Creativity Survey (Part 3)
Our creativity survey explores the deeper meaning behind what it means to be creative. Each month a different group of our authors and illustrators will share with us how they approach the artistic process and, most importantly, how they keep the creative flame alive. We think you will enjoy their answers, in both differences and similarities. Creativity is a gift, but it does not come free -- balancing art with life is a full-time job. Lee & Low appreciates the dedication of the following individuals and celebrates the wonderful books for children they have created.
We look forward to your comments.
  
(from left to right)
Pat Mora is a the author of Confetti: Poems for Children and Love to Mamá
Chih-Wei Chang is the illustrator of Baby Born
Anastasia Suen is the author of Baby Born and Toddler Two
(1) Do you have a regular writing regimen? Please explain.
Pat Mora: If I'm not teaching or traveling, I try to write in the morning. One of my major struggles is creating sufficient writing time.
Chih-Wei Chang: If "regimen" means habit, I always doodle on paper.
Anastasia Suen: I write every day. I walk four miles in the morning, and then I write.
(2) Where is your favorite place to work? Why?
PM: If I'm writing poetry, I like to begin longhand. This fall, I'm lucky to be in a house with a wonderful yard that includes a large pond. This yard is, of course, a wonderful place to begin writing. Usually, though, I can't rely on place for inspiration. Once I've written a bit, or if I'm working on prose, I work at my desk on a computer.
CWC: My favorite place is wherever there is a big table, because I need a lot of space when I paint.
AS: I can work anywhere, as long as it's quiet. When I have school visits, I often arrive early, to beat the traffic, and then write in the car until it's time to go in and get started.
(3) What/where is your dream place to work? Why?
PM: My dream place to work is outside in the Southwest or where I can see the Southwest sky and mountains and desert. I've written a great deal, and will probably continue to explore, why my home landscape is so powerful for me.
CWC: Dream place? I haven't thought of any yet . . . maybe in a hotel -- that way I can travel and work at the same time.
AS: I love to be close to nature, but without the bugs! So, I have a big window in my studio. I planted lots of flowers and trees outside and I have a water fountain burbling there.
(4) Where do you get your ideas from? What inspires you?
PM: People and their stories and struggles and courage inspire me. As a Latina writer, I'm particularly interested in writing about the Mexican and Mexican American experience, be that in poetry, legends, myths, history, fiction.
The natural world also is a tremendous source of inspiration. I'm not a big city person.
CWC: My daily life, the books I read, images that cross my eyes.
AS: My books come from my life. A little of this and a little of that come together for a new idea.
(5) How much does your work depend on inspiration?
PM: My work depends on persistence and dedication. Inspiration is important, but we are probably all inspired daily by some sight or experience if we let ourselves be conscious and attentive. The challenge to the writer is to put my energy and skill in the service of the inspiration.
CWC: 80%
AS: Inspiration and perspiration, they're inseparable. I write in my head when I walk in the morning. I also compose at my computer. If you want to write, then you write.
(6) How do you deal with writer's/artist's block?
PM: I tend to have many more ideas than time. The greater challenge for me is finding editors interested in publishing the work.
CWC: When I have artist's block, I write.
AS: You trust yourself. Sometimes I let the project go for a while. Sometimes I sit and make myself do it.
(7) What do you do to stay focused?
PM: I love writing, playing with language and can enjoy this play for hours.
CWC: I go to bed early.
AS: I like to have a lot of things going at once. It's more interesting that way. I slot time to work on different projects throughout the day. When it's time for that project, it gets my full attention.
(8) How has your childhood or adulthood affected or shaped your work?
PM: I've written and spoken often about how important my family was in helping me to become a reader by having books around and taking me to the library.
CWC: It is very hard to describe how my work is shaped, but my childhood certainly played a very important role in it. I used to play alone, so I tend to make characters small and all by him/herself.
AS: Books and kids and music have always been a part of my life. When I write poetry for kids, I have them all!
(9) Do you prefer to work on a single project, or multiple book projects at one time? Why?
PM: I don't know if I prefer working on multiple projects, but I always do since there are so many books I hope to publish both for adults and children.
CWC: One project at a time is better, so I can focus.
AS: I prefer to have many things happening at once. I work on one thing for a while, and then I work on something else. I find that starting and stopping helps me to be more objective in my editing. It gives me the distance I need to see the work clearly.
(10) Is research a large part of your work? If so, what kind of research do you do? What are some useful resources that you’ve found?
PM: Research varies with the book or project. I'm a reader so I like thumbing through books or reading books related to the subject I may be exploring.
CWC: It depends on the project. If I do need information or need to gain more knowledge about the things I am illustrating I will do research, to keep my imagination from going too far.
AS: I love research! I go to the library and read everything I can find on a topic. I also search the internet. (I write a column for a Once Upon A Time about internet sites for writers.) My favorite research site is www.c4.com - It's a parallel search engine, so it searches up to 16 search engines at once!
(11) How does your ethnicity and/or cultural background influence your work?
PM: The fact that I'm Mexican American has a tremendous influence on my work. About 5000 children's books are published each year in this country. Only about 2% are by or about Latinos. How can this be in 2000? Writing at this time in history, aware of these realities, I doubt that I'll write a book about a child that doesn't have a Latina/o as a main character. The need is so great, and I see that need as important for Latinos as well as non-Latinos, children and adults. Also, of course, I have deep affection for Mexican and Mexican American culture so it's a joy to write about it and a joy to include some Spanish, a language that means so much to me.
CWC: You can tell from my work.
AS: I grew up in the "United Nations" of Southern California. I find that I use this experience of many languages and cultures as my base when I write.
(12) Is travel important to your work? If so, why?
PM: Luckily, I love to travel! It is important for at least two reasons. Travelling to speak to students or educators is very energizing. It reminds me why I do what I do, and it allows me to discuss topics that are very important to me such as the importance of having many voices as part of American children's literature.
Also, travel serves as a source of inspiration. When I'm in a place with a Mexican bakery, for example, I decide to write a poem about the bakers who work there such as "Mexican Magician" in Confetti.
CWC: Yes and no. My mind travels a lot instead of my body, that's where I get my inspiration from.
AS: Travel is important. If I stay in my studio all the time, I lose touch with my audience.
(13) How do you usually respond to a rejection letter?
PM: I'm terribly disappointed. Eventually, I dust myself off and revise and re-submit. I think that until Latinas/os are part of the entire publishing process, many of us will receive more rejection letters than average.
CWC: At least I don't have to waste my time and money on sending them anything anymore.
AS: I wait a day before I take any action. Then I mail it out again, or rewrite it.
(14) What is the best editorial advice/comment you have ever received?
PM: Oh I've received all sorts of helpful editorial advice, but it has been specific to the book we're discussing. Most editors are more interested in plot than I am.
CWC: We love your work!!!
AS: An editor once told me that when she requested a rewrite, she was trying to help me find the story inside me.
(15) What is the biggest challenge about being a writer/illustrator?
PM: For me, the biggest challenge is working through the rejections. I'm lucky that I seem to have more ideas than time, but placing the manuscripts and having the books promoted effectively is the challenge.
CWC: Finding the right company to work with.
AS: The biggest challenge is staying fresh. That's why I do a lot of school visits. You have to stay connected with your audience.
(16) Do you do anything special to make sure editors notice your work? Please elaborate.
PM: If there's a secret, I don't know it. I try to write inventively and to submit professionally. Like many writers, I've wondered if ideas like photos of me writing while bungee jumping would help.
CWC: No, I think your work should do the job for you.
AS: I wait until the work is ready before I send it out. I polish it until the words sing. No matter what else I say or do, the work has to stand by itself.
(17) What other advice would you offer new writers?
PM: I have a list of suggestions on my Web site.
CWC: Please don't give up.
AS: Write the kind of stories that you like to read. Trust yourself, and keep writing.
Visit Anastasia on at her new Web site
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