5 Questions to… Maia Carlson – write out of the closet

Maia Carlson started writing in high school and published eleven books all before leaving for college. A born Canadian but American resident, she enjoys writing fiction exclusively, owing this to a general dislike towards researching (something that her resent Bachelor’s degree in science has corrected somewhat).  Now preparing to return for a Master’s degree in creative writing, she hopes to have more time to brush up on her writing skills and publish something other than the guilty-pleasure fanfiction that she’s been primarily writing since she hit college and discovered it’s existence.

Kinga Budzyn: What is writing to you?

Maia Carlson: What is writing to me? To me, writing is word-art as well as an emotional outlet. I’ve always loved drawing, and I see writing as simply another way to paint a picture. Putting all of my angst into a story is also way healthier than having it in my life.

KB: What genres do you write in and what do you write about? Do you think an author should have a mission, a massage to get to the readers through his works?

MC: I write primarily in fiction/fantasy genres, and I’ll happily write about anything from make-believe spy stories to action-tales about magic and dragons. So long as I am free to make it all up as I go, I’m happy!

KB: What forms do you write? What attracts you in them?

MC: Novels and fanfiction. I like the former because it gives me a wide audience to sell to, as well as a general freedom to write what I want. A full-length novel also gives me the room to get the whole story out, with all of the details intact. I write fanfiction in the same way, although obviously, I get to use ‘pre-made’ characters, which is fun because I get to be lazy and skimp on the character-building, assuming that my readers already know who I’m talking about and what the world looks like that the story takes place in.

KB: Do you experience writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

MC: I definitely get writer’s block. If it’s not too bad, I just force myself to sit and type, even if it’s like slogging through mud. Sometimes, however, I find it better to just go for a walk, because the movement and change in scenery always jump-starts my brain. Sometimes, reading or watching movies can also help, in that it gives me ideas.

KB: What advice would you give to the newbie writers?

MC: Just write: Don’t stress out over whether your story is well-planned or who’s going to read it. Just get it written. Even if no one likes it but you, you can say that you did it, and the knoweldged that you can write a story (even a short one) will give you such courage and self-confidence for if (when!!) you try again. My second advice is more selfish: Be descriptive. I say this because I adore writers who take the time to describe their characters and their characters’ actions in detail.

An interview on writing done as a part of the “Write out of the closet” project.

Zdjęcie: Nina Mizgała