Ask the Author: Michael M. Sharpe
Answered Questions (2)
Michael M. Sharpe
The best thing about being a writer is your dreams are your work.
All day long, I imagine funny things, crazy things and create magical kingdoms and fantastic characters and when I tire of dreaming for the day I close my shop and say "Good night! That was a wonderful day at the office.
My office is here, there, everywhere- wherever I am, there I am- in my office with my laptop, glass of water and my thoughts. If I do my job well children will smile, laugh, empathize and gasp in awe and wonder. The sole purpose of my job is to help children dream, fantasize and understand their world- understand the world of others- to help children embrace the love of reading and learning.
The next best thing about being a writer is watching the joy, compassion and happiness expressed by a child as they read a book that really connects for them.
All day long, I imagine funny things, crazy things and create magical kingdoms and fantastic characters and when I tire of dreaming for the day I close my shop and say "Good night! That was a wonderful day at the office.
My office is here, there, everywhere- wherever I am, there I am- in my office with my laptop, glass of water and my thoughts. If I do my job well children will smile, laugh, empathize and gasp in awe and wonder. The sole purpose of my job is to help children dream, fantasize and understand their world- understand the world of others- to help children embrace the love of reading and learning.
The next best thing about being a writer is watching the joy, compassion and happiness expressed by a child as they read a book that really connects for them.
Michael M. Sharpe
Writer's block is a message from your mind similar to the human body shutting-down when you are too hot. The solution to that biological signal is quite clear- to prevent passing out from heat exhaustion, you slow down- cool down until your body has re-energized.
Writer's block is your mind giving you a similar signal: slow down; cool down, take a breather and let your body reset- just as your computer or cell phone must be reset from time to time to give it a moment to recalibrate, recuperate toward recovery.
So I don't fight writer's block. I see it as my friend telling me to take a break and go somewhere peaceful with my favorite food, drink and just chill; lay outside and watch the giant people in the clouds form castles and kingdoms and characters from heaven.
Wander aimlessly in your mind's backyard without care or thought about your story. When you least expect it the blockade is lifted and thousands of thoughts stream into your consciousness. Write! Write and write some more!
Now on the other hand sometimes I get writer's block because I find myself knee-high in weeds or in a forest with no path. I call this the "lost writer" because I have no sense of where I am heading, there is no path or plan to my next step. This writer's block is brought on because I haven't put the time into mapping out the story, clearing the weeds and providing myself a pathway to the next great chapter. Not to worry I simply go back and remap story for the 50th time.
Whatever the reason allow yourself time to play with the solutions without any sense of urgency- but once you think you've identified the culprit- develop a plan of action to eliminate the blocking-scoundrel (as a minimum) during your hours of writing.
Writer's block is your mind giving you a similar signal: slow down; cool down, take a breather and let your body reset- just as your computer or cell phone must be reset from time to time to give it a moment to recalibrate, recuperate toward recovery.
So I don't fight writer's block. I see it as my friend telling me to take a break and go somewhere peaceful with my favorite food, drink and just chill; lay outside and watch the giant people in the clouds form castles and kingdoms and characters from heaven.
Wander aimlessly in your mind's backyard without care or thought about your story. When you least expect it the blockade is lifted and thousands of thoughts stream into your consciousness. Write! Write and write some more!
Now on the other hand sometimes I get writer's block because I find myself knee-high in weeds or in a forest with no path. I call this the "lost writer" because I have no sense of where I am heading, there is no path or plan to my next step. This writer's block is brought on because I haven't put the time into mapping out the story, clearing the weeds and providing myself a pathway to the next great chapter. Not to worry I simply go back and remap story for the 50th time.
Whatever the reason allow yourself time to play with the solutions without any sense of urgency- but once you think you've identified the culprit- develop a plan of action to eliminate the blocking-scoundrel (as a minimum) during your hours of writing.
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