Reading time: About 1 minute
Laura Petrecca says that NOT writing is often what makes her a better writer. Read this interview to learn more…
Laura Petrecca is an award-winning multimedia journalist, writer, editor, and content strategist with more than 25 years of experience at top media companies. Laura is the founder of the editorial consultancy Verita Media and has held leadership roles such as Money section editor and New York City bureau chief for USA Today. Her writing has been published in USA Today, CNBC, Kiplinger, Real Simple, Crain’s New York Business, Adweek, AdAge, and AARP The Magazine.
I was excited to talk to Laura about how she approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day? This truly varies depending on my schedule and my level of motivation. Some days, I don’t write at all, while on other days, I can write anywhere from 90 minutes to nine hours.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer? Not writing (!) My best thinking comes after I’ve hunkered down on a story and then get a snack, go for a walk (typically to get a snack), or take a shower. I’ve even taken multiple showers in one day to keep the creative thinking flowing.
Q. What interferes with your writing? One word: Overthinking.
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it? I think about my work ethic. Meeting client deadlines is important to me. (Now I just need to extend that mindset to my personal writing…)
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing? “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” ― Ernest Hemingway.
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why? My actual favorite part is the moment I know a piece is “done.” I get the same feeling of satisfaction that I got when I played high school basketball, and the shot swooshed into the net, not touching the backboard or rim. My second favorite part is researching, followed by editing. (I realize the actual writing is coming in last place here.)
Q. What’s the best book you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years? The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms by Danielle LaPorte
Q. What book are you reading right now? The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing? That it’s entirely based on natural talent. Sure, talent comes into play, but like any other craft, the more you learn from others, the better you get at it.
