Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Marisa Hopkins

Welcome to another fantastic Friday feature.  Today, Marisa, (aka Elegant Bloggery) has been kind enough to hang out with us, and answer my probing questions. (And yours, too!) You may not recognize Marisa (pronounced Mareesa) without her yellow jersey.  Yes--she's the ultimate front writer in the ultimate competitive writing contest, the Tour de Writing. Here are the current standings (I posted them late yesterday) in case you missed them.  Let's give Marisa a round of applause (or at least a virtual fist bump) for her writing stick-to-a-tive-ness.  

Marisa has a beautiful blog which showcases her artwork (and beautiful girls).  While you're there, make sure to check out her fun and well executed short story--it's awesome. I've always been very impressed by Marisa's poise, grace, humor and creativity, and now I'm impressed by her writing ability. She's the total package!  Marisa and I are going to chat a bit here, and then we'll continue in the comments, so make sure to leave her a question or a comment.  I'm excited to find out more about Marisa's writing journey.  So, here we go!

Welcome Marisa--thanks for doing this interview.  Why don't you start by telling us a bit about yourself.

Hi, and thanks Heather!  I'm Marisa, a displaced California girl living in West Texas and pining for the ocean. You'll usually find me at home, finger-painting with my two preschool-aged daughters, blogging about anything and everything that pops into my head, running Elegant Snobbery, my illustration business on Etsy.com, or hacking away at the thing I call my book.

Marisa--you sound extremely busy--what are you currently working on?

My current project is a YA urban fantasy retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. I've been a fairy tale junkie my entire life and it is so much fun to take a tale I have always known and loved and turn it into something recognizable yet entirely my own.

I love retellings. Marisa--what made you start to write seriously?

I was about nine years old when I started writing "seriously." Every day after school I used to run home and scribble stories in my notebooks or pound them out on our first computer - black screen, green text. I couldn't get enough of it. I still have files full of stories going back to 5th and 6th grade. They are completely awful, but so much fun to go back and read. Once I discovered my love for writing, it never went away, and I've been writing steadily ever since. 

What stage are you at, currently, in your journey toward publication? And--how is that going for you? Has anything surprised you about this stage?

I am currently writing the very. last. chapter. of the first draft of the book I have devoted the last 9 months of my life to. I feel like I'm about to give birth. It will be such a relief when I am done with this draft and can begin the next stage of my writing life with my newborn book: Revising!

Wow, you're in the homestretch! I know you've gotten a lot out of the online community. If you had to pick one favorite blog, what would it be?

Does The Practice Room, hosted by the fantabulous Tina Laurel Lee count? Because if so, then THAT one without question. And if I have to choose one in which a person actually writes something readable, rather than post writing goals for an hour and then reconvening to chat - only 30% of it even about writing - then I'll have to go with The World According to Maggie Stiefvater, because she's one of my favorite writers, is hilariously funny, is a brilliant colored pencil artist, and shares her writing life along with a whole lot of great music on her blog.

The Practice Room always counts.  I love Maggie's blog as well. What is a favorite blog post that you have written?

My blog was started as a place to share my life as an at-home-artist with two high-energy bundles of adorableness (aka, my kids who drive me insane, regularly), so while I rarely write about my life as a writer, I have a lot of posts about my life as an artist. My muse is the same sneaky little she-devil across all my creative mediums... and this post, My Muse Hates Me, shows our relationship well.

Marisa, what online resource have you found most helpful?

Angela's The Bookshelf Muse is pretty darned awesome.I always forget to add in setting details while writing, and when I go back to add them in, I love having The Bookshelf Muse whispering little reminders of what certain places look, smell, and sound like. Actually, I think Angela is a much more supportive muse than my own muse. Angela, can I adopt you, please?

LOL.  What has been your biggest trial in writing?

Writing has always been my passion, but when it comes to appreciating my writing, I fall short. Self-confidence as a writer is something I'm working on. Only recently did I begin to share it with anyone, beta readers and critique partners, and its hard to do. I have such a huge urge to stand behind them while they're reading, breathing down their necks, and pointing out every single sentence I've written, telling them how much even I think it sucks. That's the reason I've been writing steadily for the last 20+ years, and have never queried an agent or attempted to be published anywhere. Sad, but I know now that it's time for me to put on my big girl pants and suck up some courage if I really want this dream of being a published writer to happen. 

What tricks have you acquired to make you write or create when you don’t feel up to writing?

When I don't feel up to writing, I cross my fingers and hope to find something I can at least revise. But if there isn't, then I always pull out my notebook and try hand-writing my scenes or snips of dialogue for awhile. I find that my notebooks are always filled with the best parts of my book.  Ideas and words seem to flow out of my head better when I'm hand-writing. 

Tell us about a book that has impacted your writing life.

Two books. The first - How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead by Ariel Gore, because it's a quick, entertaining read that always makes me want to write, write, write and never stop. The second - Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, which is a great reminder that sometimes we only get 15 minutes a day - and we have to take them were we can get them and use every minute as best we can if this is what we're serious about.

Other than winning the Tour de Writing, :) what is your practical goal with your writing? Do you have a reach-for-the-stars goal that you would like to share?

My practical goal would be to get better and better the more I write. Only then will I hit my reach-for-the-stars goal of being a published author. And maybe one day reach my ultimate dream of being a career author. 

So far, what has been the best part of your writing experience?

Until a few months ago, I've always been a solitary writer, without any writing friends or support group other than my non-writer friends and family saying, "You go girl! Write that book of yours because I want to read it!" Of course, I'm always grateful, and love the encouragement I get, but sitting alone at my computer with only the voices in my head keeping me company is a lonely life. Once I discovered the awesome community of writing bloggers this past January, my world opened up and it has been amazing. Especially once the fantabulous Tina Laurel Lee opened up The Practice Room, where writers root each other on, all writing together and chatting about our experiences. I'm amazed by the friendships I've made in only a few months. And though my writer friends and I are still on opposite sides of the computer screen, I never feel like a solitary writer anymore. I always have friends typing along with me, sharing my same goals and dreams. It's VERY motivating!

I love that! Marisa, if you could create the perfect place for you to write in, what would it look like?

If I could write anywhere, I would choose a library. Tables tucked into quiet corners with nothing but books, books and more books all around... Swoon! The library has always been my favorite place and is definitely my ideal writing spot. 

If you could be a character in a book, and live within their world, what character would you be?

Sign me up for Hermione Granger, please! I wanna go to Hogwarts and be BFFs with Harry and Ron!

What other distractions are in your life?

My life seems to be nothing but distractions... my kids, ages 3 and 5, are amazing when it comes to giving me time to "work," but sometimes fetching endless cups of juice, breaking up cat-fights over who had which Barbie first, and dealing with the joy of potty-training keeps me from making much progress on my book. 

And, just because I’m curious, coffee or tea?

Coffee. Pots and pots of coffee.

Marisa--thanks so much for the insight into your writing life!  And for being here today!  Everyone make sure to leave Marisa a great comment or question--she'll be stopping by to answer them.