So I'm on a bit of a high here because I just came in from interviewing YA author Meg Rosoff, who's in Montreal as part of a multi-city North American book tour to promote her latest novel, What I Was. Ever set eyes on someone and know straightaway you're going to get along? That's how I felt about Meg.
My assignment for The Gazette is to write a little profile about Meg andher work, so that should be in the paper next weekend (Feb. 23 -- I'll post a link to the story on the blog then.)
Though Meg has written three prize-winning YA novels, she says every time she finishes a book, she worries. "I think the last book I wrote is the last one I'll be able to write," she told me. She also explained that when she's partway through the writing process, she always feels discouraged: "I'm absolutely despairing and disgusted. I think it was a mistake." But then, and here's what we can all learn from Meg, SHE KEEPS GOING!!
Meg also mentioned she finds it difficult to come up with her plots. She explained she's not the sort of writer who plans her books chapter-by-chapter, though she does have a sense of where she wants to start -- and where she wants to end up.
But even with all these challenges, Meg says she loves to write. Why is that? I asked her. Meg didn't have to search for an answer. "I love words," she said.
Okay then, Meg -- it's my turn to find the words to write about you. Thanks for a lovely visit -- and loads of inspiration!
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Comments
I think that's the first time I've heard an author say that she feels discouraged about her work when she's midway through. It appears it's worth it, though, since she's won prizes for her books. Maybe thinking her work isn't good enough pushes her to work harder and thus allows the final text to be even better than it could have been.
Well, at least I know I'm not the only one who can read over a project and feel discouraged about it! I'll keep that in mind next time I have an essay to write for English class...