Writers on Writing: Kate Spencer
When I tell you that I am pinching myself about this interview you best believe it. I cannot believe that Kate Spencer agreed to an interview for my little substack. I am honored. I fell in love with her writing last year when I read One Last Summer*. It is perfection. Summer camp vibes, enemies to lovers, pure bliss to read. If you haven’t read this yet add it to your beach bag NOW!
I felt even more of a connection to her when I found out that she is also a motherless daughter and has a book called The Dead Mom’s Club*. It’s a shitty club to be a part of but once you are you understand the world differently and other motherless daughter’s understand you like no one else can.
Her newest book, All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball*, just came out on June 3rd. I’m half way through it right now and it is so fun. I love every moment I get with this book and while I don’t want it to end I can’t wait to see what happens with Bex and Niko.
A Kate Spencer book is a guaranteed great read. Trust me!
P.S. Mainers….Kate is coming to Back Cove Books on July 19th and will be in conversation with Hannah Orenstein (read my interview with her to prepare)!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hello! My name is Kate Spencer. Here's my author bio: "Kate Spencer is the bestselling author of In a New York Minute, One Last Summer, All's Fair in Love and Pickleball, and The Dead Moms Club, and the recipient of two iHeart Radio Podcast Awards for her work on Forever35. Her work has been published by the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, InStyle, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters."
Less formally, I'm a left-handed Cancer who is still emotionally attached to New England (where I grew up). My favorite band is Phish, and I've seen around one hundred of their concerts since I was sixteen. My latest book is All's Fair in Love and Pickleball, and I do indeed love playing pickleball! Outside of romance, I write/talk a lot about mental health, grief, ADHD, parenting, and pop culture. I've had a lot of jobs over the years, including at places like The Body Shop and Patagonia, a call center, a gourmet dog biscuit bakery, a giant financial company (that gig didn't last long), a seafood restaurant in the West Village of NYC, going on tour with Oprah Winfrey as a production assistant, and interviewing celebrities for VH1.
Most importantly, I once played Jenga with Pedro Pascal!
I write from SO MANY places -- inside my car, at my desk, dining room table, on the couch, at the IKEA cafeteria (seriously the best place to write).
Do you have any writing rituals? Do you write from the same physical location, start your time with a walk, light a candle, listen to certain music?
I think my ritual is more mental -- anxiety, talking myself off the ledge, etc -- than anything else. I not only don't write from the same physical location, I write from SO MANY places -- inside my car, at my desk, dining room table, on the couch, at the IKEA cafeteria (seriously the best place to write). I am not a creature of habit so much as I am a creature of...chaos? But it works for me, I guess! I do think I work best first thing in the morning, so I am trying to put that into practice.
On this note, are you a panster, plotter, or planster?
I started as a panster, and have morphed into being a planster. The more books I write, the better I get at outlining. I don't write extensive outlines and my books change as I draft, but having some sort of road map is really helpful. I have learned the hard way that I need SOMETHING, even if it's small, to go off of as I draft.
When I envision what it must look like when a writer starts writing all I can think is that you sit down at the computer, a blank document open, and the story just pours out of you.
Is this how it happens? How do you actually start writing? Do you always work on the computer or write with pen and paper? Tell me everything.
It's interesting to consider this question, because I'm currently back in the starting stages of whatever my next project will be. I personally think that the best idea creating is done NOT in front of the computer. I like to let my mind wander whilst out living and experiencing life. So right now I am actually avoiding my computer, and just thinking through ideas as I go about my day to day. I think my next step will be to try to outline the few different ideas I have and then see what calls to me the most. I really loved drafting my last novel on a Freewrite Traveller, it helped me get words out without the distraction of my computer. I am sad to admit I never write with pen and paper!
When do ideas come to you and where do you keep them until you are ready to use them? Do you have a dedicated notebook? Do you utilize the notes app in your phone?
Ideas truly come to me at all times, just recently I stumbled upon an article on Facebook that sparked an idea for me. I am currently trying to keep all ideas in one document in the Notes app on my phone. I have ADHD and when I have too many options I get disorganized and lose track of my notes and ideas.
What resources do you turn to for inspiration and to learn about the craft of writing?
I follow a lot of writers and writing teachers on Substack, and learn a lot simply by reading books, both in the genre I write in, and not. I do love writing and craft books; Bird by Bird, Romancing the Plot for example. I have learned a lot about creativity and systems from Cody Cook-Parrott, and just signed up for a workshop with them this weekend!
Last, but certainly not least, what are you reading right now?
I am on the final book of Beverly Jenkins' Destiny trilogy, titled Destiny's Captive. I have loved this series and the family it follows so much, and am sad to be at the end. I also just started the audiobook of Shield of the Sparrows by Devney Perry and am enjoying it so far.
Where can people find you. Instagram, Substack, website. Share it all so we can follow everything that you do!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katespencer
TikTok: @katespencerwrites
Website: www.katespencerwrites.com
Substack:
*This is an affiliate link. I make a very tiny percentage if you purchase the book through this link. Thank you for considering!
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