by Sylvia Ney
1) Please tell us a little about your blog. Around four years ago, my good friend and fellow writer Jessica Ferguson implored me (and any other writer who would listen) to start a blog. She insisted a blog is necessary for anyone serious about writing. I fussed and procrastinated and felt intimidated by the process for a good six months or more. My biggest hurdle was that I felt my blog needed a theme. And I couldn’t think of one. Finally, one day, as I lamented to my husband about a lack of a theme, he suggested I write about moving to Louisiana. Well, yeah, I thought. I could write about the adventure of moving from Pittsburgh to Louisiana. And thus, my blog became The Trials and Triumphs of a Transplant http://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/ It’s been almost five years, and I still feel like the new kid on the block. I’m still learning and experiencing new sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. It’s like being on a perpetual vacation. Always something new and different to discover.
2) What music, places, people inspire you? I have fallen in love with the Bayou State and it’s a never-ending wellspring of inspiration for my writing. For my blog, I love to visit a new town and play the tourist, then use my blog as a travelogue. I’m fascinated by the many festivals around the state. I might explore a museum or seek out a hidden state park somewhere. I love the art and music culture of this area. I’ve barely scratched the surface on all there is to do and see in this beautiful state.
3) I see you are working on a manuscript. Please tell us a little about it. I primarily write non-fiction articles for the children’s magazine market. After I sold a piece on the Civilian Conservation Corps to Highlights For Children, I decided to write a middle grade historical fiction about a 15-year-old boy who lies about his age and joins the CCC. I love the idea of this story and have the basic plot all in my head. I have the first several chapters written, but basically, I’ve been sitting on this story for the past four years. I need to finish it!
4) What other styles do you write? I also write short stories, poetry, and meditations/devotionals.
5) Are you part of a critique group or writer's guild? Yes, absolutely. I always say I couldn’t be a writer without my critique partners. When I lived in Pittsburgh, I belonged to two different critique groups: an SCBWI group and a general writing group. When I moved to Louisiana, finding a writers’ group was one of my top priorities. I now belong to Bayou Writers, the newly formed SWLA Children’s Writers and Illustrators Guild, and of course, SCBWI. I also belong to an online critique group. I don’t have an English background, and I’ve learned so much from my critique partners.
6) Have you ever attended a writer's conference? Yes, more than I can count without thinking real hard. I highly recommend conferences. The networking is as important as the learning.
7) What are you reading now? I review books for the literary website LitStack.com, so I’m always reading something. One of my favorite authors is Anne Lamott. I recently read her upcoming memoir Some Assembly Required. Excellent! Scheduled for release in March 2012. I’m currently reading The Gilder, by Kathyrn Kay. Only halfway, but so far so good.
8) What are your plans for the future? I swear, I’m going to finish that novel.
Good luck with the novel, Angie. Seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. It gets easier not to do than to do. As I'm sure you know . . . we all do.
ReplyDeleteWriting a novel takes so much concentration. I can pound out a 1000 wd story with ease, but sitting down to weave together an entire novel is tough--and i've done it twice. Try to look at it as a series of 1000 wd stories. I've found it helps. Don't forget your past accomplishments though. I know I've been impressed with your reseme. Good luck. Is you critique group just a general group? I wish I could find a quality group for fiction that I write.
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