Ask the Author: M.A. Notaras
Answered Questions (3)
M.A. Notaras
Here's some of what I've learned along the way:
1) create extremely in-depth character profiles before you start writing, otherwise the characters will be really bland
2) write every day to keep your momentum up
3) if you're writing for children and have a few of your own, read your story out to them - they'll be your best cheer squad and will inspire you to write more!
4) read your writing out loud to yourself - if it doesn't sound natural or make sense, change it
5) read lots of your genre to understand it, but don't copy - write with your own ideas and voice
6) listen to great podcasts from more experienced authors, join writers groups (can be online) - they have great tips and you are bolstered by their community.
7) don't get disheartened about the length of time it takes to write, the process can take a lot lot lot longer than you originally think (especially for the first book) it's a learning curve, after all!
Happy writing!
1) create extremely in-depth character profiles before you start writing, otherwise the characters will be really bland
2) write every day to keep your momentum up
3) if you're writing for children and have a few of your own, read your story out to them - they'll be your best cheer squad and will inspire you to write more!
4) read your writing out loud to yourself - if it doesn't sound natural or make sense, change it
5) read lots of your genre to understand it, but don't copy - write with your own ideas and voice
6) listen to great podcasts from more experienced authors, join writers groups (can be online) - they have great tips and you are bolstered by their community.
7) don't get disheartened about the length of time it takes to write, the process can take a lot lot lot longer than you originally think (especially for the first book) it's a learning curve, after all!
Happy writing!
M.A. Notaras
I have to admit I'm not a list maker - more of an impulsive book grabber as I walk past the shelf! At the moment I'm enjoying reading "City of Endless Night" by Milo Hastings (written in 1918 but eerily prescient today) and newly published "The Urban Farmer" by Justin Calverley & Ceres (I love food gardening). Current (out loud) bed time reading to my 8 and 12 year old kids is the classic "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter, and we are finding this book a real hoot. It lends itself to funny voices, and Pollyanna's ridiculously relentless positivity (in the face of actually a quite despairing situation) is hilarious. While we read Pollyanna, my 10 yo is devouring "The Sisters Grim: The Problem Child" by Michael Buckley - middle grade fantasy just finished by my 8yo (which she LOVED) - and I'll read it next! Guess I do have a list after all :)
M.A. Notaras
I had the idea for writing "The Art Show That Came To Life At Bundock Primary School" literally from walking around my kids' own school art show a few years ago! Maybe it was the colorful vivacity of young children's art that inspired me to do it, but pretty soon I was having way too much fun imagining what would happen if each artwork was alive ... there were a lot of fish / bird / jungle crafts, and even some chairs painted into themes / characters (like in the book)! As it was a historical building packed with parents and teachers, it was fun to imagine the ensuing surprise and chaos!
The idea for The Art Show That Came To Life also came about because at the same time I was trying to think of a new fundraising idea for our school to run that was easy, fun and educational. Once I imagined the art show coming to life, I immediately thought how exciting it would be for kids if they could read this story set in their very own school! So I wrote The Art Show That Came To Life to be able to be personalized for schools, with their own unique details such as teacher names, school technology, location, bell times, local art galleries etc - and school name on the cover too, of course! Available to run as a healthy fundraiser, for schools to purchase as gifts for students or simply for schools to sell at cost to encourage reading, for more information on how your school can get their own personalized edition of The Art Show That Came To Life At [Your School Name Here], please visit www.myschooladventure.com.
The idea for The Art Show That Came To Life also came about because at the same time I was trying to think of a new fundraising idea for our school to run that was easy, fun and educational. Once I imagined the art show coming to life, I immediately thought how exciting it would be for kids if they could read this story set in their very own school! So I wrote The Art Show That Came To Life to be able to be personalized for schools, with their own unique details such as teacher names, school technology, location, bell times, local art galleries etc - and school name on the cover too, of course! Available to run as a healthy fundraiser, for schools to purchase as gifts for students or simply for schools to sell at cost to encourage reading, for more information on how your school can get their own personalized edition of The Art Show That Came To Life At [Your School Name Here], please visit www.myschooladventure.com.
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