Ask the Author: Rita Emmett
Answered Questions (6)
Rita Emmett
Destructive Emotions : A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama by Daniel Goldman
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Ethics in a Nutshell by Matt Deaton
The 1916 Rising by Edward Purdon
Start With Yourself by Beth Taska
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Ethics in a Nutshell by Matt Deaton
The 1916 Rising by Edward Purdon
Start With Yourself by Beth Taska
Rita Emmett
Before my "new system" I would do one of 4 things:
1. take a walk outside
2. take a shower (once when stumped on a difficult chapter, I took 3 showers in one day)
3. change to a different chapter
4. walk away and attack it another day
My present system: Instead of words going from my brain to my computer,
I work the "old fashioned way" and hand write everything on a legal pad. (Either sitting outside or anywhere except my office)
Then I type it. So if writer's block hits while hand writing, I go and type. Then come back.
Works for me.
1. take a walk outside
2. take a shower (once when stumped on a difficult chapter, I took 3 showers in one day)
3. change to a different chapter
4. walk away and attack it another day
My present system: Instead of words going from my brain to my computer,
I work the "old fashioned way" and hand write everything on a legal pad. (Either sitting outside or anywhere except my office)
Then I type it. So if writer's block hits while hand writing, I go and type. Then come back.
Works for me.
Rita Emmett
Read the type of book you're writing.
Do tons of homework. Learn about writing, specific needs of your genre, self-publishing vs. trade publishing, agents. Learn, learn, learn.
Have others read your book for comprehension, editing and proof reading and ask for feedback.
If only one person doesn't like something, but several others do, pause and evaluate -- who do you want listen to?
If you don't think you're a good writer but feel called to write, take a writing class.
We make time for what's important to us. Mark "Time to Write" on your calendar and honor it as an IMPORTANT appointment that must not be changed or missed.
And most of all -- write.
Do tons of homework. Learn about writing, specific needs of your genre, self-publishing vs. trade publishing, agents. Learn, learn, learn.
Have others read your book for comprehension, editing and proof reading and ask for feedback.
If only one person doesn't like something, but several others do, pause and evaluate -- who do you want listen to?
If you don't think you're a good writer but feel called to write, take a writing class.
We make time for what's important to us. Mark "Time to Write" on your calendar and honor it as an IMPORTANT appointment that must not be changed or missed.
And most of all -- write.
Rita Emmett
Usually, when I become aware of a problem that interests me, I research solutions and write a book. So far, my best-selling books for adults are about procrastination, clutter and stress.
My first picture book is for kids who are bullied into feeling stupid about something. Farkle Shark hopes to help them learn to focus on their strengths.
Now I'm working on a picture book where Farkle Sharks helps kids who feel "weird".
My first picture book is for kids who are bullied into feeling stupid about something. Farkle Shark hopes to help them learn to focus on their strengths.
Now I'm working on a picture book where Farkle Sharks helps kids who feel "weird".
Rita Emmett
Ahhh inspiration.
When an idea of a topic comes to me to write about. I usually fight it and push it away. IF it fights back, I finally give in. My latest book is a picture book. I NEVER wanted to write a picture book.
But little Farkle Shark and big sister Sparkle Shark kept pushing their way into my mind.
One night, I got up at 3 AM, went to my computer and wrote a rough draft. The next morning, it looked pretty good so I pursued it.
Recently, those darned little sharks came to me again in the middle of the night, so I'm writing another picture book.
But after that, I'm done. No matter how much they fight me, there is another idea fighting even more, so that is the idea or inspiration I plan to follow.
When an idea of a topic comes to me to write about. I usually fight it and push it away. IF it fights back, I finally give in. My latest book is a picture book. I NEVER wanted to write a picture book.
But little Farkle Shark and big sister Sparkle Shark kept pushing their way into my mind.
One night, I got up at 3 AM, went to my computer and wrote a rough draft. The next morning, it looked pretty good so I pursued it.
Recently, those darned little sharks came to me again in the middle of the night, so I'm writing another picture book.
But after that, I'm done. No matter how much they fight me, there is another idea fighting even more, so that is the idea or inspiration I plan to follow.
Rita Emmett
My most recent book is my very first picture book, Farkle Shark, You Are Not Stupid. It is based on a quote attributed to Einstein:
Everyone is a genius.
But if a fish is judged by how well it climbs a tree, it will live its entire life feeling stupid.
Haven't we all met kids who are not doing well in school so they believe they are stupid? But when they start talking about dinosaurs or computers, we realize they are brilliant.
Farkle Shark teaches that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We all need to learn to focus on our strengths.
Everyone is a genius.
But if a fish is judged by how well it climbs a tree, it will live its entire life feeling stupid.
Haven't we all met kids who are not doing well in school so they believe they are stupid? But when they start talking about dinosaurs or computers, we realize they are brilliant.
Farkle Shark teaches that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We all need to learn to focus on our strengths.
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