What Inspires Me by Margo L. Dill
Trying to figure out what inspires me to write is somewhat difficult.
I tell people I write because I have to. It makes me happy. I now can’t imagine
doing anything else. It’s hard to remember my life before I dedicated it to
writing. (I think I used to have a lot more free time.) But what inspires me to
write?
I really believe it’s the ideas that pop into my head and will not let
go. That’s what happened with Caught
Between Two Curses, my new contemporary YA novel. I have always wondered
WHY some people survived accidents and tragedies and others didn’t. Then I
heard two news stories in 2003—one about a Cubs fan that interfered with a foul
ball and the other about a toddler that was the only survivor of a car
crash—and I realized this question, this idea, is not letting me go. So, I was
inspired and I wrote the novel.
The same thing happened with Finding
My Place—I read one paragraph in a fifth grade social studies book about
the Siege of Vicksburg and people doing anything to survive, including eating
rats and living in man-made caves, and I had to know more. An idea seed was
planted, and it wouldn’t let go until I nurtured it into a mature plant—a
novel.
I am currently working on two novels—both are also ideas I couldn’t
let go. One started as a short story, and it begged me to write a full-length
novel for 9 to 12 year olds. The other novel, another YA, was inspired from a
terrible tragedy that killed a beloved high school friend—a community building
shooting in Kirkwood, MO in 2008.
So what inspires me? I would say life—exploring interesting and
sometimes heartbreaking questions that give me ideas that won’t let go and beg
to be written.
Margo’s bio: Margo L. Dill is a children's author, freelance editor, and workshop leader, living in St. Louis, MO. She is the author of the YA book, Caught Between Two Curses, and also the author of the historical fiction, middle-grade novel, Finding My Place: One Girl's Strength at Vicksburg (White Mane Kids, 2012) and the forthcoming picture books, Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire and the Case of the Missing Cookies and Lucy and the Red Ribbon Week Adventure. Caught Between Two Curses is her first young adult novel. She promises that she is a Cardinals' fan at heart, but the Billy Goat curse on the Chicago Cubs is too irresistible for a plot line. You can find her blogging on Tuesdays at http://www.thelitladies.com and more about her work at http://margodill.com/blog/.
Margo, it's been a pleasure hosting you the last two days during your virtual book tour! Wishing you the very best!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Margo, it's been a pleasure hosting you the last two days during your virtual book tour! Wishing you the very best!
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Thank you, Donna! You made me really think with this topic! And good luck getting back into the swing of things with your blog. I know it is not always easy. TRUST ME! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Margo,
DeleteDelighted to host you today. I'm always intrigued to learn what inspires fellow writers. Terrific post! Good luck with your W-I-P's.
Best,
Donna