How do you write a novel? One page at a time. I like to write a little every day. EVERY DAY. If you write often, you don't have to review what you've written in order to proceed with the day's writing. This keeps the editing monster at bay. The editing monster has a time and place, but not in your first draft. The main idea is to let it all flow out of you. Revision comes later and usually takes longer than the writing itself. I love to talk to writers who make their writing into a ritualistic practice.
What writing qualifications do you have? Have you taken any classes? I have no writing qualifications besides a love of reading and a love of writing. I took a single poetry-writing class in college. After college I took a non-credited adult ed class on novel writing in 1993 and was too shy to hand any of my work in to the teacher for review. I didn't start writing seriously until 1998, after both my children were born. While I have toyed with the idea of taking more writing classes, I admit that my writing comes from an instinctual not an academic place. I love receiving input on my work from close friends and professionals in the publishing industry, but I try to hush outside voices as much as possible in order to hear what my characters are saying to me. Perhaps this is why I don't belong to a writing goup. And maybe it's just because I am too busy running my kids around to all of their activities.
How do you do research? I don't do a lot of research for my books. I began writing them when I was working full-time as a fabric designer, so I didn't have a lot of time to devote to writing much less to research. I prescribe to the Stephen King school of writing which he details in his book On Writing. Get it all down, and then if you need to fill in details, you can call up the experts or consult the books with specific questions. I generally write about subjects about which I have some knowledge. I also get area experts to read my drafts and tell me where my message is not ringing true. I did this with SUMMERS AT BLUE LAKE. My protagonist is a jeweler. I had some jewelry classes in college, so I had some information upon which to draw. After I finished writing, I had jewlery artist Suzy Arrington read the manuscript and help me firm up the details. Thanks, Suzy.
How do you get published? I highly recommend getting an agent. You can find a list of agents to query in the yearly Writer's Market, available in book form or online at writersmarket.com. I did not attend conferences. I just submitted query after query with 30 pages of my manuscript (already completed--a must in fiction writing). The process to find an agent took me two years. I amassed many rejection letters, including one from my current agent. From there, my agent sent my manuscript to publishers. Some publishers accept manuscripts from writers without agents. These, too, are listed in the Writer's Market.
What about rejection? I am convinced that persistence is key in this process. If the thought of rejection letters makes you despressed, give yourself a boost by researching just how many times people like Dr. Suess, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling received rejection letters. I tried to collect them. One look at my pile and I saw someone who had really put herself on the line for what she wanted. Knowing I was working toward my goals was important. I also keep almost every single Thank You letter I have ever received. When the rejection pile wears me down, I turn to my Thank You notes and reread them.
Who are your favorite authors? I have a hard time remembering what I read, but I really enjoy the process of reading--especially when I read aloud to my kids. Here is a short and incomplete list of the authors I have enjoyed over the years: Sue Monk Kidd, Chris Bojahlian, Sue Miller, Frances Mayes, J.R.R. Tolkien, Philip Pullman, Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, J.K. Rowling, Wally Lamb, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Jodi Picoult, Ursula Hegi, Isabella Allande, Margaret Atwood, Kay Gibbons, Julia Glass, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Zora Neale Hurston, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Marlena DiBlasi. I also like to read cookbooks. A writer must eat!
FAQ's about Art coming soon...
Email Jill a question you'd like to see answered on this page.
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
