Menna Van Praag's Blog, page 4
April 4, 2015
“Some people look at a puddle & see an ocean of ships.” – Zora Neale Hurston
It takes vision to be successful at anything. You need to see beyond the limits of what you believe to be possible. To see the building before it’s been built, the book before it’s been written. Starting at the beginning of anything, staring at the blank page, can be intimidating. You question if you’re capable of doing what you dream of doing. You look at yourself & see a puddle. But oceans of ships lie within you. You simply have to keep looking until you see them.
April 3, 2015
“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Wishing is essential. It’s the whisper of desire in our hearts. But, wishing is not enough. At some point action must be taken. If you wish to be a writer, you must write. And re-write. You must contact agents. And, if plan A doesn’t work, you make plan B. It’s not enough simply to write & wish for something wonderful to happen. Wishing takes as much energy as action does. So, once you know what you want, don’t waste energy in wishing, channel it into actions that’ll make those wishes come true!
“Nature never repeats herself. The possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another.” E. Cady Stanton
I wanted to be a writer because of Daphne du Maurier. But reading her books was a both blessing & a curse. The sheer brilliance of her stories inspired & intimidated me. And then I discovered a secret. I didn’t have to be like her to be brilliant. I am uniquely me & so those like me will enjoy what I write. Others won’t. It doesn’t matter. If you write from your heart you will find your readers. Just like du Maurier did.
“It’s far easier to start something than it is to finish it.” ― Amelia Earhart
Beginnings contain good intentions. We rarely begin thinking we’ll give up when it gets difficult. But we often underestimate the energy & effort it’ll take to complete something. We also underestimate the impact giving up will have on our self-esteem. If we fail to finish, it matters. In quitting we’re dismissing our desires & breaking our word with ourselves. The trick is not to start things lightly, be it a novel or an exercise class, & not say “yes” before you’ve investigated what it’ll entail. You’ll feel a lot better if you only start a few things but always finish them. Knowing you can trust yourself is a great thing indeed.
March 22, 2015
Allow me to introduce you… to Alice Jago, illustrious ill...
Allow me to introduce you… to Alice Jago, illustrious illustrator of Oscar Cohen & one of my dearest friends – tomorrow we’ll be releasing a limited edition of copies signed by us both!! V excited!!
March 21, 2015
The Great Rat Conspiracy prologue! With gorgeous pic of O...
The Great Rat Conspiracy prologue! With gorgeous pic of Oscar Cohen & his pigeon, Anima. I wonder what the name of your pigeon will be…? 
March 20, 2015
March 18, 2015
Oscar Cohen & the Great Rat Conspiracy
VERY exciting news!! My newest book is out next Monday!! I’ve been writing Oscar Cohen & the Great Rat Conspiracy for the past 7 yrs or – a true passion project – & then the very talented Alice Jago joined me to shape the story & provide beautiful illustrations!!
March 17, 2015
The beginning…
Don’t give your backstory upfront. Begin with an explosion – emotional or physical – Explain it later.
It’s very tempting to start by telling the reader about the protagonist/world/dilemma. But the most enticing way to open a book is to plunge straight into a compelling scene – one that reveals all of the above through action rather than prose.
Many beginner writers tell too much at first, thinking they need to explain everything. You don’t. Begin with an explosion. Explain it later. What you leave out is as important as what you put in.
March 10, 2015
Can you guess where I am? One of my very favourite places...
Can you guess where I am? One of my very favourite places in the world…
