Translate

Monday, April 22, 2013

Great Americans A to Z: Norma Fox Mazer


N is for Norma Fox Mazer, (1931-2009) an award-winning American author of children and young adult books.


Norma grew up as the middle child of three sisters. She loved school and reading. When she was a teenager, Norma felt like she was an outsider and began to set herself apart from her family, being labeled “the cold one.” She started writing for the school newspaper and toying around with the idea of becoming a writer.

Norma went on to college, got married, and had four children. After her third child was born, Norma and her husband (Harry) realized that they had dull jobs and unfulfilled lives.

With several unfinished stories and only dreams of becoming a writer, 28-year-old Norma promised herself that she would commit to pursuing a writing career and would write for at least one hour at the end of each day. Her husband, who was also an aspiring writer, made this promise with her.

Three years after their one-hour-a-day writing challenge, Norma and Harry received an insurance settlement that enabled them to write full-time. Since then, Norma has written over 30 books and has won many awards for her novels. Her work features young characters overcoming difficult situations such as bullying, the death of a parent, and child abduction.

How do you overcome procrastination in your work?

If you work at home, how do you balance work and family time (especially if you have to cook and do laundry!)

What is the purpose or vision for doing what you do? 

18 comments:

  1. Another whom I don't know. Procrastination and distractions are two of my biggest nemeses.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Arlee. I battle with that too and that's why I featured her story. Thanks for everything. I'm at 50 now! Still catching up.

      Delete
  2. Distractions are my number one stumbling blog. I have to constantly refocus myself to stay on target.

    Another great profile. Thanks for sharing!
    Lyre @ Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's very hard to write at home. There are always so many things to distract. I think it helps if you have an office where you can shut the door on the rest of the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I'm blogging, I get serious almost as if it's work. I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing, so I shut myself in. It's hard. My fam doesn't get that I'm in a challenge lol

      Delete
  4. Glad she never gave up! Procrastination is so hard to over come. I guess the only way to do it, is like she did...just force yourself!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it is. I love her story and tried to pull that element out especially.

      Delete
  5. The story was inspirational until "received an insurance settlement that enabled them to write full-time."

    Can you say Deus ex machina?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lol so sorry. Well I just took it as she and her husband were faithful to write one hr a day for three yrs w/o any extra help. And then the hard work paid off. I kept that part in because I wanted to be honest about her story.

      Delete
  6. When you work at home, people don't see it as "work" (family too), so you are constantly interrupted which makes it very hard.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was kind of curious if her husband was successful too? Balancing things out never an easy task.

    Lucy from Lucy's Reality

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Harry is successful, as well as her daughter Ann Mazer. I'm still working on the balancing :) Her story gave me a little relief.

      Delete
  8. I can be a horrible procrastinator. Also, ditto to what loverofwords said. I have two small children, so interruptions are abundant. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is the second writer I've come across today with a number of works that I'm not aware of. Thanks for bringing this writer to my attention.

    ReplyDelete
  10. One hour a day sounds so doable! That's right about the time I spend on this challenge and I have managed, so far.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dr Itua email: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com and whatsapp nUmber +2348149277967 Dr Itua herbal medicines cure my herpes and hepatitis completely and it has been 3 years now there has been no outbreak, I'm so happy that I'm finally cured.
    Dr Itua can cure the following diseases; Herpes, Hiv, Copd, Diabetes, Parkinson, Hepatitis, Cancer, Lymes, Dr Itua Herbal Store www.drituaherbalcenter.com is very safe to use.

    ReplyDelete

Chontali Kirk
chontalikirk.blogspot.com