Meet Holly Danvers

We were lucky to catch up with Holly Danvers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

I believe writer’s block is a bit of a myth. Sure, creativity ebbs and flows, and some days the words come harder than others. But that doesn’t mean the work stops. You still show up in the chair, you stick to your routine, and you give yourself grace—especially when life throws its punches. Deadlines don’t stop, no matter what shows up in life. Honestly, sometimes the hardest part is making the daily commitment. *Yes, even on weekends or holidays.* I often hear from readers that they want to write a book and my response is always, “what’s stopping you?” Sometimes the biggest roadblock is overthinking that you can’t.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I write multiple mystery series under various pseudonyms, a decision driven by my publishers, as many prefer not to compete with titles releasing in the same year. Originally from New England, I now reside in the Midwest, where I’m already plotting my next beach thriller. In addition to writing, I’m also an accomplished artist—my oil paintings have been selected for juried exhibitions throughout the state of Wisconsin. Clearly, I only work from the creative side of the brain…

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Practice, practice, practice! Whether it’s writing or painting, consistent practice is essential to honing your craft. I advise staying curious and committed to growing by showing up to the work every day. Some days are more fruitful than others but remaining committed is key. Are you sensing a theme here? Haha! Truth is, I set a deadline and word count and don’t leave the office until the work is finished. You can always delete words but you can’t delete anything if nothing is written! Also, study other’s who you admire. What about their work draws you in?

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

With both writing and art, multiple projects can land in your lap at once—or, just as suddenly, you can hit a dry spell. Either way, navigating the creative life can feel daunting. That’s when I take a step back and immerse myself in nature and say a prayer. Taking a moment to breathe helps me reconnect with what truly matters and reminds me which projects speak most to my heart. It’s amazing what a 30 minute walk can do to refresh your mind. Painting helps with this too; it feels more freeing than writing, which often demands a certain level of perfection. So if I feel really blocked, I run to the art room. Best advise? Never give up and follow your intuition which will never steer you wrong!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authorhollydanvers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhollydanvers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHollyDanvers/

Image Credits

Mark Rummler