GS&NS: I loved when you said, “I am a writer. I don't consider myself to be a perfect writer.” Why is it important for you to make that distinction?
M.L.: It is important to make a distinction between being a writer and a “perfect” writer because of the craft of writing; mechanic, perfect grammar and punctuation.
My belief is that anyone and everyone can be a writer. It is all about what you want to do with it. Writing can be a tool or it can be a sword. People have and should have a voice and be able to use it. There are some that want to focus on the mechanics of writing and then there are those who want to have a voice. If you are blessed with both, great, as I think both are important but I find joy in those that have something to say and can express it well and sometimes the mechanics get in the way. I am not saying mechanics are not important because they are important, however, you can learn grammar and punctuation but truly having something to say, making things visual, warm, tumultuous, exciting and drawing in the reader is something entirely different.
Sometimes it is more important to write versus getting caught up in the details. As the writing progresses as do the mechanics. I prefer to focus on one thing at a time which are the words and the story. Word are powerful and can have an incredible impact. Mechanics give the extra spice.
GS&NS.: What advice would you give to emerging writers?
M.L.: The biggest piece of advice I would give an emerging writer is the same advice that was given to me, “Just write.”
The advice I would give to my 18-year-old self is, “Don’t be so serious, take more risks while you are young and don’t be so afraid to put your writing out there.” And most importantly, “Learn to laugh it off.”
Connect with M.L.:
Check out her book on Amazon: The Journey: A Collection of Short Stories
Evolution: An Anthology