Ask the Author: M.J. Patrick
Answered Questions (6)
M.J. Patrick
You write through writer's block. You say to yourself, I'm going to write the worse, lamest thing ever. Then set it aside.
It's incredible to go back later and take what you wrote and transform it into something better. Because it's down on paper, you have something to work with.
It's incredible to go back later and take what you wrote and transform it into something better. Because it's down on paper, you have something to work with.
M.J. Patrick
The best thing about being a writer is when a thought or an idea takes off in a direction you never dreamed of.
M.J. Patrick
Here are my top three suggestions for aspiring writers:
1. Find a group of people who have the same passions as you do. I'm a member of the Maryland Writer's association. Beside having monthly meetings, they formed small critique groups that meet every two weeks. I also belong to an online community "Becoming Writer" who helped me create a writing habit.
2. Learn about the art of critiquing. Share your work, hear what readers have to say. Provide feedback to other writers.
3. Read, read, read.
1. Find a group of people who have the same passions as you do. I'm a member of the Maryland Writer's association. Beside having monthly meetings, they formed small critique groups that meet every two weeks. I also belong to an online community "Becoming Writer" who helped me create a writing habit.
2. Learn about the art of critiquing. Share your work, hear what readers have to say. Provide feedback to other writers.
3. Read, read, read.
M.J. Patrick
I'm currently working on a young adult book "Veiled Horizons" (working title) about a teenage girl who’ll face banishment from her family and friends and face life’s challenges alone if she follows her dreams.
M.J. Patrick
My son inspired me to write. One day he started calling himself 'an author.' Instead of my motherly instinct kicking in and saying 'that's wonderful'. The reader side of me said, "you can't do that. You've never written a book."
He informed me that after reading several popular books, he determined if they could do it so could he. And so he did. After he won one of the Sammy Book Club awards, he challenged me to do the same.
He informed me that after reading several popular books, he determined if they could do it so could he. And so he did. After he won one of the Sammy Book Club awards, he challenged me to do the same.
M.J. Patrick
Can you believe I was taking a shower at the time? That's where I get my best ideas. From there I decided to base the story in Baltimore MD. in the year 1960. I researched about what was happening in history and worked in my idea of how two powerless individuals were able to help each other.
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