Michelle McKinney Hammond ~ Interviewed

Michelle McKinney Hammond, a writer, singer, and speaker who focuses on improving love–driven relationships, is the founder and president of HeartWing Ministries as well as the co-host of the Emmy–nominated show Aspiring Women. Michelle is the bestselling author of The DIVA Principle®, 101 Ways to Get and Keep His Attention, Sassy, Single, & Satisfied, Secrets of an Irresistible Woman, What to Do Until Love Finds You, A Sassy Girl’s Guide to Loving God, and The Power of Being a Woman.

Time to crow: What new book or project do you have coming out?

My newest project is my second novel entitled “Playing God.”

You've written 28 books of non-fiction and two fiction books. How does writing fiction compare for you?

Fiction is an entirely different animal! With self-help or non-fiction you know where you’re going and can basically plot your course per your outline and the points you want to make. In fiction the characters come alive and take over as you go along so even I was surprised by the time I got to the end of the book. It’s a bit scary, talk about losing control, which is a feeling I don’t necessarily like!

How did you come up with this story? Was there a specific 'what if' moment?

I was just thinking one day what a mess we make when we don’t trust God and literally take our lives back into our own hands instead of waiting for and following His instruction for our lives. The different situations that arose popped up as I went along. There are several ‘what if’ moments where the characters have the chance to do the right thing. Tamara has the opportunity to continue to choose purity? Jamilah comes to a crossroads with letting go and trusting God to work out her situation and that’s just two of the dramas in this book.

Every novelist has a journey. How long was your road to publication? How did you find out and what went through your mind?

It was already contracted before I wrote it. Harvest House felt it was time for me to do a follow up after my first novel “The Last Ten Percent.” It took me about six months to complete the manuscript and another three months to do the edit. My publisher was patiently waiting for it, they are such nurturer’s.

Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?

I don’t bang my head against the wall. I stew… as in germinate. I find something fun to do that totally takes my mind off of it and then I get a spark and return to it. I’m never hard on myself because I’ve learned that if I get stopped it’s because I haven’t heard or experienced something that I need to draw from to finish the piece so I wait until I do and then I move on. It happens every time.

Novelists sometimes dig themselves into a hole over implausible plots, flat characters or a host of other problems. What's the most difficult part of writing for you?

Because it was a totally different experience that I couldn’t control, I would find myself stopping out of panic. As I became more aware of how the process worked, I let go more and then I would find myself in a rhythm, so I would have to say the most difficult part of writing a novel for me is letting go and allowing my characters to tell their story.

Also I don’t like anyone to suffer (smile) so I have to concentrate on not bailing them out of their problems too soon and not tying up all their struggles with neat little bows. Lets face it that’s real life, sometimes there are happy endings and sometimes there aren’t.

How do you climb out?

As far as plot goes you have to be cognizant of the big picture message. That will keep you on track and moving forward. Then be willing to let the story unfold and go where it must in order to take your reader on a journey that will hopefully not just entertain them but engage them and teach them a life lesson along the way. I am always returning back to my point to keep myself on track.

Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy attic nook?

On my bed early in the morning between the hours of 2-6 am and in my office in the late afternoon. These are the times I get my spurts of creative energy.

You're an author, speaker, singer, and TV co-host. What does a typical day look like for you? Are you able to switch hats easily?

There is no typical day! The only thing that never changes is I have to walk my dogs. Other than that I am not a morning person because I work late into the evening or early in the morning and then go back to sleep so my engines don’t really kick in until about noon unless I have morning radio interviews.

After that a host of responsibilities await me from writing, to following through on details in my office, preparing for a speaking engagement or a taping, answering emails, brainstorming an event for my ministry… whew! You name it I’m doing it!

Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins or do you have to tweeze each word out?

I write an average of five to ten pages a day. Once I get in a flow words come pretty easily to me. If I get stuck I go back and read what I’ve written. That usually gives me the impetus to continue past the point I got to when I stopped.

Briefly take us through your process of writing a novel—from conception to revision.

I usually get the concept in a title. Then I begin to get a vision of my characters and their dilemmas. That is usually all I have when I first begin. The first five chapters are usually the time when I am “painting” as I like to call it. This is where I acquaint my readers with the characters and lay the foundation for everything that is about to happen.

After that I write a sentence about what is going to happen in every chapter to give myself a roadmap moving forward. I don’t know what else is going to happen or why but I have the basic direction of where I’m going. As I get that particular chapter the character then takes over and tells its story. I reread the chapter when I’m finished add flourishes if I got bored or additional information that I think will help the story.

When I’m finished I close my eyes and send it off to my editor. They send me back their overall comments, directions for improvements and questions where they didn’t understand what was happening? I especially like that part because if they didn’t get it that means someone else won’t either. That lets me know I need to elaborate and clarify so the reader isn’t left guessing.

After I’ve made my changes and fixes it goes back to the editor. After they give it the okay a copy editor takes over to find anything we may have missed. After that round it goes to the galley stage. That is the actual printing of the manuscript. I read through it again to check for errors or anything else that is screaming at me for a fix and then off it goes for its final printing. The next time I see the whole thing it’s wrapped beautifully in its cover and hopefully in the hands of a captivated reader.

What are a few of your favorite books (not written by you) and why are they favorites?

Anything my Francine Rivers, but especially her Mark of the Lion series, “A Voice in the Wind,” “Echo in the Darkness” and “As Sure As the Dawn.” Just juicy! That’s all I can say. Her writing takes you on a ride that you don’t want to end even after the story is finished. I want to write like her when I grow up. Also “Blue Like Jazz” and “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller. Pure genius, lyrical, funny, deep and profound… definitely food for thought that resounds with my heart. I think I have a crush on him.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve heard?

Never assume your reader knows what you’re talking about. But don’t assume they are foolish either.

What do you wish you’d known early in your career that might have saved you some time and/or frustration in writing? In publishing?

I have to say I’ve been blessed in my experience with writing as well as publishing. I say find a home you’re happy in and stay there. It’s important to have a good support system when it comes to entrusting someone with what you write. You want them to be excited about your project and promote it. After all at the end of the day you want people to read all those words you bled for.

Be careful not to over commit yourself is the one thing I would warn any writer about.

It is difficult to write when the joy is gone or you’re writing something outside of your calling or expertise. Always write what resounds in your heart.

How much marketing do you do? What have you found that particularly works well for you?

I do a lot of marketing between my publisher and myself. Of course there are the radio and TV interviews. I also do e-blasts online and run promotions on my website michellehammond.com. I am hosting a tea party book club event to launch “Playing God” in a couple of cities. I feature my books when I speak. You have to do the work and create the buzz if you want your book to make it.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

So many people say they want to write a book. If you choose to write a book it can’t be about the money because the average author doesn’t make that much. It has got to be because the words in your heart are like fire shut up in your bones and you feel you won’t be able to breathe until you get them out. Your writing has to be birthed from a passion to inform, help and heal people otherwise it can be hard work. It has to be a calling you were created for as opposed to a chosen profession because it requires a special grace from God. The bottom line is writing can be a very lonely profession, but so totally fulfilling the hours of isolation become a faint memory because the reward is so great… kind of like childbirth I’ve been told.