E.B. Gula is a former audiologist and science major who ultimately turned to the arts side. When she’s not reading, writing, or studying French literary theory, she enjoys cosplay, learning languages, and watching Korean dramas.
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
I’ve been writing since elementary school. I used to sit on the playground and handwrite fantasy stories featuring talking animals, inspired by my childhood favourites Silverwing, Guardians of Ga’hoole, and Redwall. Around that time, I also wrote self-insert Pokemon fanfiction (before I knew what fanfiction was) that I read aloud to the class. I took a long hiatus during high school and university, and then started writing seriously in my final year of undergrad.
Are there any writing resources, such as books or websites, you’d like to recommend?
A lot of writers swear by Save the Cat, but this outlining method doesn’t always work for me. I’ve enjoyed How Not to Write a Novel by Howard Mittelmark & Sandra Newman and Creating Compelling Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland. I also think The Emotion Thesaurus is an excellent resource to have in one’s writing toolkit.
What tips do you have for finding time to write?
When I was working a full-time day job, I wrote during my lunch hour and in the evenings. Force yourself to sit down for even 15 minutes a day. Once you get into the habit, it’s easier to set that time aside. Obviously, it’s hard to balance writing time with family life, work, and other responsibilities, so seize the moment whenever you can, and don’t be too cruel to yourself if you miss a day. Remember that engaging with your work also counts as writing.
Do you favor the traditional route or self-publishing?
There are pros and cons to both. I’m aiming for the traditional route, because I like the idea of working with an industry professional who knows the market, as well as building a relationship with an agent/editor over the course of my career. At this point, self-publishing would be a difficult feat for me due to the time and funds necessary to hire editors, cover designers, etc., although this is a great idea for more niche stories and for those who possess the patience to do it!
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between?
I lean more towards pantsing, which often gets me in trouble. I tend to write out of order and have to go back and fix issues with chronology and pacing. When I inevitably get stuck, I write out a very loose outline based on the scenes I’ve already written, make sure my story beats are in the right place, and fill in the gaps. In the same vein, I’m an underwriter, and my final drafts expand by 20-30k every time. It’s usually a good idea to write a practice query letter before attempting the story, and I’ve recently realized that Zero Drafts are an invaluable tool.
How do you deal with rejections?
I’ve learned that the only thing you can control in the publishing industry is your own writing. Keep your eyes on your own page and keep working on the next thing. Having another project to fall back on really numbs the sting of rejections, because you know you’re still moving forward in one way or another.
In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
I really don’t think it’s necessary. There are a lot of authors who worked a completely different career before falling into writing.
Do you participate in any online or in-person critique or writing groups?
Twitter is handy for connecting with fellow writers and meeting critique partners or beta readers. Pitch contests are also a great way to curate interest from agents or publishers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Twitter can be exhausting or disheartening at times.
What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
I’m currently querying a YA contemporary, rewriting an upmarket literary fiction novel, and drafting an adult thriller. Aiming to achieve a lot of words this year!
What books are you reading right now?
I am currently reading CINDERELLA IS DEAD by Kalynn Bayron, WE HUNT THE FLAME by Hafsah Faizal, and RENT-A-BOYFRIEND by Gloria Chao. I usually read several more at a time, but I have a corpus of ~15 books to read this semester for my French MA and consequently don’t have as much time to read for fun.
