WAW - Meet Matt

M.W. Sinclair has had a lifelong love affair with words. At times, Mr. Smartypants said things that got him into trouble, and other times he got himself out of trouble by knowing the right words to say. One of his many dreams is to infuse his daughters with the same love of language and exploration that has ruined his life. He works as a journalist in New York City, covering philanthropy and charity, and maintains a busy freelance schedule writing about all sorts of things, including science, art, business, sports, education, health care, parenting, and, of course, writing. He is one of the founding members of From the Write Angle (http://www.fromthewriteangle.com) and also blogs on writing and reading at the Elephant’s Bookshelf (http://elephantsbookshelf.blogspot.com). In addition to writing, helping care for his twin daughters, playing softball, and strumming a guitar, he also volunteers as a NJ-certified Emergency Medical Technician – a field he’s been involved in since the mid-1980s.

Why do you write?

The crass answer is because writing pays the bills. But I’ve loved the written word since before I could read. I love stories, and I love sharing characters. I write because it’s the mode of communication in which I’m most comfortable.

What are you currently working on?

Several things, actually. I always have a magazine article or two in the works. I’m also about 20,000 words into the first draft of a humorous novel that involves college kids, alien abductions, and talking animals. Having written mostly literary fiction, this is a big departure for me.

I’m also getting ready to launch my first venture in self-publishing. Some of my friends from AgentQuery Connect and I have been working on an anthology of short stories. The Spring anthology will be electronically released in a few weeks, and I’ve already starting to bounce around ideas for another anthology. We’ll see!

What is your creative process (from start to finish)?

For me, it depends on the project. I have a hyperactive muse. But when I’m actively working on a full manuscript, I put in what time I can and write from chapter to chapter to complete a first draft. The past few years, my time for writing has been curtailed significantly, but I can usually get a couple thousand words a week, and that adds up. For me, the key is to keep writing as regularly and consistently as possible.

If you’re asking whether I’m a planner or a “pantser,” the truth is I tend to write off the cuff. But while unplanned writing can lead to wonderful stuff, planned writing can lead wonderful stuff as well as unplanned discoveries. At this point in my life, I would rather plan and discover than tinker and waste time.

How do you tackle writer’s block?

At the knees.

I’m not exactly sure what writer’s block is. But if what I’m writing is boring me and causing me to stop short, there’s probably a reason, and it’s almost certain to bore most readers, and I need to shift gears. If writer’s block is not being able to come up with new ideas, well, I am fortunate that I don’t have that problem.

What inspires your writing?

Life in general: my hopes, dreams, fears, and foibles. I generally don’t write autobiographical stuff. If I can turn something that really happened to me into something that works in what I write, it adds value to the experiences both real and imagined. I’ve written a lot of fiction in my life, but I hope that I haven’t written many lies.

Describe your workspace.

Cluttered. Let’s just say that mine is not a paperless office. Whether we’re talking home or office, I have fiction and nonfiction close at hand. On the rare instance when my wife and daughters are out of town, I’ve been known to have a glass of scotch or a bottle of beer nearby too. And sometimes blues or classical music playing.

Pen & notebook or laptop?

Mostly a computer – laptop, desktop – and a flash drive close at hand. I recently purchased a new laptop and I’m slowly migrating things to it and to online storage sources. I also use a desktop computer, so some things are stored there.

What’s the best cupcake you’ve ever eaten?

Well, there was this really cute girl in college who... Just kidding. I’m lucky if I remember what I ate for dinner the night before! To me, a good cupcake is more about the people or events surrounding it than the cake itself. A birthday or holiday. For me, a good cupcake usually includes chocolate.