A big shout out to Girl Scout Troop #6475 here in San Clemente! I was invited to speak during their troop Zoom meeting and I had a blast. The troop leader told me that many of the girls are writing books of their own based on a fantasy series they are all reading together and they had questions about getting published. I had diligently prepared a proper talk with all the pointers I could think of for writing a series and getting published. While I did manage to touch on all of my talking points, the girls were so enthusiastic that I spent much of the time answering their questions, hearing about their own work and comparing writing methods.
These middle-graders are avid readers and passionate creators! Their confidence is inspiring and I have no doubt that one or two of them will become a published author one day. I wish I had such assurance at their age – it’s inspiring to see these girls so empowered, speaking their minds and asking how to achieve something they are dreaming of.
It’s passion like theirs that kept me writing for seven years before I finished my first book, RISING STAR. I didn’t get caught up in what people would think or if I could I sell it. I wrote for the sheet joy of watching a story unfold in front of me, one word at a time. Seeing a character come alive and surprise you with choices is an incredible experience – one I feel lucky to be able to have every time I sit down to write.
My two biggest pieces of advice to the girls and to any writer is to write and write often.
Michele Kwasniewski
My two biggest pieces of advice to the girls and to any writer is to write and write often. Don’t worry about your grammar or that you can’t think of the exact word you want. All that can be fixed later in editing. Just let the story flow and see where it takes you. Some days will be amazing and some days will be excruciating. But you won’t know until you start.
Thanks for the inspiration, Troop #6475
