Pictured: Not my character, FWIW, but still a fairly demanding lady. Some authors say their characters take over. Some authors say that's rubbish. The writer is the boss! Well, yes? While I wouldn't say my characters take over, at times, when I'm contemplating the plot, I write the plot a certain way and it just …
When people ask me, "What's your story about?" I have a slight panic attack. Why? I can speculate, but I don't really know. I can't afford therapy. BUT I am excited about the story I'm currently working on. (I'm excited about every story. At this moment, however, I'm also in an optimistic mood. Why optimism …
I've been jumping from project to project. The term monkey mind comes to, uh, mind. My ideal self would sit down and concentrate. But at this point in my life, I'll just work with the mind I have. Jumping to a different project might be procrastination. It might be a way to never finish even …
In 2008, a tiny piece I wrote about my love for The Wizard of Oz was published on NPR's In Character series. I still love children's stories, though in a different way and for different reasons. Some adults aren't interested in anything for children. You can find a number of essays lamenting adults reading YA, …
If a fairy godmother showed up at my door, I wouldn't ask for a ballgown or shoes or an invitation to a ball. I'd ask her to tell me where to begin. I thought I knew, but then I sat down to get to work. These manuscripts and art projects stare at me. Each one …
Sharing scenes from my current novel-in-progress (maaaaybeeee novellaaaaa...) has been quite the experience. So in no particular order... ...it forces me to write something. I promised to send people scenes every Sunday, and I haven't missed a Sunday yet (17 Sundays so far!) ...it pushes me through my fear of judgment. The fear is still …
When I was a toddler, my mom spent time in a hospital in Tampa. It would have been in the summer of 1971 or 72, right around the time of The Baker Act. I don't know if that had anything to do with her time in the hospital. I know that she tried to harm …
I'm getting back into the swing of things. Which is not to say I won't swing out of control in a few days. And by that I mean a Marta-esque out of control, which doesn't involve drugging, excessive drinking, or anything worthy of a good biography. No, for the moment, I've got a bit of …
I guess I'm finding the new routine. I'm sending out a somewhat simpler version of my newsletter. What's the difference between my newsletter and my blog? I usually write about books I'm reading and other things I want to share. I'll put fiction there I don't put here. This time I actually put the same …
I'm exhausted and it isn't even 9 p.m. But I'm here! And here is scene three of The Fairy Tale Asylum. I have to think of a way to organize these scenes for anyone who comes in and wants to know they missed, but today isn't that day. Thanks to our plague year, I'm having …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 