Hello all,
Welcome to Women Writing! I’m thrilled to feature author Margaret McNellis in issue seven of Women Writing.
Margaret McNellis writes historical fiction, historical fantasy, and retellings. She holds a B.A. in art history, an M.A. in English and creative writing, and an MFA in fiction. When she's not writing, she's using magick and mindfulness to help writers leave their blocks behind so they can create with confidence.
“If you want the time and space to write, you've got to be the one to claim and protect it. No one else will do that for you, nor should they. Take up space in the world, in your life. Raise your voice.”
On a writing routine …
I do not [have a writing routine]. I work intuitively; if I want to write in the morning, I write in the morning. If I want to write at another time of day, I do that. However, I do always leave room in my day to work on my writing at some point. I find discipline easy, so long as there aren't too many rules constraining how I work.
On writing spaces …
I usually write at my desk. It's adorable, and it took several desks to find the right one. It's a dark colonial blue with a wood grain top. It's a touch small, but I make it work, especially as my space is currently on the small side. In times past though, I've written on a giant IKEA desk with a television for my monitor, hooked up to my laptop. I use an ergonomic keyboard -- one of those which you can adjust in all directions. When I revise and edit, I use my reMarkable tablet and sit in the club chair right behind my desk, or pace the room as I reread my work. I used to print out my work, but the reMarkable helps me save paper and takes up a lot less space than a printer.
On writing communities …
I have in the past. I think it is really important to find the right group. I've been in groups that ran well and others that were toxic. My favorite critique groups were the ones facilitated by my MFA program. I ran a writing group each Oct-Nov for a handful of years as a NaNoWriMo municipal liaison, and I've also hosted a writing community where we didn't swap pages, but supported one another through process. I've been part of groups where you read your work aloud and then others give you feedback. Finding some sort of community is important because writing can be lonely. We can learn from other writers … but I would advise new writers to wade rather than jump in until they can ascertain the personality of the group.
On challenges …
Oh, yes. But I've always prioritized [writing], to the point of sometimes having no social life (that wasn't great, even for this introvert). There was a time when I was working three jobs and still finding time to write while earning my first master's degree. I did a lot of night writing, and I had about two hours between shifts at different jobs, so I'd go sit at the grocery store café, grab lunch, and write. Then, when I was in school for my MFA, that program required anywhere from 10-30 hours a week of writing-related work depending on where I was in my studies. If memory serves, I was freelance writing for work, so I was always writing something. Now, writing is a top priority. I'm not in a place yet where I can write full time, but I do make space for it each weekday, just like I would any other job. I used to also write on weekends as a must; now I do so if the mood strikes as keeping my weekends unfettered from work of any kind is the only way I've found to prevent myself burning the proverbial candle at both ends.
On the best writing advice …
"Writers write." Carol Higgins Clark told me this when I was in undergrad. I was reporting on a local author event for my school's paper, and I spoke with her after. She asked what I wanted to do and I said, "I want to be a writer." Her response was, "Then write as much as you can. Writers write."
On the worst writing advice …
"Real writers write at least one thousand words a day." This made me feel like an imposter. Most days I don't write one thousand words. I would say on average I write about 500-750, though I have some days where I might write 5,000. As I said, I'm an intuitive writer, so I go with where inspiration leads me. Also, sometimes writing work doesn't mean putting words on the page. Sometimes I'm reading, researching, planning, editing, proofreading, publishing, marketing. I try to ask myself each day when I come to my writing work, "What can I do today to move my work forward?" Then, I work on that.
On advice from personal experiences …
If you want the time and space to write, you've got to be the one to claim and protect it. No one else will do that for you, nor should they. Take up space in the world, in your life. Raise your voice. And don't fall for the notion that you must always have imposter syndrome.
Margaret’s online spaces …
Website: www.mcnelliswrites.com
Substack: mcnelliswrites
Recent publication: Outlawed: Heroes of Sherwood
I believe the world needs more women’s stories. Are you ready to write yours?
If you've been dreaming of writing a novel or memoir but don't know how to get started, or you have a work-in-progress that needs attention, as an Author Accelerator Book Coach I can give you the tools to move forward. We all have a story within us, waiting to be shared. I can help you tell yours. Let me show you how.
Interested in a writing retreat?
and I are hosting Rekindle Creativity: Women’s Writing Retreat in Muskoka from January 16-19, 2024 at Hidden Valley Resort. Only two weeks left for our early bird discount (ends November 8). If you want to learn more, join us on November 1 at 7:00 PM for an information session. Find the Zoom link on our FB Events Page. We’d love to meet you!Women Writing is a weekly newsletter featuring women who are doing the difficult work of writing. If you enjoyed reading the newsletter, please share it with a fellow writer. Let’s inspire each other!