Author Interview with Tahani Nelson: 5 Questions to ask an author about Book Writing Process & Mindset
One of the biggest traps is comparing yourself to other authors. Don’t compare yourself to them. Otherwise you’ll drown before you really even learn how to properly swim, says Tahani
In this author interview series, “5 questions to ask an aligned author“, we sat with Tahani Nelson to learn about her book writing process with tips on genres and style, outlining, productivity, how to deal with writing fears and failures such as rejection and criticism effectively, do’s and don’ts of writing and common traps of lack mindset for aspiring and emerging authors.
In her new book Faoii Betrayer; the second in the Faoii Chronicles series, fiction Author and English teacher Tahani Nelson continues to sizzle the audience with her bold and resilient female protagonists flinging their military swords to win against all odds. Leading her women readers bravely into battlefields full of challenging conditions, Nelson uses pen as her armour to destruct and reconstruct unconventional yet phenomenal moments of endings and epic new beginnings in her fantasy fiction series.
Tahani Nelson is an author and English teacher in Billings, Montana. Her Faoii fantasy series focuses on strong female protagonists and matriarchal societies. She hopes to help encourage young readers to be the warriors of their own stories.
Faoii Betrayer: Book 2 of the Faoii Chronicles
BLURB
Ilahna Harkins will do whatever it takes to save her brother. Two centuries after the Godfell War, Ilahna knows that the only way to survive in Clearwall is to be faster and smarter than everyone else. She stays on her toes, steals what she needs… and never EVER mentions magic. Because magic is the way of the Faoii, and witches get burned in Clearwall. Being silent isn’t always enough, though, and when her brother starts manifesting mysterious powers, Ilahna knows they don’t have much time.
Hunted across Clearwall, the siblings must unbury a lifetime’s worth of lies and secrets with the help of unlikely allies…or find themselves lashed to the pyre like all the Faoii that came before. Faoii Betrayer is the riveting and highly-anticipated 2nd novel in the Faoii Chronicles.
5 Author Interview Questions about Book Writing Process Answered
#1 What genre do you consider your books? Have you considered writing in another genre?
I write female-led military fantasy. My Faoii Chronicles are all about women leading armies and fighting in epic battles and wearing armor that actually covers all of their vital organs. I absolutely love it. However, I did recently put out a science-fiction short story called “Honeysuckle Sky” and I think it is one of my strongest pieces. I think I’d like to try my hand at horror someday when the Faoii Chronicles are complete.
#2 Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
I have never had any control over any of my characters. I usually don’t know what’s going to happen in my books until after it’s already done and I’m just as surprised as my readers. I love the feeling, honestly, because while I enjoy having complete control over my publishing and marketing process, I LOVE not having complete control over the stories themselves. That world belongs to my characters, and it feels so much more natural and comes across so much more clearly when I let them have free reign and try not to push or force a scenario or a relationship. Sometimes I read a passage or a chapter and it doesn’t even feel like I wrote it at all.
#3 What are common traps for aspiring writers?
One of the biggest traps is comparing yourself to other authors. There are THOUSANDS of authors and writers on Facebook alone, and it will always feel like they’re all more successful than you are. And some of them are. But I promise—no matter how big you get, there will always be someone who writes more each night or who has more reviews or who makes more in royalties or who found a better publishing deal. And that’s okay. Don’t compare yourself to them. Compare yourself to who you were a month or a year or a decade ago and focus on that. Otherwise you’ll drown before you really even learn how to properly swim.
#4 What is your most productive writing habit?
I write 200 words a night. I know it doesn’t sound like very much—but that’s because it isn’t. But when I used to tell myself that I had to write 1,000 or 2,000 words every night it was overwhelming. I never felt like I had the time or energy to do that at the end of the day, so I just…didn’t. I wouldn’t even start. Now, I tell myself to write 200 words each night. Barely a paragraph. 5 minutes of work. And I NEVER feel like I don’t have enough time. I never feel like it’s too much. And usually starting is enough. I usually end up writing so much more than my 200 word goal. But even when I don’t, even when I jut hit those 200 words—it’s still more than the 0 I was hitting before.
#5 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I know a lot of authors say not to, but I have read all of my book reviews. The good reviews help battle my imposter syndrome or keep me going when I feel like I’m not good enough or clever enough to keep writing. They remind me that I have an actual fanbase that supports and loves me, and that wants to see me succeed. The bad reviews help keep me humble and usually give really good advice on what I can improve. Because of them, I think every successive book has been stronger than the ones that came before.
So far, I only have one 1-star review. Originally, it CRUSHED me. I cried so hard. But now I wear it like a badge of honor. I share it and talk about it and I don’t hide from it, because there will always be people out there who try to dim your sparkle. Don’t let them.
Answer #4 is my personal favorite. Comment below to tell me yours.
Follow Tahani
Website/Blog http://www.TahaniNelson.com
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Tahani-Nelson/e/B07M8JQ71B
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16761378.Tahani_Nelson
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/TheLastFaoii
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/TahaniNelson/
Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/TahaniNelson