Ask the Author: Constance McKee
Answered Questions (8)
Constance McKee
Hi, Marc. I'm happy to answer your question about blogging, although I have to admit, I'm not the best blogger. From everything I've read and heard from other authors, it's best to have a theme to your blog so that people who are interested in that topic can find you through searching for the key words of your theme. Your theme can be broad, like "books" or "writing," and this gives you a lot of room to mix it up within that theme. If your theme is too narrow, it's more work for you to think of things to say. Also, I think blogging daily is too much of a burden. Once a week should be sufficient. If you're lucky enough to get regular readers, they like to know they can count on you to post on a certain schedule, like every Monday, for example.
Best wishes to your with your blogging. Thanks very much for getting in touch!
Best wishes to your with your blogging. Thanks very much for getting in touch!
Constance McKee
Hi, Carol,
I haven't heard of One More Day, but I'll definitely have a look at it. I do love paranormal events! Thanks for the recommendation!
I haven't heard of One More Day, but I'll definitely have a look at it. I do love paranormal events! Thanks for the recommendation!
Constance McKee
Hi, Carol,
Thanks for your great question. I do not have any paranormal or psychic abilities. I wish I did--I'm fascinated by the paranormal! There's so much we don't know about the brain, the mind/soul/spirit, and about the universe, that having psychic skills could help shed light on what it's all about.
My prior work in psychiatry gave me tons of ideas for writing. I spoke with some people who believed they'd had paranormal experiences. They were either mentally ill, or something paranormal had actually happened to them, and sometimes it was hard to tell whether it was "real" or not. These cases--in particular, the case of a woman who'd had a near-death experience-- were what impelled me to write this particular novel. Also, after seeing an episode on "Nova" about the actual scientific possibility of "multiverses"or parallel worlds, I thought that concept would be an interesting, science-based way to begin to understand what appears to be the paranormal.
I hope to write further books about psychiatry and the paranormal.
Thanks for your great question. I do not have any paranormal or psychic abilities. I wish I did--I'm fascinated by the paranormal! There's so much we don't know about the brain, the mind/soul/spirit, and about the universe, that having psychic skills could help shed light on what it's all about.
My prior work in psychiatry gave me tons of ideas for writing. I spoke with some people who believed they'd had paranormal experiences. They were either mentally ill, or something paranormal had actually happened to them, and sometimes it was hard to tell whether it was "real" or not. These cases--in particular, the case of a woman who'd had a near-death experience-- were what impelled me to write this particular novel. Also, after seeing an episode on "Nova" about the actual scientific possibility of "multiverses"or parallel worlds, I thought that concept would be an interesting, science-based way to begin to understand what appears to be the paranormal.
I hope to write further books about psychiatry and the paranormal.
Constance McKee
I had gone to a writing conference in which an agent had been very critical of my manuscript, saying it "had no plot." As I was flying home, devastated, the idea of writing about a near-death experience popped into my head. It might've had more to do with my anxiety about a potential plane crash than with the agent's rejection, but I think both thoughts were factors.
Constance McKee
If the writer's block is just for a day or two, I don't worry about it. I tell myself it can happen to anyone. Sometimes I make myself write anyway, even if my brain and heart aren't in it. Other times, I give myself a day or two of vacation, then find I feel like writing when I return. Once, when the writer's block lasted for weeks, I took an online writing class. The pressure of the teacher's expectations and peer pressure did the trick, and I could write again.
Constance McKee
The best thing for me is the joy, when writing a new story or scene, of getting ideas, of making things up. It's exhilarating!
Constance McKee
I get my best ideas when I'm doing something that puts me on automatic pilot and lets my mind wander, like running, or showering, or driving a car on an open road. The idea for my novel about a near-death experience popped into my head while I was on an airplane. And, yes, I was a little worried that the plane might crash, but from that anxiety emerged a novel!
Constance McKee
Read as much as you can, including books and articles about writing, and never, ever give up!
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