Interview Day: Brooke R. Busse

Hi all! Welcome to another interview. Today I'm posting the chat I had with Brook a couple of months ago. 

First things first. Tell us a bit more about yourself?

Okay, start with a hard one right off the bat. Hmm... Well, I'm still in high school. I love all things nerdy. You can tell that just from looking at my YouTube subscriptions. I love that amazing feeling you get when a story idea falls into your head. Lucky for me, I have that feeling a lot. I'm very anal retentive. Um, sometimes I make random noises when I'm sitting at the computer. My best friend has gotten where she doesn't even react anymore. And I'm currently obsessed with "The Walking Dead." See, this is why this is a hard question. First I can't think of anything and then the things I think of are all totally unrelated. Glad my writing isn't like that! 

Hahaha so what do you write? 

I write a lot of things. My current WIP focus is an upper YA/possibly NA light sci fi. At least, I think. I'm working on planning a dystopian that revolves around marriage for my next project. Other works are supernatural or fantasy. However, I like to try my hand at contemporary occasionally, though none of my completed longer works are solely in that genre. I also enjoy writing short stories and poetry. So basically, I write what my ideas tell me to.

How many works have you completed?

It depends on what you mean by "completed." I've finished four rough drafts. I have yet to actually finish revising and editing a novel.

Is there a reason why you haven't started revising?

It's not that I haven't started, I'm revising the aforementioned WIP right now. I'm just never finished doing it. I've been writing seriously for about three years. Almost an entire one of those years was spent rewriting a different project. My first drafts come quickly. The rest, not so much. It's mostly because I'm pretty scared I have no idea what I'm doing.

Ah I see. So do you love all your project equally, or do you have a pet project that you can't let go?

I'm all about equality. ;) My love for my projects is very intense and usually the most obvious for the project I'm currently working on or thinking about. However, I can get that intense love for any of my projects at about the same magnitude.

It's almost the same with me, although I find that my love for the Doorways series far outstrips the others. How do you go about writing? Do you have a routine or do you write when your mood strikes?

I wish I had a routine. The only issue with that is routines tend to add stress to my life. I feel like I have to conform to those expectations no matter what. I'm still working on having a routine and being flexible at the same time. 

I know what you mean. I also have a sort of routine, but it's flexible. Can you tell us a bit about your WiPs?

Another hard one. As I've already mentioned, my current focus WIP is an upper YA/NA light sci-fi. The MC has a genetic mutation that allows her body to send out vibrations at a specific wavelength. This wavelength gives her the ability to control thoughts. She is what is called a Controller, or Trol for short. She tries to break into a government facility in order to save child Trols that have been taken for research. The current WIP that I am outlining is a dystopian based around marriage. I'm still working out the kinks. For more details on these and other projects you can check out the Projects page on my blog.

Sounds like a great story. What's your favorite part of the process and why?

Thanks, Misha. ^^ My favorite part of the process would be anything that inspires new ideas for the story. This most often occurs during outlining, but it can happen during the actual writing as well.

When I was a plotter, I used to outline on sticky notes. What do you use? How do you approach outlining?

I use a sheet of paper or a legal pad to write out the major plot points in the order I think they should go in. I collect tidbits of worldbuilding and character names and relationships. No farther than that. It takes the excitement and thrill of discovery out of the writing.

I know what you mean. The thrill of discovery is so important to keeping my interest in a a story I'm writing. Last question: Where can people find you on the internet?

Of course I have my blog.  




Thanks so much for this great interview, Brooke! I loved to learn more about your writing and method. All the best with your writing and revisions. 

Before I go though, just want to remind you all that I have a Friday open for a guest post on October 19th. Theme is scares, which is something every writer faces. Want to help me out? Please e-mail me at mishagericke(AT)gmail(DOT)com. 

Then I want to ask: Who has any good revision tips?