One of my favourite blogging activities is hosting interviews. Here, I get to interview publicists, retailers, marketing specialists, publishers, authors, podcast hosts, magazine editors, entrepreneurs.... and others. It is fun to be in a position to share their work here, but it has also been a great way to bond with them, get to know them better and strengthen networking ties. Today I'm happy to share the following
World of Writing - Author Interview
I met Sarah Butland just a few weeks ago in fact - during some networking activities, when I learned that she has a small blog, writes in fiction, short story and some nonfiction genres too. I asked her to share a little about herself, and she tells us that she is "an artist, thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams". When describing her writing career she has this to say: "I am a freelance writer, an author who feels loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile, and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to tell new tales."
Sarah invites our readers to check out her website @: www.SarahButland.com Or visit her on FaceBook
Q: What criticism about your writing gave you pause, made you rethink your writing style or left an echo of self-doubt?
A: The doubts of classmates when I declared I was going to be a writer still haunt me, even while I earn an income through writing. What surprises me is that doubt still lingers as I try to convince myself I am already doing it and proving the naysayers wrong.
Writers are able to earn an income doing what they love as long as they celebrate every time they do.
Q: I get what you are saying. There is a lot of power behind the entrepreneurial and artistic mind-set. Because we are doing what we love to do as a business, we can easily fall prey to schedules, marketing, and business stresses that tend to eat at that love, that joy we felt when we started. It is very important to remind ourselves that we are doing what we love to do, to embrace that and celebrate it. Thank you for bringing that up, Sarah - I think it is an important point. In your career, what are your proudest writer moments?
Writers are able to earn an income doing what they love as long as they celebrate every time they do.
Q: I get what you are saying. There is a lot of power behind the entrepreneurial and artistic mind-set. Because we are doing what we love to do as a business, we can easily fall prey to schedules, marketing, and business stresses that tend to eat at that love, that joy we felt when we started. It is very important to remind ourselves that we are doing what we love to do, to embrace that and celebrate it. Thank you for bringing that up, Sarah - I think it is an important point. In your career, what are your proudest writer moments?
A: Immediately I think of when the children I read to begged for more and were very engaged in the story, or when a reader sends a message praising me for an article or review well written. After a moment of introspect I realize my proudest moment is when I finish a project.
Q: What things, activities, or thoughts do you turn to when emotional clouds darken the day?
A: When I take on a new challenge, doubt myself... I simply let my fingers do the walking across my keyboard to silence any self-doubt with a confidence so loud I keep going.
"Pride gained through writing is too often an external construct." ~ Sarah Butland
"Pride gained through writing is too often an external construct." ~ Sarah Butland
Q: What have been your most embarrassing moments, and what did you learn from them?
While living in New Brunswick I was invited to visit classrooms with their Writers In the Schools Program to read my children’s book Sending You Sammy. After reading a few pages a sweet little girl raised her hand and very clearly asked, “Can we read Caillou now?” It was soul crushing that I had to say no and continue though my story clearly wasn’t up to her standards.
Q: In the arts, writing can sometimes be a lonely experience. Our feelings can easily be crushed by people who do not understand the industry, the work that goes in behind the scenes or just how personal each product is to us. It can also be quite humbling when we find ourselves among more successful artists. Have you encountered this too?
A: While my writing career hasn’t been completely smooth sailing, I have been writing professionally a long time, with many freelance articles written in well-established magazines as well as some journalism work. As a published author since 2007 although mostly independent now, I have sixteen published books.
Despite this, I was recently called "a new writer" by a writer’s council.
With an application for several organizations in my field being rejected within one week, I had to deflate my ego and resubmit under new-emerging writers to be grouped among those with little to no writing experience.
This was definitely a challenge for me as many readers encouraged me to apply for opportunities, with full confidence that I was experienced enough and with a long enough CV to succeed - while the judges dismissed everything I’ve done over the last fifteen years.
Q: Ouch! That would definitely sting. I'm curious about the writing process that you have developed over the years, you know if there is a formula you have developed. When starting a book project do you choose the title first, or does that come later?
A: Arm Farm was the first book that was inspired by the title, and then the work in progress I have going now was the second. As a pantser, I typically open my laptop when I have the chance to and listen for the characters to tell me what they are doing.
There is no special place, time or event that sparks anything for me, I just fit writing into my day as often as I can and let my fingers do the talking (on behalf of the voices in my head).
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Thank you, Sarah, for sharing with us today :)
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