Ask the Author: M.L. Harveland
Answered Questions (7)
M.L. Harveland
Hello Haley!
To answer your question: No, it wasn't hard to publish as an author from ND. Today's world of technology allows anyone, from anywhere, to bring their work to light in the publishing world, whether traditional publishing or indie publishing. Both are excellent options to get work out into the readersverse.
Talented writers come from a variety of places, and if you're a writer looking to publish, I would encourage you to go forth with gusto!
I hope that answered your question. If not, I'll be happy to answer any others you might have.
Happy reading and joyful writing!
M.L. Harveland
To answer your question: No, it wasn't hard to publish as an author from ND. Today's world of technology allows anyone, from anywhere, to bring their work to light in the publishing world, whether traditional publishing or indie publishing. Both are excellent options to get work out into the readersverse.
Talented writers come from a variety of places, and if you're a writer looking to publish, I would encourage you to go forth with gusto!
I hope that answered your question. If not, I'll be happy to answer any others you might have.
Happy reading and joyful writing!
M.L. Harveland
M.L. Harveland
Daily, I am surrounded by things that inspire me to write. Mostly, it’s a feeling I glean from something in my current environment, whether it be complex, like reading an in-depth psychological profile, or simplistic, like a candle flickering in a dark corner.
From a practical standpoint, I can become inspired by simply reading a well-written book from a favorite (or new) author. Podcasts on writing are also inspiring to me, especially when listening to authors speak on their own craft, and the personal anxieties caused by it. It seems odd, but hearing an author whom I admire speak self-deprecatingly (much like I do, particularly around publication time) is reassuring; it reminds me that I’m human, and that I’m on the right path, though it might not feel like it at the time.
Typically, it is the bizarre or macabre that fascinates me. I am occasionally plagued by night terrors, which I can then translate into a terrifying scene on the page. Other times, I watch movies or TV shows, read books, or listen to podcasts that focus on the supernatural, inexplicable, or morbid. I relish the eerie shiver that derives from hearing, reading, or seeing these fantastical elements, which then inspires me to delve into that dark corner of my mind and create.
Oddly enough, the weather has a deep effect on my writing. If the day is grey, gloomy, stormy, or foggy, I have a tendency to retreat inward to my happy, fantastical space (which would be a dismal, depressing place for most), and I am inspired to write, all day sometimes. Sunny days make me feel choleric, so those are always good days to write volatile scenes…or have one of my characters meet an untimely end.
My favorite place to find inspiration is riding in the car. The proper elements must be in place. First, it must be a dismal day; rain is an option. Then, I must have a winding road, which is flanked by ancient, overhanging trees that create an unnerving feeling like one is traveling through a tunnel toward who-knows-where. Sound isn’t necessary; the quiet helps me sink deeper into my mind. However, a deeply melancholic tune (like “Change (in the House of Flies)” by Deftones) can also add a creative element.
Really, the world contains little nooks of inspiration around every corner. People can be inspired to write anywhere they go, providing they are open to it, and have a great cup of coffee at hand.
From a practical standpoint, I can become inspired by simply reading a well-written book from a favorite (or new) author. Podcasts on writing are also inspiring to me, especially when listening to authors speak on their own craft, and the personal anxieties caused by it. It seems odd, but hearing an author whom I admire speak self-deprecatingly (much like I do, particularly around publication time) is reassuring; it reminds me that I’m human, and that I’m on the right path, though it might not feel like it at the time.
Typically, it is the bizarre or macabre that fascinates me. I am occasionally plagued by night terrors, which I can then translate into a terrifying scene on the page. Other times, I watch movies or TV shows, read books, or listen to podcasts that focus on the supernatural, inexplicable, or morbid. I relish the eerie shiver that derives from hearing, reading, or seeing these fantastical elements, which then inspires me to delve into that dark corner of my mind and create.
Oddly enough, the weather has a deep effect on my writing. If the day is grey, gloomy, stormy, or foggy, I have a tendency to retreat inward to my happy, fantastical space (which would be a dismal, depressing place for most), and I am inspired to write, all day sometimes. Sunny days make me feel choleric, so those are always good days to write volatile scenes…or have one of my characters meet an untimely end.
My favorite place to find inspiration is riding in the car. The proper elements must be in place. First, it must be a dismal day; rain is an option. Then, I must have a winding road, which is flanked by ancient, overhanging trees that create an unnerving feeling like one is traveling through a tunnel toward who-knows-where. Sound isn’t necessary; the quiet helps me sink deeper into my mind. However, a deeply melancholic tune (like “Change (in the House of Flies)” by Deftones) can also add a creative element.
Really, the world contains little nooks of inspiration around every corner. People can be inspired to write anywhere they go, providing they are open to it, and have a great cup of coffee at hand.
M.L. Harveland
My favorite fictional couple is Emma Woodhouse and George Knightly from Jane Austen’s “Emma.”
They are a progressive couple for the time (early 1800s). Emma is an independent and strong woman, and Mr. Knightly appreciates her for it. They speak to each other with mutual respect, holding the other’s opinion in high regard, yet they are unafraid of friendly debate or teasing.
Both hold each other accountable. Emma appreciates Mr. Knightly’s advice, but being an independent woman, will not allow him to control her behavior. On the other hand, Mr. Knightly, not blind to her misguided attempts at matchmaking, will (gently) remind her when she’s meddling where she shouldn’t, or if she’s behaved in a manner that he knows is beneath her nature.
Emma & George aren’t the clichéd saccharine couple, where they swoon and gush over each other. Rather, they engage in playful discussion, are genuinely themselves when together, and above all else, are true friends.
They are a progressive couple for the time (early 1800s). Emma is an independent and strong woman, and Mr. Knightly appreciates her for it. They speak to each other with mutual respect, holding the other’s opinion in high regard, yet they are unafraid of friendly debate or teasing.
Both hold each other accountable. Emma appreciates Mr. Knightly’s advice, but being an independent woman, will not allow him to control her behavior. On the other hand, Mr. Knightly, not blind to her misguided attempts at matchmaking, will (gently) remind her when she’s meddling where she shouldn’t, or if she’s behaved in a manner that he knows is beneath her nature.
Emma & George aren’t the clichéd saccharine couple, where they swoon and gush over each other. Rather, they engage in playful discussion, are genuinely themselves when together, and above all else, are true friends.
M.L. Harveland
As I always say: You are the purveyor of your own destiny. Nothing is going to happen unless you take that first step forward.
What’s that first step? Starting to write. That’s it. Whether it’s putting pen to paper or fingers to keys, just let the words flow from your mind. Purge those scenes as they manifest from your imagination. Then, find a way to organize your ideas into a rhythmic flow and then keep writing until it resembles a manuscript (i.e. it has a beginning, middle, and an end).
Get feedback. Let as many people read your manuscript as possible. Establish workshop groups of various ages, have them give you thorough reader feedback. When reading the critiques, avoid sticking yourself in that dark quagmire of defensiveness. Remember: feedback is the path to improvement, and true constructive criticism will only enrich your craft.
Implement the feedback and improve the work. Find editors. Yes, plural. I have a Master’s in English, am a professional editor, and taught English at a collegiate level. Even I need editors; they help to fine-tune the language and find cracks in the storyline.
Revise. Rewrite. Polish. Repeat. All first drafts are total shit. Remember that. ALL of them.
Know that the business of writing requires a strong backbone and thick skin. Negative reviews will happen. You will hear hundreds of “no” responses before that one “yes.” Give it five seconds of your thoughtful time, then slough it off your shoulders and forge ahead.
Above all else, never ever stop writing, ever. It doesn’t matter whether you have 5 hours or 5 minutes; making time for writing every day will increase your chances of finishing that manuscript you’ve always dreamed of completing. Additionally, it will ignite your passion, and that, friends, is the closest we come to finding true paradise.
What’s that first step? Starting to write. That’s it. Whether it’s putting pen to paper or fingers to keys, just let the words flow from your mind. Purge those scenes as they manifest from your imagination. Then, find a way to organize your ideas into a rhythmic flow and then keep writing until it resembles a manuscript (i.e. it has a beginning, middle, and an end).
Get feedback. Let as many people read your manuscript as possible. Establish workshop groups of various ages, have them give you thorough reader feedback. When reading the critiques, avoid sticking yourself in that dark quagmire of defensiveness. Remember: feedback is the path to improvement, and true constructive criticism will only enrich your craft.
Implement the feedback and improve the work. Find editors. Yes, plural. I have a Master’s in English, am a professional editor, and taught English at a collegiate level. Even I need editors; they help to fine-tune the language and find cracks in the storyline.
Revise. Rewrite. Polish. Repeat. All first drafts are total shit. Remember that. ALL of them.
Know that the business of writing requires a strong backbone and thick skin. Negative reviews will happen. You will hear hundreds of “no” responses before that one “yes.” Give it five seconds of your thoughtful time, then slough it off your shoulders and forge ahead.
Above all else, never ever stop writing, ever. It doesn’t matter whether you have 5 hours or 5 minutes; making time for writing every day will increase your chances of finishing that manuscript you’ve always dreamed of completing. Additionally, it will ignite your passion, and that, friends, is the closest we come to finding true paradise.
M.L. Harveland
I love everything about being a writer.
One of the biggest elements of writing is reading; it’s from where I draw my inspiration. I read everything I can get my hands on, and then voraciously consume all that I can: the author’s world, the characters, how every word was joined into a marriage of delicious prose.
That formation of words to literature is writing at its primal stage, where the thrill begins. The raw process of writing is one from which I derive great pleasure. I relish in the sound of fingertips tapping at keys; the resonance of worlds awakening, characters breathing, a tale enfolding. Then, comes the surprising delight when the story takes the path unintended, and I have the privilege of being the purveyor of its new journey.
Writing is giving and receiving. As a writer, one gives life to characters and an environment, and then gives them sustenance through readership. When readers share how they felt interwoven with my imagined world and characters’ lives, and explain that emptiness they felt upon leaving that world, it is sincerely the ultimate gift for this writer.
One of the biggest elements of writing is reading; it’s from where I draw my inspiration. I read everything I can get my hands on, and then voraciously consume all that I can: the author’s world, the characters, how every word was joined into a marriage of delicious prose.
That formation of words to literature is writing at its primal stage, where the thrill begins. The raw process of writing is one from which I derive great pleasure. I relish in the sound of fingertips tapping at keys; the resonance of worlds awakening, characters breathing, a tale enfolding. Then, comes the surprising delight when the story takes the path unintended, and I have the privilege of being the purveyor of its new journey.
Writing is giving and receiving. As a writer, one gives life to characters and an environment, and then gives them sustenance through readership. When readers share how they felt interwoven with my imagined world and characters’ lives, and explain that emptiness they felt upon leaving that world, it is sincerely the ultimate gift for this writer.
M.L. Harveland
Ah, Writer’s Block, you bane of writers.
Typically, when I am suffering from a bout of WB, I redirect my attention elsewhere to things that inspire me as a writer. Translation: reading, reading, and more reading.
Mostly, I veer toward visually consuming all books that pertain to the current subject at hand. If I’m writing about a specific paranormal ability, such as clairvoyance, I’ll read everything I can get my hands on that deals with the subject. When subject-based research doesn’t help, I read for enjoyment instead. Frequently, reading a good book by a favorite author is enough to regenerate the creative juices and inspire me to start again.
When all else fails, I will work on another writing project until new ideas spring to mind. On the darkest of days, I consume copious amounts of coffee and stew in a dark corner. Thus is my life as a writer. :-)
Typically, when I am suffering from a bout of WB, I redirect my attention elsewhere to things that inspire me as a writer. Translation: reading, reading, and more reading.
Mostly, I veer toward visually consuming all books that pertain to the current subject at hand. If I’m writing about a specific paranormal ability, such as clairvoyance, I’ll read everything I can get my hands on that deals with the subject. When subject-based research doesn’t help, I read for enjoyment instead. Frequently, reading a good book by a favorite author is enough to regenerate the creative juices and inspire me to start again.
When all else fails, I will work on another writing project until new ideas spring to mind. On the darkest of days, I consume copious amounts of coffee and stew in a dark corner. Thus is my life as a writer. :-)
M.L. Harveland
My most recent book, "The Elf King" is a continuation of the first, which is based on a dream I had a few years ago about a girl who touched a man, saw his past, and then blacked out as a result. Though observant rather than participant in the dream, I felt the profound fear that the girl felt as she saw the man's past, realizing he had done incredibly evil deeds.
I always woke when the girl blacked out; thereafter, I was unable to sleep. Nearly an entire week was spent without sleep until I decided to write it down and then research the phenomenon of retro-cognition through psychometry. Because I was already awake, I started writing a story to entertain myself. Suddenly, I had a book!
I always woke when the girl blacked out; thereafter, I was unable to sleep. Nearly an entire week was spent without sleep until I decided to write it down and then research the phenomenon of retro-cognition through psychometry. Because I was already awake, I started writing a story to entertain myself. Suddenly, I had a book!
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