Author Bio:
Michelle is a fulltime employee of God’s kingdom, writing and encouraging writers every day. She’s often a sucker for emotional stories, her sensitive side fueling the passion for her character’s plights, often giving her the ability to show readers the “other” side of the story.
She grew up in the burbs of Detroit with five brothers. No sisters. Each time her mom brought the boy bundle home from the hospital Michelle cried, certain her mom liked boys better than girls. But when her brothers pitched in with the cooking, cleaning, and babysitting–without drama, Michelle discovered having brothers wasn’t so bad. They even taught her how to take direct criticism without flinching, which comes in handy with book reviews.
Michelle is living her dream–writing every day and thanking God for the stories He puts in her path. When Michelle isn’t writing she’s winning ugly on the tennis court. She’s known as “Queen of the Rim Shots.” No joke. It’s ugly.
What inspires you to write?
Stories in life about real people who teach us to laugh, cry, and stand proud.
Tell us about your writing process.
1. I write 50K words in one month–the fast draft–without stopping, without editing, without sharing. I don’t let anyone see the book. Lol. It’s bad.
2. I let that novel sit for a few weeks or more.
3. Edit the novel for plot and sub plots.
4. Edit again to add the senses and more description.
5. Send it to beta readers to give opinions.
6. Edit the bumpy spots based on my readers’ comments.
7. Send it to my editor for a structural and line-edit.
8. Format it for Kindle, Create Space, and Nook.
9. Send it to an oops editor for a final review.
10. Publish the novel and celebrate!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I listen to them and often read their dialogue out loud so I can hear if their voice rings true.
What advice would you give other writers?
Understand that this is a business and without a product you have no sales. Write, write, write and read in the genre you’re writing. It’s tough to stand out in the crowd. What will you do to help readers notice you? Lastly, it takes money to start a business. Treat your authorship as a career and a business. Construct a business plan. Enjoy the journey! Celebrate the little milestones.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I love that there are different options. I have an article about this at my blog, questions to ask yourself: http://randomwritingrants.com/2014/01/07/should-you-self-publish-your-novel-6-key-questions-to-ask-yourself/
I had friends encouraging me to self-publish. I’m an entrepreneur type of person so for me I was all about going it alone. But it took courage. I had an agent at the time who was shopping a few of my titles, but after 18 months of waiting I decided I didn’t want to wait any longer. I’m a little impatient. Okay, a LOT impatient.
Finally, Melissa Foster at the World Literary Cafe is my mentor. I don’t write the same genre, but I adore Melissa’s attitude about helping authors. She’s a class act and an amazing teacher.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Stormy. Crowded. Changing. Exciting.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?
Thriller, YA, Mid-grade, Children’s chapter books, nonfiction, romance, literary fiction,
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Michelle Weidenbenner Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7171873.M_Weidenbenner
http://www.facebook.com/randomwritingrants
http://www.twitter.com/mweidenbenner1
http://www.pinterest.com/mweidenbenner/
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