1. Have you always been a writer?

 In a way – I have always enjoyed creative writing, even since I was a young girl I entered writing competitions for short stories and poems. As I got older, I found new ways to tell stories – through online RPG forums and DND with friends. I found writing again during Covid and it reignited the spark I had in my younger years.

2. When did you realize that maybe writing was actually a “thing” you could do, get published and even sell?

It started as a hobby that I loved to do for myself. I am an engineer by trade, so having a creative outlet became important to me after a full day of calculations. I started showing the short stories to friends, then strangers, and was getting some good feedback. That was when I started submitting to magazines and indie publishers. There is a lot of information out there for anyone wanting to get more serious about getting your work under readers’ noses. I even joined a writing group and got some first-hand tips from authors who were further in their journey than I.

3. What was your first sale as a writer and how did it feel to sell your work?

My first piece that I was able to sell was actually a novelette, Florescence. It’s a fun story that I really enjoyed writing. I was inspired by the likes of old nineties-style Goosebumps stories and Creep Show tales to create horror short that was also full of camp – the kind of story that I liked but I wasn’t sure if it was popular in the 2020s. When I was informed by the publisher that it actually had “literary merit” (their words, I swear!), I was over the moon. The best part was the lovely reviews I received. It gave me the confidence to keep going and allow myself to be more experimental with my work.

4. How has writing helped you in other areas of life?

As I have mentioned, my daily life is highly analytical and can be stressful. I use creative writing as an outlet for creativity and to rewind in the evening. I have also found the practice more social than you may expect! Through ventures such as NaNoWriMo, my writing and support groups, I have met and become friends with many who enjoy it as much as I do!

5. What was your biggest accomplishment as a writer?

My greatest achievement as a writer has been being consistent with it. I started it as a hobby and I fully expected this to be short term, as my enthusiasm tends to ebb and flow on new projects. But here we are, nearly 6 years in, with published works and still the same love I always had!

6. Who has inspired you the most in the writing field?

I truly believe that to write stories, you must consume stories. I am an avid reader, physical books and audiobooks, but I am also a cinephile. I have loved horror ever since I first watched the TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark? as a child, and was solidified when I purchased Misery by Stephen King. I take inspiration from every bit of media I come across – from books to radio plays to film to graphic novel.

7. What are some of the challenges you have faced as a writer and how did you overcome them?

I am at the start of my writing career really, so the biggest challenge I face is having friends and family read your work. Writing is very personal – no matter what you are writing – and it can be nerve-wrecking to let your mum or partner read your story.

8. What is the best writing advice you have ever received and why do you feel it is important?One of the best pieces of advice I received was to write little and often. A few hundred words on a lunch break quickly adds up. You don’t need to wait for divine inspiration and you don’t need to wait till you have a full free day to sit down and concentrate. Just get into the habit of writing when you have a few minutes and you will make much more progress. You will always have an excuse not to write. Do it anyway.

9. What sort of writing do you do now?

I continue to work on short horror and dark sci-fi stories. I have a couple of stories coming out in various anthologies in the next year. I am actually working on my first novel, a multi-POV dark fantasy, and my goal is to attempt a traditional publishing route in 2027. This would be a new venture for me – but I am excited to see how it goes!

10. Where can we find some of your work online?

You can follow my journey on Instagram, @izzygrace. My debut novelette, Florescence is getting re-released in October, and will be available in paperback or e-book format. I have a short story in Tales from the Hearth anthology to be published by Dreamweaver Press, coming soon.

11. What advice do you have for aspiring writers thinking of taking the leap of getting their work published?

Querying is difficult and very competitive, but it all becomes worth it when you finally get to see your name in print. Stories are meant to be shared, and if you love what you write, you will find the right audience who will love it just as much.

12. What are your final thoughts about being a writer?

It has taken me a long time to call myself a writer. I used to give myself strict goals – I couldn’t call myself a writer if I hadn’t published a novel, or if I hadn’t earned a steady living off of my works. But actually, being a writer is something you become as soon as you open your laptop and write your first sentence. It’s not something to achieve or to gatekeep. No matter where you are on your journey, if you love it, keep going. You never know where you will find your next story.

ABOUT ISABELLE:

Isabelle Robinson is a horror author from North Yorkshire, now living in Manchester, UK. An engineer by day and a writer by night, she crafts dark, spooky stories inspired by the mundane macabre. Her debut novelette Florescence was published in 2025.