Ask the Author: Maricel Jiménez Peña
Answered Questions (6)
Maricel Jiménez Peña
Allow yourself to write a crappy first draft. Just write it! Get it down on the paper. It can be fixed later.
Maricel Jiménez Peña
I get ideas from everything! My last idea came from a set of questions that my son made about the tooth fairy. "Where does the mouse (our local tooth fairy is a mouse) get the money it leaves under the pillow?" "What does it do with the tooth?" All very valid questions. This new idea was inspired in the process of coming up with answers to those questions. ;)
Maricel Jiménez Peña
Generally when blocked I take a break; maybe read a book (different genre) to take my mind off my own story. However, after a while, you have to force yourself back to work. "It's time to get back to the book, Maricel" - of course I talk to myself! At that point regardless of whether inspiration has struck or not, it's time to find the story again.
The break, however, can sometimes be a change of setting. One of the reasons why I like to write my first draft by hand. I can go to the beach and write! (without worrying about sand in my computer, or the glare of the sun, or running out of battery...) ;)
The break, however, can sometimes be a change of setting. One of the reasons why I like to write my first draft by hand. I can go to the beach and write! (without worrying about sand in my computer, or the glare of the sun, or running out of battery...) ;)
Maricel Jiménez Peña
I get to make up my own world. My rules!
Maricel Jiménez Peña
Anything can inspire me; anything that makes me ask questions. It usually starts with an image. Even a squished bug can inspire. I see it there and wonder what it would be like to be a bug, how horrible it would be to have a humongous giant foot trying to step on you... My son asks about the tooth fairy and in trying to answer his questions I come up with an idea for a story. (Can't wait to write this one!) It is unpredictable.
Maricel Jiménez Peña
I'm currently working on the second installment to the Pixie Piper series. What is that little fairy up to now?
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