Though Court Ellyn started writing historical fiction when she was fourteen, her interest slowly gravitated toward the fantastical. Now she prefers to forge her own worlds and the rules that govern them. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Twice Upon a Time, Explorers: Beyond the Horizon, Kaleidotrope, and Silver Blade. Her epic fantasy series, The Falcons Saga, is available at Amazon. Describing herself as a dreamer, a cynic, a klutz who loves cats, and a homebody who roams, she believes that strong coffee is the elixir that keeps the dragons at bay.
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I first wrote in story form when I was fourteen-ish, but for years before that I was writing plot outlines before I knew what plot outlines were. So I guess I’ve been telling stories for most of my life. That said, my serious attempts did not begin until after I graduated college, which means, all tallied, I’ve been writing full-time for nearly twenty years. An irrepressible imagination and instinct for words wouldn’t let me do anything else. I also remember being indecisive about which career path I wanted to take, and telling myself that, if I wrote fiction, I could be anything, from archaeologist to space explorer.
What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
Writing is a passion, yes, but publication is a business. Don’t take rejection personally. Bear down, improve your craft, and get on with it. Find a critique group, let them tear up your work, swallow the ego, believe what they tell you, and make revision time your best friend.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I love to read sci-fi/fantasy, contemporary literature, and classic literature. I greatly admire the works of Ursula K. Le Guin, George RR Martin, China Mieville, Neil Gaiman, and Amy Tan. They’re my main go-to authors–for entertainment, sure, but also to remind myself how to use words and how to broaden the tiny box my imagination tends to reside in.
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
Depends on the project. For short stories, pantsing it is thrilling. For novel-length projects, having some idea of the ending, as well as scene goals in mind, is necessary to keep the text from rambling too far into left field—but still allows the characters to surprise me. My favorite part of writing is the dialog. Before I started writing chapter 1 of my current WIP, I outlined the entire thing in dialog only. Doing so helped me write the rough draft in only four months. That said, I have also outlined a novel in the traditional way, which was a huge mistake. The process left no room for discovery and completely killed my passion for the project. That novel was never finished. So I’ve found that a happy medium is required.
How do you deal with rejections?
I used to take rejections very hard. I become embarrassed very easily, so in the early days each rejection drove me into a kind of shell for three days to a week, before I felt brave enough to surface and force myself to look for a new market and endure the submissions process again. Now? Rejection is old hat. Like I said earlier, rejection is strictly business, it’s not personal. I’ve learned to have several markets lined up, and as soon as the rejection arrives, I brush it off and submit to the next magazine on the list. It’s tough persevering and developing that thick skin, but it’s worth it.
Do you ever get criticism from family or friends who don’t understand your passion?
Criticism? No. I’ve received massive support from friends and family. These days, it’s the indifference that stings. Even close friends and family, I’ve seen, are generally the last people on earth who are willing to purchase and read my work. It’s lonely, not being able to connect with those closest to me on the activity that I am most passionate about and to which I have devoted my life. That’s why a small circle of writer friends has become absolutely necessary to my well-being. We speak the same language.
In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
Not important at all. I graduated with top honors with an English/History degree, and it didn’t help me write better or break into print. My professors weren’t even able to explain to me what “unsolicited manuscript” was. Trial and error taught me the ins and outs of the industry. In college I read a lot, for sure, delved into the riches of Western literature, and learned how history links with the present—all great information to have in hand for building a story, but I did not learn how to write for an audience until later, when online critique groups became a thing. It was having my work shredded by peers and shredding their work in return that I learned how to write.
That said, reading with a critical eye, examining how the authors we admire express ideas and weave information together is one of the best educations a writer can give themselves. And there’s something to be said for an instinct for language and sheer dogged determination to sit butt-in-chair and see it through. No degree teaches you that.
Do you participate in any online or in-person critique or writing groups?
For eight years I owned and ran a fabulous online critique community called LegendFire. But all things must end, so last September I shut the server down. It was hard. But since then, I’ve joined the community at Absolute Write, which looks promising. There’s just no exaggerating the benefit an open-minded writer can receive from an objective critique group.
What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
I’m so excited about my current project. I’ve broken away from my usual sci-fi/fantasy fare with this one. It’s actually a Victorian drama (I shudder to use “romance”), and so I’ve been able to return to my first love, which is history. Over the next few months, I hope to finish Draft 2 (and possibly Draft 3), then perhaps find a freelance editor for it and begin the slog of preparing it for the submission process.
Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
Just my Facebook author page. I post a lot of fun memes there: fb/CourtEllynAuthor – https://www.facebook.com/CourtEllynAuthor/
