Ask the Author: Polly Alice McCann
Answered Questions (8)
Polly Alice McCann
I like to read ancient old dusty books so I read some Augustine, Emily Dickensen, Asimov, Bradbury. I have some old favorites I stick by. One of them is "Wrinkle in Time." Oh and I read all 22 of The Wizard of Oz books again for therapy. lol.
Polly Alice McCann
My fave science fiction scene is the Cantina in Star Wars: A New Hope. A lot of variety, good music and an exciting adventure awaiting a group of new friends. Sounds good to me.
Polly Alice McCann
As soon as I get a chance I write until it's time to get the kids or go home or whatever limit is set. I don't stop.
Polly Alice McCann
I am currently writing three non-fiction books for adults and a YA novel series, four picture books, and two more volumes of poetry. One to come out this month! I'm also an editor and illustrator so the books are pretty endless around here.
Polly Alice McCann
I've been writing a memoir about my family for 20 years-- in poetry. The idea came when I took a poetry class and found out that poetry was what my made my inner word to make sense. I also read a children's biography of Pablo Neruda. I didn't realize at the time he was a famous poet. I didn't even know the book was a biography. I just read it and adored it. I kept saying all throughout the book. Why is this kid so much like me. We could be twins. As I finished reading the book and the main character became a poet, I reread the back of the book and realized it was a historical biography-- not fiction! I began reading the poetry of Pablo Neruda and I decided I wanted to be like him-- to think of my life as a time to write as much poetry as possible. Whatever poems became well known or well liked or survived in books-- was not up to me. Quantity was my answer and I found it suits me very well.
Polly Alice McCann
Read something from every great writer you hear about. Accept all voices as important to your understanding of the written word. Imagine what the world would be like without your favorite author then think about how your voice is that important as well.
Polly Alice McCann
I think that writing is like riding a train into an imaginary dreamscape. You never know who you will meet and when you find yourself it is startling, beautiful and makes the real world worth entering again.
Polly Alice McCann
I find that writer's block comes from avoiding something you feel isn't worthy of writing. I learned this doing a poetry a day blog. If there was a subject I abandoned because I thought it wasn't good enough, I would get writer's block. Once I honored that idea by writing it down, no matter how ridiculous, the writer's block would end and great poems would emerge eventually. The subconscious writing process is often like dealing with a very sensitive friend, when you listen and spend time with your writing self you will find your creativity opening up.
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