Ask the Author: Michael W. Shaw
Answered Questions (7)
Michael W. Shaw
My favorite fictional couple is Liz and Darcy. Why? Both of them are full of misconceptions about each other, carrying completely made up stories in their heads, and this prevents them from being together.
Each requires a substantial dose of humility and embarrassment in front of each other, at which point they realize there is non-judgment and loving acceptance. This allows their true love to bloom.
I also like the couple in the Giant Mechanical Man (played by Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina), and also the couple in Elizabethtown (played by Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom). These couples appeal to me for exactly the same reasons.
Thanks for asking!
Mike
Each requires a substantial dose of humility and embarrassment in front of each other, at which point they realize there is non-judgment and loving acceptance. This allows their true love to bloom.
I also like the couple in the Giant Mechanical Man (played by Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina), and also the couple in Elizabethtown (played by Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom). These couples appeal to me for exactly the same reasons.
Thanks for asking!
Mike
Michael W. Shaw
My most recent book, Word Nerd: Things Way Up High Riddle and Game Book, came from travelling to different places where I took pictures of things in the sky or above the ground.
This was a project lasting over many years, and after I had assembled a collection of photos, I drafted out the riddles. I fine-tuned the riddles as I put together the book from a technical standpoint, for an interactive Kindle experience.
This was a project lasting over many years, and after I had assembled a collection of photos, I drafted out the riddles. I fine-tuned the riddles as I put together the book from a technical standpoint, for an interactive Kindle experience.
Michael W. Shaw
I use index cards for thoughts and ideas, observations and overheard conversations.
Usually, I will get an idea for a project maybe a year or two before it comes to fruition, and I’ll spend all that time building it. When an idea takes hold that will not be a major project, this can be a short story, and so that is the outlet I use to express it. The inspirations all come from daily life, and could be something I had been struggling with where I finally found a solution that I want to share.
Inspiration can start as a conversation at the post office or in a doctor’s office, where there is something observed about human nature that we can all learn from, and I feel it’s worth sharing. That can turn into a book, as well.
We all grow, and this comes from making mistakes, learning to overcome obstacles, and meet challenges. As I make discoveries, these become the inspirations for my writing.
Usually, I will get an idea for a project maybe a year or two before it comes to fruition, and I’ll spend all that time building it. When an idea takes hold that will not be a major project, this can be a short story, and so that is the outlet I use to express it. The inspirations all come from daily life, and could be something I had been struggling with where I finally found a solution that I want to share.
Inspiration can start as a conversation at the post office or in a doctor’s office, where there is something observed about human nature that we can all learn from, and I feel it’s worth sharing. That can turn into a book, as well.
We all grow, and this comes from making mistakes, learning to overcome obstacles, and meet challenges. As I make discoveries, these become the inspirations for my writing.
Michael W. Shaw
I’m working on several projects, including short stories which I submit to contests and magazines. This is a good way to give yourself deadlines and goals, without guilt.
If the contest deadline is a month away, you can pace yourself, and as you get closer, the writing gets more passionate and you work harder, because you want to submit something good and have it accepted. I’m also working on a novel.
I can’t say more right now. It’s several months from publication.
If the contest deadline is a month away, you can pace yourself, and as you get closer, the writing gets more passionate and you work harder, because you want to submit something good and have it accepted. I’m also working on a novel.
I can’t say more right now. It’s several months from publication.
Michael W. Shaw
Besides writing, you have to read. Read the classics and the books about writing. Get a routine, where you can do a little at a time, and it motivates you to write, and it improves what you are working on.
Read the classics you enjoy, because you can’t read them all. If you’re a guy, you need to read Treasure Island, and Kidnapped. Women should read all the Jane Austen books. Men should read them too, but my point is, these great writers will inspire you if you related to their writing style.
About books on writing—here are just a few which I really liked: Curious Attractions by Debra Spark, On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner, Ernest Hemingway on Writing, Stephen King on Writing, How to Write a Novel by Nathan Bransford, Gotham Writer’s Workshop Writing Fiction, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte.
Finally, someone actually has to sit their butt in a chair and write. That’s you. You need to write. I’m not saying you must write so many pages day. What I’m saying is you should want to write every day, all day. And everything else should seem like an annoying interference to your writing. Giving yourself a number of pages to write becomes a chore. It’s not fun. Who wants to do that?
After your first and second draft – be it an article or short story or novel, then maybe there is a bit of drudgery in clean up, and because you haven’t rested from it long enough to appreciate how good you are. It can be boring. So put it away for a week, then reread it, and you’ll want to dig in and improve it.
When you are on fire, write. That’s my advice.
Read the classics you enjoy, because you can’t read them all. If you’re a guy, you need to read Treasure Island, and Kidnapped. Women should read all the Jane Austen books. Men should read them too, but my point is, these great writers will inspire you if you related to their writing style.
About books on writing—here are just a few which I really liked: Curious Attractions by Debra Spark, On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner, Ernest Hemingway on Writing, Stephen King on Writing, How to Write a Novel by Nathan Bransford, Gotham Writer’s Workshop Writing Fiction, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte.
Finally, someone actually has to sit their butt in a chair and write. That’s you. You need to write. I’m not saying you must write so many pages day. What I’m saying is you should want to write every day, all day. And everything else should seem like an annoying interference to your writing. Giving yourself a number of pages to write becomes a chore. It’s not fun. Who wants to do that?
After your first and second draft – be it an article or short story or novel, then maybe there is a bit of drudgery in clean up, and because you haven’t rested from it long enough to appreciate how good you are. It can be boring. So put it away for a week, then reread it, and you’ll want to dig in and improve it.
When you are on fire, write. That’s my advice.
Michael W. Shaw
As soon as you say that you are labeling yourself, and setting up a whole bunch of expectations and creating a persona. You risk a lot of ego, and then you may not be a good writer on account of it.
So the best thing about being a writer for me is that I’ve given myself permission to write, and it’s unconditional. I don’t measure myself by books written or sold.
There’s a good book on this called The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron. She explains a lot of it in detail, how we are stifled with the pressure of writing perfectly or not at all. Once you allow yourself to write for the sheer joy of it, because you love it, because you have to do it, because it’s like breathing, then that’s the best thing about being a writer.
So the best thing about being a writer for me is that I’ve given myself permission to write, and it’s unconditional. I don’t measure myself by books written or sold.
There’s a good book on this called The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron. She explains a lot of it in detail, how we are stifled with the pressure of writing perfectly or not at all. Once you allow yourself to write for the sheer joy of it, because you love it, because you have to do it, because it’s like breathing, then that’s the best thing about being a writer.
Michael W. Shaw
Writing for me isn’t a process of pushing. I don’t feel the need to get so many pages done, or pressured to write. I’ve got lots of projects going on, so that’s one thing I’d advise anyone. Switch back and forth between projects you are excited about.
Allow yourself to write when you are at your most creative. If you are a morning person, then allow yourself that time to do it. If a night person, then do it at night. Not writing when you really want to write makes you blocked when you are not in your peak frame of mind.
Be open to creativity when it comes to you. It always does. Jump on it. That means writing on a notepad or index card in a crowded place when you think of something. If you don’t feel like writing, then don’t . That’s not a block.
Allow yourself to write when you are at your most creative. If you are a morning person, then allow yourself that time to do it. If a night person, then do it at night. Not writing when you really want to write makes you blocked when you are not in your peak frame of mind.
Be open to creativity when it comes to you. It always does. Jump on it. That means writing on a notepad or index card in a crowded place when you think of something. If you don’t feel like writing, then don’t . That’s not a block.
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