Ask the Author: Todd McClimans
Answered Questions (5)
Todd McClimans
My students and the kids that I meet. I taught fifth grade for 8 years and I've been a principal for another 8, so I've met and worked with thousands of young people. It is so thrilling to talk to a kid about writing and show him or her my books as an inspiration. I can't tell you how many kids have told me that they are writing books now. They're making their own little booklets and writing their own stories and they're so excited about it. It's my FAVORITE thing about being a writer.
Todd McClimans
I'm writing a number of different things now. I'm working on the third installment of the American Epochs series, Time to Heal, which takes Ty and Kristi into hospitals and field hospitals during the Civil War.
I'm also writing an adult horror story for an anthology, which I have to say has been a stretch for me. I normally write for kids, so changing audiences has been a new and exciting adventure.
I've also started marinating on an idea for a new kind of dystopian novel. The genre has been the rage for years, but I'm working on a new twist that I haven't seen yet. Stay tuned :-)
I'm also writing an adult horror story for an anthology, which I have to say has been a stretch for me. I normally write for kids, so changing audiences has been a new and exciting adventure.
I've also started marinating on an idea for a new kind of dystopian novel. The genre has been the rage for years, but I'm working on a new twist that I haven't seen yet. Stay tuned :-)
Todd McClimans
Read, read, read, and write, write, write. It seems simple, but the best way to get better at writing is to write! I'm an educator in the real-world and I can't tell you how many teachers who I've talked to who say, "I've always wanted to write a book about..." and they tell me wonderful, often funny, stories. The only difference between the "I've always wanted to..." people and writers is that writers sat down and did it.
Write what you know, write what you love. You are your first reader and you are your own biggest critic. Write about something you would want to read and write it in a way that you would enjoy reading and it'll come.
Write what you know, write what you love. You are your first reader and you are your own biggest critic. Write about something you would want to read and write it in a way that you would enjoy reading and it'll come.
Todd McClimans
My favorite part of writing is sharing my stories with young readers. There is absolutely no better feeling than reading my own stories to kids. I can't swear to the validity of their feedback (they are often enamored by the fact that an author is reading to them) but the encouragement they get from the experience is fulfilling on both accounts.
Todd McClimans
I've always thought of writer's block as a myth. When I have a good plan in place, I haven't seemed to struggle with my writing. Now, I fully believe in writer's EXHAUSTION. Regardless of how well I've planned my novels and stories, getting myself to my desk and writing is sometimes a problem. So many legitimate excuses get in the way. My best advice is to schedule times to sit and work and hold to them as truly as possible. Once you develop a habit of sitting to work, the writing seems to come.
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