Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Amy Jarecki Prompts Some Writing Confessions

 

Hello All! This week's questions come from the incredibly talented writer and fan of all things Scottish, Amy Jarecki (http://amyjarecki.blogspot.com)

When did you start writing, and why?

     I have been writing since the early 1980's. Not successfully, mind you. I wrote some God awful poetry, some short stories, some children's stories and a whack of brutally sappy, poorly thought out romances. I took a hiatus for a number of years and in the mid-90's started again with no more success. Early in 2011 I saw a call for submission by Etopia press that sparked my interest. I dashed off a story in a matter of weeks and sent it off. Four days after I emailed it, I received a contract in my in-box. I was hooked!
     Now, I try to write everyday. Okay technically, I write, plot, edit, revisit, scheme or research everyday. Unless I feel like napping.

What do you like best about writing?

     For me the best thing about writing is being able to work at my own pace, and write when I am motivated to do so. I like being able to push things aside to visit my children and grandchildren or to spend a weekend away with my man. I like being able to tell the stories rattling around in my head. I am partial to making things up as I go along too.

If you could go on a writing retreat, where would you go and for how long?

     Is there a writing retreat in London, England? Or maybe Scotland? That, I would love. Realistically, I cannot afford to go to retreats at this point, but I love writing anyway. During the summer and fall, I get to spend every weekend at Sanctuary (the land my husband and I own away from the city.) I spend most of my time there writing. It is kind of like a retreat, but I have to do my own cooking. Still, I do love it.
     We're hoping that one day we'll have a few small cabins up there where other writers can come and visit and write or relax.



Find out what up and coming writer Steven C. Mitchel thinks ... http://scmitchell.wordpress.com/ 

Hugs
Katie

8 comments:

  1. Here's hoping you get that cabin, too. And don't forget all us little people when you do

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  2. Those hiati (plural of hiatus?) are important Katie. I think they develop our voices. :D

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  3. Katie,I wrote some heinous poetry in high school. I still cringe thinking about it

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  4. I love your writing practice!

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  5. Sarah, you are welcome to come write at our place anytime. Sadly, you must bring a tent until the cabins are built. I recommend coming in summer as winter is dang cold in Alberta.

    Kim, I wish I had written something, even the odd descriptive paragraph during my breaks ... just to keep the old brain in motion.

    Collete: I am the queen of heinous poetry and bad rhyming schemes. (I actually have a kid's book coming out under my real name.)

    Carolyn: Practice? This is just practice? When does it become real? Kidding of course. I try to keep after it every day. But life has a way of making me do other things.

    Thanks to you all for stopping by.

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  6. I hope you do get those cabins one day :) Your land is beautiful!!! I enjoyed your blog :)

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  7. Yes to going to Scotland for a retreat! :D That would be heavenly, not sure I'd get much writing done though.

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  8. You sound like you were one of those overnight successes that took years! :)

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Thank you for visiting my blog. Hope you enjoyed your stay.
Hugs
Katie