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Linda J Hutchinson |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? It chose me. My dad and grandfather had been pushing me to write since I was a child. I’d always enjoyed writing creatively, but didn’t think I could make a living at it. Then I hit a certain age; my kids were grown--but never truly gone from the house--and I allowed myself to start researching markets, publishers, and venues for my work.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I have education and training equivalent to a BA in Business. I’ve always worked to support my family. My background in construction and business management led me to my first regular gig writing for a construction magazine.
3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer? When I was 3.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? Non-fiction: Getting the facts right and telling the story in the most interesting way. Fiction: I’m still working on this one. I don’t think I’ve developed a “style” of my own yet.
5. What is your writing process? Sit butt in chair. Ignore everything around me. Write.
6. What was your path to publication? I joined an online writer’s group, The Writer’s Chatroom. There I got the encouragement to write what I knew and to actually submit my work. I found that each published clip makes the next one easier to get.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? Networking, in person and online.
8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer? How easy it is to put poorly written material on the market. Anyone can be published today. So much of what’s out there is garbage.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? Watching life and how people act and react. There are nuggets of inspiration in every conversation and every interaction.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? Every time I see my byline, I’m inspired. Receiving checks in the mail on a regular basis doesn’t hurt. I think the proudest writer moment is yet to happen.
11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing? Sit butt in chair. Write. Submit. I’m a faithful student of the Hope Clark “keep 13 queries in play at all times” school of thought.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? I’m often asked to critique the work of others. Some of it is so bad I’m not sure how to comment. I don’t want to embarrass or thwart the creativity of someone else, which leads to my own embarrassment.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? Knowing when to say “no”. Some projects aren’t worth taking on. I’m getting better at sorting through those and stepping aside.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? No one else can write this (story, article, book) like I can. Writing is like breathing.
15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun? Visit new places. Explore new ideas. Watch people. Review books.
16. Who do you like to read? My favorite author is Earl Emerson. His thrillers keep me enthralled from page one. Illona Haus is a relatively new author definitely worth watching.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? Write, submit. Write, submit. Query, write, submit. Read when you aren’t writing. Never give up. Join a writer’s group if you need the encouragement and/or advice to keep going.
18. What are you currently working on? I write for a couple of construction magazines regularly, and freelance to other online and print magazines about food, health, and parenting. A mystery/suspense novel is in process. |
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Linda’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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multi-published freelance writer and photojournalist with articles and features in magazines, trade journals, newspapers, newsletters, on websites and in e-zines. |
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