Interview with Multi-Genre Author Kim McDougall - Page 7

As for new writers, I think the benefits of crit groups far outweigh the chance of a bruised ego. In my experience, most critiquers are caring and honest. And the few that aren't…well that's part of the business, and any writer who wants to be successful had better learn to take what the critics dish out.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

The only time I suffered from writer's block was in college when I took a Writing for Children course. I had no experience with kids at the time. The were an alien species to me and I couldn't think of one story to write.

Now writer's block seems like a myth to me. I have so many ideas I want to get on paper. I know I will never have time to write them all down.

Technically speaking, what do you struggle the most with when writing? How do you tackle it?

For my children's fiction, I struggle with keeping my stories contemporary. I love all things old-fashioned and these tend to creep into my stories. I want to bring the joy of reading to kids, but I know the first step is to hook them with an idea that is relevant to their time and place. If I could, I would write like Anne of Green Gables or the original Winnie the Pooh, but I suspect that brand of narrative prose wouldn't fly with many of today's kids.

For my adult fiction, I find writing romance the most difficult. Love is the greatest theme of all, and the most overdone theme too. I want to bring some heat into fantasy fiction, which is traditionally very chaste. But I struggle with writing love scenes that are not cliché. Critique groups are very helpful in this area. I've also attended workshops on various world-building techniques.

How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?

When I first started writing, I read that to be published you need to make contacts. Being a bit of a recluse, I didn't believe it and I started blitzing editors with little success. Then I joined several chat groups and crit groups. I started my own ezine and helped to promote other authors. What goes around comes around. Soon I had friends recommending me to their publishers. Of my three current publishers, two of my contracts came about from contacts made in writers' groups. So that's my advice. Get out there. Help your fellow writers. Critique other stories. Go to conventions and conferences. Make a name for yourself.

Article Author: Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani is the National Latino Books Examiner for Examiner.com.

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