I squeeze it in when I can, to be honest. I have a full-time and then some career, I have interests outside of books (shocking, I know), and family commitments that take a lot of time so I do what I can when I can (lunches, late nights, hockey practices, dictation in my car, whatever).
My style and voice are always changing and evolving, but as a beginning writer I think I tried to "sound" important. "Sound" like other fantastic writers I knew, but once I figured out that I wasn't them and I had my own voice I feel my writing improved tenfold.
There are definitely a few little things in Wicked Descent (a kiss I actually had a teenager, maybe?) that I know are from personal experience, but sometimes that stuff just slips in without you even realizing it until your friends tell you once the book is already published.
To me I basically want two things: 1.) people who actively want to read my books (who aren't my mom...even though I love my mom and she reads all my stuff); and, 2.) the ability to continue writing in the genres that I love. However, if you are reading this Netflix execs, I would totally be okay with an original Netflix series or movie!
I think this is so important. I'm not the best with titles because I get drawn to one word ones which can be generic, but I totally buy books based on their covers all the time.
I've been writing since I was a preteen. Since I could talk I always loved to tell stories (read: talk too much), and it just developed from there. Life got in the way for a while, but when something is a part of who you are you always come back to it sooner or later.