Member Spotlight: Sara Fray

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? The written word has proven its power since the dawn of time. Today’s tweets have replaced etching in rock but its ability to connect and inspire community hasn’t. I write for younger readers and love diving into complicated subjects in a quest to simplify them. If I can share the excitement of a topic without overwhelming my readers with facts, I’ve done my job. Writing is such an important medium because it enables readers to visit places and meet people they might not encounter in everyday life. As a writer, it is a gift to transport readers to new destinations and hopefully make it a trip to remember.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Work on several projects at any given time. When you hit a wall, change the vibe by working on something else. With a rotation, it’s hard to get stuck. If you don’t have multiple projects to pull from, take a break and find something new that inspires you.

What is your favorite time to write? Time is precious and inspiration is fleeting so I carry a notebook at all times. I often find that spark in the most obscure places.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Visualize each chapter of your book like a movie scene. Can you see it? Smell it? Also, outlines are your friends. Give yourself a road map so you don’t get lost.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? Sometimes writing about history makes you a part of history itself. I have an unquenchable thirst for books and I’m excited and humbled to be part of today’s incredibly rich tapestry of authors.

Sara Fray’s Seven Voyages: How China’s Treasure Fleet Conquered the Sea, co-written with Laurence Bergreen, is out January 19 with Roaring Brook Press.