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I would like to introduce our Write Marbles readers to Carmela Martino. I first met Carmela when she was part of a panel discussion at my first SCBWI-IL Prairie Writer’s Day and if you have read any of my other mini interviews then you will see that this is something of an emerging theme! Like Andrea, Amy, Brenda and Heidi, Carmela is also a very generous and inspiring role model for those of us who are trying to climb the writing ladder. These generous authors are some of the many reasons that I highly recommend that you join your local chapter of SCBWI. If you ever have the opportunity to take one of Carmela’s classes or listen to one of her presentations then I highly recommend it. For more information, you can visit the “Programs” page of her website: www.carmelamartino.com
Carmela is the author of the middle-grade novel Rosa, Sola (Candlewick Press), which was named to Booklist’s “Top Ten First Novels for Youth: 2006.” She has an MFA in writing from Vermont College and teaches writing classes for both children and adults. Carmela is also a contributor to the superb SCBWI-IL’s newsletter Prairie Wind.
Carmela, thank you for sharing your writing life with The Write Marbles. Could you describe your ideal writing environment and routine?
I usually write in a spare bedroom that I turned into an office. I have two computers—an old one that I do most of my writing on and a newer one for Internet access that I share with my husband. I try to keep the new one turned off when I’m writing so I’m less tempted to check email or surf the Net while working.
At the moment, I’m not teaching any classes, so I have the luxury of being a full-time writer. My goal is to spend at least 30 hours per week writing. I aim for 6 hours per day, five days a week, but I sometimes work on Saturdays if I haven’t accomplished my goal.
My “ideal” work day begins with getting up at 6:30 to meditate for 20 minutes. After breakfast, a shower, and some prayer time, I sit down to work. I’m a morning person, so I focus on writing in the morning, for at least 3 hours. After a lunch break, I work another 2-3 hours. If I’ve accomplished my daily writing quota (see below), I’ll use the afternoon time to do research, update my website, or respond to email. I also make sure to get regular exercise. Weather permitting, I walk outside for 30 minutes a day on most days. I often find that solutions to my writing problems pop into my head while I’m walking.
Are you a member of a critique group? If so, how does your group work? How many people? Policies? Do you have a name?
Yes, I’ve been in a critique group for over 12 years. We currently have 8 members, all women. One of the husbands christened us the “Sexy Writer Ladies,” so we call ourselves the SWLs. We meet at Panera’s twice a month. We bring a whole picture book or short story, or a chapter from something longer. We provide enough copies for everyone attending and one of us reads the piece aloud before we critique it. While it isn’t a “rule” in our group, we usually try to start out by saying something positive about the piece.
I’m also very connected to my Vermont College graduation class. We’re known as the Hive, and we have our own email discussion group. I don’t think a day goes by without someone posting a message to the group. We occasionally critique each other’s work via email.
Do you have a personal commitment to write a certain amount or for a length of time per day/week? If so, we would love you to share!
When I’m working on a first draft, I have a goal of adding two pages per day, or about 500 words. When I’m researching or revising, my goal is to work a set amount of time per day on that project or specific task. I find having time or word quotas helps me stay focused.
Do you have a favorite motto or quote that motivates you?
I have all kinds of quotes—I actually have a file folder filled with them. One of my favorites is from Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water: “If the artist works only when he feels like it, he’s not apt to build up much of a body of work. Inspiration far more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of the artist is to listen to the work, and to go where it tells him to go. Ultimately, when you are writing, you stop thinking and write what you hear.”
Carmela’s Book
Rosa, Sola
Candlewick Press
September 2005
After praying and praying for a younger sibling,
Rosa is thrilled to learn her mother is finally
pregnant. But then tragedy strikes, and each
member of her family must find a way to cope
—including Rosa. ISBN 0763623954.
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