Ask the Author: A. Grace Martin
Answered Questions (3)
A. Grace Martin
"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." - Richard Bach
How wonderful to be asked what advice can be shared with aspiring writers! As a high school teacher, I love supporting my students in finding their voice. I hope that this helps you on your journey:
First of all, believe in yourself. Sell yourself to you. Know that you are worthwhile and everything that you create is worthwhile. If you are not confident in the story that you are writing, it will lack emotional depth.
Secondly, read as much as you can. Immerse yourself within your preferred genre. Read what other authors before you have created. Notice WHAT you feel about the characters and WHY you are feeling it. How did that author create that feeling in you as a reader? Can you write in such a fashion that you could create that feeling from a different character in a different situation? You have entire bookshelves of mentors at your disposal. Take advantage of their writing prowess by thoughtful study of their work.
Third, find someone to share your work with who will give you nothing but support. This could be a friend who also loves the genre you write, or another writer. For me, this person is my mom. My mom wrote children's stories when I was a child and had me read them to see if I liked them. In turn, she read my young adult adventure stories and gave me nothing but positive feedback.
Next, branch out and seek constructive criticism from another professional who will give you honest, hard-hitting feedback. I hired a professional editor who was very heavy-handed with the first draft of my first novel. I hated the process. Everything that I wrote was ripped apart, re-worded, re-formatted, poked at, prodded, and contested. It broke my heart and made me angry to see my work so easily scrapped, holes in my plot line made so obvious, and long-thought-out details so unappreciated. It made me a better writer. I acknowledged that in ninety percent of cases, my professional editor knew best.
Finally, know that your work will never be "perfect." Every time you read your story, you will make changes. Once you have something you are proud of, I'd recommend never reading it again, lest you regret grammatical and stylistic choices that you can no longer do anything about.
You are a lifelong learner. Never give up, never stop learning, and certainly never stop loving yourself as a writer.
All the best and good luck!
How wonderful to be asked what advice can be shared with aspiring writers! As a high school teacher, I love supporting my students in finding their voice. I hope that this helps you on your journey:
First of all, believe in yourself. Sell yourself to you. Know that you are worthwhile and everything that you create is worthwhile. If you are not confident in the story that you are writing, it will lack emotional depth.
Secondly, read as much as you can. Immerse yourself within your preferred genre. Read what other authors before you have created. Notice WHAT you feel about the characters and WHY you are feeling it. How did that author create that feeling in you as a reader? Can you write in such a fashion that you could create that feeling from a different character in a different situation? You have entire bookshelves of mentors at your disposal. Take advantage of their writing prowess by thoughtful study of their work.
Third, find someone to share your work with who will give you nothing but support. This could be a friend who also loves the genre you write, or another writer. For me, this person is my mom. My mom wrote children's stories when I was a child and had me read them to see if I liked them. In turn, she read my young adult adventure stories and gave me nothing but positive feedback.
Next, branch out and seek constructive criticism from another professional who will give you honest, hard-hitting feedback. I hired a professional editor who was very heavy-handed with the first draft of my first novel. I hated the process. Everything that I wrote was ripped apart, re-worded, re-formatted, poked at, prodded, and contested. It broke my heart and made me angry to see my work so easily scrapped, holes in my plot line made so obvious, and long-thought-out details so unappreciated. It made me a better writer. I acknowledged that in ninety percent of cases, my professional editor knew best.
Finally, know that your work will never be "perfect." Every time you read your story, you will make changes. Once you have something you are proud of, I'd recommend never reading it again, lest you regret grammatical and stylistic choices that you can no longer do anything about.
You are a lifelong learner. Never give up, never stop learning, and certainly never stop loving yourself as a writer.
All the best and good luck!
A. Grace Martin
I am answering this question seven months after it was posted because my writer's block lasts at least that long. I am a full time high school teacher. I usually have to wait months at a time before I feel like I have a clear enough mental space to write.
While that response may not help you with your own blocks, perhaps this will. Imagine yourself as either a plotter or a typer. Plotters are authors who plan out every detail before sitting down. They imagine the character and how the obstacles shape the character on his or her journey before they put words to the page. Get over this block by beginning with the end in mind. Where does your character need to end up and what are some possible paths for getting there? I am more of a typer. I read a beautiful poem or related-genre of book and am suddenly inspired. I sit down and the story flows out on screen line by line. Getting over this block is mental. Go within your heart and meditate more to calm your mind. The typer gets into an energetic flow and simply lets the words FLOW.
All the best,
A Grace Martin
While that response may not help you with your own blocks, perhaps this will. Imagine yourself as either a plotter or a typer. Plotters are authors who plan out every detail before sitting down. They imagine the character and how the obstacles shape the character on his or her journey before they put words to the page. Get over this block by beginning with the end in mind. Where does your character need to end up and what are some possible paths for getting there? I am more of a typer. I read a beautiful poem or related-genre of book and am suddenly inspired. I sit down and the story flows out on screen line by line. Getting over this block is mental. Go within your heart and meditate more to calm your mind. The typer gets into an energetic flow and simply lets the words FLOW.
All the best,
A Grace Martin
A. Grace Martin
Aragon and Arwen are my favourite couple. As a ranger, Aragon reminds me of my humble, rough, and strong husband who deeply cherishes the only woman he will ever love. Even if they were to be parted, Arwen is forever his light. I identify with the love that Arwen has for Aragon. She chooses mortality but will still outlive him by many years. Her unavoidable future grief is an easily acceptable fact for the time she spends with him. While other authors portray a love so strong that you would die for someone, I would endure life longer so that my husband will not ever feel the pain of losing me to the next world.
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