Happy New Year! I hope 2019 is off to a wonderful start for all of you! It’s definitely off to a wonderful start here, because we’re kicking off the new year with my dear writer friend (and fellow football fanatic) Kelsey Anderson!
Welcome, Kelsey!
Thanks for having me on your blog!
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve been dreaming up stories for as long as I can remember, but I never wrote them down. I wrote off and on in journals, and I would write poems or whatever else was floating around in my head at the time. But the first spark to start writing fiction came from a dream (No joke, I know it may sound cheesy, but it’s true.) That dream came about a year after I got married, and it was during a time that was really hard for me. I was still adjusting to marriage and being in a new place (Moved from South Dakota to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). There were also some other things going on that added more to the stress. So writing became a sanctuary for me, I could step into another world and completely forget what was going on around me. That first story never got anywhere and probably won’t be brought to light again. But it was a great stepping stone to my next book idea (which, surprise surprise, also came from a dream!) That story became the story of my heart that I hope to someday share with readers.
What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between? Do you draft straight through or revise as you go? Do you have a set writing routine, or do you write when you can?
I write when my young kiddos and exhausted pregnant body let me. Haha! Anyway, I’m starting to get into a routine, but I know it could always change. Usually when I get a new story idea, I open up a new word doc and spill every single detail that is in my head. Once that’s all done, I start putting the pieces together to figure out the storyline and plot, but the story could still change once I start writing it. So, I’m both a plotter and a pantser. (I had a very detailed outline for my last book and by the time the book was done, most of what I put in the outline never made it into the actual story) I also mostly write at night while my kids are in bed, but I plan for that night of writing during the day. I try to have a notebook nearby where I will jot down ideas or brainstorm for the next chapter/scene I’m on, so once the kids’ bedtime arrives, I know what to work on.
Note from Amanda: That’s awesome that you’re still awake enough to write after the kids go to bed! I was always brain dead.
What has God taught you so far in your writing journey?
To always TRUST Him. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit and God pulled me back. When He first put this calling on my heart, I fought it hard. I thought I was a terrible writer (still do). I never went to college and I struggled in high school. I argued that I was the least qualified person to be a writer, but we all know how arguments with God turn out. So here we are. I don’t know where this journey is taking me, but all I know is that I have to trust God in it.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a stay-at-home wife and mom, so my kids, hubby, house and the laundry keep me plenty busy. I like to read whenever I can and I sometimes crochet, too. I’m also an extreme introvert, so I like staying home in my lounge pants and having my alone time. It’s essential. But even though I am an introvert, I co-lead a small group with my husband at our church. Plus, I lead my church’s book club. We read only Christian Fiction and it is always a blast.
If you could have coffee/tea/gratuitous amounts of carbs with any author(s), living or dead, who would you choose? What would you talk about?
Jane Austen, no doubt. I want to know what sparked her idea for Pride and Prejudice, plus all her other books. Although knowing myself, I’d probably just fangirl the whole time. But I also want to hang out with all my writer friends more than once every two years, so I also choose them!
What is one thing you know now that you wish you could go back and tell your younger Writer Self?
Oh, wow. So much! First, I would hug my younger Writer Self, because that girl was in a dark place and then I’d tell her that things will get better (and that she will eventually move out of Michigan). I would also tell her to enjoy this crazy writing journey, to not listen to the naysayers, and that she’ll meet some amazing people along the way.
How can we pray for you?
Hmm… first off, I could use some prayers for some energy. My kids and pregnancy take a lot out of me these days, so when I do have a chance to write, my tank is empty. But also pray that God’s will be done in my writing career. I honestly have no idea where I’m going, but God has me doing this writing thing for a reason.
We will definitely be praying for you, Kelsey! Thanks again for being here!
Meet Kelsey:
Kelsey D.M. Anderson is a wife, mommy and writer all in one. Originally a South Dakota girl, Kelsey makes her home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Besides writing, she loves reading, antiques and cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Connect with Kelsey on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.