Thanks so much to the ever fabulous Holly Schindler for hopping the bloggers my way!
Here are my (rather belated) answers to the BLOG HOP questions (you’ll see why they’re belated as you read on.)
1. What am I working on?
I am currently searching for my next project. I’ve been experimenting with some picture book ideas, am working on a new huge blog series (coming soon) and various end-of-year projects for Society of Young Inklings, including the Inklings Book Contest, in which 26 young authors (grades 1-8) will be published this June. I’m also directing four (yep, four!) plays. Meanwhile, I’m letting my three in-progress novels rattle around in my head while I wait to see which one steals my heart and demands my attention. I’ve also been working on a rather extensive Getting Things Done project which has helped me put my world back in order after having finished my most recent novel: Reflecting Hours. Can I just say: David Allen’s challenge to his readers to get EVERYTHING out of your mind and down on paper is brilliant and just what creative people need. He talks about how all of our “open loops” or agreements with ourselves that are unmet clutter up our mental space. How wise to point out that we ALL agree to more than we can do… that’s the nature of our world today. The point is, we need to be able to see what we’ve agreed to, both for others and to ourselves, and then make the best decision about what to do in the moment, based on the many changing factors of our daily lives.
2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?
Reflecting Hours is a sci-fi fantasy, which is in itself a little unusual. The book weaves both science and magic together. The world of the story is an alternate version of our world in which science has followed chemistry instead of the microchip. In that way, I suppose it’s a little Steampunk. Though, I’m calling it Chem-punk. That’s kind of the way I’ve always been. I like to find my own categories and do things just a little differently. My own way.
3. Why do I write what I do?
That’s such an interesting question right now as I’m looking for my next piece. Here’s what I know. I always start a book with a question. It must be a question that captures me and won’t let me go, a question so large that I can’t answer it without exploring the many aspects and angles of the issue by writing at least 170 pages. Right now, I haven’t found that question, but I feel it on the horizon. Knowing my next piece is out there, just out of reach, is exciting. I love possibilities.
4. How does my writing process work?
My writing process is a dance between long stretches of just putting words one after another on the page, and then stopping as new questions or issues emerge and finding new ways to play through the blocks. For instance, I may stage a scene as though it is a play. I might write only dialogue or write only action. I might draw each scene on an index card and spread them all out on the floor to find the structure of my story, or create a play list for the book to find the exact tone I’m trying to create. The point is, I don’t always follow one way of writing a book. Instead, I try to keep my process fresh and playful. The one thing I’ve learned over time is that there is ALWAYS another way. So, when I’m stuck and I don’t see that way yet, I’m encouraged, because I know it’s out there, and I just have to be patient.
All right, now I’m passing the hop off to two friends, two excellent writers. They’ll be addressing these questions on their blogs in the coming weeks.
Araceli Esparza:
As Latina author, Araceli writes to be authentic to underrepresented voices. She has over seven years of writing poetry and two years writing picture books. For Araceli, making the narrative of the story resonate with all readers is another layer of building diversity from within the story. Check out her blog at writinglatinochildrensbooks.com
AND
Melinda Cordell:
Melinda graduated in 2012 with an MFA for writing for children from Hamline University … three weeks before baby was born! Melinda is a former horticulturist, a chicken wrangler, and small-time Missouri naturalist who’s been published in Cicada, Cricket, Read, Highlights, and Organic Gardening. rosefiend.blogspot.com
