Author Mary Cronk Farrell

  • News!
  • blog
  • My Books
  • About me
  • What people are saying...
    • PURE GRIT
  • School Visits
  • videos
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Calendar

What I Love/Hate About Writing

1/31/2011

0 Comments

 
One of the things I love/hate about writing: my critique group fails to understand a scene which I have polished to perfection.

How frustrating to discover the words I have chosen do not convey the feeling and facts which I want to share!  I reject the temptation to think my writing group is a bunch of blockheads. And the fun begins.

The difficulty in communicating precisely fascinates me. That has not always been the case, particularly in my early years of marriage. It was painful learning to say to my husband, “I’m sorry my words were not clear” instead of “I can’t believe you didn’t understand me!” (You blockhead.)

Communicating is difficult because of the amazing and mysterious complexity of being human. It seems like a miracle when people’s unique experiences, personality and intellect meet in understanding. And yet the more personal a story, the more universal its apprehension.

On one level I enjoy finding the right words in the way a child enjoys playing a game. It’s fun, in and of itself. On another level, I enjoy touching that profound universality of experience that makes us human.

That’s what I love about writing.


0 Comments

And Why Would Anyone Do That?

1/28/2011

2 Comments

 
   A recent study in Britain found that people had reduced chocolate cravings after taking a brisk fifteen minute walk.
   I find it easier just to eat some chocolate.

   Did you know cocoa has 550 flavor compounds after fermentation, drying, roasting and conching?
   A carrot has 96 flavor compounds.
                
 
    I think my position is perfectly clear.
   

   

2 Comments

Maybe You're Asking the Wrong Question

1/24/2011

0 Comments

 
      Is it good enough? If that's the question you find yourself asking about your writing, you may be sabotaging yourself.  After all, who's the judge of good writing? 
    Sure, there are rules, and we all know them, but do they help you write the fresh, singular, yet universal story that only you can write?
    A better question according to William Kenower, Editor-in-Chief of Author, would be, is it accurate? Have you tuned your focus so precisely as to communicate exactly the one thing you most want to say?
    I chose this one nugget from the pages of notes I took at Bill's talk this past weekend in Spokane,Tuning Your Inner Ear: The Key to Literary and Artistic Life co-sponsored by the Inland Northwest SCBWI* and the Gonzaga University English Department.
    For more of Bill's inspiring words check out his blog.

* Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
0 Comments

Reflection on Events in Arizona

1/22/2011

0 Comments

 
Being Mary...
I like this quote.

"We saw a white, Catholic, Republican federal judge murdered on his way to greet a Democratic woman, member of Congress, who was his friend and was Jewish. Her life was saved initially by a 20-year-old Mexican-American college student, who saved her, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon…And then it was all eulogized and explained by our African-American president" — Mark Shields quotes historian Allen Ginsberg on PBS NewsHour.

Postscript:
And that heroic college student, Daniel Hernandez, is gay.


0 Comments

Don't Say a Word

1/17/2011

0 Comments

 
When I started to write fiction an already-published-writer gave me this piece of advice:  Don’t talk about your story. Talking about it will diminish your energy to write it.

Over the years I have experienced the truth of this, though I’ve found it to be less true with non-fiction. And not at all true in the late stages of a manuscript when speaking about the story with my critique group.

My most recent discovery--
scientific evidence backs up this idea that talking about something you plan to do, actually lessens that chance you will do it.

0 Comments

    Author

    Picture
    I'm an award-winning author of Children's/YA books and former journalist with a passion for stories about people facing adversity with courage.

    My books have been named Notable Social Studies Book for Young People, SPUR Award for Best Juvenile Fiction about the American West, Bank Street College List of Best Children's Books, and NY Public Library Best Books for Teens. My journalistic work has received numerous awards for excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists and two Emmy nominations.
    Picture

    Archives

    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All
    Books
    Coffee
    Courage
    Day To Day
    Dealing With Demons
    Eat Drink & Be Mary
    Food
    Gardening
    Getkidzlit
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    History
    History & Literature
    History & Literature
    Literature