I love the artistry and storytelling that comes with it. Me and my friends would always make up (really horrible) dance routines and make all our parents watch them at parties. Me and my best friend also used to co-write self-insert fanfiction on her father's computer. Honestly I did so much growing up that fed my creative soul like baking, learning how to play the oboe, any random craft I'd find at the art store. I was also a huge scrapbooker. But writing is where I really feel the most satisfied creatively.

Have you ever had writers block? If so, how did you get out of it?

Oh yes I have. But I always try not to let it slow me down. Sometimes I'll jump into another project that's at a different stage (like plotting or needs edits), but I've come to discover that, for me, writers block is usually tied to burnout so I'm really mindful now not to get to that point because it's not a fun place to be. Another case of writer's block, for me, could be that I took a wrong turn in the story and have to go back and figure out where and how I'm going to fix it.

When you sit down to write, is it easy or hard? If it's hard, what makes you keep showing up?

It depends on the day. Some days I'll crank out super high word counts in a matter of hours and feel so energized. Other days it's like I'm pulling teeth and would rather be anywhere but at my laptop. But I'm super stubborn so I think it's my stubbornness that keeps me going on the hard days.

For a writer starting out what advice would you give them?

Never stop reading. It sounds easy but the more you get lost in your stories and deadlines and publishing, reading can often fall to the wayside and, for me at least, reading is such a huge part of the creative process. I really notice a difference in my process when my creative well is full versus when it's empty. And spoiler: I'm so much better when it's full. Also read outside your genre. It's amazing how much you can learn about writing from reading different genres.

What is your dream writing location?

A cabin in the snowy mountains with a roaring fire.

In reference to your books, what question do you get asked the most?

When's the next one coming out? Is there going to more books set in this world? My answer? I promise I have a lot planned and coming!

If you could bring one of your characters to life who would it be? Why?

THIS ISN'T FAIR! Oh my God. Honestly every single one of my characters jumped into my head right now, but I think I'm going to pick Xavier from Break Line. He's this huge world traveler and always down for an adventure. I'd love to go on a trip with him. I think we'd have the best time.

What do you think makes a good story?

I don't know if I'm qualified to answer this question, but for me it starts with the characters. I have to care about them and their story to stay invested in 300+ pages of reading.