Interview with Mary Griffith, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.03.2005

Mary is such a cool chick. She wrote such wonderful things about me on her blog. :) :) :) :) :)

I was telling Heather tonight, There's so much negativity in the world, that when something comes along warm and fuzzy like a mink coat, just snuggle up.

The mink coat isn't big enough for my inflating ego, though. ;)

If you get a chance, please pray for my upper back. I'm so lopsided because I can't put all my weight on one leg, so it's throwing my back out of whack. I'm hoping to be able to drive soon so I can make the long trek into Sunnyvale to my chiropractor. Oh, and kudos to my lovely wonderful sister Dineen who's been driving me to my PT appointments until then. :)

Back to the interview! Since I'm a writer, I just had to pick Mary's brains about her writing style. You know, hopefully some of that genius will rub off.

Writer questions:

CT: What is your most memorable moment as a writer?

MG: My most memorable moment as a writer was typing THE END on my first story. That story hasn't sold yet, but the accomplishment was huge. It was as if the Lord met me there and said,"Okay, now we can do something." And He did.

CT: Writing a novel is ...

MG: the most wonderfully insane thing I've ever done!

CT: What was your timeline on this novel? When did you start, finish, submit and sell this puppy?

MG: Hmmm...let's see. My agent told me about the new line and the interest mid-2003. At the 2003 ACFW conference, I met with a Steeple Hill editor and discussed the idea. I also ate lunch with the head of the line. Both meeting were positive and I went home and got to work! By Christmas I had something ready to submit. (It was a rough December, I don't ever want to do that again). We got an offer by late January.

CT: What's your greatest writing weakness and how do you overcome it?

MG: Which to pick... Grammar isn't my strong point to be sure. I'm more of a poet naturally and my prose sometimes swings in places where it should be quiet. I've been blessed with great copyeditors, but I'm working on it. Setting is also not my strong suit.

CT: What's your best writing strength?

MG: Dialogue seems to come most naturally. I often hear a character talking before I know who he or she is. Still, I do have to revise my dialogue quite a bit too. I struggle with it all.

CT: How do you handle deadline stress? Any advice or tips?

MG: Now I'm really chuckling, Camy. I don't know if stress is something that can be handled. More like managed. Sometimes, I can't even do that. Unlike some who can work for hours in a soundproof office, there is always something going on around me. Let's just say there is lots of praying, crying and chocolate involved.

CT: Most writers struggle with insecurity. How do you retain your confidence as a writer?

MG: I have good friends who keep lying me until it's too late for me to get the book back. I don't know that I am confident about it. Often there may be one day out of a whole book that something says, "this is good." I hang on to those moments for the days when I feel I can't write a check much less a book.

CT: What's the biggest risk you've ever taken as a writer?

MG: The biggest risk I've taken as a writer is writing the book of my heart the first time out knowing it might not get published. I still ended up writing something different after, but I couldn't let go of that story. Though it didn't sell that book, it sold me as a writer. Aside from that, I've turned in some surprises here and there, but we won't go there...

CT: You're writing up a storm—Hurricane Mary coming through!—when suddenly it grinds to a halt. What do you do when you're stuck?

MG: It depends on when it's due! If I have time, I leave it alone and go play with my kids, listen to some good music and read a good book. If I don't have time, I call my friends and whine, have a meltdown and read a book from my keeper shelf. My husband hugs me a lot and nods in the right places though he has no idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks for having me, Camy and thanks to everyone for reading. For more information about me or MADE OF HONOR, stop by http://wwww.MarilynnGriffith.com.