Write Now with Robbie Couch

Who do you write?

I’ve mostly written contemporary young-adult with a dash of speculative fiction, although my debut adult book, Bloom, came out in March. All of my writing incorporates queer themes and centers queer characters. I began writing in the fourth grade, when I aced a book project about the seaweed pulling me underwater at my aunt’s lake (don’t worry, my character was okay—it was all just a dream!). I love, love, love what I do, and feel incredibly lucky that I get to call this my job.

Where do you write?

Most of the time I’m either writing in my apartment or a nearby cafe (yes, I’m that person at Starbucks). As long as I have good Wifi, my computer battery is charged above 50 percent, and there’s a cup of coffee within arm’s reach, I’m good to go. When I’m not obsessively jotting down new ideas in my Notes app, I’m drafting in Microsoft Word or outlining in Google Docs.

When do you write?

I’m a night owl, so my creative juices have a tendency to start flowing after sunset. Mornings can be productive, too, if I’m lucky enough to wake up with a clear head. Afternoons, though? They’re my kryptonite. I rarely get much done between 1 – 5 pm. Because I’m mostly writing under contract now, I give myself weekly word count goals that I need to hit in order to stay on track. I usually reach my target deadlines ... emphasis on usually.

Why do you write?

I first began writing as a kid because it was such a cathartic escape. As a closeted gay kid in the Midwest, allowing my imagination to take the wheel was an incredibly freeing experience. When I got older and realized how few novels reflected my experience as a young LGBTQ person, I decided to focus my storytelling on queer characters and themes, and never looked back.

How do you overcome writer's block?

Living in Los Angeles, I spend about half my day in traffic. I’ve learned to utilize that time either with a good podcast, moody playlist, or just some mindless daydreaming. And it’s surprisingly effective at pulling me out of my creative funks. I’ve come up with some of my best ideas and broken through some major writer’s block while stuck behind the wheel on the 405.

Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?

I enjoy hiking around Southern California, maximizing my AMC A-List subscription at the movies, and dog-sitting my friends’ pups (I’m a proud dog uncle to many four-legged friends across the city!).

My thanks to Robbie Couch for today's interview.