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Cindi Myers |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? Both. I decided when I was 8 or 9 that I wanted to be a writer and have worked toward that goal ever since. At the same time, I think writing is also a compulsion I was born with. 2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I have a degreeen in economics from Sam Houston State University. I worked as a newspaper reporter, a freelance journalist, a travel agent, grocery clerk and medical office manager before turning to writing full-time. 3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? I wrote my first story when I was nine - about our Siamese cat, Andy. I made copies and gave them to my family and friends. I think I started identifying myself as a writer then. 4. How would you describe your style of writing? I think my writing is emotional and expressive, usually with a touch of humor. 5. What is your writing process? I'm a plotter -- I come up with a fairly detailed synopsis before I begin the book. I know key scenes and my character's motivation and goals and the theme of the book. This helps me to write more quickly and smoothly. 6. What was your path to publication? I started selling magazine articles when I was 19, along with the occasional short story. But I didn't turn seriously to novels until a few years later. I wrote 10 complete manuscripts and collected a ton of rejections before selling my 11th book idea. 7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? I produce a free email newsletter every week that goes out to about 1750 subscribers and is reproduced all over the place. The newsletter contains market information I glean from a lot of different sources. It's been very rewarding and also allows me to publicize my work to a wide audience. 8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? It's a lot harder to make a living writing books than I'd expected. There are so many things the writer can't control, from the design of their cover to whether or not the book even makes it into stores. You have to learn to let go of all that and focus on what you can control -- the writing itself. 9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? I love playing around with new ideas and trying new things. Being outdoors inspires me -- I love to hike in the summer and ski in the winter. Something about physical activity really gets my brain going. 10. What is your proudest writer moment? I was named Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in 2005. 11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? To focus on my strengths and not worry about what other people were doing. 12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? I'm sure there is one, but I have successfully put it out of my mind. 13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? I've written a couple of books of which I was very proud that had low print runs and awful distribution. That hurt. It's always a challenge to balance the irregular stream of money coming in with the regular flow of bills. 14. What is your writer life philosophy? My career is my own. I can't and shouldn't try to copy someone else's career. I have to do what's right for me. 15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? Ski, hike, garden, knit and read. 16. Who do you like to read? Everything -- romance, mystery, history, biography, humor, general fiction. 17. What’s your advice for new writers? Be patient. Things take time. Work on improving your craft. Be willing to put in the time and effort to create good work. 18. What are you currently working on? I just finished up a book that's out next March -- no title yet. I'm getting ready to start a new project. |
