Have you ever felt the desire to write a book but have no idea where to even begin? This week Michelle talks with author and writing professor, Mary Otis, who shares with us how we can get started, what being a writer looks like, and her journey to becoming a writer. Mary also tells us all about her incredible new book, Burst, what inspires her to write, and what her writing rituals are that keep her motivated. This is such a fascinating conversation and insight into the life of an author that you will not want to miss.
In This Episode, Michelle Talks About
- How Mary became an author and writing professor.
- What the process of writing a book looks like.
- The importance of writing rituals and how to feel inspired.
How Mary became an author and writing professor.
We can probably all remember being asked as a kid what you want to be when you grow up, and sometimes the roles we find ourselves in today didn’t even exist when we were kids! Mary shares with us her journey and how she went from what she thought would be a career in dance and theatre, to finding her love for writing, teaching, and helping people find what they want to write about.
What the process of writing a book looks like.
The importance of writing rituals and how to feel inspired.
It can be so challenging to get all those ideas swimming around in your head down onto paper, and so Mary discusses how to find inspiration when writing. She shares with us tips on how to get inspired, such as walking or listening to music, and the importance of setting up writing rituals or a reading space. Taking the time to create the energy and the space for writing can make such a huge impact on your progress. If you build it, the inspiration will come.
Links Mentioned
Burst – By Mary Otis
Yes, Yes, Cherries: Stories – By Mary Otis
There eyes were watching gods – By Zora Neale Hurston
Women are the fiercest creatures – By Andrea Dunlop
