Ask the Author: M.J. Moores
Answered Questions (9)
M.J. Moores
My TBR pile grows exponentially this time of year as I travel to conventions and do speaking engagements. My "summer reading list" of books I've chosen to read (and won't be reading because I promised someone I would) consists of: Kristen's Britain's Green Rider Series (the latest two books), Sarah J. Maas' Assassin Series (book 4 & Assassin's Blade), Ryan T. McFadden's Black Swan series (book 1 - Cursed), and Krista D. Ball's Hustler's, Harlots, and Heroes book for writers -- and that's just what's on my plate as of mid-May ;)
M.J. Moores
Well, apparently when my parents were "off again" during their dating days, my father got another girl pregnant and she kept the baby - a little girl. I heard rumours about this in my teen years from my half-brother's mom (yep, same dad) but didn't actually get this confirmed until after my father's premature death (at age 63) when my own mother said I had an older half-sister out there somewhere in the world. What were the circumstances behind the "fling" and why did the baby's mother not want my father around after the fact? Why was this never spoken of or confirmed until after my father's death? Dun, dun, dun ;)
M.J. Moores
Hmmm... I've never really thought about it - book-wise that is. On the big screen I love the interplay between Mr. and Mrs. Smith (too bad they've broken up in real life). For print though, as much as I'd like to appear "worldly" and choose a famous literary couple from the last century (many of whom I like), I'd have to say Yelena and Valek from Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study series. I'm a big fan of the "I hate you but I've grown to love you" trope - kinda like Beauty and the Beast ;) I love the tension and interplay between these kinds of characters.
M.J. Moores
The best thing about being a writer is sharing my stories. Yes, I love the act of creation and discovery in the moment of writing but when it all comes down to it I want to be able to say to someone, "Hey - did you hear the one about..." and have them turn to me and say, "No, tell me about it." That just makes my heart soar.
M.J. Moores
Does anyone remember Y2K? Have you ever heard of it (if you didn't happen to live through it in order to have a memory of the event)?
My boyfriend, now husband, is a pessimist to the core. Y2K might not have been the end of the world (and it clearly wasn't) but he was of the camp that believed the stock markets could have crashed and the digital world could have caused more than just economic collapse...
I didn't.
Needless to say, in my soon to be released science fiction novel "The Chronicles of Xannia: Time's Tempest" the Xannian world could be facing utter peril and complete destruction.... or maybe not ;)
My boyfriend, now husband, is a pessimist to the core. Y2K might not have been the end of the world (and it clearly wasn't) but he was of the camp that believed the stock markets could have crashed and the digital world could have caused more than just economic collapse...
I didn't.
Needless to say, in my soon to be released science fiction novel "The Chronicles of Xannia: Time's Tempest" the Xannian world could be facing utter peril and complete destruction.... or maybe not ;)
M.J. Moores
Everyone says this because it's true: Keep writing.
I'll add though that you also need to keep challenging yourself. I am an English teacher who has been writing short stories, novellas and novels since the age of 9. I not only teach others how to hone their craft but I take courses and go to workshops to learn from other writers and educators.
The moment you think you've learned everything you need to know is the moment your ability to write will stop growing.
I'll add though that you also need to keep challenging yourself. I am an English teacher who has been writing short stories, novellas and novels since the age of 9. I not only teach others how to hone their craft but I take courses and go to workshops to learn from other writers and educators.
The moment you think you've learned everything you need to know is the moment your ability to write will stop growing.
M.J. Moores
This question can be answered a number of way:
First off, most of my ideas for stories come to me in my dreams. I have two dreams journals that cover more than 50 potential ideas that cross several genres I enjoy writing in.
Secondly, I gather ideas from talking to people. Just normal, casual conversation or chatter with friends and family about news and life - occasionally the topic or a neat line catches me in a unique way and I have to jot it down for consideration at a later time.
Thirdly, I attend workshops and conferences with other writers and readers. These affairs get me excited and the writing mojo flies into high gear for a good week - a month after depending on the size of the event and the topic(s) covered.
Lastly, I'm a member of a few different writers groups. I run a critique group; I'm a member of an author support group, and I belong to a regional writers group that allows me to connect not only with writers but agents, publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, and others in the industry. Interacting with any one of these groups gets the juices flowing to one degree or another :)
First off, most of my ideas for stories come to me in my dreams. I have two dreams journals that cover more than 50 potential ideas that cross several genres I enjoy writing in.
Secondly, I gather ideas from talking to people. Just normal, casual conversation or chatter with friends and family about news and life - occasionally the topic or a neat line catches me in a unique way and I have to jot it down for consideration at a later time.
Thirdly, I attend workshops and conferences with other writers and readers. These affairs get me excited and the writing mojo flies into high gear for a good week - a month after depending on the size of the event and the topic(s) covered.
Lastly, I'm a member of a few different writers groups. I run a critique group; I'm a member of an author support group, and I belong to a regional writers group that allows me to connect not only with writers but agents, publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, and others in the industry. Interacting with any one of these groups gets the juices flowing to one degree or another :)
M.J. Moores
I take a walk or do some kind of mundane household chore or organizational task. These things allow my mind to subconsciously continue mulling over where I need to go and how I should be tackling something in my story as I keep my conscious mind on a task that doesn't require much thought. I must say that I don't consider these moments of needed thought "writers block" though - it's just part of the writing process to explore possibilities until the best ones surface :)
M.J. Moores
My new science fiction adventure book will be released this October, so I'm busy editing it in its final stages, working on marketing for it, and plotting out the sequel as well as a stand-alone urban fantasy novel I hope to write during NANOWRIMO this November.
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