Write Now with R.K. Harrington

Who are you?

I am an Electrical Engineer by day and a Historical Romance Author by night. I am based in Arlington, VA, just outside of DC. I am from Maryland and went to school in Michigan for my undergraduate degree.

What do you write?

My writing is something I started later in life, after both of my children were born. I have always been an avid reader, but I found that there were too many stories in my head to keep them from the page. They always say to ‘write what you know’, so I keep to themes that I have experienced in my own life. While I love diversity (adaptations and books alike), I have not dipped my toe into stories with BIPOC characters, mostly because I do not want to step into shoes I cannot fully represent. I feel like we should lift up those voices as a community of authors, but not necessarily through our own written word. I am not saying we shouldn’t write those characters and stories, I am saying we should be careful not to co-op another community’s stories.

I absolutely love what I do! Writing is a joy I can lean on for a creative outlet, for grounding, and for escape when the real world feels like too much. Often the words are just waiting to come out, so when I sit down with my notebook at the end of a long day in the office, it is my reward.

Where do you write?

I write wherever I can. My favorite place to write is outside on a nice day, with sunlight warming me and birds chirping. My first drafts are always longhand (now that I have figured out my process), so I take a notebook everywhere. Once I am in editing mode, a simple laptop does the trick, no special tools / apps for me. I love a good playlist and I have an office chair that allows me to sit with my feet up, which is super comfortable for longer writing and editing sessions.

My favorite notebook: Decomposition notebooks!

When do you write?

I do not know if I have a ‘typical’ writing session. Like I said, I am often on the go (with my kids at the park, in an airport, grabbing a few minutes to write while I drink coffee). I do, however, set some page goals (since I write longhand). If I am in for a quick session (20 min), it is 2 pages (or maybe a little more). If I have more time (say 1 hour), I try for 6-8 pages. Each page of longhand averages to 150 words, which may not seem like a lot, but every bit helps. I am in the Washington Romance Writers group, and they have writing challenges sometimes (15K words in a month). It helps me keep moving and set some goals when I am stuck. Otherwise, I set deadlines for when drafts should be done, and I (usually) stick to them. My goals are realistic, since I know I write a bit slow compared to others, but I feel accomplished when I reach every milestone.

Why do you write?

I write because there are stories in my head that I feel need to be written down on the page. When I started writing, I had no idea how to begin, but once I did, there was no turning back to just reading stories. Now I know I must have some small part in making them. So, for the moment: my ideas fuel me. Besides my current novel, I have at least six more ideas for books that are currently percolating. One is already in the editing phase. I am motivated to see those stories come to life.

As for inspiration, Historical Romance authors of the past serve as a foundation: Jane Austen (obviously!), Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (first Historical Romance I read as a teenager), and Julia Quinn, just to name a few. Consuming art is important, but life experiences provide a grounding to my stories. I am inspired by the stories I have lived myself on top of ones I have observed.

How do you overcome writer's block?

Writer’s block is such a loaded term, but it is something we all encounter. I have thankfully only encountered minor blocks due to how slow my process, but when a scene feels stuck, I like to take a walk, do something menial (dishes with some music, any kind of music will do), or even read to get unstuck. The solutions to my story problems usually are found in the most banal moments.

If I am issues with motivation, I force myself to take a longer break. A week or two is usually enough to reset my productivity, or allow me to clear out other tasks that are cluttering my mind. And by the end, I absolutely cannot wait to get back to the page.

Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?

When I am not writing (or working, or hanging with my family and friends), I can pick from a long list of other hobbies, reading being at the top of the list. With my busy schedule, I lean on audiobooks (new to me), but I read across genres, both to learn and escape. I also played trumpet and piano many years ago, so music is also a passion of mine, whether listening or playing (or singing, I LOVE karaoke). I have a goal that one day I will reclaim my piano playing and learn “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin (if I can).

My thanks to R.K. Harrington for today's interview.