Raquel Drosos started writing when she was five, and has rarely stopped. As a teenager, she wrote and published three young adult novels under her maiden name, Raquel George. Games of Chance is her first book for adults. She also blogs about parenting and the creative process. Raquel talks with me about the intersection between acting and writing, plotting vs. writing by the seat of your pants, the moment when your characters come to life in your head (which is not a sign of madness!), her next novel, and more. She also shares some excellent advice she got from her dad.
Episode breakdown:
0:00 Intro
01:09 Parents not artists, but innately creative and supportive.
06:02 Writer surprised by interpretation of their play.
09:55 Supportive parents, writing struggles, novel characters reused.
15:38 Mix of planning and spontaneity in writing.
17:20 Two types of writers: plotters and pantsers.
23:09 Feeding creativity through exposure to art and music.
25:14 Observing people, sparking curiosity, fostering creativity.
27:14 3-year-old nephew's wild story about alligators.
33:00 Characters connect through accents, interviews essential for authenticity.
34:10 The sound of words matters to writing.
40:08 Intense family saga vs. immediate relationship novel.
42:54 Encouraged writer spans genres and age groups.
45:13 Describing book as mix of others important.
48:18 Novel: Parenthood, love, creativity, friendship, humor, advice.
51:51 Jotting down scenes and dialogue, then dedicated.
54:56 Character decides to go left, not right.
58:10 Trust your gut and follow your instincts.
Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a moment when your creative work came to life for you.
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Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
Living an Intuitive Life with Kelly Abanda
Happily Homeless with Alison Miller
Replay: Modeling Disease Outbreaks with Robert Smith?
Giving Ourselves Permission with Sam Kimberle
Music, Mathematics, and Code with Michael Smith
Harnessing Your Brain Power with Katy-Rose Bye
From Tech to Theatre with Rupert Goodwins
"Yes, and..." with Jennifer Nasta Zefutie
Off to a Good Start with Kate Hutcheson
Replay: The Gifts of Creativity with Dr. Kelly Flanagan
Happy Accidents with Anthony Wilson
Replay: Art's What's Gonna Save Us with Domenic Sciortino
Crushing Classical with Tracy Friedlander
Bringing Death into Life with Tara Sroka
"There Is No Magic Path" with Kristen Good
Finding a True Path with Michelle Ward
The Power of Ritual with Cat Kessler
Conservatory vs. College with D'Anna Fortunato
Aiming for Excellence with Dr. William Payn
Chasing Curiosity with Vicky Cook
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