An Interview With Author Sneed Collard
Versatile Sneed Writes Both Fiction and Nonfiction for Children
Aug 18, 2009
Sneed Collard knows how to tell a story, whether it's in fiction or nonfiction format. He is a master at interweaving scientific information seamlessly into his novels so that his readers come away not with just a good read but also a good understanding about how the natural world functions.
What got you started writing for children?
I had decided to become a writer after college and was actually trying all kinds of different genres, from screen writing to adult fiction. I must have always remembered Highlights for Children, though, because I wrote a few kids' stories, and they all sold. That process got me more deeply interested in that market, and soon I was using my scientific expertise to write articles for Highlights, Cricket, and other magazines.
Your early books were nonfiction science books, but now you focus mostly on novels – Why the change?
I've always been interested in fiction, but since science 'took off' for me first, I wanted to take that as far as I could. Having accomplished that, I just felt it was time to return to my first writing interest. In reality, I've always written both, and will almost certainly continue to do so. In fact, I've just finished a flurry of NF writing and proposals.
How do you organize your writing day?
My kids organize my writing day. I get up, get them off to what they're going to do and then, with luck, I can get in three or four good hours of writing. In the evening, I try to choose things I can do with a higher level of distraction.
What is your favorite part of the process of putting a book together?
Two answers. First, I love the idea/brainstorming phase when everything is still possible. Then comes the long, just grind it out stage. Finally, I like that stage when I finally know I've 'got' the book down and can begin really polishing, focusing on each sentence and word. For photographic books, I also love picking out the photos and seeing the design come together.
You've written more than fifty books – Do you have a favorite, if so, why?
For my fiction, I'd definitely say Double Eagle, for a couple of reasons. One is that I'd wanted to set a novel on Dauphin Island, Alabama, since spending a summer there 35 years ago, but I wasn't sure I'd ever find a good plot for it. Discovering that plot while collecting state quarters with my son was a wonderful 'lightning bolt'. Then, taking my family back to Alabama to spend a month research the book was just immensely enjoyable and satisfying.
For nonfiction, I'd have to break it up by genre: for middle-grade science, The Prairie Builders, because the words, photos, and design just came together perfectly. For picture books, I'd have to say Wings, for the smooth text and spectacular art by Robin Brickman. I'm also still very fond of Monteverde – Science and Scientists in a Costa Rican Cloud Forest, because the writing is passionate and I feel I really broke some new ground with children's literature.
Your books combine interesting information about science with compelling plots – how do you manage to integrate science into story so well? Does it take a lot of planning ahead of time?
If you're talking about my fiction books, I'd have to say that I focus on the plot and characters first, but my own science interests help give me the ideas for these. Nonfiction books, though, can also have strong plots, one thing that helps make my books interesting is that I always look for the story in whatever subject I'm tackling.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to write for children?
Follow your own interests and passions. If you do that, your chances of coming up with good writing and great, unique ideas are going to be much better. As hard as it sometimes is, I really try to stay away from fads, which I think lead to cheap, forgettable writing – and writers!
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