Q&A with C.S. Ratliff

Welcome C.S.! Thanks for taking some time to chat about writing. First, a few quick-fire questions: Do you prefer to write while listening to music or to write in silence? What is your favorite kind of pizza? And if you could go on a one month writing retreat to any place in the world then where would you go?
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​Yes! I love Epic and Cinematic music to write to. I love Pizza, classic pepperoni. For a writing retreat, I’d love to go to The Black Forest. 
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The first of the famous ‘Rules for Writers’ is this: As a writer, you must write. Though this may sound obvious, many people who aspire to write stories fail to ever get around to actually sitting down to write their story. How do you manage to keep yourself accountable and productive while writing over the long term?
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​I set up a certain time frame, in which I’d like to be done writing. After creating a detailed outline I can break it down easier. It helps me figure out how much I need to write each week to reach my goal!
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"For a writing retreat, I’d love to go to The Black Forest." 
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I often hear writers complain that they don’t want to waste their time on social media. Personally, I have sparked many meaningful connections within the writing community online and have received much in the way of encouragement from this network of fellow writers. As you have found success in attracting a large audience online, what justification would you present to writers who are skeptical about the usefulness of social media?
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I think anyone that has the opportunity to converse with, or learn from, other writers and authors, as well as spread the word about their work, should take that chance. You never know when that big break will come!
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Before I wrote The Gatewatch, most of my writing took the form of song lyrics which I sang and performed with a Celtic folk music group. You have a musical background as a vocalist in the hard rock genre. How do your experiences in music shape your stories and what do you think other writers could learn from musicians?
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​I’ve been a musician for over 10 years now. People often feel moved by music, whether it’s the lyrics or the sound. I think metaphors are a big reason for that. Novels can have that same effect. 
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"People often feel moved by music, whether it’s the lyrics or the sound.
I think metaphors are a big reason for that. Novels can have that same effect."
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My stories are primarily inspired by the Norse Myths and I often find myself going back to source material to pick up small details about minor characters that I missed before. Most memorable for me are some of the characters that never get mentioned in popular culture, unlike the well-known actors like Thor, Odin, and Freya. I think a similar phenomenon happens in representations of Greek Mythology as characters like Zeus, Hermes, and Aphrodite overshadow most others. As your work is inspired in part by Greek Mythology, who do you think of as a figure in the Greek myths that deserves a moment in the spotlight?
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I think that all deities deserve the spotlight, honestly. There are those shrouded in mystery, and chaos, and so many of them are highly misunderstood. Oh and Hera! Definitely Hera. Looks around the room, nervously, with a forced smile.
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"There are those shrouded in mystery, and chaos, and so many of them are highly misunderstood.
Oh and Hera! Definitely Hera."
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In your novel The Lighting Rod, dark shadow magic has spread so that it threatens to destroy the realm of Gnariam. As the story progresses your main character is faced with two paths: the path of the hero and the path of darkness. What makes a hero or a hero’s actions heroic in your view? Is there an underlying philosophy to heroism in The Lightning Rod or is the concept of becoming ‘the hero the world needs’ a more pragmatic process in your view?
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​I think the real heroic acts are when one places others before themselves. It doesn’t have to be a life sacrifice, either. The philosophy behind my hero, Ranir, is that he fears his destiny at first. He would rather go back in time before the chaos started. By the end of the first book, we get to see his demeanor change, as he goes through trials that shape him into a true hero. 
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The fantasy realm of Gnariam that you have created is both deep and wide. I sense a lot of anxiety from new fantasy writers about creating the world in which their stories take place. While I think we can both agree that there is no end to the work a writer could do in crafting their world, where do you think a new writer of fantasy should begin in their world-building process?
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​I absolutely love the world of Gnariam so far. It’s going to continue to grow. I think the best tip I could give is to think of as many things in this world, and write them down. For example: governments, religions, currencies, land masses, creatures, if there is magic or tech, terrains, climate, clothing, technology level, etc. Creating a world that feels tangible is a key to success. 
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"Creating a world that feels tangible is a key to success." 
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Where can readers find more of your work and stay up to date on your latest publications?
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Readers can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and through my website. 
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Discover the realm of Gnariam through C.S. Ratliff's novel The Lightning Rod on Amazon.