Ask the Author: Mary Batten
Answered Questions (6)
Mary Batten
An idea can come anywhere, anytime--from something I see, something I hear, something I read, something I overhear, something I'm thinking so much about that I can't get it off my mind unless I write about it. Since I'm a nature/science writer, I'm fascinated by the unusual, the bizarre, the hidden mysteries in everyday things.
Mary Batten
Research possible topics for the next book or books.
Mary Batten
Honestly I don't think I ever had it. My first writing job was as a novice reporter for a daily newspaper during the summer between my freshman and sophomore college years. This was the most valuable writing training I ever had because I learned to write on deadline--check the assignment book in the morning and do what was necessary to produce the article by the end of the day. After that I had writing jobs for TV, books, and magazines that all had deadlines. Every writer needs to develop the skill to meet deadlines, whether those imposed by jobs or self-imposed on oneself.
Mary Batten
Transforming ideas, observations, and feelings into artistic expression.
Mary Batten
Read, read, read and write, write, write. When you write a first draft, don't be afraid to let go. Don't worry about anything except getting your ideas on the page. With a first draft, you can then attend to revision--the real take of writing--where you pay minute attention to structure, pacing, voice, and all the other elements of the writing craft to refine your work into a finished manuscript.
Mary Batten
I am fascinated by adaptations that animals have evolved to survive in extreme conditions, and this led me to create a series called "Life in the Extreme." As of December 2022, I have written two books for this series: Life in a Frozen World: Wildlife of Antarctica and Life in Hot Water: Wildlife at the Bottom of the Ocean. Both are published by Peachtree. Looking for extreme environments, I found Antarctica's icy world for the first book and hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the sea for the most recent title. The vents, which gush toxic fluids hot enough to melt lead, comprise the most extreme environment on the planet.
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