Mike Allegra is the author of 18 books for children and has taught at The Writers Circle for over six years. As a teacher, Mike helps kids, teens, and adults fall in love with creative writing, and express their voices on the page. Here, he shares where his writing journey began, what keeps him going, and what adults can learn from reading and writing children’s literature.
When did you first know you were a writer?
I first discovered my love for writing when I was six. I found my Dad’s electric typewriter and realized that this marvelous machine allowed me to combine my two favorite pastimes: Telling Stories and Making Noise. It was pure heaven.
What part of writing is the most fun for you (or most challenging)?
Every part of the process offers something that I enjoy. I love the creative freedom of delving into the Wild West of a first draft, but I also love the more meticulous parts of the editing process, crafting clean sentences.
Where do you get your ideas?
Ideas can come from everywhere, but sometimes they come out of nowhere. And sometimes you have to write without an idea and hope one reveals itself as you type page after page of hot garbage.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? (Meaning, Do you plan your stories out or do you write by the seat of your pants?)
I’m kind of a plantser. I almost always have a pretty good idea as to what I want to write when I sit down at the laptop. I don’t always stick to this Grand Design, however; sometimes my characters shove my story into uncharted territory. When this happens, I just go along for the ride.
Tell us about your process: Where and when do you write?
I write in my office, a tiny little nook on the second floor of my house. I love that nook. I’m pretty sure I bought the house because of that nook. Late mornings and late afternoons are my most productive times.
I drink coffee, but not while I’m writing. Drinking coffee is much easier than writing. When faced with a choice between the two, my lazy butt will drink coffee every time. The only beverage allowed while I write is water. It’s hard to get distracted by water.
I prefer silence when I write, but sometimes I’ll listen to music if the songs don’t have lyrics; singing along to lyrics is a lot easier than writing. When faced with a choice between the two…
I often use pen and paper to scribble notes, outlines, and plot ideas, but I almost exclusively write on a laptop. Once in a blue moon I’ll go for my Royal manual typewriter to bang out a few things. It’s a nice change of pace. And noisy. Apparently, I still like noise.
How do you get UN-stuck?
When I get stuck I need to change things up a little bit. I’ve been hiding out in my home office too much. I need to do something else, or write somewhere else, or write in a different way (like using my Royal typewriter).
What’s the best writing advice you ever got?
Mary Higgins Clark said, “Don’t stop writing.” which sounds like a lazy cop-out, but it isn’t, really. A person could have the greatest ideas in the world, but if they don’t write them down, no one will ever know.
Writing is hard. Writing is frustrating. Writing can sometimes suck. But if you really want to be a writer, you gotta KEEP writing. That’s the only way to do it.
What can adults learn from reading or writing children’s literature?
I find writing and reading KidLit to be exhilarating. It gives my imagination permission to run wild. I’ve written a book about a guinea pig the size of a mastodon, a six-book series about a dragon who knits booties and gorges himself on Fudgesicles, and a story about a pirate who wears skull and crossbones underpants. You can’t do that kind of stuff in adult literature, and isn’t that a shame?
What have you learned from teaching writing/KidLit?
There are a lot of writers who deserve to be published. They just need a little help to get there.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a middle grade novel—and I’ll give you all the details once I’m finished with it. 😉
+++
Mike’s books include Pirate and Penguin (Page Street, 2023), Sleepy Happy Capy Cuddles (Page Street, 2022), and many others. He’s collected writing awards and accolades, and his essays have appeared in The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and various anthologies. Find him on Instagram @mikeallegrawriterfellow.
Check out our full schedule classes for kids and adults. Fall workshops are underway, and Winter enrollment will open in late October.
