Because I’m lucky enough to do this as a full-time job, I do try and treat it like a traditional full-time job. I need a schedule, I need structure, so I do my best to work Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm, when I can. Obviously, there are breaks in those days, and life gets in the way, but it’s what I try to stick to. I also protect my weekends as best I can, especially when I’m not under the gun. I find it helps prevent burnout, and come Sunday evening, I’m excited to get back to work on a Monday morning. Mostly I work from my home office, which is new and a real godsend. There should be an office tour to come.
Cool. How did you decide to become an author?
I wouldn’t say I ever decided to be an author. I still struggle defining myself as such, because it doesn’t feel real. I’ve been telling stories since I knew what a story was, and have always felt a deep, internal need to build worlds and characters. This is what I’ve wanted to do for most of my sentient life and it’s a privilege to live this reality. I know I’d be writing stories even if no one else was reading them, but it’s nice that people do. I decided to pursue screenwriting in college because I did and still do love movies more than most people love anything. Applying to film schools was a scary choice, and every step afterwards seemed even scarier, but the risk has been worth it so far. Luckily, screenwriting and prose-writing are pretty interchangeable in my mind. The bones are the same, the elements of story remain constant. The difference is largely format, and I’m lucky to be able to work in both.
Who the heck are you?
Hi, I’m Victoria Aveyard. I was born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts, but I moved to the West Coast to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California. As of Fall 2019, I’m a 29-year-old writer based in Los Angeles. I’m the author the RED QUEEN series, which includes 4 #1 New York Times Bestselling novels and the NYT Bestseller BROKEN THRONE, a collection of short stories set in the world of RED QUEEN. Currently, I’m drafting a brand new YA fantasy series set for publication in the near future. I’m also a working screenwriter and dog mom to Indy, the world’s best Lab.