My name is Erynn Crittenden, and my main genre is poetry that explores the darker sides of our nature, though I also dabble in flash fiction, short stories, and professional articles.
My poetry collection, By the Bones, is full of monsters and madness. It was recently released and is available on Lulu, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble!
From Planning to Published
When did you start writing and why?
Author: I started writing poems in middle school, and I used them as an outlet for my imagination, emotions, and to process the things that were happening in my life.
How long did it take you to finish your first book?
Author: My poetry collection took over a year. It began as the capstone for my Creative writing degree and blossomed from there!
If you’ve published, how long did your first book take?
Author: Again, over a year. Once my book was complete, I sent it to a few beta readers, who gave me some valuable insights on the overall collection. Then, I published it!
(If applicable) Has your publishing timeframe improved at all since your first publication?
Author: Now that I have a small idea of what to expect, I look forward to publishing more works in the future!
Are you indie, traditional, hybrid, or vanity, and why?
Author: I self-published through Lulu.com because, unfortunately, it can be a challenge to publish poetry traditionally.
How did you determine your target audience?
Author: I want everyone to enjoy my writings, but I understand that some of my topics are more suited to the teen/adult range, so I base my audience on that.
What is your publishing process?
Author: Write the book. Format the book. Have someone else read the book. Perfect the formatting and layout. Create the cover. Write the blurb. Publish!
The process looks different to everyone, but this is how I got By the Bones out into the world. .
What platforms do you use to publish your works?
Author: I published By the Bones through Lulu.com, but I also publish other poems and writings on my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Vocal.media.
How do you get critiques, betas, feedback, and edits?
Author: I asked around on social media. Most of my betas were friends and family, but there were a few other authors in there as well.
Marketing
Do you have a platform? What does it consist of?
Author: I run a website that holds my poetry, flash fiction, articles, and a few short stories. I also share these posts on Facebook and Twitter.
What is your launch plan for your works?
Author: I try to get people excited about the finished project before the release date. Then, I share, share, share!
How do you get reviews for your books?
Author: Good question! I haven’t gotten any reviews yet, but I’m planning to ask around social media for some.
How do you promote your content?
Author: Facebook groups and Twitter hashtags, mostly, but I am looking to expand it.
What do you think is the most critical marketing component or tactic for becoming successful?
Author: Word of Mouth. You can’t beat the advertising potential of someone telling their friends about your product, and that is what will make or break your sales.
How do you define success as an author?
Author: Well, I try not to base it off my sales, but that’s what we think of when we hear “success.” However, publishing my book was a huge success for me, not to mention a dream come true, so it depends on how you look at it.
By the Bones is a graveyard of poems about monsters, madness, and the inevitable darkness that comes for us all.
Within these pages, you’ll find a lost bride, a coven of witches, a failed necromancer, a Wendigo, and more bones than you can count. You’ll also explore real places, such as Japan’s “Suicide Forest,” the Body Farm of Tennessee, and the famous catacombs of Paris.
By the Bones is a Graveyard, but readers beware- You may not want to visit alone…
Find out more at: By the Bones – The Writings of Erynn Crittenden (ladyerynn.com)
About Your Work
What type of content do you write and why? Fiction Novels? Poems? Songs? Screenplays? Short Stories? Epic?
Author: Poetry is my specialty, but I also enjoy writing flash fiction, short stories, and informative articles.
What genres and subgenres do you write in?
Author: Horror, fantasy, twisted romance, realism, and humor.
What is your author brand (genre, mood, image, theme, message, etc)? How did you decide on it?
Author: I based my brand on my love of everything dark and macabre, and I chose it because my writings often explore those hidden realms.
How many works have you published?
Author: By the Bones is my only published collection, but I have made contributions to at least five published anthologies- not to mention the 90 or so posts I have on my website.
(If applicable) Can you tell us a bit about your most recent publication?
Author: My most recent publication is titled “Snow,” and it’s a short collection of poems to celebrate the first snow day of the year. It’s currently on my website.
Name some common elements in your writing: villains, magic, red-herring twists, the unfortunate ensign, mysterious phenomena, asyndeton, sentence fragments etc.
Author: I enjoy writing about bones, death, religions, the unknown, and how we cope with daily life. I also like to add a dark twist to my stories- be it a death, a compromise, or an aspect of reality that often goes unnoticed. Those bring out the best emotions from my readers.
What was your first goal when you started your journey to becoming an author? Has that changed?
Author: My goal was to become a published author, and I’ve done that! Now, my goal is to finish a full-length novel and have it traditionally published within the next few years.
Do you have other supporting services like a podcast, blog, webinars, courses, video channel?
Author: I have a website, and I plan to make video updates and a podcast in the future.
What do you want your readers to get out of your works?
Author: I want my readers to think. To experience different viewpoints, open their minds, and explore places that they’ve never been before.
What part of the author process are you working on or studying most now?
Author: I’m learning about different genres and how to expand my writing from flash fiction and poetry to full-blown novels. It’s…different…but I’m excited about the challenge!
What has been your favorite part of the writing and querying or publishing process?
Author: I’m not great at querying or publishing, so I’m going to say that writing is my favorite part!
Do you recommend any programs, courses, or websites?
Author: If possible, I recommend taking some college English/writing courses. When I returned for my degree in Creative Writing, I learned more about the craft than I ever expected! It helped me grow stronger as an author, and I believe it can help other writers do the same.
If college isn’t an option, there are more affordable classes through Udemy, and you can find numerous writing websites to help you in your journey. Personally, I like Grammarly to check my work, Submittable for open submissions, and Atlas Obscura for topics and unique writing ideas.
Which authors write similar books to yours? How did you find them?
Author: I’m not sure what other authors are out there that are similar, but I do know that my works are inspired by Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, and others like them.
Have you always read in the genre you wanted to write in? Do you think that’s made it easier or harder to create new stories?
Author: I read everything, not just the genre I like to write, and that helps me mix different genres and elements into my writings. If you stick to reading one genre, you’ll only write one genre, and I want to write whatever captures my fancy. Therefore, I read them all!
What is your writing process, from idea to polished work? Pantster? Plotter? How long does that typically take you?
Author: Oh, I’m 100% a pantser. When I get an idea, I like to let the story and characters tell me what to write. Poetry takes a couple of hours; flash fiction takes a day or so, short stories take a few weeks, and I’m still working on my novel idea, which has taken about a month to get where I am now.
It all depends on the idea I have and the form I plan to use.
Where do you network most with other writers, authors, and creative types? LinkedIn? Wattpad? Twitter? Facebook? Somewhere else?
Author: Twitter is the best for networking with other authors, but I also use Facebook and Instagram on occasion.
Do you sprint-write like a starving cheetah, or are you a totally chill turtle writer? Somewhere in between?
Author: I’m somewhere in between. For longer works, I have periods of obsession where I can sprint write for days, then I’ll grow bored and let it sit for a few days before becoming obsessed again. For shorter works, I can usually churn it out in a day or so.
Struggles
What has been the hardest thing to overcome on your journey to authorship?
Author: The impostor syndrome!! Who am I to count myself among the great authors of the world? I’m nobody! And yet, here I am, with a full-blown poetry collection. It’s unreal!
How has the writing and querying or publishing process affected you emotionally? Do you have any tips for budding writers?
Author: It will wear you out. Just remember that the rejections you get, and you will get rejections, are not necessarily a reflection on your writing. Take a moment to grieve, then submit again!
Do you have any tips or recommendations for those who want to go the final step and become authors?
Author: The publication game is fierce. There are hundreds of books being queried and published every day, and it can be discouraging. My advice is to look at self-publishing.
Self-published authors have such a stigma around them, but some of the best books I’ve read have come from self-published authors. It’s not a bad option.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change?
Author: I’d start marketing By the Bones long before it was released. Otherwise, I’m happy with what I’ve done.
Are you a driven & self-advocating author, a gun-shy promoter, or a total marketing procrastinator?
Author: I’ll admit that marketing isn’t my strong suit, but I’m by no means shy about it. I just need to learn how to do it more effectively.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
Author: Coffee. I drink a lot of coffee.
In all seriousness, I try to write one story or poem a week so I can post something new on my website every Sunday. I also write for work, which includes about two articles a week, so motivation isn’t usually hard for me to find.
How do you combat writer’s block?
Author: I take a walk, read, watch tv, play video games, and play with my daughter. Sometimes, doing anything other than writing is how you get the muses to sing again.
What literary/writer-based term did you not know when you started that has become important and relevant to you?
Author: Oh gosh, I have learned so much over the years that it’s hard to choose just one. Maybe Syllabic Poetry. 90% of my poems are syllabic in nature, but I didn’t know that until last year.
How did your family and friends react to your writing? Was it what you expected from them?
Author: They enjoy it! Well, most of them. My mom is a little hesitant on the darker stuff, but they’ve always supported me and given me feedback when I’ve asked for it.
What assumptions about writers and authors do you think are myths?
Author: That writing is easy. It’s not. It takes work, dedication, creativity, and research to make a story come together, and not everyone can create a good piece of poetry or a good story. But we writers are dedicated to the craft, and that makes all the difference.
Fun Stuff
What do you listen to while you write?
Author: Spotify. I have a wide variety of music that I bounce between, but my recent favorites have been Nox Arcana, Heilung, and a playlist I created of female-led bands with witchy or magical vibes.
Is there a fun word or group of terms you like to put into your writing?
Author: I like finding obscure words to add to my poetry, like “pell,” “apace,” and “Ululations.”
Where do you write your stories? A tiny office? A loft? The kitchen table? In the bushes while you secretly people-watch like a total creeper? Or a warm café with mocha in hand and feet up on an ottoman?
Author: Mostly at my desk, but I will occasionally venture out into the world and write in a coffee shop or while waiting at the doctor’s office. My desk is where I am the most comfortable, though.
What book are you reading at the moment?
Author: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. As my brother says, “It’s the self-help book that makes the other self-help books work!”
What is your favorite literary trope?
Author: The enemies-become-friends-become-lovers trope. It gets me every time!
How do you try to “break the mold” and be unique?
Author: I like to think that I give a unique twist to old tropes and situations. In reality, I’m not sure what makes me unique- I just know that I write what the muses tell me to.
What have you learned about yourself from the writing and/or authorship process?
Author: I’ve learned that I’m not a bad writer! My words have merit, and I have every right to share them with the world.
What is your favorite writing snack and drink?
Author: Coffee and carbs make the world go ‘round!
Do you have a writing companion?
Author: My dog will usually sit with me when I’m at my desk, but otherwise, I’m on my own.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Author: My late grandfather’s last words to me were: “Erynn, always remember PYOA- Protect Your Own Ass- because no one’s gonna do it for you.”
That advice had stayed with me, and it has saved me from more than one questionable situation.
I’m everywhere!
- My website is LadyErynn.com
- My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/WritingsofErynn
- And my Twitter handle is @LadyErynn
I’m always happy to connect with new people, so drop a line to say Hi!
