Toni Halleen

Where do you get your ideas?

I find inspiration from dreams, news stories, observing and listening to others, looking at images, talking with friends and wondering what if…. The Surrogate was inspired by a real life case we learned about in law school. Years later, while in a writing class, I began the novel after our teacher had us look at images for inspiration. The exercise was to pick a postcard out of a bag, look at it, then write for three minutes. The postcard I chose was an image of a cabin in the snowy woods. It said, “Wisconsin.” I started writing about a young couple hiding in the cabin, snowed in, and arguing about a baby who was crying. It went from there. My second novel was inspired by a short story I’d written years ago. I believe fiction comes from the subconscious and it is usually clear that it draws on personal experiences, fears, or passions in some way. It is both mysterious and intentional. When I read something in the news or see an image that inspires me, I clip them and put them in a big manilla envelope (or drag them into a digital file).

How long did it take you to write your first book?

Twelve years, on and off. I started the book in my very first class at the Loft Literary Center. It was a writing exercise and I couldn’t stop writing. I just wanted to know what happened next. The only way to find out was to keep writing. While I was writing and revising my novel, I put it away for months at a time and wrote short stories and submitted them to literary journals. This helped me get perspective on the novel and also helped build my writer bio. When I finished the novel and polished it, I decided to try to get an agent. All of that took about twelve years. My second book was on a much faster track; it comes out this March.

Do you plot out your novels or go by the seat of your pants?

Mostly it is the seat of my pants. I start with a premise or a question, like “What if…” or “What would it be like to…” or “What is happening there…?” And then I just go. Sometimes I ask my characters to explain something to me and I channel their answers. If a line is in my head, I type it without questioning why or whether it will work. This is something my dad taught me: just get it out of the head and onto the page. That way, it makes room for more words to pop into my head. I keep typing like that and try not to doubt it. Sometimes I “see” a few steps ahead and I’ll just type out some bullet points without worrying how I’ll get there or how they connect. Then as I go along, I figure it out. And sometimes I don’t, but that’s okay too.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read, read, read! Read in many genres - reading fiction has been my best teacher. I’ve been in a book club for 30 years and have read and discussed many, many novels. When I read, I try to notice what is working for me and what isn’t. It shows me what I like in a book and teaches me about pacing, character development, subtext, voice, dialogue, plot and structure.

Read about writing. Listen to podcasts and take classes if you can. Participate in the writing community.

How did you get an agent?

I sent out many query letters, and I learned about query letters from listening to podcasts, including Print Run and The Manuscript Academy, as well as from taking classes and reading books about the business of publishing. I used a website called QueryTracker to keep track of my query letters and to learn about agents that might be a good fit. I also joined and read Publisher’s Marketplace to learn about agents and the publishing world. I set a goal of getting at least 100 rejections. I sent out my queries in small batches and adjusted the letters as I received feedback. When I finally met my agent, I was taking a workshop on how to write a query letter.

What are your favorite writing books?

Two of my favorite writing books are On Writing by Stephen King and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

What are your favorite writerly podcasts?

Some of my favorites are Write-Minded, First Draft with Sara Enni, Writing Excuses, How Writers Write, The Writer Files, The Manuscript Academy, and Print Run.

Where can I find a writing community?

If you can, take writing classes and attend writing conferences. I am lucky to be near the Loft Literary Center (in Minneapolis and online), but I also join classes online at the Off Campus Writing Workshop located in Chicago, but available at OCWW.info. There are many others. I also recommend tuning in to the publishing world via blogs and/or social media. “Bookstagram” is a wonderful Instagram community full of information and support for writers, readers, and reviewers. Ultimately, it is helpful to find a writing group or writing buddy, someone to share work with, bounce ideas around with, and generally support one another in your writing. I found my writing groups through going to classes and then asking a few people if they’d like to continue meeting.

How can I choose topics to write about?

If you want to write a novel, I suggest choosing topics and themes that you enjoy thinking about, because as a writer, you’ll be spending a lot of time dwelling in that world and with those people. Make a list of topics that intrigue you and imagine living with them for hours on end, year after year. I suggest not following trends because it’s harder to force yourself into a shape that you think will be popular and anyway, ultimately, trends are unpredictable: they always change!

What is your process?

I write on my laptop, I write using Scrivener software and also Microsoft Word for shorter documents. I write at different times of day or night. I try to write for at least 30 minutes per session, but it usually ends up being more like 2-3 hours. I take breaks by going for a walk or stretching/dancing or doing laundry. I put my phone on silent and leave it in another room of the house — it can’t be anywhere near me or I am less productive. I usually sit on a comfy chair with my laptop.