Member Spotlight: Nikki McCormack

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I believe writing, especially fiction, helps us connect with people in an extraordinary way. We go on a journey with the characters. We share their losses and their triumphs and, through them, we connect to an author we will probably never meet. In that way, I think it also helps create empathy. Outside of being a form of communication that connects people and builds empathy, I believe fiction writing and reading can provide people with a necessary escape from the stress of daily life.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Honestly, I write or edit every day (depending on what stage I am at). Making a habit of daily writing leaves little space for writer’s block to sneak in. However, if I do encounter it, I have found that engaging in something completely unrelated often helps. Physical activity that gets me far away from my computer, such as hiking, gives my subconscious the space it needs to relax and puzzle out the problem.

What is your favorite time to write? I love writing at all times, but I prefer the late evening and early morning when it is quieter in my corner of the world. It’s almost as if the dreams of those still asleep help feed my imagination.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? For me, the most valuable advice I have ever gotten is to read a lot. You can learn so much about the craft of writing by consuming the work of other authors. It’s like watching someone demonstrate a dance move or fighting technique before you try to do it yourself. Learning through observation and analysis can do so much to help you build those skills for yourself.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I honestly feel that being a writer is hard right now. Between AI muddying the waters and the fact that there are a lot of books being published before they are ready, reader trust is low. Many readers are understandably reluctant to take a chance on unfamiliar authors. Still, I love being a writer. Nothing will change that regardless of the age we live in.

Nikki McCormack’s Wave-Touched (Daughter of Vanris Book 2) is out now with Elysium Books.