T.A. Barron's Blog, page 9

All Your Writing Questions, Answered!

Other writers often ask me questions about how I started writing and for advice on their writing. I try answering your emails and Facebook posts and responding to as many writing questions as possible, but sometimes I can’t get to them all. So I’ve gathered some of the best questions about writing, and my answers to them, here.

Q. Why did you choose writing?

A. Writing allows me to explore wherever and whatever I choose. It’s taken me back in time, to a distant galaxy, to the place where the sea begins. Best of all, though, writing is a way to explore the biggest questions of life. Not to find the answers, perhaps, but to do some thoughtful exploring of the questions. The two most rewarding parts of the experience are, first, when a word or character or place or idea comes out just right—and, second, when something I’ve written truly touches someone in some way. Some of the letters I’ve received have been unforgettable enough to keep me up late at night working on the next book.

Q. What’s the best thing about writing?

A. The best thing is making a word, a place, a character, a dilemma, or an idea come alive. Truly alive. For both writer and reader. Then I have a chance to touch other people in a deep and lasting way. And I am more alive than ever before.

Q. Do you consider yourself successful?

A. Yes, I do consider myself successful, although there is much more I hope to accomplish in my lifetime. I really wish I could have more impact on our society and our democracy, which are in trouble in many ways, and on nature and wilderness, which are under siege by careless human activity. The one place I feel completely successful is as a dad — and that makes me happier than anything else.

Q. What would be your advice to young writers?

A. For starters, writing is the hardest work I’ve ever done — as well as the most joyous work I’ve ever done — which is why all the hard labor is worthwhile. But in this regard, talent will only take you a small part of the distance you need to go. What is necessary, in addition to talent, is discipline and persistence. Stay with your writing, no matter how many rewrites it takes to get it right!

Q. How do you generate your ideas?

A. My best ideas come from life itself. Especially being out in nature, observing the intricate wonders of wildflower meadows or rambling rivers, opens all my senses: I smell, hear, taste, touch, and see many things that inspire me to feel fully alive—and also to write. It’s the same when I’m with my kids. They unfailingly open my senses and make me more aware.

Ideas also come from reading an interesting book or thinking about the problems of the world today. Ultimately, if you notice what’s around you, and really take it in, you have a limitless source of inspiration material. Then just add a pinch of imagination and anything — literally anything — is possible.

Q. How important is research?

A. Extensive research is a must. If I as a writer am going to convince you as a reader to come with me to some fantastic place or time, I must first win your confidence. Your trust. The only two ways to do that are: first, to engage every one of your senses fully; and second, to do my research.

For The Lost of Years of Merlin epic, I researched the legends of Merlin for two years before I could even begin writing. I started with the ancient Celtic text called the Mabinogion and worked forward from there.

To write Heartlight, I needed to learn a lot about the life cycle of stars, the nature of light, and the marvelous morpho butterfly. For The Ancient One, I researched nine different tribes who lived in the Pacific Northwest five hundred years ago. In addition, I needed to understand the smells, sounds, and ecological interconnections of an ancient grove of redwoods. The Merlin Effect required learning about the legend of Merlin, Spanish galleons of the 16th century, the physics of whirlpools, and—best of all—the gray whales. Not to mention the motions and sounds of waves, the rhythms of tide pools, and the screeching of gulls. Research is often hard work, but it is loads of fun. And I get to choose the subject!

Q. What is the best writing method?

A. Writing is a strange, mysterious process. After more than twenty years, I still don’t know how it really works. But I do know it requires special, personal chemistry. So I always write the first draft with a blue felt pen and a pad of paper, because that’s good chemistry for me. Probably because, as a kid growing up in Colorado, that’s how I started writing. Once the manuscript is ready—a good first draft but still far from finished—I transfer it to a computer. Then I do six or seven complete rewrites—as many as it takes to get it right. I also do a lot of background research—about Celtic lore, Native American dances, sunken treasure ships … whatever is needed to make the story authentic. Last of all, I do some careful, delicate editing—marking up the printed copy with my friendly blue pen.

Q. I often get Writer’s Block; how do I overcome it?

A. You are not alone!!! Every writer I know has gone through times of such intense pressure. You are in excellent company.

Here is my advice: Forget about the rest of the world. Just write what YOU want to write. Say what you want to say. And do finish what you begin, even if it doesn’t feel perfect. It’s essential to finish. Most of all, it’s important to write from your deepest passion!

Q. How do you finish your stories?

A. The key, I have found, is to find whatever ways you can to get to the end. Complete the thing, even if you’re feeling bored with it. Then you have something whole to work with, to rewrite or reorder and make into a story you feel proud of.

For example, sometimes it helps to start the tale, then skip right to the ending while it’s fresh, and then fill in the middle. In your revisions, you can always add new themes or characters that add power and originality to your tale.

It’s the writing question fans always ask: “How do you write your stories?” Writers say they hate this question, and probably some really do. Because the writing process can be a fragile structure of instincts, research, emotion, and whatever talent we’re fortunate to possess, held together with the proverbial spit and baling wire. Sometimes we’re afraid the whole thing might tumble down if we look at it too hard!

But writers also love this question because however genuinely modest they may be, nearly any writer loves talking about their own writing. Or, more precisely: how they got the core idea for the story, the bursts of inspiration that pushed it forward, and the key insight that helped tie the narrative together!

So: How do I write my stories? Well, first of all, I still write my first draft of any new novel by hand, usually sitting in my study on the top floor of my house, with the view of the gorgeous Colorado mountains keeping me company. Feeling the texture of the paper and ink, and seeing the story progress down the lines of the page, gets my creative juices flowing.  Even if I have to ice my left wrist at the end of a long day, it’s worth it.

Before I even start to write, though, I’ll usually create a lengthy description of each character. That helps me to “see” the characters in my mind, hear their voices, know their good and bad sides, and start getting to know them and care about them. I also need a big question or two that needs answering, like “Can spirituality exist without religion?” or “How can a person overcome their deepest hurts?” or “What difference can one person make?”

Finally, I need a place that feels so inviting, mysterious, and beautiful that I’d love to travel there myself!  If you’ve read any of my books, you know that the places are just as important as the people in my stories. And while there are many inviting towns (and some unfriendly ones) and even a city or two in my novels, the wild natural world is where my characters have most of their adventures.

I need to get three elements worked out before I can start a new book: Detailed descriptions of each new character; a big idea that drives the plot, usually in the form of a question or two that the characters will answer in their thoughts and actions; and an amazing environment for their adventures.

Nature to me is a brilliant and mysterious teacher. A powerful healer. And my greatest inspiration. Since I was a boy, I’ve loved being in the wilderness, marveling at the grand sweep of the not-human world: the river of stars in the night sky, the grand march of a mountain range, or the vast expanse of the open ocean.

And more: Unspoiled nature is one of the few places left in this hyper-networked, noisy civilization we’ve created where we can still experience silence. That kind of silence is among the wellsprings of my creativity. Which I guess is why my characters often find themselves (in both senses of the phrase) in such places in my books!

Once I’ve got these elements lined up, I write that first draft by hand. Then I transfer everything to the computer, which is where I do all the rest of the writing.

While inspiration is a component of writing a book, no successful writer I’ve ever heard of got that way by relying upon inspiration alone. Woody Allen is supposed to have said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” I’ll typically go through seven or eight drafts of a novel, a process that takes some discipline–although the fact that I love my work certainly helps.

It’s in this lengthy revision period that my characters open up and tell me who they really are: their most profound fears, their greatest hopes, their deepest longings. It’s where the towns, forests, and other places in the story reveal their secrets, as well. It’s important that these all become truly real to me as the writer, because that is what makes them real to you, the reader.

As the novel revisions progress, I usually refine my focus. This means developing the key characters and the main arc of their adventures, without adding much that might dilute the mix and prevent me from finishing the story. I can always jot down a great idea to keep in reserve for a future book.

There’s nearly always a point in the final drafts where a writer gets totally tired of everything about a project, never mind how much he or she loves the people and places in it. If I get to this point, I’ve learned it’s important to find whatever ways I can to complete the book, no matter how exhausted I feel.  One key realization I’ve had is that there’s no law that I have to write the story in the “right” order! I can always skip to the ending while it’s fresh and exciting in my mind, and fill in the middle later on.

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Bringing a Character to Life

Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest, but most important elements of writing. When you see how they look in your mind — and can hear their voice echoing — then you’ve begun to know who they are. But it’s not until they lean close and whisper to you their innermost secrets – their deepest fears, their highest hopes, and their innermost longings — that they are truly real. And if they are fully real for you, as the writer, they will also be real for your reader.

 

Introducing a character

Throw them in — let their actions introduce them. Any good character is immersed in relationships, a particular place, and a gripping situation. So jump right in! Show the readers – don’t just tell them — what the characters are like.

 

Developing a character

I watch people around me and look at the small things: how they talk, how they walk, how they gesture. Then I try to go inside them to look at their motivations. Next, I must name my characters.

Names are very important! A name must really fit a character. Sometimes I know that a name must be part of a certain culture or language where the story originates. Such as Laoni, the Native American girl in The Ancient One, or Tamwyn, the wilderness guide who travels to the stars in The Great Tree of Avalon. Laoni’s name I found in researching tribal names from the Pacific Northwest, while Tamwyn’s name I made up using Celtic roots since the Avalon trilogy (like the other books in The Merlin Saga) is grounded in Celtic myth. Another example: Emrys.

Sometimes I make up a new language for a particular creature (such as Shim or Ballymag in the Merlin books), and in those cases, I use the new language to make the character’s name. And sometimes I just wait until a name that feels exactly right comes into my mind! (Once my three-year-old daughter, who was making up rhymes, gave me the idea for a character’s name that had eluded me for months. That was Kandeldandel.) A great moment… but I scared her!

 

Making the characters real

Just make absolutely sure that your imaginary world feels real. Make it true! If the places and people you’re writing about don’t feel real to you then they won’t feel believable to the reader. That’s one of the reasons I include maps in all my books: They make the worlds more detailed and believable.

 

Creating original characters

Inventing original creatures is always fun.  To get your thinking started, combine two or three creatures you know into one — and then imagine what kind of extra special eyes would it have.  What language would it speak?  And while you’re at it, what magical powers would it have?

 

Focus on Key Ideas and Characters

This is a serious issue, especially in novels that hope to create a rich, complex, believable world. Sometimes I have to tell perfectly good plot ideas and viable characters, “Just sit down and shut up.” The key is to remember exactly what essential characters, magical places, and underlying ideas caught my attention in the first place — enough to go through all the agony of writing.

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A Magical World

Nature and the environment are hugely important as inspiration to me. Not just in my writing, but also within my own personal life.

While doing book events in Marin County, California (home of the wondrous Muir Woods), my host commented on the importance of trees in my books. Ranging from Tree Girl, to The Ancient One, to Arbassa in The Lost Years of Merlin, to The Great Tree of Avalon — trees abound. “What is it,” she asked, “with you and trees?”

My answer had several parts:

(1) A personal, primal memory from childhood. Writing under the old ponderosa pine tree on my parents’ ranch, wondering what tales it could tell—about Utes, forest fires, deep snowy winters, Spanish explorers, and the trill of a meadowlark.

(2) The spiritual element: To be a sentient tree would mean to be a truly centered being. This would require sinking roots deeply, being fully alive, and staying utterly aware. Such great wisdom. This requires an absolute sense of place—not just physical, but spiritual. Connecting earth and sky.

(3) This experience is starkly different from our human condition: Our unending yearnings, our ability to run and move and change. All this is good up to a point—but when centeredness is lost, so is a great deal of wisdom.

My books about the young wizard Merlin—twelve books in all, now translated into more than twenty languages—are really an extended environmental parable. Merlin (much like the guy who wrote the books) learns all his most powerful lessons from nature. His elemental magic comes from listening to the language of rivers and trees, flying as a hawk, and running with the deer.

It is my firm belief that protecting the environment and saving our remaining wilderness should be a bipartisan, patriotic duty that benefits all Americans, now and forever. That’s why I am so adamant about conveying to our children, through our actions as well as our words, the interdependence of all living creatures. After all, we all belong to the same human family, we are part of the community of species, and our fate is directly connected to the health of our planet.

We can convey these ideas to our children by letting them experience nature firsthand. Let them run and skip and play in the rain. Encourage them to climb trees and go on hikes as a family. But perhaps most importantly, show them examples of young heroes who are doing everything they can to protect the environment. In this way, you can inspire them to be environmental guardians, too.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which I named in honor of my mother, celebrates outstanding kids of all descriptions who have made a positive difference to people and our planet. The purpose of the Prize is twofold: to encourage wonderful, public-spirited kids to keep working to improve the world; and to inspire other young people to do the same. I love the fact that the winners of the Prize come from every conceivable background. There is a winner who looks like any girl or boy in America. Right there is a message for young people: If these kids are doing so much to make the world a better place, then maybe I can, too. All of us—regardless of age, gender, color, or background—can make a difference.

Here are just a few examples of these inspiring young heroes who are making positive strides in caring for our planet:

Shreya Ramachandran — The Grey Water Project

Shreya Ramachandran, a 2018 Barron Prize Winner, is combating the effects of drought through the non-profit organization she founded, The Grey Water Project. Her outreach efforts include conducting seminars to show others how easy it is to build greywater systems using organic detergents, collaborating with several California water agencies to promote greywater reuse, and developing a greywater curriculum for elementary students to teach water conservation and the idea that small actions can make a huge difference.

“I’ve learned that even though I am young, I can make a positive impact in my community,” says Shreya. “If I want to change something, I have to go out and make that difference instead of waiting for someone to do it for me.”

Adarsh Ambati — The Green Environment Initiatives

Another water warrior, 2021 Barron Prize Winner Adarsh Ambati, founded The Green Environment Initiatives to design solutions for environmental crises and to provide STEM education for underserved students. He has invented a smart sprinkler system that conserves water and has also developed a low-cost method for testing the health of amphibians.

“I’ve come to value the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity,” says Adarsh. “More importantly, I’ve discovered that through innovation, education, and advocacy, even teenagers like me can make a resounding impact on the world.”

Isha Clarke — Youth Vs. Apocalypse

Isha Clarke co-founded Youth Vs. Apocalypse, a diverse group of young climate justice activists who work to lift the voices of youth — in particular, youth of color — in the fight for a livable climate and equitable world. This 2020 Barron Prize Winner’s initiative organized and led the first Bay Area Youth Climate Strike in March 2019, when 2,000 protestors marched and chanted in the streets. 

“Just because we can’t vote doesn’t mean we don’t deserve a seat at the table, especially when the topic of discussion is our futures,” says Isha. “There is only one planet and it is the job of all of us to sustain it.”

Anna Du — Deep Plastics Initiative

One of the 2019 Barron Prize winners, Anna Du, invented a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that detects microplastics on the ocean floor. She has also created the Deep Plastics Initiative campaign to educate others about preventing and cleaning up ocean plastics pollution. Through her presentations around the world, Anna is inspiring young people to use science to tackle world problems. She has also written a children’s book, Microplastics and Me, and has raised more than $7,000 to distribute it to kids and libraries for free in high-need communities.

“When I first started doing science fairs, I had no idea that a young girl without lots of money and just a little advanced engineering knowledge could make a difference in the world,” says Anna. “I’ve learned that I truly love working on a problem that’s so much larger than me.”

I invite you to learn more about these young heroes and many more by visiting BarronPrize.org and InspiringYoungHeroes.org. 

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Romanian Children’s Book Festival Interview

with Andrei Ciobanu
Romanian Children’s Book Festival
March, 2022
PDF

What inspires your stories?

1) Writing is the hardest work I’ve ever done – and also the most meaningful work I’ve ever done.

2) The best part of this writing craft is that you can always find ways to grow. To expand your abilities to communicate stories and ideas. So my voice as a writer has certainly evolved. But I would add that everything I write has three essential parts – an unlikely hero I love, a magical place I want to explore, and a big idea that calls to me compellingly.

3) I write books I would like to read. Sometimes that’s an epic fantasy adventure where the entire universe is at stake, sometimes it’s a nonfiction book about heroic young people, sometimes it’s a shorter tale for children. And sometimes it’s a nature book with a great photographer that gets me out for long hikes to explore some magical places.

Why do you write fantasy?

1) Fantasy is like a bent mirror. I can reflect the reality of our experience with more intricacy and power – bending life – emphasizing certain elements and de-emphasizing others. If it succeeds, fantasy transports us to a whole new world, bizarre and terrifying and wonderful, while also illuminating our world.

2) The trick is to make all this feel true: Fantasy, as I’ve often said, must be true!

3) Fantasy is a wonderful way to illuminate the power of choice. That we all have. Even our small choices make a difference – and even when we resist making a choice, that also matters. I believe our free will is our greatest power. Our choices really matter – and if our choices matter, then so do we.

4) In addition, fantasy gives us a chance to ask some of life’s biggest questions in the context of a good old-fashioned page-turner. For example, Merlin’s origin story – his lost years – let me explore the idea that all of us, whatever our backgrounds, have some special magic down inside ourselves. Just like that unknown boy who washed ashore, all of us have felt “washed ashore” at some point in life. And just like young Merlin, all of us have the potential to reach for the stars.

Why do you write about magic?

1) Magic is not merely a fictional construct. It is a power we can experience, something very real.

2) Magic exists in the world, if we just have the eyes to see it. It’s in the wonders of nature, and the love between people and in the power of stories to inspire. And I do believe magic also exists in the realms beyond our knowing, in the mysterious pathways of the spirit.

How did you create Fincayra?

1) Fincayra is the part mortal, part immortal island surrounded by mist where Merlin goes. I’d like to go there myself! Fincayra is the bridge between the mortal world and the spirit realm – the place where young Merlin will discover his true powers and become a wizard.

2) Fincayra is a place I invented. But I wanted it to have an authentic Celtic feeling, and a Celtic name, since Merlin’s origins are from Celtic myth. So I chose the name Fincayra, which I found in a 12th century ballad, to be the place where Merlin would grow to be the greatest wizard of all times. That ballad referred to “Fincayra, the isle beneath the waves.” Now, doesn’t that sound like a good place for young Merlin to become a wizard?

How do you create imaginary worlds?

1) Whatever worlds I’ve written about – whether Merlin’s Isle of Fincayra, Avalon, the lost island of Atlantis, a fictional Native American tribe, a faraway galaxy, or any other place – must feel authentic. That’s the key. If that world feels real, then anyone can go there – and have a big adventure. So I use a lot of the skills I developed as a nature writer in Colorado to create believable fantasy worlds. Those imaginary places need to feel every bit as real as a Colorado wildflower meadow in the height of summer – with all the right colors, sounds, smells, tastes and touches.

2) Names are important for places, too. Just as with a human character or creature, the name must fit perfectly. For example, I spent a lot of time researching possibilities before I finally chose Fincayra as the name for Merlin’s magical island in The Merlin Saga books. The same is true for the imaginary places I’ve created in other books such as my trilogy about Atlantis, or the Adventures of Kate books, or Tree Girl.

Why Merlin? What made you write about him?

1) Ah, Merlin. How I love that wizard! When I was a student at Oxford, I often sat under an ancient, gnarled English oak that I called Merlin’s Tree. But I had no idea at all that, twenty years later, I would be adding a few threads of my own to the glorious tapestry of Merlin’s legend. Real life is much more surprising than legend!

2) Why do I write about Merlin? For the same reason that people have been telling stories about this character for over fifteen hundred years: Merlin stands for three enduring ideals – the universality of all people; the light and dark within ourselves; and the sacredness of nature. We don’t need to look far to see the importance of these same ideals today.

3) First, take universality. When you look at the original Celtic tales, Merlin’s role was truly astounding. He could connect with anybody of any description: Druids and Christians, nobles and peasants, archbishops and old gray wolves.

4) Now take the light and dark in every person. Merlin’s understanding of his own weaknesses and strengths made him far more humble, compassionate, and wise.

5) And finally – Merlin’s wondrous connection with Nature. Nature is Merlin’s greatest teacher – a source of wisdom, healing, and inspiration. To him, the language of the river or the tree isn’t so far from his own; the echoing call of a wolf is full of wisdom. Humanity has always yearned to connect with the cosmos, to belong to the universe as wholly as light belongs to the stars. Merlin reminds us of that yearning, and inspires us to explore it.

6) It all started with a dream. Back in 1993, I dreamed of a boy, half-drowned and barely alive, who washed ashore on a strange rocky coastline. He was weak, nauseous, and terribly confused. Not to mention utterly lost and alone. But he was also something else – the boy who would someday be called Merlin, the original wizard who has inspired stories worldwide for centuries. Merlin has incredible depth, and the reason he endures is because he speaks to so many of our basic human struggles – such as how do we find the courage to reach for our highest aspirations, how do we give our lives meaning, and how do we live peacefully with the natural world that sustains us. For the young Merlin I write about to grow into that exulted wizard of Arthurian lore, he has to learn several things along the way. He must learn about love, grief, compassion, transformation, power, and humility.

7) This young boy who becomes the greatest wizard of all times is, most of all, a story that I hope people of all ages will enjoy. But it’s also a metaphor – that all of us, whatever our backgrounds, have a magical person hidden down inside of ourselves. Just like that boy who washed ashore on the first page of the Merlin Saga, each of us feels “washed ashore” at some point in our lives. Lost, helpless, and alone. And yet… each of us, just like that boy, has some special magic of our own!

How did you research for Merlin?

1) Before even starting to write about Merlin’s youth, let alone his elder wisdom, I spent a full year just reading every single thing I could find about Merlin – ancient sources as well as modern ones. These sources included parts of the Welsh Mabinogian (first set down a thousand years ago), Spenser’s Faerie Queene, and Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. In addition, I read Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, Robert de Boron’s twelfth century poem, and of course Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regnum Brittaniae. That’s just the beginning. I also read more modern treatments of Merlin by Shakespeare, Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, Mary Stewart, C. S. Lewis, Nikolai Tolstoy, and (with great delight) T. H. White’s The Once and Future King.

2) Finally, after reading these sources – and writing about him for over twenty years – I’ve come to hear his voice. It is the voice of my greatest mentor, a true inspiration…and also, I feel, a friend.

3) Merlin – at least, the Merlin I have written about in The Merlin Saga – is a real human being. He has struggles, sorrows, joys, and aspirations-and, hidden deep within him, a remarkable talent. Or gift. Or magic. In that way, Merlin is no different from the rest of us – burdened by the human experience while at the very same time exalted by it. Therein lies the remarkable metaphor of Merlin. This metaphor I truly believe lies at the very heart of the whole Merlin Saga. Just like the young Merlin, all of us are washed ashore, half drowned, at some point in our lives. All of us have hidden struggles – and hidden potential. And all of us, like the greatest wizard of all, have great magic within us: the ability to reach for the stars.

Why did you choose for Merlin to lose his memory?

The loss of memory is a powerful storytelling tool — but it has to be used sparingly. I used it when the young lad who just might grow up to be Merlin the wizard washes ashore at the very start of The Merlin Saga, and that leaves the reader wondering, Who is this person really? So the hero’s quest also becomes the reader’s journey of discovery. That dials up the suspense making the reader lean more into the adventure. As Merlin discovers who he really is – so do we.

What was your greatest challenge in writing about Merlin?

I realized that, in the glorious tapestry of myth about Merlin, a tapestry whose luminous threads had been woven over 15 centuries, there was a big hole: the years of his youth. So that was my greatest challenge: To fill in this gap, this mystery, of his youth – with all the richness and majesty and power Merlin deserves!

Are there things you don’t like about Merlin?

Nope. I wouldn’t trim a single hair on his flowing beard.

How do you choose the names of your characters?

Names are very important! A name must really fit a character. Sometimes I know that a name must be part of a certain culture or language where the story originates. Such as Laoni, the Native American girl in The Ancient One, or Tamwyn, the wilderness guide who travels to the stars in The Great Tree of Avalon (Book 9 of The Merlin Saga). Laoni’s name I found in researching tribal names from the Pacific Northwest, while Tamwyn’s name I made up using Celtic roots, since the Avalon trilogy (like the other books in The Merlin Saga) is grounded in Celtic myth. Another example: Emrys.

Sometimes I make up a new language for a particular creature (such as Shim or Ballymag in the Merlin books), and in those cases I use the new language to make the character’s name. And sometimes I just wait until a name that feels exactly right comes into my mind! (Once my three-year-old daughter, who was making up rhymes, gave me the idea for a character’s name that had eluded me for months. That was Kandeldandel.) Great moment… but I scared her!

Does the story you’re writing sometimes evolve in a different way than you expected?

Yes! That happens often – and it’s a good thing. Only when characters start to speak, do they come alive. And they frequently have different ideas from my outline! Surprises like this assure me that both sides of my brain are engaged – the rational, logical side as well as the dreamlike, poetic, metaphorical side.

You often say you see your life as a story, why?

1) This is an empowering idea. Sometimes people ask me, “Wasn’t it scary to leave a paying job and move to a new place to try to write books?” The answer is, of course. It’s always scary to try something new. And I certainly had no evidence that I could write anything publishable. But here is the key point: Changing jobs was not nearly as scary as the idea of growing old and realizing that I had never really tried to follow my dream. That idea was really much more scary than the risk of changing jobs. I would much rather have tried to write a book and failed than never to have tried at all.

2) See your life as a story! Yes – and tell that story with all the passion and courage you can! Make your life a story that inspires a little bit of goodness, that makes the world a better place somehow — even in a small way that nobody else notices. It’s your story, and nobody else can write it. Only you have that power. I hope that these thoughts will encourage you to seek what you love and follow your dreams!

How do you create a character?

Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest, but most important elements of writing. When you see how they look in your mind, and can hear their voice echoing, then you’ve begun to know who they are. But it’s not until they lean close and whisper to you their innermost secrets – their deepest fears, their highest hopes, and their innermost longings – that they are truly real. And if they are fully real for you, as the writer, they will also be real for your reader.

Introducing a character
Throw them in – let their actions introduce them. Any good character is immersed in relationships, a particular place, and a gripping situation. So jump right in! Show the readers – don’t just tell them – what the characters are like.

Developing a character
I watch people around me and look at the small things: how they talk, how they walk, how they gesture. Then I try to go inside them to look at their motivations.

Making the characters real
Just make absolutely sure that your imaginary world feels real. Make it true! If the places and people you’re writing about don’t feel real to you then they won’t feel believable to the reader. That’s one of the reasons I include maps with all my books: They make the worlds more detailed and believable.

Creating original characters
Inventing original creatures is always fun. To get your thinking started, combine two or three creatures you know into one – and then imagine what kind of extra special eyes would it have. What language would it speak? And while you’re at it, what magical powers would it have?

What character resembles you most?

I would love to resemble, in my own humble way, a certain wizard named Merlin. But I’m sure there’s some of me in all my characters (especially the bumbling ones).

Do you have a favorite character?

1) Impossible to say. That’s like asking me “Who is your favorite child? I love all my characters…which is necessary to create authenticity. BUT… if I could choose only one character as my all-time favorite – it would certainly be Merlin.

2) What really made me fall in love with young Merlin was the realization that Merlin, the original wizard and the greatest mage of all times, didn’t just spring into life as the ancient, wise, eccentric, powerful fellow we all know – the wizard in The Sword in the Stone or the many tales of Camelot. No way. So where did he come from? I started asking, What happened in his childhood? How did he come to be this great exalted wizard who is so beloved around the world? And also … what strange and terrible and mysterious things happened to him in his youth that made him want to keep those years a deep secret for centuries – his Lost Years? Around that time, I woke up in the middle of the night from a vivid dream – a dream of a boy, half drowned and only barely alive, who washed ashore on a strange land. He had no memory, no identity, no idea who he was. But he did have something special, maybe even magical, down inside. He felt drawn to the wonders and powers of nature. He had great love for humanity, even with all our flaws. And he had that tiny spark of magic, which was destined to grow into something truly majestic. That was when I knew who he was – Merlin. That was the beginning of this whole journey… and to this day I’m grateful to Merlin for choosing me to be his companion.

Is there anything of your children to be found in some of your characters?

1) Yes indeed! Our children radiated qualities that inspired me – and still do. Qualities like wonder, freshness, curiosity, honesty, aliveness, bravery – and of course, humor.

2) Being a parent has certainly made me a better storyteller. I learned early that if I could keep the attention of our five kids around the breakfast table first thing in the morning, and not have them fall asleep in their cereal bowls, then I might have a chance to tell a gripping story. In addition, just by spending time with those kids – who are so full of humor, freshness, honesty, creativity, and ideals – how could I not pick up some of those qualities myself?

3) One more thought: I think writers whose stories are shared with young people have a responsibility to give them a feeling of hope and empowerment. That certainly doesn’t mean talking down to kids or avoiding any of the real struggles, pain, and hardships of life. Just the opposite! But through depicting honest struggles and serious challenges, we can also inspire authentic hope.

Why is nature so important?

1) Nature is my great friend, teacher, and healer. As well as my enduring inspiration. How did all that happen? The best way to explain is to start with my childhood. I was lucky enough to grow up in two places close to nature – New England and Colorado – and could always explore a mountain stream, climb a tree, pick an apple, or just cover myself with mud.

2) The nearness of nature shaped me profoundly. Not just in the adventurous ways you might expect – in deeper, spiritual ways, as well. For example, I remember a snowy day when I was very young. My mother – an independent soul who was a geologist as well as a pantheist – dressed me in one of those big puffy snowsuits that made me look like a waddling balloon and took me outside. The snow drifts towered over me. Then she patted the top of a huge snowdrift and said, “Believe it or not, there are flowers under there. You won’t see them until springtime, but it’s true.” I was astounded. Flowers? Under there? She was telling me about the patterns of the seasons, of course – but also about something more. Something like … hope. Transformation. Renewal.

3) Another example: When I was about twelve, I was walking through a meadow on the ranch. Suddenly I saw some geese flying overhead. They were so close I could hear their wings whooshing as they flew. Some of them, I realized, had started their journey way up in the Arctic, in Alaska, and had flown over western Canada and the Rocky Mountains, all the way to our little meadow. It struck me that their flight tied together some of the most beautiful places on this continent – that, by the very beating of their wings, they connected all those amazing places. And that they actually also connected me to those very same places.

4) Then there was another day, when my brother and I found a slab of petrified wood, over fifty million years old, on the hill behind our Colorado ranch house. Fifty million years, I thought – why, that was even older than my dad! That was my first glimpse of geologic time – and a whole new perspective on human life and mortality.

5) How did these experiences shape me? Well, early on I realized that unspoiled nature is the best place to feel both very small and very large at once. Humbled as well as inspired. In nature, we can be dwarfed by the grand sweep of the stars or oceans or mountains, and yet still be part of it all – connected to the changing seasons, the tracks of a fox, or the flight of geese. In nature, we can know that we are a very small part of the universe – but that we are, nonetheless, still part of the grandeur, the pattern, the mystery.

6) I also discovered something startling – something truly radical in today’s hyper-connected, materialistic, noisy world: In wild places, we can still experience silence. We can hear voices apart from our own, sounds not made by automobiles or chainsaws or electronic media. We can even hear, sometimes, the ongoing whispers of creation – that remarkable process whose essence is life, and whose engine is silent (from To Walk In Wilderness). And so, in time, I learned that nature can be a wonderful friend. A brilliant teacher. A powerful healer. And a great inspiration.

Nature is always present in your books – do you see it as a mere background or as something more, a character of its own?

1) Nature is hugely important in all my books. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I treat the natural world not merely as a setting, a backdrop for my stories – but as a full-blown character. Think about it. Places are alive, just like you or me. They have moods, histories, and qualities that can be bizarre, humorous, tragic, mysterious, or inspiring. Part of my job as a writer is to make those places so real, so sensuous, so fully alive, that readers want to voyage there again and again. In this way, environmental awareness is woven through all my books.

2) My start as a nature writer has given me a huge advantage as a fantasy writer. That’s because a nature writer must learn how to bring places to life – so fully that you really feel like you are there. And that’s even more important for a fantasy writer, who must make imaginary places feel totally real, truly authentic, and fully alive.

3) My books about the young wizard Merlin – thirteen books in all, now translated into more than two dozen languages – are really an extended environmental parable. Merlin (much like the guy who wrote the books) learns all his greatest lessons from nature. His elemental magic comes from listening to the language of rivers and trees, flying as a hawk, and running with the deer. Here’s an excerpt (from The Fires of Merlin) when he becomes a stag: “Somehow, in a mysterious way, I was listening not just to sounds, but to the land itself. I could hear, not with my ears but with my bones, the tensing and flexing of the earth under my hooves, the changing flow of the wind, the secret connections among all the creatures who shared these meadows – whether they crawled, slithered, flew, or ran. Not only did I hear them; I celebrated them, for we were bound together as securely as a blade of grass is bound to the soil.”

4) Another example: The Ancient One. This is the tale of a young woman named Kate who tries to save a great redwood tree from loggers – and who discovers that this ancient tree holds the answer to a riddle about what really happened to a lost tribe of Native Americans who vanished centuries before. Helped by the tree, Kate travels back in time and learns a lot from those people. And she also learns from the tree itself, whose very breath is a revelation: “As she listened … she heard a rushing, coursing sound, like the surging of several rivers. She realized that it must be the sound of resins moving through the trunk and limbs of the tree. And, strangely, through her own self as well … Back and forth, in and out, always changing, always the same. This was the sound, Kate realized at last, of the tree itself breathing. The sound of life being exchanged for life, breath for breath.”

Why do you love trees?

Trees are a personal, primal memory from childhood. The cottonwood tree around our tree house is my favorite here at home.

One of my most favorite trees in the world (and I have many) is a great redwood in the Muir Woods near San Francisco. It’s trunk opens up like a cavern. You can stand inside and if you sing, the echoing vibrations surround you as if you were standing under a bell. Being inside this tree, really, feels like a big hug. It made me wonder… What stories could this ancient tree tell, if only I could hear? And then I realized that this ancient tree must be a truly centered being, to sink its roots deeply in one place, connecting earth and sky. That experience inspired my novel The Ancient One.

Do you know from the beginning how a book will end?

Usually, yes. But I am often surprised. Sometimes I think the story is supposed to end in one way – but one of my characters tells me that’s wrong, the ending should be different. In those cases, I always listen to the characters.

When you write, do you have a special setting, special habits?

1) My writing room is my favorite place to create. It feels like a mix of Merlin’s Crystal Cave; an art gallery (fan art from around the world); an outdoor equipment center; and, of course, a Library.

2) Handwritten manuscripts: Well, I still write all the first drafts of my books by hand. Yes, even the big fat novels like The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy started out as handwritten scrawl on note pads. I always write the first draft with a blue felt tip pen on pads of lined paper. Why in this modern age of high tech would anyone do that? Because the chemistry works for me. Maybe it brings me back to the creative mindset of my childhood when I was writing my very first stories and poems, leaning against an old apple tree. Sure, this system isn’t the most efficient… but it’s worked now for over 30 books, so I will probably stick with it. At least for my next 30 books.

3) This might surprise you, coming from someone who often writes about wildly imaginary characters and places – but my best ideas come from real life. From observing the world closely. If someone really pays attention, really notices, then their senses are more alive and their minds are full of ideas. That amounts to a whole lot of source material! Just add a pinch of imagination… and anything, literally anything, is possible.

4) Essentially, I write all the time, even when I’m traveling, going for a hike with my kids, sleeping, whatever. The creative process isn’t limited to the hours I spend in my writing chair in the attic of our home in Colorado – though that is still my favorite place to work. I love to sit up there with a steaming hot mug of cinnamon tea.

How do stories connect all people?

Stories can reach across all boundaries of geography, culture, language, religion, and even time. A true sort of magic! (For that reason, I always feel that writing is a humbling experience.)

What do you wish for your readers around the world?

My deepest wish is that everyone who reads my books will feel as much joy in the reading as I felt in the writing!

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The Importance of Literacy (Plus a New Quest for Young Heroes!)

I may be a little biased, but I believe that storytelling is one of the single most consequential talents we humans have — something unique that sets us apart from all the other creatures of this world, while bringing us together as a species. Reading, writing, storytelling… these are all vehicles for ideas. Sometimes very big ideas, with the magnitude to remake our lives. 

As an author, writing allows me to explore — wherever and whatever I choose. It’s taken me back in time, to a distant galaxy, to the place where the sea begins, and to the origins of Merlin and Atlantis. Best of all, though, writing has been a way to explore life’s biggest questions. Not to find the answers, perhaps, but to do some thoughtful exploring of the questions. The two best parts of the experience are, first, when a word or character or place or idea comes out just right — and, second, when something I’ve written touches someone in a meaningful way. And I’m always amazed and humbled by how much stories can mean to people!  Believe me, over the years, I’ve been given some truly amazing letters, comments, paintings, sculptures, music, theatrical productions, and even clothing from fans all around the world—not to mention some loving hugs—so I feel very lucky indeed to be a storyteller.

Oftentimes, I feel that my stories are like little boats that I spend time crafting until they’re finally shipworthy and ready to sail. Then I lovingly set them free upon the great ocean that connects all people across distances, cultures, languages, and times. My “story boats” sail away to have their own journeys and adventures, touching the lives of people on faraway shores, people I will probably never meet. And though I don’t always know where those boats have landed, I trust that they have brought something meaningful in their holds — a new idea, perhaps, or a good reason for hope, or a small source of inspiration.

Because, the truth is, a writer is nothing without readers. After I construct a story, I send my words out into the world, but it is only after the connection of reader and writer that the experience of a shared story can occur. After all, a storyteller without an audience is nothing but someone talking to themselves!

My newest Quest for Young Heroes involves literacy which, contrary to popular belief, isn’t about learning to read. Rather, literacy is more about becoming a successful reader — one who can use words to create a story, understand another’s thoughts, and, if they so choose, become someone who also creates stories for others. I invite you to click the photo to download this newest Quest and share your love of reading with others!

Early Literacy: Building a Solid Foundation

This quest will take you on a learning adventure to discover the importance of early literacy, as well as help you discover ways you can be a young hero by promoting literacy through your own actions. It is my greatest goal to inspire young heroes to take action toward causes in which they believe!

My national award, The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes — awarded to public-spirited kids from every background who have done outstanding service work for people and the planet — is all about turning the spotlight on young people who are changing the world through their actions. Why? So their stories, inspiring examples of how one person can make a positive difference, can be shared by others.

Download and print the Early Literacy Quest.

One of these inspiring young heroes, Sascha Pakravan, has been making strides toward promoting educational equity and providing reading resources that are accessible to all Hawaiians. Passionate about cultivating literacy across Hawaii, Sascha has professionally recorded and posted on his nonprofit’s website nearly 80 free videos of him and his sister reading well-loved children’s books aloud. I encourage you to continue your Quest beyond the worksheet above and learn more about what other young heroes are doing to promote literacy by visiting InspiringYoungHeroes.com.

Visit the Quests section of my blog for more quests to complete on your journey to becoming an inspiring young hero!

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The Art of Kindness

There is magic in kindness. Not rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but the true life-changing stuff of miracles.

Genuine, heartfelt kindness creates a type of magic that is never-ending — a kind that multiplies with every person it touches. I’ve come to believe kindness is more than just a series of generous acts or politeness to a stranger. Authentic kindness requires us to be thoughtful as we go about our daily lives — to see beyond our own problems, to reach out to those around us, and to take positive action. Kindness means offering what you can whenever you’re able, even if it’s something as simple as a smile, a friendly word, or a word of encouragement. In this way, kindness truly is an art form.

I’ve written before about how Kindness is a Labor of Love — an intentional state of being we must work toward, rather than doing what’s expected of us. Kind acts, done with no expectation of reward, help everyone — not simply the giver and the receiver, but also those who witness an altruistic act. Witnessing a random act of kindness can inspire others, giving them a gentle nudge in their own hearts and minds toward positive action. And kindness is contagious! People who work on spreading happiness to those around them, and who improve the world for others — even if only for a minute — are constantly inspiring others.

Being the recipient of someone’s goodwill alters our point of view, and taps our inner reserves of hope and gratitude. Once shared, one simple act of kindness will grow and multiply — from person to person and heart to heart. In fact, there is even scientific evidence to support the idea that kindness impacts humans in measurable physical and mental ways. Scientists are learning that being altruistic positively impacts life span, relationships, anxiety, depression, pain, stress, and more. Not to mention, people who engage in kind behaviors historically report being generally happier than those who don’t.

I hope to spark a passion inside of each of you, to inspire you to go about your day with a plan to be thoughtful and nurturing toward those you love and toward those whom you may come in contact with once and never see again. More than that, though, I hope I can inspire you to inspire others to do the same — to set off a chain reaction of kindness throughout the globe that lasts beyond this one holiday… to create the art of kindness daily.

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The Disappearance of Dragons (Plus a New Quest)

Just as I believe in the magic of this world, I also believe in creatures that we may never have the chance to meet. Take dragons for instance. A question that comes up frequently in my letters is whether I would like to have a dragon as a pet. That’s one question I never have trouble answering, since NOBODY has a dragon as a pet, only as a friend! And they are very special friends to have indeed — dragons are highly selective about the company they keep. They are incredibly wise and are fluent in many languages, including those of elves and fairies.

This, of course, comes from the tales told to me by Merlin, as I have yet to meet a dragon in real life. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with so many other wonderfully mysterious creatures of this majestic planet — with the problems facing our environment and other factors, many of those creatures that we might have called friends have disappeared by way of extinction.

Among my journeys, I have met numerous heroes on their path to protect these vulnerable creatures, and I invite you to join them by embarking on the Endangered Species Quest below.

Endangered Species: Protecting Vulnerable Creatures

This quest will take you on a learning adventure to discover what it means for a creature to be endangered, as well as help you discover ways you can be a young hero by protecting vulnerable species through your own actions. It is my greatest goal to inspire young heroes to take action towards causes in which they believe!

My national award, The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes — awarded to public-spirited kids from every background who have done outstanding service work for people and the planet — is all about turning the spotlight on young people who are changing the world through their actions. Why? So their stories, inspiring examples of how one person can make a positive difference, can be shared by others.

Download and print the Endangered Species Quest.

One of these inspiring young heroes, Genevieve Leroux, has been making strides toward protecting one endangered species — Monarch butterflies. She started Milkweed for Monarchs, a movement that focuses on the planting and nurturing of milkweed plants — monarchs’ sole food source during their caterpillar phase. I encourage you to continue your Quest beyond the worksheet above and learn more about what other young heroes are doing to protect endangered species by visiting InspiringYoungHeroes.com. 

Visit the Quests section of my blog for more quests to complete on your journey to becoming an inspiring young hero!

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Give Back Generously This Holiday Season

Generosity, one of Merlin’s seven magical words, is a word that holds magic in itself. You see, generosity is not simply about giving a tangible gift to another person. Instead, it’s the magic of giving freely of your heart, time, attention, knowledge, talents, and feelings. This act in itself is often a more powerful, meaningful gift to share with someone than an item they could purchase or acquire themselves. When you give of these things that you are intimately attached to, though they are gifts often more difficult to quantify, they are also ones that can only be truly released from a generous heart.

This holiday season, I hope that I can inspire you to be generous with your gifts. Not from your pocket, no, but from your heart. Read on to discover some of the ways that you can be generous and give back this holiday season — or anytime!

12 Ways to Give Generously

I think my dear friend Merlin describes the heart of a generous giver best, “I will give this to a dear friend,” he declares. “Of course, I’d love to keep it right here, where I can see it every day. Yet even more… I’d love to know it’s with my friend, where she can do the same.”

Here are some ways to be a generous giver in your own life:

Volunteer your time

During the holiday season or any time during the year, consider sharing yourself with others. Charities and non-profit organizations are always looking for volunteers to help out, or you could volunteer to read at an after-school program, help out a soup kitchen, participate in an environmental clean-up — all it costs is your time!

Create and hand out care kits for those in need

Another way to give back to your community and even to get kids involved in helping others is to create care kits to hand out to those who are in need. These kits can contain hygiene essentials, socks, gloves, or any other kind of items that might make someone’s day a little brighter. Keep these in your car to give out when you come across someone in need, or donate them to a shelter. I invite you to watch this video from InspiringYoungHeroes.org about Jahkil Jackson and Project I Am — and how his Blessing Bags are making a difference.

Write an encouraging letter

Oftentimes, a few simple words of encouragement are enough to make someone’s day. Consider writing a letter to a student, a teacher, a neighbor, or anyone else you think is working hard and deserves to be recognized!

Become a mentor

Everyone has some kind of skill that makes them special. Take on an apprentice and show them how to do what you do! Whether it’s a hobby, a passion, or your career, someone is looking for advice. Consider making video tutorials, writing down your recipes, or some other way to share your knowledge with others.

Create something special

Homemade items hold their own magical significance to the recipient. If you can quilt or crochet, consider making blankets for a children’s hospital or shelter. If cooking is your forte, maybe you could bake a batch of cookies for a nursing home’s residents.

Listen

A sympathetic ear, and a caring heart, can make all the difference. Take time to listen to others and really hear them.

Send a card to a stranger

Many residents of nursing homes and members of the military deployed overseas have no one to send care packages or write letters. You can help make their loneliness a little more manageable by sending a card letting them know that someone cares. 

Practice being environmentally friendly

One of the best ways you can give back anytime is to practice being environmentally friendly. We are all residents of this beautiful planet, and by taking care of our habitat and all the creatures who live there, we are ultimately taking care of ourselves. 

Lend a helping hand

If you see someone struggling with a flat tire, an armload of groceries, or a crying toddler, don’t ignore them and walk past. I invite you to connect with a stranger and offer a helping hand, a kind smile, or words of encouragement. I promise you — it goes a long way!

Use your talents

Do you have an amazing storytelling voice? Can you create silly plays? Perhaps you’re a talented woodworker. Use your talents to give back! Provide entertainment to a hospital, read stories to children at a library, teach someone how to create their own furniture. Whatever your talent, share it!

Be patient

In this busy, hustle-bustle life, it can be tough to slow down and have patience — especially when we’re all in a hurry to get where we’re going. Instead of getting frustrated in a line or in traffic or in any other scenario where you are not in charge of your own pace, take a breathe and give the people around you a little grace. 

Inspire others

Every item on this list will inspire others to follow your example and spread a little joy themselves. After all, kindness is contagious! 

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A New Quest for Young Heroes: Solving World Hunger In a time usually known as a time of abundance, we often forget about the problems that so many of our fellow humans face: food insecurity. Imagine having to make a choice between food or life-saving medicine, groceries or baby formula, or choosing which meal to stretch out to ensure that your children won’t go to bed hungry. That’s the reality that millions of Americans and others all around the world face. In this quest, I invite you to learn about food insecurity and how you can help fight world hunger.  Food Insecurity: Solving World Hunger Food insecurity is more than simple hunger. Instead, it is the long-term ramifications based on a family’s inability to ensure that they have enough food to live an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is an issue throughout the U.S. and around the world, and it has been exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic.

I invite you to watch the very first Inspiring Young Heroes Big Ideas video, which puts a spotlight on food insecurity, featuring Annie Zhu, Lillian Peterson, and Chander Payne. These young heroes have some big ideas to make a difference!

My national award, The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes — awarded to public-spirited kids from every background who have done outstanding service work for people and the planet — is all about turning the spotlight on young people who are changing the world through their actions. Why? So their stories, inspiring examples of how one person can make a positive difference, can be shared by others.

Download and print the Food Insecurity Quest. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which I named after my mother, honors twenty-five young people every year. Over the years, we have met several future Princess Dianas, Nelson Mandelas, and Mother Teresas. And their stories, I promise, will renew your hope in humanity. Join the adventure and become an inspiring young hero by completing the Food Insecurity quest!

Visit the Quests section of my blog for more quests to complete on your journey to becoming an inspiring young hero!

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