3xA MA: Lee Kelly

 

I've always felt so grateful to the authors that take the time to connect with me through social media. In my mind, I'd always thought they were on an unattainable level. In this event, I want to get to know the authors; to see them for the people they are and not just as creators of your favorite book.

Note: For each post, links are left to the author's social media. If you know an author whose book has affected you [in my event or just in general,] please use one of those links and leave a nice message to them! Something as simple as "I'm such a huge fan of your work" can go a long way - you'd be surprised.
For a full definition, the author schedule [and a fabulous opening giveaway,] click here.


Haven't you heard of City of Savages? It's very high up on my list of reads!
And with a totally FUN post, here's the author, Lee Kelly, on a few Reading/Writing Confessions!

When Nova offered me the chance to do a more “personal” blog post on her site, I jumped at it. My past few months have been wholly centered around the release of my debut, CITY OF SAVAGES, and I realized that I hadn’t gotten the chance to blog or chat online about general reading and writing in a long time. Sure, there are certain questions about writing habits or favorite books that come up in a book-related interview, but nothing as open-ended as “tell us a little about yourself.”

So since this is the first time I’ve had a chance like this, I thought it might be fun to admit to some reading and writing confessions I’ve never posted before (and some I’ve never admitted out loud before).

So deep breath, and here goes… five of my reading and writing “confessions” that I’m sharing with all of you:

I think reading is the most important part of writing, but I don’t do it enough.

The number one piece of advice that I give about writing is “Reading is just as important to writing as writing is.” In fact, I’ve shared this tidbit on twitter, my website, on Goodreads…. But I don’t often admit that I, myself, don’t do it enough. I LOVE to read – being enveloped in a world that lasts for hours or days or weeks is an incredible, breathtaking feeling – and I absolutely believe that the more you read, the more you know what you love and the more you’ll understand what you should write.

That said, during the past two years, I’ve had a child, have edited a book, written and edited another book, written (and am currently revising) another book, moved to another state and went through a major work transition, spend most days chasing around a toddler (and I have a husband too, and we like to spend some time together J). I tell myself every night that I’m going to settle into bed and read 100 pages, but most nights I fall asleep after reading about 15-20.

I wish I read more. I try to read more. My daily goal is to read more…. And yet, confession: I don’t read as much as I want, or as much as I should.

Sometimes I enjoy TV just as much as reading.

So this ties right into confession #1: my husband loves TV, and because we like to spend our nights together, reading time gets forfeited to TV time. I really do believe that there are some shows so complex and textured that they “watch” like books (Homeland, True Detective, Game of Thrones -- naturally, to name a few), and some nights it’s just easier to settle back and watch a show with my husband than to read, even though I consider myself primarily a book person.

I wish I read more adult novels, but my heart belongs to YA.

There are so many amazing adult books out there – books I’ll read about in the paper or will get as recommendations from friends. And yet… when I go to my overstocked bookshelf of books that I’ve splurged and bought but haven’t read yet, I nearly always reach for a YA novel. There’s something about the combination of plotting, tight pacing, and the rich character development in a typical YA novel that keeps me coming back to YA every time.

I’ll get what I call “story envy” at least once a week.

Fellow writers may know what I’m talking about – you read about a deal in Publisher’s Marketplace, or read a synopsis of a shiny new book you’ve never heard of before on Goodreads, and by the time you’re through with the description, you’re thinking, Damn. Maybe I should be writing space odesseys, or twisty thrillers about animals. Or maybe the next “big thing” is heartfelt contemporary and I’m completely missing the boat. And all of a sudden, the story idea that you were so excited about for the past few weeks or months can feel like a dull penny in comparison.

From personal experience, story envy is annoying at best, completely crippling at worst, and is absolutely a writer’s block in its own right.


But at the end of the day, no matter how many bouts of story envy I might get, I always come back to the truth: I have to write for myself.

No matter what the trend is, no matter what amazing new bestselling novel I’ve just read, I always end up coming back to the idea of needing to write for myself. Because even if a concept is cool or unique or blockbuster, if it isn’t what I’m interested in exploring as a writer – if an idea doesn’t compel me back to my computer to spend time with imaginary people in made-up places – then I know I won’t put in the time, energy and dedication needed to make that idea a completed manuscript (and then a revised manuscript, a shoppable manuscript, an edited manuscript, a novel… you get the idea.)

The story envy thing is SO TRUE. I'm obviously not a published author but sometimes when I read a book, I go "dang! I wish I thought of this." It's scary and Lee describes it perfectly! Thanks so much for this awesome post! I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did!

Enter the giveaway below! 
Thanks for checking out my blog and remember:  Be kind to one another. - Ellen 
Want more fun? Check out the other authors featured here.

Lee's Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Lee Kelly has wanted to write since she was old enough to hold a pencil, but it wasn’t until she began studying for the California Bar Exam that she conveniently started putting pen to paper.

An entertainment lawyer by trade, Lee has practiced law in Los Angeles and New York.

She lives with her husband and son in Millburn, New Jersey, though after a decade in Manhattan, she can’t help but still call herself a New Yorker.

Thanks so much to Lee for donating a signed hardcover of City of Savages!

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