Ask the Author: Heather McConnell
Answered Questions (5)
Heather McConnell
I was out for a run one day in the fall of 2000. I had been mulling over human rights issues during my run, and specifically women's rights across the globe. Feeling frustrated that these issues seemed to be unsolvable, I thought, "Well, what if I had some sort of superpowers?" and, more specifically, "Which superpowers would help?" Maybe if a character I could write could just take out a few of the bad guys, that might help?
It turns out it doesn't quite work this way in the real world - Cat finds this out through the course of the first book - but that was how the idea of Invisible Woman started. It also changed dramatically a year later when, after starting the book in June 2001 and setting it in Afghanistan, everything changed on 9/11. And then continued to change as other characters showed up in the story with their own (and frequently better) ideas of how to make a difference in the world.
It turns out it doesn't quite work this way in the real world - Cat finds this out through the course of the first book - but that was how the idea of Invisible Woman started. It also changed dramatically a year later when, after starting the book in June 2001 and setting it in Afghanistan, everything changed on 9/11. And then continued to change as other characters showed up in the story with their own (and frequently better) ideas of how to make a difference in the world.
Heather McConnell
Write, write, and write some more. And then more. And keep writing lots and lots. Don't be too hard on yourself. Do be true to yourself. Write as well as you can and always push yourself to improve. Do the best you can. And keep writing. Sooner or later a book will show up. Or maybe some short stories, essays, novellas, or even a tome. Then give it to all your friends and ask them to read it. Then - and this is very, very hard - really listen carefully to whatever they say and re-write. After you've finished re-writing your book however many times it takes, then send it to a really good editor. Again, listen carefully and re-write as necessary. Then try to publish your book. Whether you publish it or not, though, doesn't really matter. Once your book is done, take a day off. Then the next day, start writing the next book, story, novella, tome, or novel. And keep writing.
Heather McConnell
Creating. Getting my thoughts down on a page (or screen) so that I can reflect on them, learn from them, and grow. And then sharing this with other human beings, listening to their responses, and learning. As human beings, we have a fundamental need to create and express ourselves. We are constantly striving toward perfection of our own character as well as attempting to make a difference in the world through our creations. This is the best thing about writing.
Heather McConnell
I stop writing. I've found over the years that trying to push through any kind of block almost always results in inauthentic writing. And then I have to go back and re-write everything anyway.
For better or worse, my process seems to be terribly organic. I am often not sure what I need to write beyond the immediate next chapter, sometimes it's the next paragraph. And then I have to walk away for a while and let my unconscious figure out the next bit.
I don't start with an outline but I do fill one out as I go along. I try to review the outline up till the chapter I'm going to write or edit the next day and then let sleep do its magic. Usually I've got something to say in the morning.
But if I don't, I walk away and do other things some of which include writing - e-mails, blogging, notes, letters. I do try to write every day even if it's just putting thoughts down in an e-mail to a friend. And once my unconscious has had a chance to organize itself, sooner or later I'll come back to the next step in my novel.
For better or worse, my process seems to be terribly organic. I am often not sure what I need to write beyond the immediate next chapter, sometimes it's the next paragraph. And then I have to walk away for a while and let my unconscious figure out the next bit.
I don't start with an outline but I do fill one out as I go along. I try to review the outline up till the chapter I'm going to write or edit the next day and then let sleep do its magic. Usually I've got something to say in the morning.
But if I don't, I walk away and do other things some of which include writing - e-mails, blogging, notes, letters. I do try to write every day even if it's just putting thoughts down in an e-mail to a friend. And once my unconscious has had a chance to organize itself, sooner or later I'll come back to the next step in my novel.
Heather McConnell
An Invisible Woman in Tamil Nadu!
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