Page 13 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Summer Giver 2024

with my laptop balanced on my knees well as some spin off stories from the
and typing with one hand. I can also series. I would also love to continue
remember writing in fifteen-minute writing children’s picture books and
intervals because one of my children expanding on those I’ve already
kept waking up. That season of my published.
writing career was marked by baby
steps. It took two years of showing up Q: What advice would you give to a
for myself in tiny snippets of time first-time writer, someone just starting
before I was able to hold a completed out, who has an idea but no experience?
manuscript in my hands.
I saw other writers talking about I would say just open a notebook or
daily word counts in the thousands and Word document and begin to write.
solo writing retreats. That was not Don’t overthink it. Don’t start
feasible for me, especially considering researching publishing or printing
we were thrust into a global pandemic options. Don’t even spend a lot of time
almost immediately after I began to on honing your craft. You cannot edit an
write. I needed to understand and empty journal. You cannot publish a
embrace my season of life, and that blank page. The difference between the
meant small steps toward my goal 81% who want to write a book and the
instead of leaps. But I realized that 3% who actually finish a manuscript is
small, consistent steps in the right actually sitting down consistently and
direction will get you where you want putting words to paper. Carve out time
to go. somewhere, make it a priority, and keep
And life changes quickly. What showing up to get the story out. The rest
took me two years for my first book has will come later.
taken six months for my third. I’ve
gotten faster in my writing and have Q: Is there anything else you would like
found what works best for my life and people to know about yourself or your
schedule. My writing window is usually books?
after my children are in bed at night. I I always want my books to be
do my best to maximize the small uplifting. The world can be dark and
windows of time that I can carve out of depressing, and there are beautiful
my day. It’s also much easier to write books that engage with tough themes.
when I am consistent. I figured out what For me, real life is hard enough. I want
worked for me and stuck with it. my books to be a place of hope in the
face of some of those tough situations.
Q: What method did you use for While my characters will struggle
publishing your books? through some authentic issues, I can
promise that there will never be any
I think there are lots of great paths And with an estimated 81% of
available to writers who want to publish people dreaming of writing a book dark, depressing, or explicit content in
and there are pros and cons to them all. (according to a survey published in the my books and that the stories will all
I prioritized the guarantee of a NY Times), I’ve committed to end happily and with hope.
published book over the possibility of encouraging and assisting people who
being signed by a publishing company. are interested in self-publishing. I Chantal’s books are available to
As such, I immediately decided to self- believe in self-publishing as a great path purchase on Amazon or locally at Mill
publish. There was much to learn about to launching books into the world. Cove Coffee in Miramichi. Lester the
the process, but having done it several Lobster and the Great Escape is also
times over, I’m confident now in the Q: What are your goals as a writer? available at Headwaters Miramichi.
process and the outcome. In terms of my writing goals, I Stay up-to-date with Chantal by
The publishing world is changing. would love to have the Sadie Jones following her on Facebook, Instagram
Self-publishing and hybrid publishers series (four books total) finished by and Tik Tok @chantaljmacdonald and
have less negative stigma attached to spring 2025. I have ideas and plans to by visiting her website at
them. They are a guaranteed option for write a standalone Christmas novella as www.chantaljmacdonald.com
anyone willing to put in the work.
Giv’er Miramichi is published by MCG Media 13