We talked to Kiwi author Alexa Rivers about her writing journey. Here, she offers some insights into her writing habits and offers advice for aspiring authors.

CANTERBURYWRITERS: Hi Alexa, can we ask why you started writing?

AR: I’ve always written. My parents still have a copy of a story I wrote about my cat when I first started school, which I drew a cover for and bound with a folded piece of A3 paper. I’ve just always had stories and characters in my head and wanted to share them.

CANTERBURYWRITERS: So, what does your normal writing schedule look like?

AR: These days I’m far more consistent and organised than I used to be. I write first thing in the morning every day, then edit a different manuscript in the evening. I can happily edit more than one thing at a time, but I can only ever have one writing project on the go. Rewind a couple of years and I’d binge write an entire story in a month, then not write again for six months or a year.