Victoria Pilate, Ph.D.
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A Writer's Life
Starting a Career in Writing
In my youth, I dabbled in writing. Later it
became a mission of telling the story that
people should hear. I liken my nonfiction work
for juveniles to a jigsaw puzzle with a missing
piece. Few could be satisfied with working a
jigsaw puzzle but not having all the pieces.
Likewise, learning about life and history
without knowing all the stories would be
equally unsatisfying.
In my youth, I dabbled in writing. Later it
became a mission of telling the story that
people should hear. I liken my nonfiction work
for juveniles to a jigsaw puzzle with a missing
piece. Few could be satisfied with working a
jigsaw puzzle but not having all the pieces.
Likewise, learning about life and history
without knowing all the stories would be
equally unsatisfying.
With Not in Vain, I was greatly disturbed at movies and books that depict or
suggest a “glorious cause” of the South during the American Civil War. The
declaration by the State of Virginia for a Confederate History Month and the
designation of Robert E. Lee’s birthdate as a state holiday are unsettling.
Confederate atrocities from the horrors of slavery itself through the slaughter
of black Union troops cannot be denied nor glossed over. We all need to
know the whole story.
Getting Ideas
The prolific and talented Isaac Asimov would use word association and
building to create. In the introduction to his Foundation series, he wrote that
he flipped through a dictionary and happened on the word foundation. From
there he played around with the word.
Finding Time to Write
As I was preparing to write my dissertation, a recent Ph.D. graduate advised a
group of us wannabees to use pockets of time whenever available including
waking up a few minutes or an hour earlier. I tried the hour early idea and it
was not a pretty sight. Ultimately for my dissertation and second book, I spent
weekends and hours after work writing. There were days I didn't see the
sun. It was a sacrifice and that's what it can take to be a creative artist.
suggest a “glorious cause” of the South during the American Civil War. The
declaration by the State of Virginia for a Confederate History Month and the
designation of Robert E. Lee’s birthdate as a state holiday are unsettling.
Confederate atrocities from the horrors of slavery itself through the slaughter
of black Union troops cannot be denied nor glossed over. We all need to
know the whole story.
Getting Ideas
The prolific and talented Isaac Asimov would use word association and
building to create. In the introduction to his Foundation series, he wrote that
he flipped through a dictionary and happened on the word foundation. From
there he played around with the word.
Finding Time to Write
As I was preparing to write my dissertation, a recent Ph.D. graduate advised a
group of us wannabees to use pockets of time whenever available including
waking up a few minutes or an hour earlier. I tried the hour early idea and it
was not a pretty sight. Ultimately for my dissertation and second book, I spent
weekends and hours after work writing. There were days I didn't see the
sun. It was a sacrifice and that's what it can take to be a creative artist.
"The bigger the sin, the
better the story."
Spike Lee
better the story."
Spike Lee
“If the critics have
offered even a kernel of
truth, accept it with
humility and use it as a
catalyst to improve and
grow…."
Aprile Milan
offered even a kernel of
truth, accept it with
humility and use it as a
catalyst to improve and
grow…."
Aprile Milan
“What do you most
regret?”
“Every occasion I didn’t
rise to.”
Norman Mailer
regret?”
“Every occasion I didn’t
rise to.”
Norman Mailer
This page is maintained by Victoria Pilate. Comments and suggestions can be sent to vpilate[at]victoriapilate.com.
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This page downloaded from <URL:http://www.victoriapilate.com/writers-life.html/>