Ask the Author: Monique DeVere
Answered Questions (7)
Monique DeVere
Hi, Angela! I'm so sorry, I didn't see your question until a moment ago. I know I promised more of Lily & Justin long ago, but truthfully, from some of the reviews for "More Than Friends", I didn't think anyone wanted the next book so I shelved it. BUT, if you're still interested in reading "Lily & Justin Are Getting Married", I shall get cracking on it just as soon as I finish a couple of the projects I have pending. Thank you so much for your interest. You made my day!!! :)
Monique DeVere
Interestingly enough, one day a couple of months ago, my Tween said: "Mummy, have you ever thought of writing children's books?"
This is a question I've been asked by tons of people over the years, but to tell you the truth I was far too busy trying to crack the Mills & Boon market to pay much attention to what other people thought I ought to write.
Anyway, I told my Tween I hadn't really given it much though and she said she had a dream that I had written a series of children's/teen books and they were very successful.
Well, that's was all it took. I made a deal with her that if I came up with a good enough idea by the end of the day, l'lI go ahead and give it a go.
I'm now fulfilling that promise :D
This is a question I've been asked by tons of people over the years, but to tell you the truth I was far too busy trying to crack the Mills & Boon market to pay much attention to what other people thought I ought to write.
Anyway, I told my Tween I hadn't really given it much though and she said she had a dream that I had written a series of children's/teen books and they were very successful.
Well, that's was all it took. I made a deal with her that if I came up with a good enough idea by the end of the day, l'lI go ahead and give it a go.
I'm now fulfilling that promise :D
Monique DeVere
Frankly, I've wasted more years than I can count either chasing the wrong dream or waiting for inspiration.
I've recently fallen on the conclusion that to wait for inspiration spells death to my WIPs. Before starting my day's work, I now simply spend a few moments meditating on the story I wish to work on, imaging the ideas are flowing freely.
I am working very hard to ignore my internal editor who has to make sure a sentence, a comma, a word is exactly right before I can move on. You have no idea how debilitating that can be!!!
I'm learning to not care whether the whole page is filled with red underlines. I can easily fix all of that once I'm done. It's extremely hard, but I am better than I used to be. Not as distracted by the mistakes as I used to be.
I've recently fallen on the conclusion that to wait for inspiration spells death to my WIPs. Before starting my day's work, I now simply spend a few moments meditating on the story I wish to work on, imaging the ideas are flowing freely.
I am working very hard to ignore my internal editor who has to make sure a sentence, a comma, a word is exactly right before I can move on. You have no idea how debilitating that can be!!!
I'm learning to not care whether the whole page is filled with red underlines. I can easily fix all of that once I'm done. It's extremely hard, but I am better than I used to be. Not as distracted by the mistakes as I used to be.
Monique DeVere
At the moment I'm working on creating a series of children's whodunits. I also have several adult projects in various stages of the writing process. Around the end of March I lost all of my works as well as my scripts and it's taking some time to figure things out.
Prayerfully, all will work out just fine and I'll be off and running again.
Prayerfully, all will work out just fine and I'll be off and running again.
Monique DeVere
Be YOURSELF and make no apologies! Write what YOU love and stop looking for that illusive formula you're sure exists. Stop thinking all you have to do is hunt it down then you'll finally make it big.
There really is no formula. It took me a long time to figure that out. There is the Three Act Structure and required genre-specific elements. The rest is all YOU. Get your story idea, figure out the concept, work out your premise. Get to know your protagonists problems--Goal, Motivation, Conflict. Their internal conflicts and what and how they will change.
How you interpret and present your collection of ideas is up to you. Go for it :)
There really is no formula. It took me a long time to figure that out. There is the Three Act Structure and required genre-specific elements. The rest is all YOU. Get your story idea, figure out the concept, work out your premise. Get to know your protagonists problems--Goal, Motivation, Conflict. Their internal conflicts and what and how they will change.
How you interpret and present your collection of ideas is up to you. Go for it :)
Monique DeVere
Ohhhh I have the second best job in the world! (The first would be saving souls :))
The best thing about being a full-time author is the fact that I get to indulge my free spirit on a daily basis, and I get to be available to my kids so they never feel like they haven't got a mum. It's important to me that my children have the sense of "Mum is always there for us". Plus, what other job do you know of where one gets to go to work in comfy jammies :D
The best thing about being a full-time author is the fact that I get to indulge my free spirit on a daily basis, and I get to be available to my kids so they never feel like they haven't got a mum. It's important to me that my children have the sense of "Mum is always there for us". Plus, what other job do you know of where one gets to go to work in comfy jammies :D
Monique DeVere
This is a good question. One that makes me laugh. How do I deal with writer's block? I don't. First I don't think writers are ever really "blocked". I do think we get burned out. What do I do when I feel this way? I take a week or so out and spend it with the Lord. I listen to some of my favourite Leaders, read the Bible and just spend time talking with the Lord.
Sounds crazy?
I'm sure it does to a lot of people. But I find it revives me when I pull my focus back to what is really important in my world. After a while I find my imagination bursting with ideas and my motivation anxious to get writing again.
Sounds crazy?
I'm sure it does to a lot of people. But I find it revives me when I pull my focus back to what is really important in my world. After a while I find my imagination bursting with ideas and my motivation anxious to get writing again.
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