Ask the Author: Linda Lee Schell
Answered Questions (5)
Linda Lee Schell
Knowing that I have the ability to influence is the best thing for me. I take that responsibility seriously.
Linda Lee Schell
If the writer is as “wet behind the ears” as I was, I hope the newbie can find a friend who doubles as a writing coach. I’m not suggesting someone who is a professional. I am suggesting someone who loves books and who understands what it takes to move a story forward, and who recognizes good sentence structure.
I suggest finding a Writer’s Group to learn about social media and marketing. If new writers find themselves in a Writers' Group that delves on negative personal criticism and the leader of the group is weak, move on. There are lots of groups out there. Writers' groups can be found by attending book fairs and asking the writers to suggest groups in the area.
Read good “how to” books. Be mindful that some books are long on form and short on good advice. Study the book's description before making any investment. Check the library's inventory before making an investment.
Read books. Although my target audience is children’s chapter books, I read adult books to improve my writing style. J. D. Salinger is a great author to study. Personally, I don’t care much for what he says, but how he says it was a learning curve for me. Double your reading mileage by listening to audio books when you are driving.
When sitting down to write, don’t worry about an outline. How can an author produce an outline if the author doesn’t know where his story is headed? Let your pen guide you. On the other hand, when you have amassed a great deal of research data, a time line will start to emerge in your mind. At that point, write down key events for what comes next and when.
Another thing I taught myself to do, I did this with my first book because I had a beginning and no middle or end, I wrote little scenes that I thought would be interesting. The scenes spawned other ideas. Before I knew it I was easily connecting one scene to another, and throwing out other scenes that didn’t fit.
That said, if an outline works for the author, use an outline. Use what works. Write in a way that the reader wants to keep turning the page to find out what will happen next.
I suggest finding a Writer’s Group to learn about social media and marketing. If new writers find themselves in a Writers' Group that delves on negative personal criticism and the leader of the group is weak, move on. There are lots of groups out there. Writers' groups can be found by attending book fairs and asking the writers to suggest groups in the area.
Read good “how to” books. Be mindful that some books are long on form and short on good advice. Study the book's description before making any investment. Check the library's inventory before making an investment.
Read books. Although my target audience is children’s chapter books, I read adult books to improve my writing style. J. D. Salinger is a great author to study. Personally, I don’t care much for what he says, but how he says it was a learning curve for me. Double your reading mileage by listening to audio books when you are driving.
When sitting down to write, don’t worry about an outline. How can an author produce an outline if the author doesn’t know where his story is headed? Let your pen guide you. On the other hand, when you have amassed a great deal of research data, a time line will start to emerge in your mind. At that point, write down key events for what comes next and when.
Another thing I taught myself to do, I did this with my first book because I had a beginning and no middle or end, I wrote little scenes that I thought would be interesting. The scenes spawned other ideas. Before I knew it I was easily connecting one scene to another, and throwing out other scenes that didn’t fit.
That said, if an outline works for the author, use an outline. Use what works. Write in a way that the reader wants to keep turning the page to find out what will happen next.
Linda Lee Schell
I write scenes that I think might work. When ideas and an organizational flow develops in my mind, I connect the scenes, in some cases throwing out entire scenes. Researching the era the story takes place helps, or learning about the habits of possible characters I may want to instill in a story.
For example, my protagonists are a kangaroo and a cat. Learning about the habits of kangaroos and cats helped me develop and describe my characters, and also sparked ideas for conflict.
For example, my protagonists are a kangaroo and a cat. Learning about the habits of kangaroos and cats helped me develop and describe my characters, and also sparked ideas for conflict.
Linda Lee Schell
A third book in the Gracie series
Linda Lee Schell
A travel agent sent me a travel log about St. Petersburg, Russia. I was embarassed that I knew so little about the city's enchanting beauty.
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