Hello Beautiful People,
Marissa Meyer is the author of the The Lunar Chronicles, futuristic fiction that is a sure favorite for many folks, especially reluctant readers. Marissa was kind enough to partipate in our School Time Author Q&A Series, and I have no doubt that you’ll love her exclusive Q&A!
TWT: What is the biggest inspiration for your novels?
MM: A lot of things have inspired my first series, The Lunar Chronicles. Some obvious inspirations are the TV show Firefly, Star Wars, and my childhood love of fairy tales—both from the Brothers Grimm and Perrault, but also the Disney movies. I also wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction for a long time, and that’s largely influenced my storytelling and the types of characters I’m drawn to, particularly when it comes to strong-yet-flawed female protagonists.
TWT: Did you always grow up wanting to write novels?
MM: I grew up knowing that I wanted to be a writer (with the exception of the occasional foray into dreams of being a Broadway singer [can’t sing], rockstar [can’t play an instrument], or fashion designer [can’t sew]). But even when I was focused on the writing, I didn’t know what exactly that would entail. I dabbled in short stories, poetry, journalism, etc. But by my late teen years, after I’d started a handful of novels that never got finished, I began to realize that’s where my heart truly lay.
TWT: What is the earliest piece of writing you remember completing?
MM: “Rosie and the Rosebush.” It was a story about a little girl (Rosie) who one day falls into a magical rosebush and plays with the magical rose creatures. I “wrote” it when I was—oh, maybe four or five, by dictating the story to my Mom, who typed it up for me and then printed out the pages so I could illustrate them. I think I got too tired of drawing roses to finish it, though.
TWT: Can you explain to our readers what NaNoWriMo is, and the influence that it had on your work?
MM: NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and occurs every year in November. The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in thirty days. There’s no competition, just a bunch of writers (aspiring and professional) joining together for a month of inspiration, motivation, and putting your writing dreams ahead of all those things that usually distract us. I’ve participated and “won” NaNo five times now and because I enjoy challenging myself, I usually aim for more than the recommended 50,000 words. (The year that I wrote the first drafts of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, I wrote a total of 150,011 words. Looking back, I have no idea how.) It’s great fun and gives one such an enormous sense of accomplishment!
TWT: In today’s day in age, arts education is taking quite a hit when it comes to budget cuts. What would you say to school boards and elected officials who are putting the ax to arts in education programs?
MM: I would remind them that art is an enormous part of our culture and, I believe, can affect the psychology of an entire society. Although I don’t have any that I can point to, I know that studies have shown that students who grow up reading, writing, playing musical instruments, drawing, or participating in other artistic endeavors generally tend to be more creative thinkers and better problem solvers, which are skills we need in the workplace. I also feel the arts help turn us into happier, more well-rounded individuals, which benefits everyone. It breaks my heart when I speak with students who are obviously imaginative, but haven’t been given the tools or environment to let that shine through. I think that’s a huge loss to our society and the next generation.
TWT: What advice would you give to younger writers?
MM: Never lose the passion you have for it right now. As your skills grow and you start thinking more about publication or writing as a career, it can put a strain on your creativity. Suddenly it becomes more about agents and editors, less about plot and characters, and that’s not how it should be. Writing is fun—it’s like playing make-believe all the time, it’s drawing readers into a world of your own imagining and letting them fall in love with characters you’ve already fallen in love with. Write the stories your heart tells you to write and protect that passion fiercely.
TWT: Just for fun, what is your favorite movie? Play? Television show? Musician?
MM: I don’t really have a favorite movie (I know that sounds like a cheater answer, but it’s true!). When I was a teenager though, it was Clueless. Play: Wicked. TV show: Right now it’s a tie between The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory. I also love Top Chef. Musician: The Beatles.
TWT: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
MM: I was lucky to have a lot of teachers who encouraged my love of writing. One that stands out was a college professor, Suzanne Rahn, who taught my Writing for Children class. She was so passionate about the subject, and I still remember the euphoria I felt when I got notes back on one of our writing assignments that said mine was worthy of publication.
Thank you, Marissa!
Live, Love, Learn,