Thanks for this opportunity Eleanor, I appreciate it. I enjoy reading your interview series and vicariously picking other writers' brains on a regular basis. It was a pleasure being in the hot seat for a change, you prompted me to do some much needed self-reflection. Good luck with your upcoming book release! ✨
I take Claudia's philosophy to writing on Substack and make most of it also my own. This is to me as much common sense as any compliment to her. I know she knows.
Putting ourselves out there with our work makes us realize how small and humble we are. And it comes as a liberation. What I do might not matter to others, but it's the world to me, it has a cosmic dimension to me.
Thanks so much, Julie 💚! Sometimes I feel like an educational campaign on the benefits of reading fiction is needed to get more people excited and engaged. But overall, it's still surprising to me that people read fiction online.
Same. I’ve had to kind of force myself to do it here — the work is absolutely worth it, of highest quality — but the limitations of the interface, plus other demands on my time & attention conspire against that. My husband used to read a lot of fiction, then drifted into more non-fiction, then just the paper and an occasional magazine. But in recent years he’s gone back to reading novels because he read that it’s great for brain health. (Also, he enjoys it.)
I've been really enjoying your world building, Claudia, and I like the way you describe your fiction as 'almost spiritual'. For me, sci-fi and fantasy, when it's done well, very much is spiritual, in that it trains our imagination to move beyond what is and into what might be. Right now, we need to envisage what might be more than ever. An all-round great interview - thank you both!
Thanks so much, really appreciate it. True, sci-fi / speculative fiction does have a spiritual dimension to it. Peaking into the future requires some magic thinking. ;)
Great to read your thoughts, Claudia. A real pleasure to have been reading your work pretty much every since I joined Substack and the halcyon days of Office Hours!
"This irresistible pull to imitate others and to reduce everything to a common denominator. We are more creative than that! We must allow ourselves to soar higher." -- this is very well said.
Thanks for this opportunity Eleanor, I appreciate it. I enjoy reading your interview series and vicariously picking other writers' brains on a regular basis. It was a pleasure being in the hot seat for a change, you prompted me to do some much needed self-reflection. Good luck with your upcoming book release! ✨
Thanks Claudia, such a pleasure to feature you here. 🙃🙌
🙏🏻 ❤️ right back at you Claudia! x
Always love seeing some of my favorite writers featured here. Claudia is awesome. Well done!
Thanks, Matthew! 💚
I take Claudia's philosophy to writing on Substack and make most of it also my own. This is to me as much common sense as any compliment to her. I know she knows.
Putting ourselves out there with our work makes us realize how small and humble we are. And it comes as a liberation. What I do might not matter to others, but it's the world to me, it has a cosmic dimension to me.
Fantastic! I love your answer to #6. Given the limitations on an easy, satisfying fiction read here on Substack, your creativity is inspiring.
Thanks so much, Julie 💚! Sometimes I feel like an educational campaign on the benefits of reading fiction is needed to get more people excited and engaged. But overall, it's still surprising to me that people read fiction online.
Same. I’ve had to kind of force myself to do it here — the work is absolutely worth it, of highest quality — but the limitations of the interface, plus other demands on my time & attention conspire against that. My husband used to read a lot of fiction, then drifted into more non-fiction, then just the paper and an occasional magazine. But in recent years he’s gone back to reading novels because he read that it’s great for brain health. (Also, he enjoys it.)
Yes, that's the surprising fact about reading fiction, it helps us more than reading non-fiction. There's some research about this.
You're amazing, Claudia! <3
Thank you, Nadia! 💚
I've been really enjoying your world building, Claudia, and I like the way you describe your fiction as 'almost spiritual'. For me, sci-fi and fantasy, when it's done well, very much is spiritual, in that it trains our imagination to move beyond what is and into what might be. Right now, we need to envisage what might be more than ever. An all-round great interview - thank you both!
Thanks so much, really appreciate it. True, sci-fi / speculative fiction does have a spiritual dimension to it. Peaking into the future requires some magic thinking. ;)
Great to read your thoughts, Claudia. A real pleasure to have been reading your work pretty much every since I joined Substack and the halcyon days of Office Hours!
"This irresistible pull to imitate others and to reduce everything to a common denominator. We are more creative than that! We must allow ourselves to soar higher." -- this is very well said.