Ask the Author: Marissa Stapley
Answered Questions (4)
Marissa Stapley
I'm inspired by the world. By the news, by what I read in the newspaper, or in books, by what I overhear people saying in cafes or restaurants, by the things that happen in my life or the lives of people close to me, by conversations with friends and family, by sifting through my memories or our shared history. There is almost nothing that doesn't inspire me to write, and I hope it stays that way! Most recently, I was in the car with my family when a news report came on that sparked an idea for an entire novel almost instantly. It was so exciting that I dropped what I was doing (another novel, with a first draft almost finished) and started this one. Sometimes, you just *know* that an idea you've had is *the one* and you need to focus on it, no matter what other creative projects you have on the go. I'm glad I did, because it's the most fun I've ever had writing a book -- and I have a lot of fun writing books. :-)
Marissa Stapley
If you want to be a writer, you must read widely -- not just the type of fiction you want to write, but all types of fiction. In particular, you should read great fiction that can teach you, in the most interesting way possible, how to construct perfect sentences and spin a perfectly paced story. I say "in the most interesting way possible" because the craft of writing is often taught in classrooms and workshops, and that's fine. In fact, I teach and mentor students and we both get a lot out of it. But the best way to learn about good writing is by reading good writing. And the best part about that is that it doesn't feel like work or school--it feels like pure pleasure, because it's reading! My favourite authors to read when I'm writing and want to be inspired to write great sentences and exceptional stories are Lauren Groff, Alice Munro, Meg Wolitzer, and Julia Glass.
If you want to be a writer you must also attempt to silence the voice in your head telling you can't do it. The first moments of writing are always the most self-conscious, and that's when the critical voice sees its opportunity to try to take over. Keep at it, until the voice gets tired of criticizing you and goes silent. Resist the urge to go back and read what you've written halfway through your writing session. Just write! That's the best writing advice I've ever received.
If you want to be a writer you must also attempt to silence the voice in your head telling you can't do it. The first moments of writing are always the most self-conscious, and that's when the critical voice sees its opportunity to try to take over. Keep at it, until the voice gets tired of criticizing you and goes silent. Resist the urge to go back and read what you've written halfway through your writing session. Just write! That's the best writing advice I've ever received.
Marissa Stapley
I used to believe there was no such thing as writer's block, that the secret to dealing with it was just continuing the process of sitting down -- as Stephen King instructs in his excellent book On Writing -- at the same time, in the same place, every day, and just keeping on until the muse returns.
But this past fall I experienced true writers block. I couldn't think of a new book idea to save my life. I felt tired and listless all the time. There was just no way I could sit down in front of my computer (or a notebook, or the dictation app on my phone) and fail every day. So, I stopped trying. I let myself rest. I went for walks, I read, I organized closets and sold a bunch of stuff on Kijiji. I made tea and took naps and tried not to worry about how I was going to continue paying my bills. And the next thing I knew (just kidding MONTHS later, when I thought I was going to go insane), I suddenly couldn't stop the ideas from coming.
Now I have two books I'm working on, plus a television show idea. During my time of writer's block -- which seems a distant memory, now -- a good author friend told me that every writer needs to allow herself to go into a fallow state after a big project. It feels desolate and hopeless at the time, but what's really happening is new seeds are being planted. So my answer is, I deal with writer's block by submitting to it and knowing it's not going to last forever!
But this past fall I experienced true writers block. I couldn't think of a new book idea to save my life. I felt tired and listless all the time. There was just no way I could sit down in front of my computer (or a notebook, or the dictation app on my phone) and fail every day. So, I stopped trying. I let myself rest. I went for walks, I read, I organized closets and sold a bunch of stuff on Kijiji. I made tea and took naps and tried not to worry about how I was going to continue paying my bills. And the next thing I knew (just kidding MONTHS later, when I thought I was going to go insane), I suddenly couldn't stop the ideas from coming.
Now I have two books I'm working on, plus a television show idea. During my time of writer's block -- which seems a distant memory, now -- a good author friend told me that every writer needs to allow herself to go into a fallow state after a big project. It feels desolate and hopeless at the time, but what's really happening is new seeds are being planted. So my answer is, I deal with writer's block by submitting to it and knowing it's not going to last forever!
Marissa Stapley
The idea for THE LAST RESORT came to me in a few stages. First, I was enjoying a relaxing tropical vacation with my family -- and, suddenly, I wondered what it would be like if the paradise I was in wasn't really paradise. I mulled over the idea of trouble in paradise for a while, trying to find the right angle. Then, one Sunday morning I was sitting in church listening to my stepfather preach when I actually started listening (the truth is, and don't tell him I said this, but I often zone out! :)) and realized he was sharing a fascinating sermon illustration about secrets. According to a study he had recently read, we all have 13 secrets in our lives, five of which we will never, ever tell another soul. Here's a link to an Atlantic magazine article about the actual study, which was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
Trust me, this is fascinating stuff! I started to consider the physical, mental and emotional toll keeping secrets can keep -- as well as my ambivalent feelings about religion, and my constant journey and struggle to reconcile the beliefs I was raised with and the realities of the world in which we live. Characters and a storyline started taking shape in my head. All these characters were hiding secrets, and finding out what they were was probably the most exciting task I've had so far in my writing career.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...
Trust me, this is fascinating stuff! I started to consider the physical, mental and emotional toll keeping secrets can keep -- as well as my ambivalent feelings about religion, and my constant journey and struggle to reconcile the beliefs I was raised with and the realities of the world in which we live. Characters and a storyline started taking shape in my head. All these characters were hiding secrets, and finding out what they were was probably the most exciting task I've had so far in my writing career.
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