Ask the Author: Patricia Morrisroe
Answered Questions (6)
Patricia Morrisroe
An editor had asked me if I was interested in writing a biography of the fashion designer Alexander McQueen. After doing some research, I concluded that McQueen's life -- he had drug problems and eventually committed suicide -- was too dark for me. I'd already gone there with my biography of Mapplethorpe and was eager to write something humorous. But among the last shoes McQueen ever designed were 12-inch crustacean-clawed Armadillo booties. I began wondering why in the past 15 years or so women have been drawn to extreme shoes, and then I began thinking about shoes in general. I've always loved them and suddenly it struck me that I could write a "memoir in shoes."
Patricia Morrisroe
I'm always looking for something that will resonate with me and also with readers. As a journalist, I've learned that you can't exist in a bubble, but sometimes the best ideas come from deep within yourself. It's a balance between what you want to write about and what you think people will want to read.
Patricia Morrisroe
Promoting my latest book 9 1/2 Narrow: My Life In Shoes
Patricia Morrisroe
Find your voice. Read other writers but don't try to copy them. Tap into your unique vocal cadences. Read your work aloud. If you stumble over something, it probably needs work. Writing is like singing. No voice is the same, but it needs constant training.
Patricia Morrisroe
No matter what happens, you always have a "home base," which is a desk and a computer. It's a place of safety and comfort, while still providing a challenge. For me, it's the best place in the world.
Patricia Morrisroe
Luckily, I've never experienced it, although I've certainly been blocked when trying to come up ideas. For me, the ideas are harder than the actual writing. If I can figure out something I'm passionate about, then the writing generally flows.
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