Genres: Fiction/Non-Fiction
What has been your most rewarding moment as an author?
I’ve had two. My first book, Texas Women in World War II, Republic of Texas Press, was a finalist in the Writers’ League of Texas 2004 Violet Crown Book Awards. Also in 2004, I had an article published in Texas Co-op Power, “Yankee Doodle Gals of World War Two,” that received an Award of Merit in the DALTON Pen Writing Contest.
From these experiences, my thoughts were that I can do this. Unfortunately, I was delayed in getting back to writing anything longer than articles.
What have been some of the biggest helps for developing your writing skills? Written resources, classes or conferences, fellow writers you’ve learned from or have mentored you, other?
I recommend reading to study sentence structure, descriptions, word choice, and dialogue. Consequently, I’m a slow reader. Writing also helps. I have written several articles for various publications. It seems counterintuitive, but I exercise regularly. Sometimes it’s during these times that I work through difficult scenes, character traits, etc. An idea may just occur to me.
Instead of focusing on writing, think about story and storytelling. All stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Get the thoughts down. Anything can be edited and revised. Try now to bore yourself with your writing. If it’s bad, you got it out of your system. Delete it. After all, it’s only pixels.
What’s the best piece of writing-related advice that you’ve received?
Don’t be in a hurry to tell your story and make readers care about your main character.
How do you find your ideas for a book?
They find me. It starts with something happening or something I’ve read and think, “That would make a good book.” Then the notion keeps nagging at you, and you start plotting the story without consciously thinking about it. Before you know it, you’re sucked in. It may be in a genre that you never imagined that you would write a story.
Did your formal education or upbringing/background prepare you in any way to write?
My upbringing, yes. I grew up listening to my grandmother tell stories. She wrote them down as well. Through her, I developed a love of stories and storytelling. Evenings, I sat cross legged on the floor listening to her tales of her childhood living on a homestead. I was either in one of her flannel nightgowns or one of Grandpa’s t-shirts depending on the season. Both were stiff from being dried on the clothesline outdoors.
Does the idea of writing energize you or exhaust you? Or both?
The idea, putting words in pixels, and seeking publication options exhausts me, especially for longer works like novels. I find it a tedious process and am always relieved after the final edit. I don’t see me as a prolific writer or one to write a series of books ever.
BIOGRAPHY:
CINDY WEIGAND grew up on the prairie of western Oklahoma listening to her grandmother’s stories and has loved stories ever since. She is the author of numerous articles, an anthology, Texas Women in World War II, The Republic of Texas Press, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2003. In 2023, she published a novella, Ride of Passage which includes embellished remembrances of her childhood. She is currently working on a historical novel and has written a few screenplays. Weigand now resides in Tulsa, OK.
Website: https://CindyWeigand.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandbarobar
Instagram: @cindyweigand3
San Gabriel Writers' League 