When do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
On a fundamental level, you can call yourself a writer whenever you wish. ‘Writer’ is not a protected title unlike, say, ‘dietitian’, and needs no qualification or achievement underpinning it. Some writers get a bit gatekeeper-y and upset that everyone seems to call themselves writers these days, but I’m of the more-the-merrier school of thought.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
"Fallin' asleep with writer's block in the parking lot of McDonalds, But instead of feeling sorry for yourself do something about it. Admit you got a problem, your brain is clouded, you pouted long enough." - "There may be a stretch of weeks or months when it doesn't come at all; this is called writer's block.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
Learn and Grow
What advice would you give writers working on their first book?
We all already know the good advice: Write about what you know and care for, read more, write more, observe yourself and others honestly. Write every day. Finish what you start. Don't waste your time or anyone else's with a piece you don't feel is your best.
What inspired the idea for your book?
My book is coming out next Friday. I started writing it in June 2018, my last month of residency. Then I had to take a break to study for my board certification exam. Then it was back to writing, revising, deleting, adding content, getting feedback from my content editor, incorporating more feedback and revising some more, then working with a copy editor to make sure the book looked like it was written by an adult human being.