Mining 'the creative flow'

 

“People have talents that aredifferent. Where does the creative flow come from - inside us or from a higherpower? I don't ask any questions. I just write it down.” –Phyllis A. Whitney
 

Born in Japan on Sept. 9, 1903Whitney was one of America’s best-known writers of (as she coinedit) “Romantic Novels of Suspense.”  And she wrote them for 80years – almost right up until her death at age 104.  “I always wantto live long enough to finish the book I'm working on and see it published,”she said, explaining her longevity.  “But then I start another bookbefore the previous one is in the stores, so I always have a reason to go on.”

 

She wrote nearly 100 novels for boththe juvenile and adult markets – many in exotic locales – winninglegions of fans and writing accolades in the process.  Her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award fromthe Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated thehonor for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand.   In1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetimeachievement.   She kept up those achievements another dozen yearsbefore her health finally slowed her down.      

 

Whitney credited her longevity to “an optimisticoutlook, both personally and as a writer.  I offer optimism.  All my books have happy endings. I don't seeany point in letting my readers down at the end. I'm an optimist - and I want people to feelthat in my books.”