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dibbiluncan145 karma

Aww, this being the first question gave me the biggest smile.

My daughter's name is Heidi Lennox Duncan (named for two of my favorite childhood literary characters). She's 11 months old and perfect! I am seriously so lucky to be her mother. She's currently sitting in my lap trying to help type this response while making pterodactyl sounds and babbling happily to provide background music.

dibbiluncan65 karma

Ooh, good question!

Although I took off months at a time, I did still attempt to write during the years between books. I just couldn't. It honestly opened my eyes to the fact that not only is "writer's block" a real thing, but sometimes it's a warning sign that something is really wrong. I had two cancer scares that set off an anxiety bomb in my mind, leaving me scared and depressed for a long time. Then I had two big life changes--law school and pregnancy--that helped snap me out of it but left me EXHAUSTED. Then there was childbirth, which for me was a little traumatic. For the duration of my "fourth trimester" (the first three months of motherhood) I felt constantly panicked yet heavy and numb--despite also feeling so happy and awestruck by how much I loved my baby.

Then one day I decided to spend my hours of holding a sleeping baby that wouldn't let me put her down doing something productive instead of just wasting time doom-scrolling and making myself feel worse. Coming back to writing, and to the story I love, it was like coming back to life. I found myself again, found purpose, drive, and motivation to wake up and be a person again.

I dedicated Petrichor to Heidi because without her, I don't know when or if I would have gotten back into it. And not just because sitting there with her in my rocking chair meant I had the time on my hands, but because she made me want to get better and be better for her sake.

dibbiluncan35 karma

For me, motivation is part inspiration and part desire. Writing is hard work, but if you're inspired by the story you want to tell and you desire to tell it, then the words are easier to come by. You have to love your story. Don't tell the story you think people want to read. Tell the story you want to read. Don't follow a formula. Follow your heart. You also have to love yourself and make sure you're ready to work. If you're unwell (physically or mentally) it's impossible to build up enough desire to sit down and do the work of writing.

I struggled to write this book for more than two years because I had failed on both of those fronts. I usually write a basic outline, but then let the story change and flow as it goes. But for a long time, I didn't have the mindset to let that happen, and trying to force it and stick by the outline I had made me fall out of love with the story. Until I snapped out of it and found myself again, I couldn't find the story either.

Aside from all of that sappy stuff, I also recommend:

  • Read more books and watch more movies.
  • Listen to music while you write.
  • Go for a walk or do some yoga.
  • Set a goal for each day.
  • Track your goal (I used a calendar for my first book).
  • Try NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
  • Join a writing community. I recommend /r/writing for starters, but also check out local groups in your area.
  • Review and critique the work of others. Try /r/DestructiveReaders (you can eventually share your work there too, if you like).
  • Drink more coffee!

dibbiluncan22 karma

I have an idea for a prequel to The Scorching, but it has to do with a virus, so unfortunately I think it would be in poor taste to write that during a pandemic.

I’ll be starting on a new trilogy called A Light in the Desert instead. It’s a YA Paranormal Sci-fi about a teenage girl from Marfa, Texas who discovers she has a genetic disorder that connects her to the alien sightings called “the Marfa Lights.” I’m super excited about it!

dibbiluncan22 karma

That statistic is based on studies done either generations ago or in small groups of young people today. In fact, smart, successful women are no less likely to be married than other women; they just do so later in life. 25 years ago, you’d be right. And in some smaller cities with more “traditional” dating patterns, you still are.

Edit: link.