15 Questions with D. I. Richardson (June 2020)

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I was about thirteen years old. When I was in my fifth grade class, I remember writing a short story for a class assignment around halloween time. It was a very cliché and rubbish piece of writing that I named McMurder Mansion. Despite the name, it was not in any way a McDonald's horror story. From what I can remember, it was about a group of friends slowly being killed in a haunted house. The end. But ever since then, I just thought of writing as something I wanted to do. Something that kept my mind occupied.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I have no idea. The longest it took me from start to finish of working on was two years with A Cabbage Named Fred, but I chalk that up to the fact that life can get very busy outside of the Word doc. The shortest timespan, however, is closer to three weeks. When I wrote {00:00}, I wrote about 70% of that within one week's time. So the answer really varies. Sometimes I can write 30,000 words a week, sometimes I can write barely 300.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Hectic. Messy. All over the place. I'll just leave it at that.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I'm not sure if it really counts as a writing quirk, but I always do my best writing bursts when I'm listening to ASMR videos. Something about being relaxed can really help me push through some writer's block, and ASMR videos tend to help me destress after long and/or hectic days.

How do books get published?

Usually? After many queries and many rejections. I chose to go the self-publishing route, since I care more about being involved and learning about the entire process than I do about being famous or even making money off of books.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Information from Google, the information super highway. Ideas? From anywhere and everywhere. The concept and idea for The Colours Betwixt came around because I saw one of my friends gripping her steering wheel a little tightly one night. And that was all it took to spur an idea. Sometimes, it's the little things.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

My first book is Emily's Addictions. It's a Wattpad-y style story. I was on Wattpad a lot when I conceptualized this book, so I think that influence me a lot. I wrote it when I was 18 and getting over a sort of rocky relationship with an ex. I found that writing helped me cope. This was also back in 2014 and I used to use Tumblr more often back then. May or may not have influenced the story.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Cook. I work as a full-time line cook. I'm also currently in school again for accounting. I also like to do some video gaming with friends. Look at memes. Watch YouTube videos, usually educational ones. I like to read trending news and keeping up with society. I would basically say I am a sponge. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can all the time.

What does your family think of your writing?

We don't speak much about hobbies, but I think they support it. Who wouldn't? They've for sure never read any of it though.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That I was capable of making people cry through fictional characters and a fictional story. It was pretty surprising to hear that people cried to one of my books.

How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?

I've written now in total eleven books. I have published seven of them. One of them is still being edited and revised. The other two will probably stay finished but unpublished. One is being edited and should be ready in Fall 2020. Ive also started what would be my twelfth novel, Little Midnight.

My favourite book that I've written is The Colours Betwixt. I think it will be my best book that I ever write. The characters, to me, are so unique and fleshed out and the story tells one of loss and grieving but also moving on, so I think there's a lot to take from the message as well. If I had to pick a second, I would pick {23:59}. It can also be called Minute to Midnight, since it is a New Year's story. But I have a big soft spot for Evan and Spencer. Their story is very lighthearted and cute in comparison to some of my other stuff.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Write. Just write. The more you write, the better you will be. There's no such thing as too much practice. I found that the more I wrote, the stronger my voice became and the more fleshed out my ideas would get. I think that hammering through writer's block can be hard, but using small writing prompts can be a good way to get you to start writing again and then boom. Once you start writing again, you keep going. Writing leads to more writing. That was a ramble, I'm sorry.

Do you like to create books for adults?

I do not create books for adults per se. I wouldn't say I create books for any real audience. I think my books are targeted for younger adults, but I think adults of any age (even some older teens) could still take away something from the stories I tell, even more so as I grow older and experience more of this adult life.

What do you think makes a good story?

Every story is a good story in some respect. The only thing that makes it a "bad" story is if it never gets told.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

This. An author. (Or a racecar driver, how cool would that be?)

You can find more information on D. I. Richardson here.