Writing has always been quite easy for me; something that seemed to just come naturally. I remember sitting on a flight home some time ago and looking over at the female passenger sitting across from me. As I watched her she would smile to herself sometimes, and then just as quickly she would be very serious and her brows would crease as if some bad memory had crossed her mind. I continued to watch her and as I did I started to write a poem about her. When I was finished I walked over and gave it to her and explained what I had done. With tears streaming down her face she said she would always cherish it and that it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done. She said she couldn’t believe I got all that from watching her.
I write about life, beauty, family, love and just about everything that makes up our beautiful world. I also regretfully write about those things that hurt and destroy it; like my poems about 9/11. When I write my children’s stories I could be inspired by something cute my daughter said or did. I am also inspired by blessings and miracles and unexpected gifts in my life. Such an inspiration came when I had my daughter in 2002, a special blessing the doctors said would never happen.
A typical writing day for me is one where an idea comes to me for a new book, when or where I least expect. I may be driving down the street and I become totally excited because great ideas are coming to me all at once. I pull the car over as soon as possible, find paper and a pen, and I start writing down my thoughts because I dare not forget.
I get back home and I start to expand, think of characters, decide on the setting; I am totally in Michelle heaven as I start to bring all these and more to life. There is a lot of rolled up paper on the floor because at this point I am brainstorming and not yet at computer stage. Once I have my outline, my characters, my setting and know the kind of story I want to bring to the children with this book, I am ready for working on the computer. I am dancing and singing. I am starting to tighten up here, add here, delete here, and add some funny and adventurous here. I read over everything too many times to count. It’s very important that I let the little girl in me write the story.
Follow Day 3 of Ms. Hall's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm
Hello Michelle:
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure hosting you today and I look forward to following the rest of your tour.
Best wishes,
Donna
Fascinating! Writing is not my talent but I'm an avid reader and I love to hear about different author's processes.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Michelle V
I wish writing were as easy for me. My freshman english teacher in college hated me. I am a scientist...I can write a scientific paper with facts, figures, statistics and methodology. Ask me to put in flowery words and lots of creative descriptions and I am lost. I love to READ a good book, just could never write one!
ReplyDeleteThank you again for everything Donna. I am totally enjoying the showcase and the virtual tour. I am nervously and happily awaiting my Bookbites interview this afternoon.
ReplyDelete@Michelle V. Thanks for your post. I am also an avid reader myself, so we share that joy together. I've asked myself many times how does writing come so easily to me and I still don't have an answer, except it's a wonderful gift.
@Turning the Clock Back: Now there's something I wish I was good at when I was in High School and College. I never was very good at anything that had too many figures, statistics and methodology. But ... give me a topic and tell me to have a 5 page essay on it in an hour ... I will probably have 10 pages for you.
Take care all and thanks again for your comments.
Thanks for sharing about your writing process. I love to write but it doesn't come naturally and I work and work to get it write. I have it in my head but translating it to the page is difficult.
ReplyDeleteLoving the tour,
Terri
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI find that writing comes naturally to me too. I started writing when I was six or seven. It was journal writing at the time, but I remember how much peace I felt when I wrote.
I can't learn to more about you tomorrow.
Best wishes for your continued success!
Irene
Hi terri.forehand, thanks for your comment. There are some authors out there with best selling books who also say that they have the ideas in their head but have difficulty translating it to the page. Just like they have done, here's the good news for you have a great writer take your fantastic ideas and help you to publish what I know will be a Best seller also. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Irene, thank you so much for your post. This has been an exciting time for me. I am so happy to know that you, and others, are following along with me daily on the Virtual Tour. I also have found peace from my writing. As a children's book author I enjoy bringing my characters to life. They become a part of me and bring lots of joy to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much again. Your well wishes are much appreciated.
Great post. I think it's wonderful that you can write about such diverse topics. My kids inspire some of my ideas too.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck,
Cheryl
Writing seems to come naturally to me, but the discipline to do it is another story! Good job!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Michelle! You're a very warm, generous person.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl, Heidi and Mayra. Thanks so much for your wonderful comments. Sorry so long to reply. I've been having some computer problems. I appreciate you all very much and wish you all much success as well.
ReplyDelete