Lucy is a blossoming teen writer with lots of gifts to share with the world! She has a strong relationship with the Lord and runs a writing and faith blog, which you can find at Breathing in Freedom. It was a joy to interview her, and I hope you can take something away from her amazing insight!
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was around 6-years-old. Back then my stories were... interesting. I wrote a little story about a ladybug named Joy who had to save a rat from a fox that wanted to eat it, and I also wrote a story about two bees (named Buzzby and Buzz-buzz) who wanted a baby, so they went around their ‘neighborhood’, and asked people what to do. The neighbors said to eat a lot, get enough water, and get a lot of exercise. 😂
So yes, I’ve been writing for quite a while.
What inspired you to start writing?
Well, ultimately, it was God who gave me the desire and gift of writing. But I also really enjoyed - and was encouraged by - reading books that others had written, and I wanted other people to feel the same way for things I wrote.
Which books or authors inspire you to this day?
Bryan Davis has really inspired my writing, and his books (Dragons in our Midst) have also. His books (which are fantasy, and don’t specifically say to write) motivate me to write, and his encouragement to keep writing, even when it’s hard, has stopped me numerous times from quitting, just because of how well written they are. Priscilla Shirer’s book ‘Radiant’ (non-fiction) has also really helped me. Both are for teenagers and young adults.
What genres do you write and why do you enjoy them?
I really love writing fantasy and adventure, because I feel like seeing situations that are worse than your own, and where people overcome even then, is really special and helps me with my problems. And even if they fail, it encourages me to not beat myself up when I mess up.
Do you prefer writing on a computer or in a notebook?
I definitely prefer writing on a computer, because I can easily edit or delete pieces of writing (plus, it isn’t so messy).
When you begin a new story, where do you start the creative process?
I usually begin with writing the outline of the story, but occasionally I start with the characters.
If you ever published a book, how would you celebrate?
Well, first of all, I would be SO happy! I would probably start by jumping around in circles and screaming, and then I would thank God, and then tell everyone I know!
How do you handle writer’s block?
Usually I keep writing, and I’ll get up and get a drink of water or a snack. Often it helps me to step outside for a few minutes to rest my brain, and I also like to read books to help motivate me.
Praying is a big part too (:
Have you ever felt like your writing wasn’t good enough? How did you handle that situation?
Yes, many times. Sometimes I didn’t handle it well (oops), but if I have a family member or friend read it, they often tell me that either (1) it IS good enough or (2) it isn’t my best writing yet, and I should try to work on something else.
Also, sometimes this is a lie, the enemy trying to stop you from doing God’s work. So, praying for strength and perseverance is definitely another helpful thing to do.
What is one thing you wish you knew when you started out writing?
I wish I had known it doesn’t have to be perfect in the first draft. You honestly just have to get it down, and then the real part that has to be perfect is editing it. I would always go through so much work making it perfect as I went, and I never got close to finishing because of that. It’s good to make it good, but at first, it does NOT have to be perfect.
I also wish I had known to keep writing, even when I don’t feel like it. If we stop writing every time it gets hard, we’ll probably never accomplish anything. So persevere, and keep writing! It will be worth it, I promise you!
I loved this! I hope that you get to make more!