Author coaches student writers

M.L. Malcolm, author of the novel Silent Lies, spent an hour with students at North Lake College's library on Oct. 6.

She talked to Shelly Woodcox- Unruh's creative writing class about transitions in her life and how her debut novel developed.

Mary Lee Malcolm, became M.L. Malcolm at the suggestion of her publisher, who thought her given name sounded too “southern.”

Malcolm grew up in a small Florida town but knew she wouldn't stay there.

Her studies led her north to Cambridge, Mass., where she entered Harvard Law School.

After graduating, she practiced law and ran a travel agency. She also worked as a journalist at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. Eventually, she sat down and worked on Silent Lies.

“I wouldn't have been a good writer if I hadn't had those life experiences,” said Malcolm.

With Silent Lies, Malcolm was inspired by personal events in her husband's family. The novel is set in Budapest and Shanghai. It revolves around Leo, a Jewish boy, who tried to establish a new identity for himself when Jews were being persecuted in Hungary after World War I.

On a trip to Shanghai with her husband, Malcolm said that she became amazed by the city. It became a personal fascination.

In the course of research, she relied on historians and sought original sources.

She took accounts from eyewitnesses and newspapers, and used the Internet as an indexing system.

Malcolm said that it took years, and three drafts, before the final book was complete. Then she had to find a publisher.

“Writing is easier than finding a publisher,” she said. “The book was rewritten twice before it went to the publisher.”

If you have the interest and work hard, then you can certainly fulfill your dreams, she said.

When asked how one actually conceives a book, Malcolm said, “You get one sentence in your head. That sentence doesn't let you go.”

She has always used writing as a process to relate to the world. “It's a huge part of who I am,” she said.

Woodcox-Unruh invited Malcolm to speak so that students could connect with a working writer and realize that they could be similarly successful. “I wanted to bring motivation and inspiration to the class,” Woodcox-Unruh said.

As for the students, they looked enthusiastic and asked many questions about how to develop their writing skills.

“I have learned a lot from her [Malcolm's] lecture,” said Glen Sovian, a student in Unruh's class.

Dr. Nancy Castilla, English instructor at North Lake, was also present. She said these and similar events give students access to writers.

It might help students to know that professional writers experience problems similar to those of student writers. Castilla stressed that writing students should keep trying. “Get ready to be rejected and keep writing,” said Castilla.

Malcolm said that taking writing lessons helps to hone one's skills. She said that it could be a long and painful process but would be worth it, adding that beginning writers should be willing to listen to criticism from people whose opinions they respect.

“Don't give up,” Malcolm said.