Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts tagged “short stories

Daily Distraction: How Does My Work Differ From Others in My Genre?

Posted on May 28, 2014

Mia 8

 

That is a tough question, as I don’t write in one specific genre. I love writing longer work like middle grade or young adult novels and series, but I also have about 40 short stories for the very young out in the Netherlands and a Little Golden Book – Mia’s Nest – coming up, this fall. A red thread through my work, though, is adventure and if the story asks for it frightening adventure.

Another red thread is that I do open ends. When I was young, I simply hated the end of a book. Often, I would leave the last few pages unread and loved it when my mind would wander along the sheer endless possibilities of where the characters could go if the author hadn’t pinned them down. That’s the freedom I’d like to give my readers, too.

 

With the two previous posts and the next one, this blog post is part of the Writing Process Blog Tour.

Daily Distraction: Arctic Winds and Black Ice

Posted on January 29, 2014

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Midday in Sommarøy, a tiny island above the Arctic Circle. I love the bluish-gray light that is so characteristic for the days that the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. This one was a particularly cold day, with a polar wind blustering in. We inched past an elk, our studded tires biting into the black ice. The elk was grazing quietly, confidently, still sure of its protection against the elements. Not a few minutes later it would skid the black ice like a child skating for the first time.

It reminded me of my first steps into the writing world, when every dash of the pen made me feel like I could skid and lose balance. Since, I have had three novels and 35 short stories published, and it feels like I have found my footing. And yet, sometimes when thoughts come but words fail, it’s like skating for the first time. The elk reminded me of that delicate balance between thoughts and the actual words you write.

Bart Moeyaert: Introspection as a state of motion

Posted on November 22, 2012

Bart Moeyaert is one of the most famous, if not the most famous of writers in the Dutch language. He writes novels and short stories, for adults and children alike. I love his work, I love his thoughts, I love the way he provokes thoughts. We had the privilege of having him teach a masterclass at our school, early November. If you are looking for inspiration… you will find it with him. Sit back and listen to his address at TEDxFlanders, where he talks about silence and introspection.