Write Now With Jordan Kopy

Who are you?

My name is Jordan Kopy. I’m a children’s author and financial services professional based in London, U.K.

What do you write?

I write children’s contemporary fantasy, ranging from middle grade to young adult. I started writing seriously about a decade ago. I’d been at my financial services job for a couple of years and was craving a creative outlet. I have always been a great lover of books and a voracious reader, so I thought I might give writing a try! And I’m so glad that I did: while taking a book from idea to publication is no mean feat, doing so is an incredibly rewarding experience. My debut middle-grade novel, Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters, follows a ten-year-old girl being raised by a family of monster superheroes. It was a blast to write, and I hope that it’s a blast to read!

Where do you write?

I can (and do!) write anywhere: from my desk or the garden, a restaurant, the London Underground…over the years, I’ve trained myself to (mostly) be able to concentrate regardless of the environment. I do prefer writing on a laptop; I type much faster than I write so it’s more convenient than pen and paper. However, I do regularly email myself little notes if I have a thought when I’m away from the computer – I would hate to lose a good idea!

When do you write?

A typical writing session for me looks a bit – well, atypical. I don’t have a set writing schedule, though I do strive to write four-to-five times a week. I’ve gotten into a habit of lugging my laptop around with me, and if I find myself with a half hour or so of free time, I get writing! As to as how I structure these sessions, I find it useful to focus more on quality than quantity: I’ve tried using word count goals in the past, but I found myself more fixated on hitting the target than in developing the story. Instead, I write until I have to stop and go do something else or until I reach a point in the narrative where I can clearly see how the next scene will unfold – this also makes it easier to pick it back up during the next session.

Why do you write?

Primarily, I write for the same reason I read: to escape. I love disappearing into new worlds, meeting new characters facing new trials and tribulations. Worldbuilding is one of my favorite parts of writing – I love thinking about what could be, instead of what is, and bringing that vision to life. I’m especially inspired by authors that marry immersive storytelling with fast-paced plotting and characters that readers love to root for – or love to hate! As such, I strive to strike this balance in my own writing. From a thematic perspective, I’m passionate about empowering young girls and women in addition to inclusivity: my characters tend to be bold and diverse.

How do you overcome writer's block?

I have two tricks for overcoming writer’s block:

Unless I’m on an especially tight deadline, I don’t usually attempt to write a scene until I can see it play out in my mind’s eye – almost like watching a film. This way, when I do sit down to write, I already know what’s going to happen next; the words tend to come quickly. This doesn’t mean that what I’ve pictured in my head is always what ends up on the page – revisions exist for a reason!
I like to start each session by rereading what I wrote during the previous one. I do some light editing along the way, and that really helps to get me into the right mindset to reengage with the story.