The T-Spot Welcomes Michelle McLean!

The T-Spot is back!!!

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Michelle McLean is in the spotlight!

Michelle is the author of historical and paranormal fiction for Entangled Publishing, as well as the non-fiction book, Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers for Career Press. She lives in Pennsylvania  with her husband, two kids, an insanely hyper dog and two very spoiled cats. So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Michelle:

1. Have you always written stories?

I have, from the time I was very little. My mom found a story about kittens I’d written when I was 5 or so And in 5th grade I won a Young Author’s Book Faire award for a story I’d written. I’d always wanted to be an author but never really thought it was something I’d be able to do “for real”. I’m glad I was wrong

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

About 9 years ago. I started writing my first novel when my first child was just a baby. This is actually the novel that was just released Though it’s been completely rewritten about six times in the meantime I’m not sure why I decided to try and get pubbed. It might have been partly to do with the fact that I was finally getting more involved online and had found a lot more information on how to go about getting published, where before I had no clue how to go about it. For the first time, it seemed possible. Or at least, I knew what steps I needed to take to make it happen

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I’ve always wanted to be traditionally pubbed, though I will be self-pubbing a non-fiction book later this year as well. I like the traditional industry and everything that goes with it, and I like the control you have with self-pubs. Querying Entangled was sort of a last ditch effort before self-pubbing To Trust a Thief. I’d queried it off and on for years (after total rewrites) and every time I’d query it I’d get very close. Sometimes rejects sited the market or similar titles. But they were still rejects. However, I really believed in this book, so I decided to send it to a few newer publishers I’d discovered and see what happened. I ended up with 2 pub offers and several other full requests. I guess I just hit that magic combination of a good book and good luck Both offers were great, but after speaking with my editor everything just clicked and I am thrilled to be a part of the Entangled team.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

It depends on what I’ve got going on. If I’m working on a project just for me or working on deadline. On deadline, it depends on how soon it is due lol My deadlines have been pretty tight, so my writing day is usually at least 8 hours a day. I try to treat it like a job and take the weekends off (and I try very hard not to work after school when my kids are home). I generally work about 4 hours during the day and several at night after everyone is in bed. For non-deadline projects, I usually set a goal for myself of 1000-2000 words a day during the week.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I used to revise as I went, but it sometimes took years to finish a project that way. And my first drafts used to be HORRID. But I’ve become a hard-core outliner which has made my first drafts a lot less messy to clean up. I’ve also recently become a total devotee of Dr. Wicked’s Write or Die. It keeps me from getting distracted. If an email comes in, I’m forced to ignore it (since emails often lead to checking on everything else online) So, my first drafts tend to be word vomits, but very organized ones that follow a detailed outline/synopsis. I do stray from them but rarely go off on major tangents. It’s usually the details that sometimes end up differently than I’d thought. On tight deadlines, I sometimes (if I have time) have one or two crit partners who read as I go (I’ll generally send them 50 page chunks). Then once I’m finished, I’ll revise, incorporate any of their edits, and send off my editor.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I don’t really get writer’s block since I try to work out any issues before I start writing, during the outlining stage. However, I do usually have at least one area where I just can’t figure out how to get from point A to point C. When this happens, I usually chat/skype/email/call one (or more) of my writing buddies and we have a brainstorming session. It really helps to have people to bounce ideas off of Also, doing the dishes or taking a shower tends to get the ideas flowing….not sure why, but if you come to my house and see a pile of clean dishes, it’s safe to assume I’m trying to work out a drafting problem

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I really love the brainstorming/outlining process and revisions I have a hard time getting the first draft out, but I love the very beginning of an idea, fleshing it out into a full-fledged idea just waiting to be written. And I love taking that first draft and polishing it up. My editor just sent me 1st round edits on my next book and I’m so excited to get started on the revisions I love taking what I have and making it something I am really proud of. It’s an awesome feeling!

8. Where were you when you got “The Call?”

At my desk lol I’m pretty much always at my desk I think I scared my dog with all the Squeeing that was going on

9. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Learn patience. (Still working on this one lol). There is nothing about the writing process that is fast or easy. From the first draft to getting a book deal to seeing the finished product in reader’s hands to watching sales grow…..NOTHING about this business moves fast. If you aren’t patience and persistent I don’t know how you can stay sane in the publishing world

Fun Topics:

10. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Um, I actually don’t drink at all lol But I am a fan of A&W Rootbeer

11. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

Charlaine Harris, Diana Gabaldon, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jennifer Armentrout, Bethany Wiggins, Susan Collins, Stephanie Meyer (and you are probably starting to see why every room in my house has an overflowing bookcase lol). And before anyone suggests it, I have a fully loaded Nook and the Kindle app on my computer – but I like to buy physical copies of my favorite authors/series. Oooo and I have made it my mission in life to own very book that Eleanor Burford wrote under the names Victoria Holt (I have all of these), Jean Plaidy, and Phillipa Carr. She was my first literary love

12. What TV shows are you watching?

My DVR is currently full of waiting episodes, but normally Castle, Once Upon a Time, Sherlock Holmes, Downton Abbey, The Big Bang Theory, Elementary

13. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

LOL probably more than is good for me, but Nathan Fillion is always the one who pops to mind first. And really, do I have to say why? *dreamy sigh*

{Tracey’s Note: First Roxanne and now Michelle. Two weeks in a row, Mr. Fillion! Has Colin Firth lost his place as the thinking woman’s sex symbol? How about you two don white shirts, jump into the nearest pond and wrestle to settle this once and for all? }

Thank you so much for the interview, Michelle! You can find more info at her website: http://www.michellemcleanbooks.com . You can also connect with her on Facebook at Author Michelle McLean and on Twitter @MichelleMcLean. Her Entangled Scandalous release, To Trust A Thief, is available NOW!!!

Do you believe in writer’s block? Is Nathan Fillion your celebrity crush, too? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see which fabulous author is hanging out at the T-Spot.