Member Spotlight: Liz Alterman

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? For me, writing provides a portal to another world. It’s also a wonderful reminder of the power of your imagination. Writing is so important because it offers an escape from the confines of your four walls. Particularly during the year we’ve had, a good book can feel like inviting a wonderful storyteller into your home and you’re entertained and spirited away from the every day.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? When faced with writer’s block, I take a long walk or a shower and those help. If neither does the trick, I try to write in a different genre. Even something like a humorous list can help shake off the self-doubt that accompanies writer’s block. Or, if I’m stuck on a scene, I jump ahead to write one I’m excited to start, knowing that I can come back to the challenging one later when, hopefully, I’ll be more inspired.

What is your favorite time to write? I love to write in the morning either with my first cup of coffee or just after it.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? The best piece of writing advice I’ve ever received is “Just sit down and write.” It’s so true. You can have wonderful ideas and all the talent in the world, but without the discipline to do the work, your story will never find its way to the page, and, ultimately, into the world.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I love the idea that you can send your manuscript to someone via email and know it’s been received in seconds. It’s amazing to have the ability to connect with other writers across a range of mediums. Writing is such a solitary endeavor, but finding an online community and connecting with fellow writers can make you feel so much less alone.

Liz Alterman’s He’ll Be Waiting is out now with Willow River Press.