An emerging author with a strong start to her career, Natalie Pinter has crafted a great starting point with her work covering a variety of styles and genres in her work. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in writing, her novel "The Fragile Keepers," and other projects.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
Natalie Pinter: I was an 80’s kid, so there was inconsistent supervision regarding what I watched, but I developed a taste for the macabre and fantastical at a young age. I saw Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, and lots of slasher movies in elementary school. I loved Tales from the Crypt and The Outer Limits. I saw Rosemary’s Baby probably way too young, and it’s still one of my favorite films of all time. I also love fantasy and sci-fi. My taste these days runs more to speculative/hard-to-categorize stuff that straddles different genres.
Me: Who were some of your favorite writers growing up?
NP: When I was little, I enjoyed Choose Your Own Adventure books and Scary Stories To Tell In the Dark. In middle and high school, I got into V.C. Andrews and Stephen King.
Me: What was the starting point of becoming a writer? Were you always into writing growing up?
NP: I daydreamed stories a lot as a kid, but only occasionally went through phases where I wrote in notebooks. I remember writing one silly story about my sister and trying to write my own fairy tale after reading The Day Boy and The Night Girl by George MacDonald. I didn’t write as a teen except for occasional angsty poetry. I fantasized about writing for a long time before I started writing my own stories in my early twenties.
Me: Is there any specific genre you prefer to write? Is there a style or format that you find easier to get into, even if you don’t have a preference?
NP: Mostly, I just try to write something I want to read but haven’t found. I write for the same reason I read: to discover interesting stories, insights, characters, etc. I don’t consciously have a particular style or format I try to use.
Me: What is the general process for getting involved in these projects?
NP: If I’ve got an idea puttering around, I write longhand in a notebook. I write whatever comes to mind and freely. When some sort of ending/conclusion—however hazy—is reached, I take all that messy writing and use it as a base to type up a real draft. The blank screen is less daunting with a pile of paper next to me. I write multiple drafts, and the more I write and revise, the clearer the story becomes.
Me: How do you settle on the plots for the stories?
NP: I don’t usually consciously decide on a plot, per se. I’ve got my situation and a vague template in my head, and I'll go from there. I’m kind of between a panster and a plotter. Maybe the term is “planster.”
Me: Is there any special significance to the variety of stories infused with fantasy and romance elements?
NP: I don’t put a lot of romance in my stories, while there’s some maybe to form the characters' motivations or circumstances, but it’s not usually the focal part of the story. As far as fantasy goes, it’s just fun, and it’s nice to not be constrained by reality when writing. There’s so much room to play around and explore.
Me: How did you settle on the plot for your novel “The Fragile Keepers?”
NP: I’ve had a lifelong fascination with faeries, and I wanted to write a story about what would actually happen if people encountered one in real, contemporary life. The story grew from there.
Me: Was there any special significance to establishing a sibling relationship at the heart of the story?
NP: Not particularly. They are just the characters who came to mind.
Me: Is there anything while writing the characters that you were surprised by in telling their stories?
NP: I don’t think so, but I got to know them really well, so maybe that’s why.
Me: What is your writing process? How do you stay focused on writing?
NP: I usually set a quota for myself to get the story down. For the first few drafts, I commit to a certain number of pages per week until the story is done. The quota varies depending on how busy my life is. I try to make it achievable and realistic, so I don’t get discouraged. Then I give myself deadlines for edits. When I think the work is in decent shape, I share it with critique partners and beta-readers, and I always carefully consider feedback.
Me: Once it was finally written, what was the process for having it published?
NP: For The Fragile Keepers, it was the usual miserable stint in the querying trenches. When I finally started to get offers, it didn’t take long to pick one and sign a contract. It’s such a long process; I was eager to release it into the world.
Me: What do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?
NP: I don’t know. I mostly rely on having my writing habits in place, and then creative energy comes and goes seemingly of its own accord. I do try to jot down random notes and thoughts whenever I can, and I try to avoid doomscrolling. I am an avid reader, and I consume media that interests and excites me. I follow topics I find intriguing and inspiring. I also try to remember and write down my dreams, but I’ve been bad about that lately, to be honest.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
NP: I’m currently writing a fantasy, a simple fairy tale. But there is a horror story that’s been in the back of my mind, so I’m hoping to dive into it when I’m done with this current project.
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself?
NP: I’d say do it! Write what excites and inspires you, and don’t be afraid to get weird.
Me: Thank you again for your time!
NP: Thank you!
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