Kay Pluta answers just three questions…
Q. When did you start writing?
A. I started when I was in second grade. My mother made me copy stuff from books to practice penmanship. I found that incredibly boring and started making up my own stories. I’m still making stuff up. As a grown-up, life has often interrupted my pursuit of publication, so it’s been start and stop for oh fifteen years or so. Now with both children in school, I’m buckling down.
Q. Describe your writing process.
A. I’m a chiseler. Writing is like sculpting or whittling to me. I tend to revise as I go because that’s how I find the story in the idea. I wish plots came to me whole, but they don’t. I only get a character name, a situation, or maybe one or two really good sentences. I have to hunt for the story. I’ve learned over the years to not hunt too hard. Sometimes I have to be still, and the story will show up.
I also work on multiple projects at the same time. I tend to get stuck, and I find that if I just stay on the same project I end up spinning my wheels. A day or so away from it, helps me start back fresh. I limit myself to no more than 3-5 active projects at one time. Honestly, sometimes that feels inefficient, but when I’ve tried other things it’s usually even more of a disaster. I’m definitely working on improving my productivity this year.
I tend to work best early in the morning or late at night, and I usually like to write to silence or to instrumental music. My favorites are Leo Kottke and Bela Fleck.
Q. Tell us about your latest book.
A. My latest and FIRST book is There’s a Yak in My Bed, Blooming Tree Press 07. It’s a silly, absurd story with a dangling ending. I did that on purpose to get kids to think outside of the box. It’s the story of Ted who wakes up to find a Yak in his bed. He has to figure out how to get it out, so that he can eat breakfast and get to school. Christy Stallop is the wonderful illustrator. It was a first book for both of us. And yes, there is a sequel in the works.
A sequel! That’s wonderful news, Kay!
Do you know the 12 types of picture book characters?
