Ask the Author: Becky Benishek
Answered Questions (6)
Becky Benishek
The first couple that popped to mind was Darcy and Elizabeth. I've always loved "Pride and Prejudice." The language, the era, the archness, the revelations--all so enjoyable.
Becky Benishek
Getting what's inside of me OUT.
It teems, it tickles, it roils, it inflames, it delights, it enchants. It yearns to burst free.
It's greater than me.
If I don't write, I find my creativity manifesting itself in other ways. One winter, I made tons of bead bracelets. One spring, I took up belly dancing. Now I'm not saying that beading and belly dancing aren't awesome things that I love and still want to do. But I am saying that I noticed that while I was doing these things, I was NOT writing.
I've learned that I need to focus, and that when I do, it feels awesome.
It teems, it tickles, it roils, it inflames, it delights, it enchants. It yearns to burst free.
It's greater than me.
If I don't write, I find my creativity manifesting itself in other ways. One winter, I made tons of bead bracelets. One spring, I took up belly dancing. Now I'm not saying that beading and belly dancing aren't awesome things that I love and still want to do. But I am saying that I noticed that while I was doing these things, I was NOT writing.
I've learned that I need to focus, and that when I do, it feels awesome.
Becky Benishek
Stop thinking that you need to start writing. Stop saying you'll do it. If you can, stop thinking you need to stop thinking about it! Because then you'll find yourself ACTUALLY doing it.
It's like exercise. The thought of it is kind of meh. Yet once you're doing it, it's not bad! It feels pretty good! But you almost have to trick yourself into not thinking about yourself anymore, because we're just a bit too good at finding reasons not to do stuff. When you write, you're not thinking about the "I" in the back of your head.
Edit along the way if you must, but don't let it slow you down. Then walk away from your creation for a little bit and let it percolate, let it ripple.
And then come back to it. You may not like it anymore. I always go through an "I hate this" stage at some point. That's where you still absolutely must send it to someone else to read. Don't hover over them while they're doing it. Don't influence their impressions. Let what they say encourage you to go on.
It's like exercise. The thought of it is kind of meh. Yet once you're doing it, it's not bad! It feels pretty good! But you almost have to trick yourself into not thinking about yourself anymore, because we're just a bit too good at finding reasons not to do stuff. When you write, you're not thinking about the "I" in the back of your head.
Edit along the way if you must, but don't let it slow you down. Then walk away from your creation for a little bit and let it percolate, let it ripple.
And then come back to it. You may not like it anymore. I always go through an "I hate this" stage at some point. That's where you still absolutely must send it to someone else to read. Don't hover over them while they're doing it. Don't influence their impressions. Let what they say encourage you to go on.
Becky Benishek
It kind of hits me all of a sudden, I'll be just standing around, or sitting, or about to go to sleep, when a phrase or idea will ping in the air from a conversation, or dart into my mind from who knows where, and completely block out everything else except for the need to grab my pen and paper, envelope and pencil, phone and fingers, FAST. I've learned to my cost that waiting risks losing the idea.
Becky Benishek
I saw a series of photographs about snails--but these were no ordinary photographs. They were hunkered down at the snail level, and what they uncovered was a marvelous, magical little world of snails contemplating, learning, gazing, and exploring.
And I thought, what if this were ONE snail? What if this were one snail's day?
And Sidney was born.
And I thought, what if this were ONE snail? What if this were one snail's day?
And Sidney was born.
Becky Benishek
Flushed with the success of getting Sidney Snail up in "What's at the End of Your Nose?", I have in progress my second children's book, "Dr. Guinea Pig George." I should be getting the proof copy for the paperback any day now.
I also have two more children's stories that are proofed and edited. The decision there is: Do I get them illustrated and self-publish, or float them out to agents?
And I have yet another children's story that is currently out to agents.
This is hard work, but it's so much fun!
I also have two more children's stories that are proofed and edited. The decision there is: Do I get them illustrated and self-publish, or float them out to agents?
And I have yet another children's story that is currently out to agents.
This is hard work, but it's so much fun!
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