An Interview with Brenda Novak

Brenda Novak is an award winning romance writer. She has written over 21 novels for Harlequin. When Brenda Novak isn’t writing she’s taking care of her large family or teaching writing workshops.

How did you get into writing? At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I never aspired to being a writer. I thought I was left-brained and better suited to business, but I caught my daycare provider drugging my children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day while I worked outside the home and I could no longer leave my children in someone else's care. So I quit my job and decided I had to do something from home. That something turned out to be writing. I was reading a great book and decided that I might like to try my hand at coming up with my own story, and...here I am 35 novels later!

What was your first book or story that you completed? Did you ever get it published?

My very first manuscript (attempt at writing) was a historical romance titled OF NOBLE BIRTH. Although it was published by HarperCollins in November of 1999, it was after I had rewritten it two or three times. I really believed in the idea, so I kept at it, and that perseverance paid off. Unfortunately, however, HarperCollins purchased Avon before that first book ever came out, so I was orphaned and have never published another historical.

How did you finally get published? When were you able to write on a full time basis? Please explain your success story?

I used contests and the success I achieved there to set my writing apart and build credibility. After being named as a finalist in the 1997 Golden Heart (a national contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America), I found an agent who sold that first manuscript to HarperCollins. But my career might have ended there if I hadn't been willing to diversify. Although I'd originally never planned on writing contemporary stories, I met my current editor at a regional conference, and because I was so impressed with her, I decided to submit. That started my career at Harlequin Superromance (the longest, most mainstream of the Harlequin lines) which eventually developed into writing romantic suspense for MIRA.

How do you stay motivated to finish a novel? How do you stay focused?

I have a large family to help support, so that keeps me motivated, and I have really tight deadlines that keep me focused! LOL

What is your writing schedule like? Do you write in the mornings, evenings, and for how long?

I treat my writing like a regular 8 - 5 job. I get up and get my kids off to school and head straight to the computer, where I remain until they come home from school. Then I help them with whatever they need until they're taken care of and go back to finish up for the day. My goal is 10 pages per day, but I don't always accomplish that much. I find the "business" side of writing takes up more time than I ever dreamed it would (planning promotion, taking on speaking assignments, managing social networks and updating my web site, returning fan mail, etc.).

How do you get your ideas? What is your method for remembering them?

I'm not sure how I get my ideas. I think my brain sifts differently now than before I was constantly on the search for my next story idea. I find true crime novels, true crime TV and other movies and books to be a great source of inspiration. Just reading a great story gets me excited to write again.

If you get writer’s block, how do you get over it?

If I get writer's block, it means I've taken a wrong turn somewhere with my plot or characters. I generally have to retrench to the point where I feel really confident and rethink/rewrite. That usually fixes the problem. Sometimes, if I'm really stuck, it helps to read the manuscript out loud to my husband, who offers input and helps me find the place where I veered off on the wrong tangent.

What are your thoughts on self publishing?

I think self-publishing is a great option for those who want to take on the whole publishing process and admire those who do it well.

My best advice is one word, and it speaks for itself: Believe!

To find out more about Brenda Novak and her work, check out Brenda Novak's website.