If you love writing, if you feel it’s something you’re supposed to do, put aside the time to make it happen and assemble a team around you that will support your dream.
Suzy Vadori started writing young adult literature so she could eventually share her stories with her kids. This lead to presenting at schools and partnering with Kids Help Line. She talks to us about treating your writing like a business and how she has moved from intensive outlining to mapping out her stories.
Please give us a brief overview of yourself and your work.
I write Fantasy Romance books for Young Adults, and I also edit, teach and present at schools and corporate events. I currently have two books published in The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods) with a third book in the series (Wall of Wishes) releasing in 2020, as well as several other projects on the go.
The Fountain Series has been a finalist twice for the Aurora Awards (Canada’s premier Science Fiction/Fantasy Awards) and has been awarded a bronze medal in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for Best Young Adult Fiction – Romance.
One of my favorite parts about being a writer is being involved in the writing community. I am a Program Manager for When Words Collide (WWC), a literary festival held in Calgary, Canada each August, a staff instructor at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society and the founder of WriteIt! creative writing programs in schools.
What made you want to be a writer?
I’ve always known I would write a book, though I had no idea I could make a job out of it. Writing is something I did in my spare time my whole life, writing many half-books as a teen, but never finishing them. It wasn’t until I was home on maternity leave with my third child that I knew I wanted to write for Young Adults. The genre was growing, and I could create a fantasy world that I could share with my kids when they were ready.
My youngest turned eight this past summer. It took me a long time to finish that first book during their naps, but I’ve since left my job as a Vice President in business, to focus on all things writing, and I haven’t looked back.
How do you motivate yourself to write?
I have no lack of motivation to write. I visualize where I want the book to go, knowing it will take work and several revisions to get it there. But writing is only part of the journey, and you’d think “writing full time” means I can write every day, but that’s not the case.
On any given day, I have lesson plans to prepare for teaching, presentations to prepare for speaking, and editing and coaching for other wonderful writers. I love the variety of my days, but I try to create full days or even an entire week to write so that I can stay deep in the characters. When I’m writing I’m the happiest, but I need the interaction that other parts of my job bring, to keep me sane.
How do you outline your work and begin writing?
I used to spend days or months outlining chapter by chapter, but now I find the next idea builds in my mind before I’m finished my last project, so I often start by writing scenes that are very clear to me, that encompass the inspiration for a book. I think I still outline, but I hold it in my head instead of putting it on paper. Usually, after the first scenes are down and I’ve gotten to know my characters, I’ll write out a map and go from there.
Between beta readers, working with editors and my agent, I know the book will morph into something wonderful in the end as long as I stay true to those key scenes that are so vivid in my mind. The most important thing is getting the words down so that my team has something to work with and react to.
Is there any particular incident that has happened along your writing journey that you’d like to share?
When The Fountain first came out, and I started speaking at schools, I was surprised by the impact it had on students. They’d tell me, “this feels just like my school”. The Fountain has bullying themes, which had been more or less unintentional, and not my focus when writing it. But the kids connected with the story and would share with me what was happening in their own lives.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to do with this, as I was only in their classrooms for a short time, and they were sharing some powerful stories. I reached out to Kids Help Phone, which is a national crisis line for teens in Canada and they have become an important partner to me. I bring the KHP messaging all over Alberta to schools they wouldn’t otherwise be able to visit and make sure the kids know there’s help out there if they need to talk to someone about what’s happening to them.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Where do I start? The most important thing is knowing that you want to write. If you want to write, the words will eventually get on the paper, and a skilled editor can help you make them sing. Get as much feedback as you can. I know it’s scary, but it’s hard to be objective of your own work. If you don’t enjoy writing? For heaven's sake, don’t do it. But if you love it, if you feel it’s something you’re supposed to do, put aside the time to make it happen, and assemble a team around you that will support your dream.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for new authors?
Writing is a solitary profession in some respects, the publishing industry is changing too rapidly for any one writer to keep track. But once you’ve finished your first book, finding information to get it out there, no matter what your aspirations for your project, can be challenging. I’m forever grateful for the help other authors gave me starting out, and many of us are more than willing to give back. I encourage all new writers to tap into existing writers’ networks and approach writers doing things they admire. Be specific about your questions, and you might be surprised how much help you’ll find. It can make all the difference to help your book get found.
What methods of book marketing do you find the most effective?
I write for young adults, so the online market is lagging a little, as kids read more physical books, and don’t have credit cards to buy on amazon. I’ve focused mostly on in-person events and word of mouth which has grown my audience so that I have readers waiting for the next book.
What struggles did you face in the publishing process?
I am traditionally published, and the industry moves slowly. I’ve had to learn patience. Or maybe I’m still learning it…
How do you handle rejection as a writer?
Getting hard feedback, or worse – outright rejection is hard for everyone. But I’m learning it’s better to get the feedback before you put a mediocre product out into the world. I usually take a deep breath, give myself a moment to wallow, then brainstorm ways to make it better. Every time, the book gets stronger and I know the advice was sound, even if I didn’t want to hear it.
What is the best writing advice you have received?
To treat my writing as a business. Looking at it this way has opened so many doors for me that I had no idea I could access, and now I can be a writer, and still pay my bills.
You can find out more about Suzy Vadori via her website and social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
