Q. You used to work full time while writing a book a year and being a mom. How can a person write and still have a life?
A. There were times I was an inattentive mother, a cook who relied on canned goods, a less-than-creative writer, a messy housekeeper, and a runner who walked more than she ran. I tried to rotate my areas of poor performance, so that no one area was crappy all the time.
Some tips on juggling life/creative process:
I usually have goals to write a certain number of hours a day or a certain number of words, or both. And goals for the month.
Sometimes writing is pure joy, but sometimes it is pure job. Usually it still take a bit of work to at least make myself sit down. But once I sit down, I find it goes better than I was thinking. Just getting your butt in the chair is the hard part.
Q. I want to be a writer. What should I do?
A. Here are my top tips:
Q. I am a teen writer. Are there places where I can publish my work?
A. Yes. Check out these links.
Alliance for Young Artists and Writers (includes information on the PUSH Novel Contest open to students in grades 7 through 12).
David Barr Kirtley. This author's website has information about sci-fi and fantasy writing contests.
Ink Pop. A site for teen writers. Read and vote on what others write. Discuss novels, poetry or a book you love. Write a post for the community. Connect with other literary teens like yourself. Post your writing to be read and critiqued. The top ones go to an editor at Harper Collins for review.
Liminal. This online and print literary journal is written by teens for teens. It publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, book and music reviews, photography, artwork and short film.
Medallion Press. This press has launched the Ya-Ya imprint, which stands for "Young Adults writing for Young Adults." It will showcase new authors ages thirteen to eighteen. This line will be comprised of a variety of fiction genres to be released in print and e-book formats. Click on the link for submission guidelines.
Merlyn's Pen. This site has fiction, essays and poems from teens.
Teen Ink. An e-zine written for teens by teens. It also has information about contests for teens.
Teen Voices. This internationally distributed print and online magazine is by, for, and about teen girls.
YARN. YARN publishes outstanding original short fiction, poetry, and essays for Young Adult readers, written by established writers, as well as fresh new voices...including teens.
Q. What are your favorite and least favorite things about being a writer?
A. I spent 18 years working in corporate communications. Now I get paid to tell myself stories. That's the best. There are days it's more job than joy, but even so, I love being my own boss.
Q: What is the best advice you would you give another writer?
A: Write every day even if it is just a paragraph.