Reading time: About 2 minutes
Jen Frankel says the Oscar Wilde quote, “It’s better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating,” helps keep her grounded as a writer.
Jen Frankel is the author of the vegan zombie romantic satire Undead Redhead and the Blood & Magic series. Her work has appeared in anthologies in Canada and the US and in magazines like Analog and Amazing Stories. She also runs a small press, Xeno Productions, and hosts literary events in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario.
I was excited to talk to Jen about how she approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day?
That’s a surprisingly tough question – I spend time every day thinking about stories and making notes, but I don’t have a set number of hours or words I put in every day. I’m a bit of a binge writer; when I’m deep in a project, I don’t do much else, and when I’m done one, I often take some time out.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer?
Keeping my workspace simple. I have a lot of projects on the go at any one time, so it’s essential that all my notes and research are in one place.
Q. What interferes with your writing?
Life! But life also enhances my work, so it’s a wash.
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it?
I don’t. If I’m not in a creative headspace, I’m going to produce substandard work. It’s better to do something else and let the work find me.
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing?
I have two quotes by my desk:
“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” — Albert Einstein
“It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.” —Oscar Wilde
One builds me up and the other keeps me practical.
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why?
Depends on the day, and it definitely depends on the project. The most fun I have is when I’m writing and the characters take over, and I’m just along for the ride.
Q. What’s one of the best books you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years?
For sheer storytelling power and style, William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series. I’ve read the first fifteen in the series since October 2023. Fortunately, I still have a few left!
Q. What book are you reading right now?
Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce, and Ken McGoogan’s Searching for Franklin.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing?
That it’s easy. And that more experienced writers know exactly what they’re doing. To coin a phrase, we write a book one word at a time, just like everyone else.
You can purchase Jen’s poetry and read her free posts at Patreon.
