A while ago, author Janie Chang invited me to participate in Tour de Blog, but grading exams kept me from accepting. Last week, another awesome and talented writing friend, Bradley Somer, asked and I accepted since I’m on summer holidays.
The Tour de Blog event invites Canadian authors to answer four questions. Please click on the links at the bottom of this post to read some of the previous respondents.
Without further ado, here are my answers.
What am I working on?
Well, I’m not working on my tan since I seem to be allergic to the sun (don’t ask). In terms of writing, I’m getting back to words after a year of teaching four new high school English courses.
I’m in the embryonic stages of three new manuscripts: two picture books and one adult humour memoir-ish thing (my agent will figure out the genre). Right now, I’m in the do-anything-but-get-words stage of pre-writing. I’m doing lots of thinking, and I’m getting anxious to dive in.
How does my work differ from others in its genre?
A multicultural/global angle permeates my picture books and my humour books. Living abroad for eight years (in Bahrain and in Thailand) has informed me and my writing.
Why do I write what I do?
I write humour because it seems to be my natural voice and because it’s the lens though which I see my surroundings. A stressful outing to the circus with my kids becomes fodder for something more; a bizarre exchange with a man who has shoe polish on his head becomes less odd when you observe everyone—and especially yourself—as being bizarre and humane in spite of it all.
How does my writing process work?
My writing process works like this: (1) Stew about an idea for weeks or months, (2) Write down random notes semi-related to the idea, (3) Struggle to find a structure for the piece of writing, (4) Struggle some more, (5) Find a structure and write maniacally, (6) Rework writing, (7) Try to remove the parts that suck, (8) Pass to writing group and repeat 6 and 7, (9) Pass to agent and repeat 6 and 7, (10) Start the whole cycle with a different idea.
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It gives me great pleasure to pass the torch to a great woman and writer, Ali Bryan. Be sure to check out her post next Monday and to visit the posts of the previous participants, as listed below. Support Canadian authors, even if you’re not Canadian…
Bradley Somer * Janie Chang * Theodora Armstrong * Kathy Page * Lorna Suzuki * Barbara Lambert * Matilda Magtree * Alice Zorn * Anita Lahey * Pearl Pirie * Julie Paul * Sarah Mian * Steve McOrmond * Susan Gillis * Jason Heroux
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