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This month The Edge of the Forest talks with children's book author
Carmela Martino about her writer's life.
The Edge of the Forest: First of all, Carmela, thanks for agreeing to talk with
The Edge of the Forest for our A Day in the Life series. To begin
with, please tell us what type of writing you do, and how long you've been doing it.
Carmela: Hi, Kim. I’m honored to be interviewed by you. I enjoy writing for children of all ages. My published
novel, Rosa, Sola is middle-grade historical fiction, for ages 9-12. I’m currently working on a contemporary,
young adult novel. And I have several picture book manuscripts I’m hoping to sell some day. I’ve also had a short story,
poem, and several puzzles published in Pockets magazine, which is geared to kids ages 6-12. I’ve focused on
writing for children for the last 15 years or so. Before that, I was a stringer for a local Catholic diocesan newspaper
for five years. During that time I also had a few pieces published in the Chicago Tribune and several national
magazines.
The Edge of the Forest: What attracted you to children's literature and writing for children?
Carmela: The attraction started when I began reading picture books to my young son. When I was growing up, we
didn’t have many books, so I wasn’t familiar with picture books until my son came along. The more I read to him, the more
enthralled I was with how authors could tell such engaging stories in so few words. It looked so easy! I didn’t realize
how hard it was until I took a class in writing for children. I have to say, the picture book manuscripts I attempted for
that class were pretty awful. But our instructor encouraged us to try a variety of genres. After writing the first
chapter of a young adult novel, I was hooked. I became a member of SCBWI and started going to conferences. In 1996, I
attended the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop in Chautauqua and was honored to work with Sharon Creech as my mentor.
I eventually went on to Vermont College, where I received my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I wrote
Rosa, Sola for my creative thesis, and later sold a revised version of it to Candlewick Press.
The Edge of the Forest: Tell us about a typical writing day. How often do you write? When do you write? And why?
Carmela: At the moment, I’m not teaching any classes, so I have the luxury of being a full-time writer. I’m not
sure it’s a typical day, but my “ideal” day begins with me 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 three hours. Since I’m working on a first draft, I have a goal of adding two pages per day, or about 500 words. I
avoid checking email or going online till I’ve put in my “butt in chair” time because I am easily distracted. After a lunch
break, I work for another 3 hours. If I’ve accomplished my daily writing quota, I’ll use the afternoon time to do research,
to work on one of several picture books I’m currently revising, to update my website, or to read, either a book on the
craft of writing, or fiction by other authors. If I haven’t finished my 500 words, I stay at my computer until that’s
accomplished before working on anything else. For me, getting that first draft down is a slow process. I really need to
be disciplined to complete it.
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers work in a study. Others prefer penning their stories in a busy café. Where do
you write and why?
Carmela: I usually write in a spare bedroom that I turned into an office years ago.
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers work in long hand. Others write on a laptop. How do you work? How does this
technique inform your creative process?
Carmela: It depends what stage I’m in. When I’m still in the “thinking” or “pre-writing” stage, I work in
longhand. I have a large three-ring binder where I store notes about who my characters are, what they look like, what they
want. I have separate sections for setting, plot, theme, etc. Once I’m actually working on a draft, I usually work
directly on the computer. But I always print out hard copies of the new/changed pages at the end of the day. I keep these
pages in the “draft” section of the binder. I find it easier to review my writing on paper than sitting at the computer.
Of course, there are times when I sit at the computer and nothing comes out. If that happens, I may turn back to writing
longhand. I’ll go to the background sections of my binder and re-read, review, or change things till a new idea comes up.
Or I may try some timed freewriting exercises to help me get inside my characters. I’m not strictly tied to writing on
either paper or computer, but tend to go back and forth between the two.
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers write for very personal reasons, using their art to help make sense of the
world. Others feel the need to share their joy of language with young readers. Why do you write?
Carmela: I think I write because I feel compelled to do so. At various times in my life, I’ve considered quitting,
but couldn’t. The words, the ideas, keep coming and I have to do something with them.
The Edge of the Forest: Writers find inspiration in many places. Who or what inspires you?
Carmela: I find inspiration in life, both my own life and other people’s lives. Rosa, Sola was inspired
by an event in my childhood. The young adult novel I’m working on was inspired by something I witnessed when I worked in a
high school library. A picture book I’m working on was inspired by something one of my nieces did when she was three years
old. Another picture book came from an idea in a newspaper article. I find ideas all around me, many more ideas than I
have time to develop.
The Edge of the Forest: Writing can be a lonely and isolating avocation. Where do you find the support you need to
survive the process?
Carmela: I’m part of a critique group that meets twice a month. We not only critique each others’ work, we also
encourage, motivate, and celebrate one another. 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.
The Edge of the Forest: Writers grow their writing in many different ways. Some read. Some attend classes. Some
read craft books. Some do all of the above. What activity or activities inspires your writing?
Carmela: I guess I’m in the “all of the above” crowd, though I haven’t attended many classes since completing my
MFA. But I do attend SCBWI programs. And I try to go to the big conferences, like ALA and BookExpo, whenever they’re in
town. I think it’s important to be aware of what’s happening in the field as a whole. I also read regularly, both
children’s/YA fiction and books on craft. When I was in the Vermont program, we were required to write two critical
essays per month on the books/articles we read. I recently started doing that again. I find that the process of putting
my thoughts on paper forces me to assimilate what I’ve learned much more deeply than reading alone. And, odd as it may
sound, teaching writing classes also helps me grow as a writer.
The Edge of the Forest: Tell us about your favorite growing up book.
Carmela: I read voraciously as a child, but tended to read by genre more than by author. I remember in fifth grade
it was mysteries. Then in high school, I discovered The Lord of the Rings, and went through a fantasy phase, and
then sci-fi. Somewhere in there I also read a bunch of Dickens and other British authors. I can’t say I had a favorite
“growing up” book, though I’d say Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorites.
The Edge of the Forest: What's your current read, and what’s on waiting-to-read list?
Carmela: I’m currently reading contemporary YA, since that’s what I’m working on. I just finished
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler. That has to be one of the best titles ever.
For our children’s/YA book discussion group, I read The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak, last month, and
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick, for this month. My “waiting-to-read list” includes
All the Way, by Andy Behrens, and last year’s Printz award winner, How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff.
The Edge of the Forest: Time to role play. You're sent to a remote island for a year, and allowed to take one book.
What would you take and why?
Carmela: Only one book for a whole year? I’d go crazy! But if I had to choose, I think I’d want an inspiring
writing book—something like The Writer’s Book of Days, by Judy Reeves, which contains a writing prompt for
every day of the year along with writing tips, advice, and quotes.
The Edge of the Forest: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?
Carmela: I have all kinds of quotes—I actually have a file folder filled with them. The one that’s foremost
in my mind these days 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.”
The Edge of the Forest: What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Carmela: I have four “quick tips” posted on my website:
1. Read! Read! Read! To grow as a writer, it helps to study what works,
and what doesn’t.
2. Write! Write! Write! Like anything else, the only way to improve is
with practice, practice, practice.
3. Revise! Revise! Revise! Let your writing “cool off,” then return to
it with a critical eye to see how to make it better. (This is where
what you've learned in Step 1 pays off.)
4. Submit! Submit! Submit! Your writing will never get published if it’s
sitting in a desk drawer (or on your computer’s hard drive). If you get
any “encouraging” rejections, be sure to send the editor a “thank you”
along with another manuscript. (If you’ve followed Step 2, you should
have plenty of manuscripts to choose from!)
The Edge of the Forest: Can you tell us about your most current project?
Carmela: Well, it’s a contemporary YA novel set in a suburban Chicago high school, and it’s based on some things
I observed while working in a public high school library. I don’t want to say more than that because it’s still in the
early stages.
The Edge of the Forest: Anything else you want to add?
Carmela: When I speak to kids in schools, I try to emphasize that becoming a successful author takes persistence.
In fact, I say this to all my students, adults and children. If you want to be published, you need to work persistently at
honing your craft, understanding the market, and submitting your writing. There are no shortcuts (unless you’re a
celebrity author).
Carmela Martino is the author of the middle-grade novel Rosa, Sola (Candlewick Press), which is based on her own
experiences growing up in an Italian-American family in Chicago. The book received a starred review from Booklist.
Rosa, Sola was also named to The Baltimore County Public Library’s list of "Great Books for Kids 2005" and the
2006 edition of the Chicago Tribune’s "Read & Write 100 Great Books for Summertime or Anytime.”
Carmela received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College in 2000. Before becoming interested
in children’s publishing, she worked as a freelance journalist. Her articles and essays appeared in the Chicago
Tribune, the New Catholic Explorer, and several national magazines, including Catholic Parent and
Writer’s Digest. She has been an instructor at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn , Illinois since 1998. She
also teaches writing workshops for children at the Hinsdale Center for the Arts. And she is a former instructor for the
Writers Digest Writers Online Workshops (which is where she first met Kim Winters).
Carmela has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators since 1992. She was publicity
chairperson for the Illinois chapter for four years and a Networks representative for two years. Beginning in January,
2007, she will write a regular column on the craft of writing for the Prairie Wind, a new online newsletter for
SCBWI-Illinois. For more information, visit her website: www.carmelamartino.com.
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