SARAH PATTON
- Guest Writer & Poet -
G'day folks,
Welcome to the life of a writer, mum, screenwriter and poet; not necessarily in that order.
Welcome, Sarah ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
My journey begins when I was a child and my mind would be
filled with stories. I would day dream so much time away it is a wonder I ever
got through school. I wrote poetry in high school and worked on my college
newspaper. I was involved in theatre and wrote a play but never had much
confidence.
2.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I became serious about
my writing and really sat down to do it. I discovered my thoughts came in the
form of dialogue and discovered that is my calling – screenwriter and
playwright.
3.
WHAT TYPE OF
PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST
SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
Usually a story comes
to be out of nowhere. I can be inspired by a song, something someone says or a
poem. I don’t do much planning except by working out some ideas in my head and
then hit the keyboard.
4.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
That I have
the potential to make someone else feel something.
5.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Making the
time to write. Getting my writing out into the world.
6.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I am
currently a wife and mother and that comes first. I also have a full time
regular job.
7.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
Finishing my first script. And really loving it!
8.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
A short
fantasy story.
9.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Watching
the world around me, when I can, in quiet observation.
10.
WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
Science Fiction and Fantasy
11.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Write!
Write! Write!
12.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
All the
time.
13.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
I wish I
did.
14.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
Sitting at
my desk next to our sliding doors and they bring in natural light.
15.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
Finishing a
project!
16.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
I would say
my favorite screenwriters are Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat.
17.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
That they felt
emotional while reading it.
18. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
That my
writing sounded like someone else’s.
19.
WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR
OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Sometimes.
20.
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Playing the
ukulele.
21. DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE
PUBLICATION?
Not yet.
22. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Silence.
23.
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD
IT BE? WHY?
My Dad. He has passed away but we got along the best. If I
was stuck with anyone…I would want it to be him.
24.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD
LEADERS?
Try playing monopoly it’s more fun.
25.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
Have my scripts performed, my poetry published, my graphic
novel drawn and my book finished.
26.
WHAT FIVE BOOKS WOULD YOU TAKE TO HEAVEN?
None.
27.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
Yes, but I try and make them stronger and more confident
than I am.
28.
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Yes. It’s clogged.
29.
DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
Nope.
30.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
A script. I love the dialogue. That’s the easy part.
31.
HOW
WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER.
Being published and
being able to speak of my success to help others.
32.
WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY
FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?
I want my readers to
feel something…anything. Cry, laugh, hate it, love it…anything is better than
nothing.
33.
HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO
DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
I think a lot should go
into it. Because people do judge books by their cover.
34.
WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
See my name roll on the
credits as “written by.”
35.
WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR
BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
Not really.
36.
ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
They probably will be.
37.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
Loyal, persistent,
committed, mother, loving
38.
WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
Someone wasting my
time.
39.
WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST
BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
Pirate King by Laurie
King. Brilliant!
40.
WHAT
WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
I waved and she waved
back.
41.
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO
SHARE?
To see my work in front
of a wider audience.
42.
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Thanks!
Some of Sarah's poetry via YouTube
Clancy's comment: Thank you, Sarah. I loved your answer to number 22. Keep going.
I'm ....
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