Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’m the oldest of seven children. I entertained my siblings with stories and games of my own making. I don’t recall when I started actually writing. My first published work was poetry, each about a specific person elected by my eighth grade class such as “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Class Clown.”

My parents and teachers encouraged me to write. In fact, my father wrote poetry. I treasure the words he left behind.

What do you see as the influences on your writing?

Life in general influences my writing. Something as basic as seeing a nicknack in a store window has generated a story. My past leaks into plots and scenery. I’ve experienced farm life and city life and had the benefit of knowing my great grandparents, grandparents and parents into my adult life. I’ve gone through good times and difficulties. It helps round out my writing.

Can you share one or two main points of Pumping Your Muse with us?

Pumping Your Muse is a collection of interconnecting exercises which strengthen world building skills. The process forces the imagination down unpredictable paths while pulling elements of the real world in to offer balance and realism. Pieces of the world come into focus, producing characters, plots and an alternate world to emerge. Following the exercises in Pumping Your Muse generates multiple story lines.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I work a full time day job and co-own and edit for Team Spirit Critique and Editing. Juggling my time to make room for my passion is a challenge. I think the question my writing peers ask me most is, “How do you get all that done?” I’m goal oriented and it helps keep me on task.

What will writers gain by reading your book?

They’ll hone skills to build fictional worlds with believable details without slogging through long descriptive passages that bore the reader. It also teaches organizational skills to pull scenes together, develop plots with continuity and creative thinking to look at it all from another direction.

What are the top three writing mistakes from beginners?

1. Waiting for time to write.
2. Writing in a passive telling voice.
3. Rewriting and editing extensively instead of finishing the manuscript. On the flip side, submitting something fresh without editing or getting feedback from other writers.

How can someone find time to write?

I wrote sporadically most of my life. Working full time, raising a family and other obligations clamored for my time. My first novel took over five years because I worked on it when I felt like I had time. When the going got rough, I put it aside. By the time I picked it up, I’d have to read it again to refresh my mind as to plots and character traits. When I decided to buckle down and take my writing life seriously, I set a goal to write 20 minutes a day at least four days a week. This discipline taught me to push through difficulties in a storyline, and the experience watered the seed of my need to write. Twenty minutes grew into an hour or more a day. Today, I don’t keep track of my time, but instead I set goals to manage the projects I need to accomplish each week.

Article Author: Parker Owens

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