Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Thanks for having me on your blog!
I’m Ari and I write mostly Traditional Fantasy and Preternatural Urban Fantasy. Though I have turned my hand to sci-fi and crime. When I’m not writing I am blogging about writing and supporting other writers. So yeah…it kinda infected my who life.
How long have you been writing for?
I have been writing since I was 8 years old. Despite struggling to read through most of my young years, I always held a strong love for writing. I think I just had too much crazy inside my head and it started to leak so I found putting it down into notebooks helped.
What motivates you to write? How did you begin writing?
I began writing after a teacher created a project where we had to create a monster under the bed and from this little spark of creative writing, my love for writing bloomed and has continued to grow.
I don’t really consider there a motivation to write. It is more like, I can’t NOT write. It is my purpose.
Do you have a writing routine? If so, what’s a typical day like for you?
I try and have a writing routine but other things manage to mess it up. On days when I actually get a nice long stint of writing done, it usually starts early (I work better first thing in the day). I get a glass of water (which I usually don’t drink), a cup of tea (one of many) then lock myself away in my room.
I play no music when I’m actually writing, as I find it a distraction. If I am struggling to write, I will read through something else I’ve written to spark the flame. I then write until someone knocks on the door to tell me how late it’s gotten.
On writer block days, then my routine is to stare blankly at the screen in front while sobbing. Thankfully I don’t have many of those days any more 😀
Have you thought about self-publishing or traditional publishing? Are you leaning towards one over the other? If so, why?
I am not yet at the stage for publishing but I have already been contemplating the options. They both have their pros and cons. I am a bit of a control freak and with self publishing you have a lot more creative control.
Also, with traditional publishing you are expected to do a lot more of the marketing than it was years ago.
I think if you write a good book, polish the crap out of it then pay a professional editor and book cover designer you can do really well in self-publishing while keeping a lot of the creative control.
Not to mention, moving from self published to traditionally published is apparently a lot easier than moving from traditionally published to self published.
Are you currently working on anything new?
My current WIP is a preternatural urban fantasy called Dark Hart featuring exactly what you’d expect from any preternatural – vampires, shifters, gargoyles, goblins, psions… It is currently gone through its first edits and is with my Alpha Reader.
While I’m waiting to get it back from all his red penning, I have been working on a completely new fantasy story. I had ideas about it last year and decided to flesh it out during the 85K 90 Day Writing Challenge. It is still in a very tentative phase as the plot is a little fluid right now.
If you weren’t a writer, what would your career be?
Definitely something creative. I do run my own online shop where I make items, so I am always drawn to creative endeavours.
Failing that I would probably have become a vet or a paleontologist, I’m not sure all I know is I’m really not cut out for more “normal” work.
What’s one thing you learned through writing that you wish you knew before you started?
I wish I had learnt to outline sooner than I did and also to not get caught up editing while writing. For a long time that is how I wrote. A constant back and forth of writing then editing what I’d written then editing it again… without actually finishing the work.
I am a lot better now, thankfully.
What is your favorite book, genre, or author?
My favourite author is a tie between James Clemens and Anne Bishop. These two fantasy writers created the bar for me when I got seriously into writing. I wanted to get my work to their level.
Their books are the ones I can read over and over. They create worlds I want to just continually visit. And I would love to have readers who feel that way about my work.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
First, don’t call yourself aspiring. If you write, you’re a writer. Own it.
Second, keep writing. Ignore all the nay-sayers and people who will try and tear you down. If you do anything creative in this world people want to crap all over it and that can sometimes include friends and family. Find people who will support you and lift you up.
Third, work hard. Writing gets better with practice. With the surge of self publications, everyone now thinks they can write and publish their work. The problem is we are seeing so much rough work.
Your manuscript should be edited, re-edited, professionally edited and polished. The more you write the better you get, you learn and grow and develop your skill. There is no rush to be published and it is better to take time and do a good job than rush and put out something lacking.
Finally, learn about the business side. Yes writing is awesome and creative, but there’s a business side too such as networking and marketing. The more you learn, the more you plan the better situated you will be when you are finally ready to release your novel.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I like octopi.
Too weird?
I’d like to say a big thanks to you Rachel, for inviting me onto your awesome blog for this interview. 😊
And to all the readers, if you were born to be a writer? Then let nothing stop you. Writing is one of the hardest, awesome, exhausting, exhilarating things you can do. So go do it!
ABOUT ARI
When not immersed in her worlds full of screaming trees, living gargoyles, vengeful demons or trapped souls… Ari is pretty much day dreaming about said worlds.
She writes fantasy, lots of it and also blogs about writing to help other writers, because apparently working on over 5 different novel series’ is just not enough “writing.”
Most days she is surrounded by cats and books though she also enjoys watching really bad movies with her boyfriend. Like REALLY bad movies.
It’s always interesting to see what others are writing and their techniques. I hope you keep making these posts.
I will, definitely. Getting insight on how other writers do it is a great way to learn, I think.
Reblogged this on The official site of Ari Meghlen and commented:
I did a guest post interview over at Rachel Poli’s blog. Big thanks to Rachel for inviting me to her blog and featuring my interview.
Hope you enjoy it and also, do make sure to check out and follow Rachel’s blog. She puts out awesome content.
Thank you. 🙂
Thanks so much for having me Rachel. I have reblogged this on my blog 🙂 You’re a star!
Likewise, it was a pleasure!
Great interview Rachel and Ari! I also had the same issue with not doing outlines and editing while writing. It really slowed me down and this interview helped to remind me not to do that. Thank you.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. 🙂
Thanks 🙂 Yes it is such a damaging habit we can fall into. I still have to catch myself from doing it. 🙂
A fantastic interview, Ari! I love where you advise writers not to define themselves as aspiring writers, but to own it instead. 🙂
I agree it’s a great piece of advice!
As I read through the interview, I found that there were a couple of times that Ari’s words were very quotable. I look forward to reading her novel some day. 🙂
Thanks Brenda, I appreciate your kind words. I feel like we writers already get enough stick from people who don’t always want to support our dreams. The least we can do is believe in ourselves. And the first way, is to name ourselves fully as writers 😀
I’m still uncomfortable calling myself a writer most times. I think I’m going to take your advice and own it. 🙂 And you’re right about getting enough stick from others who don’t always understand or support our dreams. It’s one of the reasons I like blogging so much. I get to surround myself with other writers. I’ve also found a couple of great writers’ groups on Facebook. Many of my friends on Twitter are writers as well. It creates a fantastic support network. 🙂
It is hard to own the title writer. I find if I say it to people IRL then I get the “so what have you published?” and it just raises my anxiety, but I am desperately trying to keep wearing that badge.
I totally agree, blogging has been great for me to meet other people, build up a support system. Other bloggers and writers are also so quick to offer support, help and advice.
I never talk about my love of writing in my personal life. And the few times that it’s come up has always made me uncomfortable. I’m not sure why. I’m actually really shy, so that may have a lot to do with it.
I also never talk about my book in my personal life. A few colleagues have mentioned it to congratulate me, and I truly appreciate their kind support. But at the same time, I’m uncomfortable once again. It’s something that I need to work through.
Bloggers/writers are awesome. 🙂
lol awww I never thought of myself as quoteable. Maybe if I can actually let the novel out, you may get a chance 🙂
I look forward to that day, Ari. 🙂 And you’re much more quotable than you think. A great interview by the way. 🙂
Nice to see Ari featured here. Both of you have so much to offer, it’s like having the tag team together in one spot.
Thanks, that’s really sweet of you to say. 🙂 Ari is a wonderful writer/blogger/friend. I’m glad I’ve been able to connect with her!
Same here, I am so pleased we met. 🙂
Thanks Annette. It was so nice to Rachel to invite me to her awesome blog. She is so good to work with and one of the nicest, friendliest, supportive people I’ve ever met.
Great interview with a great author! Thank you, Rachel, for interviewing Ari for your blog.
Lots of good advice and thoughts in here, Ari!
Thank you for reading and commenting. 🙂
Thanks Pearl, I am glad you enjoyed the interview. 🙂
Great interview! There is just no stopping a creative mind.
Not at all! Thanks. 🙂
Thanks Darlene. Yes, I think a creative mind must always push through. 😀
I needed to hear all of this. Thank you both!
Thank you Herminia, I am glad you found it helpful 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved reading your interview Rachel and Ari. I’m intrigued by your favourite authors Ari, I’ve not read any of their stuff. That needs to change.
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks Lorraine 🙂 I highly recommend those authors. They are authors I can read over and over 🙂
Really enjoyed this interview.
Yeah, this is a good one. 🙂