What inspired you to write under your pseudonym, C.S. Lakin?

My pseudonym was actually inspired by C.S. Lewis. Looking back on it, it was a financial scheme — I hoped readers would see my books and mistake them for his! But on a more serious note, using a pseudonym [with gender neutral initials] helps the reader focus more on the actual content of the book, rather than the identity of the author.

How do you balance your writing schedule with your life as a copyeditor, writing coach, and full-time mom?

Everyone has their own writing system. My advice would be to create a routine for writing: to have a designated space, avoid distractions, and carve out a chunk of time dedicated solely to writing. Nowadays, it’s especially hard to stay focused with social media, so silencing notifications is a must.

Where do you get ideas and motivation for writing?

I love using writing prompts — even if they don’t exactly align with the idea in your head, they’ve already accomplished the job of putting an idea in your head. I tend to focus on a larger theme and branch out into different ideas.

What is the most common mistake that you see when editing manuscripts?

I read a lot of manuscripts where the author creates characters that are relatable so the reader can identify with them, but [the characters’ personalities] end up becoming flat and one-dimensional. Try not to worry about whether your characters are relatable — make them exciting! I always find adding humor or wit in a character helps the reader relate to them.

How do you create higher stakes in a story but still make it believable for the protagonists to succeed?

Create higher stakes by taking out the main character’s support systems, whether they’re a friend, family member, or power. Try to create situations and outcomes where the character has no control over what happens. Demolish the reader’s expectation of what will happen. To make the plot believable, always try to balance one conflict with one benefit for the character.

As a writing coach, what advice would you give to an aspiring writer in high school?

Read a lot. Figure out how and why an author’s writing makes you feel something.