I am Jenni, of course. I am a stay-at-home mom of two little guys, and try to find time to write amidst their extreme energy and my utter lack of it. Right now I live in good old Oregon state, and never plan on leaving the Pacific Northwest. I love the green too much. When I am not writing, I am procrastinating by taking and editing photos, reading stacks of books, and watching too much tv.
Could you tell us a little bit about your work in progress?
The one currently attempting to suck away all my free time is a YA Dystopian titled Prison Nation. It was my NaNoWriMo 2010 project, that I successfully “won” with.
In a nice, super summary, its about a future America that has barricaded itself in and set mega-strict laws with harsh punishments. Around 80% of the population is incarcerated at all times, those who are born into the prisons are raised in them until they turn 18. That’s where you meet Millie 942B, and join her in her experience of being released and coming to find out that the truth truly is, and what is honestly worth fighting for.
What is the first story you remember writing? What was it about?
I do believe it went somewhere along the lines of “I love my cat” I was about three, and it is still my prized work. After that I do remember a crazy long short story I created, all about the Wizard of Oz, but totally backwards and crazy. I think it was in second grade. The only reason I kept writing it was to crack up my fellow bus riders, and I seriously think about finishing it someday.
Are you more of a “plotter” or a “pantser”?
I am most definitely a pantser. The idea of plotting, planning, outlining and webbing literally sends my mind spinning and my desire to write hides in a dark corner and cries. I get a general idea of what I want, then go. Life isn’t planned out, why should my writing be? Not to mention, its just much more fun that way.
All writers need encouragement. Who first encouraged you to write, and who is it that encourages you today?
I have to go with the cliché answer, but it is so true: My parents. I am very lucky, in that both of my parents have done nothing but encourage my love of writing since I can remember. My mom used to sit with me on ferry rides home (we lived on a small island in Washington state) and helped me make up crazy stories one noun at a time. I don’t think she realizes how much those moments still mean to me. My parents helped wake up my mind. My imagination hasn’t stopped since.
Today, I am even more lucky. My family, my amazing husband, along with close friends and the awesome writing community I have discovered really keep me going. Without Kimmie (my NaNo war friend) and Keary Taylor (awesome fellow crazy writer), and Jessie with all her red marks, all of which constantly yell at me to keep going, I think I would still very much so be a “one day novelist.”
Which authors have had a significant influence on your writing?
I have a crazy love affair with the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Its one of those series that somehow struck a cord in me, and managed to pull me through some really rough patches of my life. I would love to hear someday that my writing did the same for someone else. Along with that, I do look up to most everything Orson Scott Card writes. He rocks, enough said.
What music, if any, do you enjoy listening to while you write?
It really depends on what the mood of the scene is that I am writing. I bounce between Secondhand Serenade, Tatu, Within Temptation, Dave Matthews Band… along with some amazing David Lanz instrumentals. Then my post writing recovery music is always: Mika.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
Oh man. Are you really going to make me acknowledge these?
Strengths. My sister-in-law recently told me that I come up with amazing ideas. And that if I ever come to find out that I suck at writing, I should be an idea person. I will take that as a compliment. Aside from that, I have been told I am good at painting the picture, that people can truly see the scene in their minds. Oh, and sarcasm too. I excel in sarcasm.
Weaknesses. Wow. As much as I love this art and know inside that I am good at it, I really do lack in confidence. That is something I really need to work on… Also, dialogue. I never seem to get it right. He said, she said, all the quotation marks and conversations. I need major classes in coping with that.
What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
To be perfectly honest, I don’t want utter fame. As amazing as it is for those folks like Rowling and Meyers, and as very welcome as that income would be, that isn’t my goal. I want to get my thoughts out there. My theory is that we write to live forever. If I can get my stories into that handful of heads and let them escape like I have with so many books, I will be happy.
What was once traditionally a print medium is now rapidly branching out into many digital formats. What do you think of this trend?
Ebooks. Huh. Well, to be nice first, I do see them as a great opportunity to get your books out further and faster than ever before. I think even more people are reading now that they can just click a button and the book appears on their screen. I do not own a Kindle. Or a Nook. Or even a smarty-pants phone. And I do not see myself ever owning any of those in the future. I love my books. I love holding them, turning the pages, smelling them (yes, smelling them. They smell amazing.) It really is sad to see so many turning away from our paper-bound friends. My one escape I take every few weeks is into the aisles of a bookstore, and years from now you can plan on still seeing me hiding there with my stacks of yummy paperbacks.
What was the last sentence that you had to re-read over and over again because of its awesomeness? What struck you about it?
I have been reading so many books, blogs, tips and tricks lately everything has bled together. But there is one sentence from Terry Goodkind series that is repeated through out that is always in the back of my mind, every day. “Your life is yours alone. Rise up and live it.” It is too easy to forget that, and reading it in print surrounded by the epic characters and their struggling fight made me realize that it was something I should never forget.
What book(s) have you recently read that you would recommend to the readers of this blog?
Lately I have been trying to read books that are in the genre that my WIP has settled itself. Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien was a good read. Along with The Well by A.J. Whitten. And of course I have to mention my good friend Keary Taylor’s book Branded.
What advice do you have to other aspiring authors out there?
You can do it. Hey, don’t argue. Yes, you can do it. I spent forever wanting to finish one of the thoughts in my head, and never got past chapter five. Just buckle down, slap yourself silly, and do it. If you love it, and want it, it will happen if you just let it. And when you type that last sentence… well, I will let you see how that feels yourself. Oh, and caffeine. Lots of it.
An apocalypse destroys the entirety of human literature, apart from the work of three authors that you can magically save with your wizardry – what do you save from imminent destruction?
1. The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind (Mostly due to my absolute love of it and how I could not live without the ability to reread it whenever I can.)
2. Harry Potter, all of them of course. We all need a little magic…
3. The Bible. As much as everything it says is debated and stretched and interpreted, it is truly monumental in who we are.
Our time is at an end. For our curious readers, how can we follow your progress?
Follow me! *skips away*
Blog: http://jennimerritt.blogspot.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/jennimerrittwriting
Website: www.JenniMerritt.com
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