Reading time: About 2 minutes
Sarah Nakawatse says that writing is not so much about reaching the endpoint, but instead about all the experiences you have along the way…
Sarah Nakawatase is the author of the romantic suspense novel Double-Crossing the Border and co-author of the science fiction novel Dormant Diversion. Her paranormal romance novel, Southern Souls, was released in March. She earned her degree in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University and presently works as a cardiac nurse. When she’s not writing or nursing, you can find her cooking big family dinners or on the beach.
I was excited to talk to Sarah about how she approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day?
Anywhere from one to nine hours depending on my family and work schedules — the writing vortex is strong.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer?
I’m always daydreaming about what my characters would say in all types of situations. I have a constant dialogue playing in my head, processing emotions.
Q. What interferes with your writing?
Definitely the need to sleep. If only I were a vampire…
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it?
This literally never happens to me. When the kids were smaller, I would wake up at 3:15 am and write for 2 hours every morning before the kids and I would start a day filled with school, work, sports, etc.
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing?
If you make your passion the first thing you do every day, you will never run out of time for it.
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why?
I love writing—the creative process. I surprise myself during the initial draft phase, often having no idea what is going to happen next until I write it.
Q. What’s one of the best books you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years?
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden was the best book I’ve read this year. It’s a bestseller for a reason. Every bit of dialogue and description evokes the reader’s curiosity, and there were some killer plot twists!
Q. What book are you reading right now?
Devine Rivals by Rebecca Ross — the Hot and Booked Club’s recent pick! I’m in a book club with my oldest daughter, Beverly, who is a rare combination of kindness and creativity with a vast knowledge of organic chemistry.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing?
New writers frequently think it’s easy to make it in this industry. This is a saturated market with an insane amount of competition. To make it in this business, you need perseverance, thick skin, and you must LOVE writing. Even when you’ve secured that contract, so much rides on the successful marketing of the book. You have to love the process. Like so many things in life, it’s not about reaching the endpoint, but all the experiences along the way.
