ANNE FREEMAN “No one else in the world sees things as you do, so use that.”
Kelly’s Writerly Q&A March Author Interview is here and it’s all spice no cringe. Trust me, this author is an expert on how to write sexy scenes and so much more.
Here’s a warm welcome back to Anne Freeman, a multi-talented woman who has become my friend. She writes fabulous women’s fiction that’s full of life, creates charismatic social media content and various other online content drawing on her fantastic writing skills.
Kelly: Hi Anne, thanks for taking the time to answer some more writerly questions. The last time we spoke, you had just published your first novel, Returning to Adelaide, today we are celebrating the publication of your second novel, Me That You See, what’s it about?
Anne: Thank you for celebrating with me! Me That You See follows the life of Lexi, a barista turned online sex worker, as she reluctantly stumbles towards a life of authenticity. It’s a thrilling glimpse into online sex work packaged for book club banter and voyeuristic pleasure. It explores themes of feminism in sex work, living your truth, women supporting women, toxic masculinity, and our desire to connect.
Kelly: It’s an absolutely unputdownable read! How did you come up with the idea for this story, was it seeded from a dream like your last novel?
Anne: There were no dreams this time but there were lots of little sparks that came together to ignite the story! The first was that I’m utterly fascinated by online sex work and where it sits on the spectrum between pornography, sex work and the girlfriend experience! The second is that in my early twenties I worked as a promotional model so I was able to bring my own experience of being a “body for hire” to Lexi’s character and also to take inspiration from the different ways in which men responded to me back then.
Kelly: The best books feature themes that are fuelled by life experience. You completed the first draft of Returning to Adelaide by adding 400 words per day to a Google Doc over 4.5 months, do you still write your novels that way?
Anne: I began the first draft of Me That You See not long after I completed the first draft of Returning to Adelaide so I approached it in a similar fashion. The only problem was that COVID-19 arrived and with a toddler and a pre-schooler at home to entertain, the wheels fell off a little. There were so many days that I hadn’t managed any words so I lowered the bar significantly. I told myself that I would eventually finish the book if I wrote just 100 words a day and I arranged to lock myself away in my husband’s office for an hour while he got the kids their breakfast. Once I sat down at my laptop I found that I could bang out around 400-500 words each morning. That’s how I finished the draft.
Kelly: I love the way that you take your time laying the bricks of your manuscripts during tiny windows in motherhood. Did you feel any pressure while writing this novel due to time constraints or your desire to write another great story?
Anne: I wrote most of Returning to Adelaide on my iPhone while breastfeeding my daughter because that’s when I got to sit down. When I was writing Me That You See, I didn’t get to sit down all that much! I was wrangling two energetic and curious children so the strategy that worked with the first one did not work with the second. That’s motherhood for you, though. You’re constantly required to adapt!
Kelly: Couldn’t agree more. Motherhood is an ever changing job. As one of your biggest fans, I can attest to your expertise when it comes time to craft a tasteful yet spicy scene, and this is something you teach. Can you share your top tip on what makes a great spicy scene?
Anne: Thank you! That’s a lovely thing to say! Like spicy food, spicy scenes should cater to personal taste. It’s helpful to understand who you’re writing for because that informs how you do it. My top tip is to leave cringey clichés for dead by being original. No one else in the world sees things as you do, so use that.
Kelly: I loved how you got me to think about who I was writing for when I was in your Stories With Spice workshop. It really does make a difference to consider your audience while writing. In our last Q&A you said you were hardly an expert to talk on how to win writing contests. Since then you’ve been awarded first place in the Open Short Story category of the ‘23 Boroondara Literary Awards, longlisted in the ‘23 Grindstone Literary International Novel Prize, highly commended in the Summer ‘23 WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest and the list goes on, so what tips do you have for writers wanting to submit their work to contests?
Anne: My main advice is to enter the damn competition. Find the volume knob on your imposter syndrome, turn that sucker down and put yourself out there. Literally nothing bad will happen if you do that.
In a practical sense, I’d say pay attention to the submission guidelines. Adhering to those will get you over the first hurdle. And share the competitions that you find with your writing buddies so they can enter too. If you are generous with your time and acquired knowledge, no matter how modest, others will reciprocate. It means that no matter the outcome you’re enjoying a rich and rewarding experience in which you’re gaining more expertise each day.
Kelly: Great advice! And thanks for being such a generous writing friend who’s sent many opportunities my way. What are you currently reading and loving?
Anne: I recently read a manuscript called Forgotten from debut author, Casey Nott. It will be released by Hawkeye Publishing later this year and is an amazing women’s contemporary fiction novel that is wise, warm and witty. Forgotten examines the metamorphosis of motherhood through the eyes of Ava, who wakes after an accident to find she's forgotten the past decade. Ava stumbles to reconcile the life she's woken into, complete with a new husband and a pre-schooler, with the woman she believes she is. The premise is relatable to the point of being visceral and poses the question that all mothers have asked themselves: What happened to my life?
Kelly: Forgotten sounds amazaing, I will have to look out for it. Thanks for the recommendation! So, what can we expect from you next?
Anne: I am currently chipping away at a third novel. I’m using a dual timeline to contrast my protagonist’s experience of first love and endless possibilities in her twenties with a suburban family life under threat in her forties. It demonstrates how the decisions of our youth can cause ripples for decades and explores themes of chronic illness, lost identity, sextortion and second chances.
Kelly: That sounds brillant and I cannot wait to read it. You know I’m not willing to wait until publication, right?
Huge thanks for Anne Freeman for answering some more writerly questions, it’s always a pleasure to pick her brilliant brain.
Make sure to follow Anne, she’s an author well on her way!
Cheers!
