Catherine Witzaney is a debut author, but she is not new to writing.
If I ever have questions about story structure, Catherine is my go-to resource. She takes her craft seriously and is dedicated to developing her story-telling skills.
Her book, “Wingless,” recently debuted in the world. With engaging characters and an exciting climax, this is a book I’ll be reading to my kids.
My favourite part as an adult reader was the sensory experience – Catherine is a master of the sensory experience! You can read my review of the book here.
Catherine’s book is available in paperback and ebook through Chicken Scratch Books, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Chapters Indigo, and Barnes & Noble.
The audiobook is available through Audible, Chirp, Google Play, among others.
Amid all the chaos of the release of her book, Catherine took the time to answer some questions.
Thank you, Catherine!
Question: What was the most difficult part about getting your book published?
Catherine: The querying and submissions process was by far the most difficult part. It wasn’t a
particularly lengthy part of the whole process—I began querying in April of 2022 and by
the end of October that year I had secured a contract for my first book. But the sheer
number of rejections I received during those 7 months (well over 100) was overwhelming
and definitely took a toll on my mental health in a way no other part of the process did.
Question: What is a writing skill you have had to work on?
Catherine: One of the early struggles I had in honing the craft was getting rid of passive voice in my writing. My first drafts were FULL of passive voice. (i.e. “the water was spilled by the
dog” instead of “the dog spilled the water.”) This may seem like a small detail, but in
large quantities, passive voice greatly weakens your writing and paints a much fuzzier
image in the reader’s mind. It took me a lot of effort and the help of a dedicated critique
partner to rid myself of the habit.
Question: What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish a book?
Catherine: Ideally, write more than one novel before you try to publish one of them. The process of finishing a story is a skill all on its own, and it takes repeated practice to start producing
something good. Yes, technically it is possible to eventually edit a first novel into
passably good shape. But my personal opinion is your writing skills would be more
benefited by writing several stories and then starting the process of honing your editing
skills. Drafting and editing are two different skillsets, and it helps to have a solid handle
on one before you start trying to study the other.
Question: What do you believe is so important about writing stories?
Catherine: Humans learn most effectively through the art of storytelling—whether delivered
verbally or read in a book. Stories allow us to learn through the experience of
others, and they have a unique ability to communicate complex moral ideas in a way
that can be grasped instinctively by the reader. Concepts which in conversation
could only be articulated to someone with philosophical training and a mature mind
can be presented to children—and easily grasped—through the art of story. It
allows for a deep, intimate sharing of the human experience in a way no other
artform can quite convey.
