Step into the enchanting universe of Rachel Corsini, a Queens native whose novels are a symphony of romance and creativity. From the vibrant streets of her hometown to the dance studios and writing desks, Rachel’s journey unfolds in a mesmerizing tapestry. In this exclusive interview, we unravel the threads of her creative process, her balletic background, and the delicate dance between self-expression and deadlines. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, wrap up in your favorite sweater, and join us as we delve into the world of a writer who infuses love into every story. Dive into the magic of storytelling with Rachel Corsini!
TW: What are your hobbies?
RC: Crochet amigurumi and taking ballet classes
TW: Do you prefer tea or coffee?
RC: Coffee!
TW: What is your favorite season?
RC: Fall. I love sweater weather
TW: What is your favorite movie?
RC: Of all time? Ten Things I Hate About You
TW: What is your favorite genre to read?
RC: Anything with romance in it. I love a love story, whether it’s historical, fantasy, literary, contemporary…has to have a love story.
TW: Hoodie or sweater?
RC: Sweater
TW: What inspired your craft, and how did you get started?
RC: I always kept a journal but what really got me started was when I took a creative writing elective in high school. I loved it! It really ignited the spark in me to try another creative outlet since I had been a ballet dancer for so long and was questioning that path.
TW: How do you approach the creative process, from idea generation to finished product?
RC: For me it starts as a spark or kernel of an idea. Then I start to see different scenes develop. I make notes based on what I “see” so I don’t forget anything I want to include in a draft. I start writing with what takes my attention the most and go from there. I don’t write linearly, especially if I get “stuck” I’ll just move on.
TW: What advice would you give to aspiring creators in your field who are just starting out?
RC: Keep writing. Find yourself a supportive network of writers and a community to share your work with. That community is the most valuable thing. They will be your cheerleaders when you’re feeling down about yourself.
TW: How do you handle creative slumps?
RC: Oh ma, I wish I could tell you. I think I just try to be gentle with myself and maybe work on something else that brings me joy, try to do things that can inspire me to get to work again. Being a creative can be incredibly draining sometimes, but I find that beating myself up over not working on something makes me feel even worse! I refuse to do it.
TW: How do you balance the need for creative expression with the need to meet deadlines and produce work on a regular basis?
RC: I don’t? Kidding, well not really. I allow things to come to fruition when they will. Unless of course I am on a deadline by my editor I make sure that gets done on time, but my own process I don’t rush. I let things flow as they will.
TW: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback on your work, and what steps do you take to improve?
RC: Criticism only helps me to improve, especially if it’s from my editor or a beta reader that I trust. I will try to incorporate those details in my writing for next time. If it’s something that is completely off base, I will ignore it entirely. I think many people mean well when it comes to this, but criticism and feedback can be personal. Some things may not apply to you or your writing at all. You have to weed through it.
TW: What are your future goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
RC: I really hope to finish my draft of my next book soon and send that off to my editor to see if my publisher would like that book as well. That’s an immediate goal. That means I have to sit down and actually finish this book. Ha!
TW: Can you describe your experience with self-promotion?
RC: Self-promotion can be its own job. When I first started I was entirely overwhelmed, but I stayed the course and now it’s become second nature. I create a backlog of videos, post them every other day. I also reach out to other writers, newsletters, bloggers, and see if they want to help promote my work. The worst they can do is say no. You have to advocate for yourself in this business.
TW: How do you handle rejection?
RC: I think because I have a background in ballet where they is a lot of rejection and nitpicking and correction that I handle it pretty well. I just keep going, like Dory…just keep swimming. I don’t like to dwell on it too long because it can really drag you down when you do.
TW: How do you handle good reviews of your work?
RC: Good reviews, well any really, are gems. I like to highlight them and showcase them on my social media. I hope that these will help readers choose my book to read. I think it’s always better when someone else gives you a glowing review than you as the author boasting about your novel. I mean, you have to talk about it as well, but when someone else sings your praises you should shout it from the rooftops.
TW: What does the future hold for you?
RC: I would love to have future books published. I accomplished a big task by publishing my debut novel, Sushi and Sea Lions. Now I would really like to keep going with what I’ve started and have more books out for my readers.
TW: Where can my readers find you? (Social media, website, tours, business address, etc. links)
RC: You can find me on Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram @MadameRaeRae. My website is www.rachelcorsini.com. Everything else I have going on can be found on my linktree: https://linktr.ee/rachelcorsini
The post Coffee Chat With Tyler Wittkofsky: Enchanting Tales and Balletic Steps: A Conversation with Rachel Corsini appeared first on Tyler Wittkofsky.