Write Now with Maria Gianferrari

Who are you?

Maria Gianferrari, Picture Book author
Based in Worcester, Massachusetts (aka woo-STAH)

What do you write?

I’m the author of both fiction and nonfiction picture books. I’m a nature and animal lover and bird nerd, so those are the subjects that I gravitate towards. I’m interested in human-creature bonds and celebrating beings/things as diverse as fungi, trees, ice, as well as wild animals like coyotes and bobcats and Great horned owls, and furry, four-legged family members like horses, dogs, and cats.

I have the best job in the world! I am a curious person who loves to learn new things, and I’m an introvert, so I feel most centered when I get to have alone time. I get to spend a lot of quiet time alone with my thoughts, observing and learning about the natural world, in the comfort of my home and its surroundings.

I would say the main subject that I avoid is high fantasy—I am more interested in and fascinated by the real world rather than made-up ones.

Where do you write?

I am very privileged and fortunate that I have an office at home where I can work—it’s an easy commute ☺. I have a laptop attached to a large monitor, so that I can write, read, and edit more easily.

I usually write my first drafts by hand, in pencil—I feel like I censor myself less when it feels less permanent, more like play—it’s more liberating that way. Then I type up my drafts and edit them further after printing them out—it’s easier for me to revise when I can mark things up by hand—it helps with making transitions, refining, and seeing where things are working/not working.

When do you write?

These days, I write whenever I can—I don’t have a set time. I used to work better in the morning, but now I tend to do most of my writing in the afternoon. Some days I don’t write, and other days I write for longer periods—it depends on the project.

During the drafting and initial revision process, I tend to have more self-imposed deadlines, such as timeliness for a critique group meeting, etc. The external deadlines come later after the manuscript has been acquired and it goes through the various stages of editing/copyediting according to the editor and publisher’s release schedule.

Why do you write?

It’s an outlet for creativity and self-expression. I’m curious about the world around me, especially the wonderful world of nature, and its inhabitants big and small. I love doing research and learning new things, and then I want to share and celebrate the fascinating stuff that I learn with readers.

How do you overcome writer's block?

Taking a walk, especially when it’s in the woods, is restorative. Doing chores, like watering plants, vacuuming, and laundry, also helps give the mind a break so that when I return, I’m ready to write again.

Reading can often spark some new idea or ways to approach something when I’m feeling stuck.

And baking has the added bonus of a delicious by-product ☺

Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?

Backyard bird-watching! It’s relaxing, meditative, and highly entertaining! Unfortunately, I have a very short watching window: I hang my feeders in late December, and remove them in late March—otherwise I will have bear visitors. One year, I took them down too late and the bear destroyed my shepherd’s hook, stole a suet feeder and drank the hummingbird nectar.

It’s a bit of a bummer that it’s so short. The birds still visit, just not in large numbers. But doing so prevents bears from becoming too bold and dependent on human sources of food and makes it easier to co-exist with them and cause fewer conflicts.

My thanks to Maria Gianferrari for today's interview.