How does BK Walker plan out what is going to happen in her books? How does she choose names for her characters? Has writing changed her life? And what is her advice to writers who would like to be published? Find out in the conclusion of my interview with her.
Do you plan out the entire book before writing it? Or do you just sit down and write?
Both. When I start out it's just writing. As the story unfolds though, if I get stuck, I plot it out to help guide my writing. Many times I can see the end in sight, and depending on the characters, I may have to plot out the journey with a little more thought to make it believable.
Do you have a set time to write each day? Or do you wait to be inspired?
I usually wait until I'm inspired. I can't force a story, I've never been good at that. I don't have a set time, just when the mood strikes, though I do try to write every day as I mentioned earlier.
How did you choose the names for your characters?
These characters I did look up on a name generator, and also Irish names from a baby book. You know, the ones that say what they mean. LOL, I so loved the meanings too.
How completely do you develop your characters before beginning to write? Were any of them based upon people you know?
The band, Shot In The Dark 357, from the book is an actual band. Buddha, the drummer in the book is the nickname I gave to Brandon, the real drummer from SITD. When they were setting up and he would be waiting to start, he would sit with his arms crossed in front of him and always reminded me of Buddha. The other characters are all their own.
How has writing changed your life?
Writing has allowed me to meet some phenomenal people, that if I wasn't a writer I would never have met them. I've also been introduced to some amazing Indie Authors, that I don't think I would know existed if I wasn't so much into the writing industry. I love meeting new people, like you, and this is one aspect of writing I love.
Do you ever become bored with what you are writing? If you do, how do you get past that point?
I do. If I'm bored, that means that my readers will be bored. I change it completely. If boredom sets in, I have to really look at the plot, the flow, and the outcome. I will often interview my characters, find out how real life people would react and change the storyline completely to make it more exciting in the end.
What kind of books do you like to read?
It's no secret I love vampires. Tina Folsom's Scanguards Vampires Series is my absolute favorite, though I do enjoy mystery, romance, and westerns too.
How do you manage to balance your time between family, friends, and writing?
I fit my writing in when I can. I work from home, so that makes it nice. A little easier to write when the mood strikes, or to just take 15-20 minutes out of my day to write when things are slow.
If you could spend one hour with just one person, dead or alive, whom would you choose? Why?
Janis Joplin! I love her music and she's been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. I would love to just delve into her brain a bit, get behind her music a little bit more :).
Do you have any advice for writers who are striving to be published?
Just do it. Don't wait, even if you think you're not good enough to get published. You never know who will like your work. Write it out, then send it to an editor. You will feel so exhilarated once it's finished!
Thank you for a fantastic interview, BK Walker. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, I have provided an Amazon link below.
