VENTURES IN VERMILION
I’ve done a lot of different things in my life, but books and reading have been a constant passion. When my oldest child was born, I started editing on a freelance basis so I could work from home on a flexible schedule. I’ve been doing that for 12 years now and while I absolutely love helping people tell their stories, I felt a growing desire to tell stories of my own. One year, I decided I was actually going to do it, I signed myself up for NaNoWriMo, and here we are!
This is a hard one. I actually started writing Ventures in Vermilion to be much closer to the original works, but the characters and world took on a life of their own. So now I try to identify what the main elements are that I want to include, and think about how to reinterpret them to better fit my characters and setting. I love getting to use original lines of dialogue, or giving a nod to things only diehard Holmes fans would notice, but I also love when my characters decide they’re going to go their own way
Poorly! Imposter Syndrome is definitely something I struggle with, especially since my background isn’t in writing, but I am trying to learn to trust myself. I care very much about the quality of work I do, whether that’s in my writing, my editing, or anything else, and I think it’s because I care so much that Imposter Syndrome hits me so hard. I just try to remind myself that I am good at what I do, I’ve developed the skills I need, and I work diligently to apply them. When all else fails, I listen to my husband, who’s my biggest cheerleader.
Find your people! It can be hard since many of us are introverted, but get connected in whatever way you feel comfortable with to others in the indie community. And don’t discount in-person interactions. Many libraries have writing groups, and keep your eyes open at coffee shops too – one near me hosts writing sprints on Wednesdays that has been a great way to meet some other local writers.
