Eileen M. Gregory
 Clean ~ Contemporary ~ Inspirational 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

 

Ever since I was a child my mother instilled in me the love of reading. I remember receiving my first library card and how enchanted I felt inside the walls of a library. In my teens, I began to dream about one day becoming an author, but I had no idea how the process worked. In time, as my reading tastes developed and my interests broadened, and I found myself repeatedly impacted by the books I read, I realized I needed to become part of the process.

 

What was your first writing project?

 

For several years I served as a volunteer at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida. Twice a month, a group of women from my local church would visit female inmates to sing, pray, and offer spiritual counseling. In time, I began to feel a pull on my heart to leave something behind—a reminder that would solidify what we had shared with the women. An idea came to me to write a monthly newsletter filled with brief Bible lessons, poems, clipart, and prays. The project was extremely rewarding and helped me to develop my writing skills.

 

When were you first published?

 

When I was eleven years old, I heard a story on the news about a man who threw a puppy out of a second story window. Enraged, I wrote a letter to the editor, which was published. That was my first taste of seeing my words in print. But it was another 25 years, while recuperating from major back surgery, before I began to seriously study the craft under the American Christian Writer’s Institute. Three months later I wrote my first article, which was published in Decision magazine.

 

How do you go about selecting a topic to write about?

 

I typically begin a new novel by coming up with a theme—the message that I hope to convey through the story. In my first novel, Soul Cry, I wanted to show how God can turn our worst tragedies into triumphs if we will trust in Him. In my second novel, An Old-Fashioned Love, I wanted to show the value of saving sex for marriage. In my third novel, The Truth About Shauna McGrath, I wanted to convey that mental illness, particularly depression, does not define a person’s worth: human value is rooted in the love of God.

 

Do you create an outline before starting a book?

 

Yes, I am definitely a plotter! Just as a builder needs a blueprint to construct a new house, I need an outline to construct a new novel. After I decide upon a theme, I will choose the setting and then work simultaneously on developing the plot and the characters. Next, I will determine the approximate number of chapters and write a brief paragraph under each about the scenes I want to develop. This way I keep on target with my message, and I know where I am going from start to finish. However, the outline is just a guide: I allow myself plenty of flexibility to shift and change things along the way.

 

How do you handle writer’s block?

 

I have been fortunate in that I have never experienced writer’s block during the process. In fact, I have discovered that once I start writing, I get a second wind, so to speak, which helps to round out my work. The only time I ever feel “blocked” is when I am trying to decide upon an idea for a new novel . . . it can be so elusive, like trying to catch a rainbow.

 

How long does it take from first idea to final draft?

 

Typically, it takes me two years to complete a book, but I have always had to work around a full-time job, leaving only the evenings and weekends to write. The length of time partially depends upon what you are writing about, and the extent of the research required. I have read that some authors put out a new book every six months to a year; however, a friend of mine took seven years to research and write her novel, and she won a coveted award in the process. I admire that kind of perseverance!

 

What do you enjoy least and most about writing?

 

The hardest part about writing is the marketing. Decades ago, the field was more simplistic in that authors sent their manuscripts to publishers and, if accepted, they often received advances and then moved onto writing their next book. Today, authors must wear several hats—writer, editor, marketer, promoter, blogger, emailer, social media expert, speaker. Some authors thrive in these arenas, but others, like me, would prefer to leave the selling to the pros.

 

The best part about writing is the mystery and the magic of the process. There is a wonderful phenomenon that occurs when unexpected inspiration wells up and copilots the direction of your story. I also love seeing the fruit of my labor. After months of toiling and battling the demons of self-doubt, there is nothing like seeing my book in print for the first time. As C. S. Lewis put it: “I was with book, as a woman is with child.” The delivery is worth the agony!