Ask the Author: Sheila Holmes
Answered Questions (8)
Sheila Holmes
Thank you, IB. I'm thrilled it left you giggling. That was what I was going for. To be honest, I grabbed some of the mishaps from my own life, some from church friends, and the remainder from an over-active mind during the wee hours of the morning (instead of sleeping).
I hope you'll read Book 2: CHILI DOG HUGS. I'm late in getting it completed, but please thus far with how it is going.
Thank you again, IB.
I hope you'll read Book 2: CHILI DOG HUGS. I'm late in getting it completed, but please thus far with how it is going.
Thank you again, IB.
Sheila Holmes
Once upon a time there was an indie author who woke up in the middle of the night with a BRILLIANT storyline idea. When going up to her office to begin writing, she fell on the stairs, screaming maniacally at the pain, which caused her husband to awaken and scream as well, ultimately causing great fear in the little village, until their imaginings of monsters in the night turned to realizations that the little old senior couple in the village had once again disturbed their peace.
Sheila Holmes
In my freshman year in college, I had something happen that, at the time, I thought was the greatest mystery.
There were sooo many freshmen enrolled that year, that four girls (myself included) were housed in two second floor washrooms. They simply removed the washers and clotheslines and replaced them with bunk beds. The rooms only had ONE desk, no closet that I remember, and I slept on the top bunk, DIRECTLY beneath the heating vent. I slept way too warm each night and was usually sick that year.
Directly below our "dorm room" window was a garden with benches where the girls would end their dates in the evening, talking with their little sweeties and stealing a kiss or two.
One evening, my roommate and I turned the lights off in our room, opened our windows and sang down to some couples the theme song from The Mickey Mouse Club (on tv in the 1950s). It was no doubt a mood killer for their little romantic rendezvous.
The next morning, in my mailbox downstairs there was a letter from the Dean of Women that I was to report to her office that day between the hours of... (whatever they were). The letter was on school stationery and was signed by the Dean.
When I showed up (my letter in hand), I showed the office assistant my letter and she ushered me into the Dean's office, where the woman began laughingly asked me what I'd done. That puzzled me... she had no idea what I'd done. When I'd explained my offence, she simply said not to do it again and dismissed me. She said nothing about the fact that whoever wrote it had STOLEN the school letterhead and forged her signature.
To this day, I have no idea who was involved. I have often given thought to it though, and wonder if somehow it could be the basis of a really interesting novel, maybe with some HUGE plot of intrigue exposed as a result of my solving the "disciplinary letter" writer(s).
Who knows? Maybe I'll take up the challenge and come up with a novel in the future.
There were sooo many freshmen enrolled that year, that four girls (myself included) were housed in two second floor washrooms. They simply removed the washers and clotheslines and replaced them with bunk beds. The rooms only had ONE desk, no closet that I remember, and I slept on the top bunk, DIRECTLY beneath the heating vent. I slept way too warm each night and was usually sick that year.
Directly below our "dorm room" window was a garden with benches where the girls would end their dates in the evening, talking with their little sweeties and stealing a kiss or two.
One evening, my roommate and I turned the lights off in our room, opened our windows and sang down to some couples the theme song from The Mickey Mouse Club (on tv in the 1950s). It was no doubt a mood killer for their little romantic rendezvous.
The next morning, in my mailbox downstairs there was a letter from the Dean of Women that I was to report to her office that day between the hours of... (whatever they were). The letter was on school stationery and was signed by the Dean.
When I showed up (my letter in hand), I showed the office assistant my letter and she ushered me into the Dean's office, where the woman began laughingly asked me what I'd done. That puzzled me... she had no idea what I'd done. When I'd explained my offence, she simply said not to do it again and dismissed me. She said nothing about the fact that whoever wrote it had STOLEN the school letterhead and forged her signature.
To this day, I have no idea who was involved. I have often given thought to it though, and wonder if somehow it could be the basis of a really interesting novel, maybe with some HUGE plot of intrigue exposed as a result of my solving the "disciplinary letter" writer(s).
Who knows? Maybe I'll take up the challenge and come up with a novel in the future.
Sheila Holmes
Patty, truer words were never spoken. I find that not only am I writing- and thinking about my characters, but their actions either prevent me from sleeping at night, or wake me up in the wee hours. It's a constant battle of who-, what-, and where they'll do whatever it is they say, do, or think.
Having said that, I'll also say that authoring has been the most exciting adventure I can remember ever having. And, one of the greatest delights is to actually finish a work and feel total delight in what has been produced.
I am most blessed to be able to do what I love, and I suppose you'd say the same!
Having said that, I'll also say that authoring has been the most exciting adventure I can remember ever having. And, one of the greatest delights is to actually finish a work and feel total delight in what has been produced.
I am most blessed to be able to do what I love, and I suppose you'd say the same!
Sheila Holmes
Wow! I'm not even sure how to answer this.
The truth is that sometimes I lie awake almost all night with ideas and plot turns that get me jumping out of bed in the morning and raring to get my fingers placed on the keyboard.
Other times, my mind seems just as dry and infertile as a desert. Plus, I when this happens, I allow myself to get sidetracked with all "the other things" of life.
Mostly, the truth of inspiration is not so much inspiration as knowing that if I let the day pass without writing, I've missed out altogether on what might have been.
So, what I usually do is set a goal of "1500 to 2000 words daily", inspired or not. Then, I simply start writing. I don't necessarily write the most inspired books, but they truly come from wherever I truly am in life that day.
The truth is that sometimes I lie awake almost all night with ideas and plot turns that get me jumping out of bed in the morning and raring to get my fingers placed on the keyboard.
Other times, my mind seems just as dry and infertile as a desert. Plus, I when this happens, I allow myself to get sidetracked with all "the other things" of life.
Mostly, the truth of inspiration is not so much inspiration as knowing that if I let the day pass without writing, I've missed out altogether on what might have been.
So, what I usually do is set a goal of "1500 to 2000 words daily", inspired or not. Then, I simply start writing. I don't necessarily write the most inspired books, but they truly come from wherever I truly am in life that day.
Sheila Holmes
The best thing about being a writer is that I can jump in with any inspirations I get and just go with them without being answerable to anyone else. It frees me up to head off in any direction I want with my story subject. This is also the worst thing about being a writer. I often need accountability, because I can sometimes go off on tangents that may not be necessary or relevant. I guess it's really that whole thing about how with freedom comes responsibility.
Sheila Holmes
The story I am now writing, Fixing His Broken Ballerina, came in a strange way. I was looking for some pictures online for my last story, Becoming His Awesome Beauty, specifically for some interesting shoes, when I came upon some pointe ballet slippers. It triggered my memories of taking ballet myself "back in the day." I got to thinking about ballerinas, their lifestyle, discipline, and wondered what would happen to one if they had an injury that took away their ability to dance. That's all it took. I had my new story!
Sheila Holmes
I suppose every writer battles writer's block from time to time. But, I once heard an author once say that when this happens, he resorts to demanding of himself X words of writing daily, like it or not. He doesn't wait for inspiration, because it may not come again for some time.
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