> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://justincox.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Write Now with Lauren Gibaldi - URL: https://justincox.com/blog/2021/09/write-now-with-lauren-gibaldi/ - Published: 2021-09-08T11:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2023-06-16T23:56:33.000Z - Description: Lauren Gibaldi is an author, anthologist, and librarian. Lauren shares how she wrote three books by aiming for 30-minutes of writing a day. - Author: Justin Cox - Tags: Interview, Featured, #lauren-gibaldi **Despite growing up in Orlando and managing The Writing Cooperative, I was largely unaware of the plethora of fantastic authors who call the city home. As I’ve begun connecting with local authors for* Write Now *interviews, I’ve found Orlando is home to some fantastic authors. One such is Lauren Gibaldi, who is an author and local librarian. Her latest is the anthology* Battle of the Bands**, a collection of short stories about high school rock bands. Enjoy Lauren’s interview.* --- ## Who Are You? I’m [Lauren Gibaldi](http://laurengibaldi.com/?ref=justincox.com), a young adult author ([**The Night We Said Yes*](https://laurengibaldi.com/books/the-night-we-said-yes/?ref=justincox.com), [**Autofocus*](https://laurengibaldi.com/books/autofocus/?ref=justincox.com), [**This Tiny Perfect World*](https://laurengibaldi.com/books/this-tiny-perfect-world/?ref=justincox.com)) and anthologist ([**Battle of the Bands*](https://laurengibaldi.com/books/battle-of-the-bands/?ref=justincox.com)). I’m also a public librarian and I live in Orlando, FL with my husband and daughters! ## What Do You Write? I’ve always written! I’ve enjoyed doing it as a kid — making small, simple stories — and as a teen, detailing my days in my diaries. I write because I love doing it. It’s part of me. I currently write contemporary young adult novels. As mentioned, I’ve sort of always written, but I started more professionally in college — writing articles for our newspaper — and then later writing for a local magazine. In 2011 I tried National Novel Writing Month, in order to challenge myself to write a full book, and that project turned into my first novel, **The Night We Said Yes*! I enjoy writing, yes, but of course there are hard days and days I don’t want to write and days I hate what I write. But I keep going because I do, in the end, love it. ## Where And When Do You Write? I always wish I had some sort of glorious, fancy answer to this, but the truth is, I write when I can, so my locations aren’t ideal. I typically write every morning after getting ready for the day, and before waking the kids up, so it’s on the couch, attempting to make as little noise as possible, between 6:30 and 7:00 am. If I have time during my lunch break at the library, I’ll sit outside with my laptop and get a few words in then. However, outside means behind the library not far from a dumpster. See? Not that ideal, but always amusing! ## Why Do You Write? As mentioned, I write when I can. I try to do 30 minutes a day, which doesn’t sound like a lot (it isn’t!), but the squished time pushes me to get as much done as possible. Some days I take off if I have to, and I allow that without feeling guilty, but most days I get at least 30 minutes in. I don’t set any goals, I just let myself do what I can so there’s less stress and pressure. I love writing, so that motivates and pushes me. Coffee fuels me (ha). My kids inspire me. I want to make them proud. And, honestly, I want to make **myself* proud. ## How Do You Overcome Writer’s Block? If I’m stuck on a scene, I skip it. I go to the next one, with a note saying “FINISH THIS SCENE LATER.” That way I can get the joy back and keep going without staring at the screen frustrated. And then, when I’m done with the manuscript, I go back and fill in the spots that are empty. ## Bonus: What Do You Enjoy Doing When Not Writing? I’m a public librarian, and I love it! I love recommending books to people, and offering storytimes (virtually at present). When not at work, I love being with my kids and pretending to be a superhero, a Jedi, a princess, or whatever else they want to be. --- **My thanks to Lauren Gibaldi for today’s Write Now interview.*