Who are you?
I’m Liselle Sambury, an author based in Timmins, ON, Canada.
What do you write?
I primarily write speculative fiction for young adults. Right now, my focus is fantasy, psychological thrillers, horror, and science fiction, but I do love to try different genres so that could expand at any time. My most recent release, Delicious Monsters, is a mashup of psychological thriller and horror, taking place in both Toronto as well as Timmins and the surrounding area, and following two haunted teens and a mysterious mansion. It encompasses a lot of the things that I love to write including setting novels in real places where I’ve lived or visited and themes of complicated family relationships and generational trauma.
In writing for teens, I seek to share stories that represent some of what I experienced at that age while also making sure it’s relevant for teenagers today and their concerns. When I first started writing, I hated the idea of purposely exploring themes. My books, I insisted, were just for fun. But as I wrote, I found myself wanting to have certain discussions and seeing them instead as a reflection of the characters and their journeys instead of feeling like I was pushing an agenda. Since then, I’ve really embraced writing stories that are fun and accessible for a younger audience while also exploring themes in a way that feels relevant and can potentially help them feel seen.
Where do you write?
I am, perhaps controversially, a hater of paper. Rather than the paper being unreliable, I’m not reliable when it comes to paper. It’s easy for me to misplace notebooks or to simply forget what I wrote in what place and not be sure how to find it again. Digital organization is ideal for my process because I can use search functions to help, and it’s easier to know where everything is. Though I do sometimes use paper just to get thoughts out in cases when it’s more the action of writing and consolidating my ideas than something I’ll need to refer to.
I use a variety of programs to both help keep my writing organized and to do the writing itself. I rely on Notion to store my ideas and to note my daily to-do items. I write in Scrivener which I use for my initial drafts and developmental edits because I can use folders to better keep track of my chapters and have a lot of flexibility in moving things around. Eventually, I am forced onto Microsoft Word because that’s the industry standard, though I admit that I’m not the biggest fan of it. I also use a program called Plottr which is a combination plotting and worldbuilding program where I make exhaustive plans for how a book will come together and have visual aids for characters.
I’m fortunate to be able to do all this writing in my office which is the second bedroom in my home that I transformed into a working space during the beginning of the pandemic. Though it is more an office/craft room since I have a number of hobbies that I do there as well.
When do you write?
I try to make sure that I’m in front of my computer by 9:00 am. When I first began writing full time, I was resistant to the idea of doing a typical work schedule. However, I do find that I benefit a lot from the routine and so I keep to it. How I organize myself for the day depends on what project I’m working on. If I’m drafting, I usually do a word count or chapter goal and if I’m revising something, I usually have a goal of going through multiple chapters a day. I use my deadlines to decide when I need to have something done or I create one if I don’t have a formal deadline, just because it helps me see an end goal.
I am to end my work day around 2-3 pm, but if I need more time to finish my daily goal then I’ll take it. What I’ve learned the most is that I do need to give myself grace, so I do consider my deadlines to all be flexible. If I really need more time then I have the space to ask for it.
Why do you write?
I’ve always had a story to tell. When I was a kid, I would create stories in my head to pass the time. I grew up an only child surrounded by adults and so I spent a lot of time on my own and got bored easily. Even as an adult, I’ll have a running story that I tell myself in my head which I never intend to write down or publish. It’s just for me and it’s just for fun.
When it comes to actually putting words on a page, I just continue to have ideas for more and more. Even when it’s hard, there’s something exciting about creating a new world that didn’t exist before. I get attached to characters and passionate about their journeys. I’ll be thinking about the story even when I’m not actively working on it and look forward to sharing it with other people.
There have been times when I’ve had to take a break from writing, but I always come back to it because that passion for storytelling never goes away.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I find it difficult to define what I might call writer’s block. I don’t know that I ever feel as if I can’t write, but I do have times when I get stuck on a problem that I need to solve and I’m not sure how to fix it. When that happens, I usually do a few different things. For one, I’ll brainstorm and try and think of multiple solutions. I’ll also frequently have a trusted friend read the book and get their perspective and suggestions. Sometimes I just talk at them about what I’m struggling with and saying it aloud will help me come up with something. And other times, I truly just need to leave it alone. I’ll take a break and not think about it, and when I come back, I tend to have a fresher perspective.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I’ve rediscovered my love of sewing, and so I really like finding new patterns and trying them out. I’ve even made a few dresses to wear to book events. I also generally have a lot of different hobbies that I rotate through from book binding, to building with Lego, to work working, and of course, reading.
My thanks to Liselle Sambury for today's interview.