An Interview with Children’s Author Jill McDougall

Tell us about your background and how you started writing books for children.

I worked as a teacher for many years and amused myself writing poems and plays for my classes. Eventually I had such a vast collection of poems I packaged them up and sent them to a publisher. Three years later (nothing happens quickly in publishing) the poems were reborn in a beautifully-illustrated, hard-backed anthology called Anna the Goanna. I was thrilled beyond belief.

What is your most recent children’s book? Give the title and a short summary.

Jinxed! was published by Walker Books last year and is about to be released in the UK. It’s light-hearted and (I hope) quite funny. Poor old Jinx is desperate to avoid working in her dad’s bakery (Little Miss Muffin) to pay off a debt so she tries a number of crazy schemes to make some fast money. In the end, it is her natural talent for making people laugh that solves all her problems. In the meantime, she learns about taking responsibility for one’s actions.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

Writing is a sedentary activity so I work hard at staying fit. First thing in thew morning, I do yoga and go for a run on the beach. After breakfast I get straight down to writing. I try not to read yesterday’s work as I KNOW I’ll get bogged down with editing. Instead, I write fresh material for 3-4 hours and then go for a bike ride to clear the cobwebs and think about where the work is heading. After lunch, I write some more if I’m inspired but most afternoons are taken up with editing and wading through admin tasks. In the evening I read for pleasure and go for a long walk to think about my plans for the next day. I find my best writing is done ‘on the hoof.’

What do you enjoy most about being a published children’s author?

I’ve always been fiercely independent and the writing life caters to this. I’m boss of my working day and I’m doing something I love. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. I run writing workshops and I also teach a correspondence course in writing for children.

What is the most difficult part of being a published children’s book author?

Once I would have answered: the professional isolation. But these days my writing buddies are just a click away and I belong to a friendly and vibrant community .

Why did you decide to write a book to help other people learn to write for children?

I’m a born teacher and I feel I have something to offer that isn’t rocket science. Not everyone can write a literary masterpiece but I honestly believe if you have some writing ability, you CAN succeed. It takes drive, commitment and a willingness to learn.

What were the challenges involved in writing a book like this – for other writers?

In a strange way, I wrote the book for myself. I’ve come a long way since I first began writing. In the beginning I made a lot of mistakes and I learnt SO much, it was cathartic to write it all down. I realised I could save other writers a lot of wrong turns by turning my thoughts into an ebook. I added some extra material based on my years of working as a writing tutor and included some links to publishers’ guidelines. So really, the book just grew itself and I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from other writers.

What are you working on right now?

I’m completing a commissioned work on Weird and Wacky Inventions for 12-13 year olds and am also trying my hand at a gothic thriller. It’s loads of fun!

What’s your best tip for aspiring children’s book authors?

Ooh … I am SO going to sound like a broken record because most writers offer the same advice. Get down to your library and gaze at all those books filling the shelves. Consider them your research project. Read them for fun, then read them again and pull them apart in your head. What makes them work? What doesn’t work? Use the same tricks and techniques in your own writing but DO write something original and fresh. Think outside the square. I could go on but …. it’s all in my book lol.

To order Jill’s book, click HERE.

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