Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing energizes me.
Anytime I can share what God has put on my heart that gives me a burst
of energy. Being able to impact lives in
a positive manner gets my blood pumping!
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Initially for me it was just getting started. We have all these great ideas and we know
that there is a book in us but we lack the confidence to even believe that
someone would want to read what I wrote.
Even when family and friends encourage you.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
It takes me a while to get the thoughts organized. Trying to stay focused on one project at a
time can be challenging when you are receiving so much input. I have journals all over the house!
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t
feel emotions strongly?
Absolutely. You don’t
have to be emotional to write a technical piece. It depends on what audience you are trying to
reach, what story are you trying to tell or share.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they
help you become a better writer?
LaWanda Holliman, co-author of Madam President, has been
instrumental in helping me organize ideas.
She helps me see the big picture.
Cynthia Middlebrooks Harris, Author of The Other Side of
Through, has mentored me in the business aspects of authorship, marketing and
introduced me to a litany of tools to help refine my writing.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you
trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I want each book to stand on it’s own. The only connection between my writings would
be they remind us that God is ultimately in control.
How did publishing your first book change your process
of writing?
I am still in disbelief that I’m a published author! The process has given me insight about
audiences and how they receive your work.
Trying to get them to write reviews though, has been a challenge.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
PR Materials. A
banner, business cards and a table skirt can do wonders for your marketing
strategy. When engaged in a book
signing, the public will see your set up and make judgments about your
book. What they see tells a story as
well as the one you wrote.
What was an early experience where you learned that
language had power?
As a member of the Armed Forces I responded to the words of
drill sergeants and leaders across my career that have motivated me to do
things I never thought I could do.
Impassioned speeches that moved me to action and have made me the leader
I am today. I use words and language to
motivate people to take a stand, move forward or take a look back. Words are powerful – Proverbs 18:21 states
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue”.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you
have?
I have a collage of poetry – just need to sort through them
and discover the themes for each book or books.
I love discovering how God is going to pull it together.
What does literary success look like to you?
The dream is to one day be on the New York Times Best Seller
List, but the measure of my success is if lives are positively impacted and
changed because someone read my book or heard me speak.
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You can pick up a copy of
From the Situation to the Destination
by
Lulu Publishers: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Dillardl
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