Self-Publishing Review interviewed McMillan about his poetry collection:
Tell us about your book.
Raw Mind: Volume 1, Growing Pains is in a collection of poetry comprised of chapters that are introduced and led by elements of prose with specific subjects that involve the pains of life and elevate the process of growth in, and eventually out of those pains.
Why did you want to write a book?
At firstI was unsure about releasing this material because it made me feel so exposed, but I was writing so many poems that a vision gradually began forming in my mind. Undoubtedly it was God’s vision, which became this book. I had a conviction in my heart that it was for a purpose bigger than myself, and I just wanted to make an impact on others’ lives.
Why did you choose to self-publish?
I had a vision,and staying true to that vision was important. I didn’t want any unwanted interference. I just followed that still small voice within, and God brought it together His way. If God had wanted it another way, then it would not have been self-published.
What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?
Patience. Not only patience in the publishing process but the creative process as well. I had to learn how to slow down and take my time creatively instead of rushing. Most times I become anxious to see my work completed, and when I am not satisfied with something,I end up backtracking when it’s time to finalize the work, which ultimately defeats the purpose of rushing.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
There is no set formula for dealing with writer’s block. Everyone has their unique tricks that usually work for them, but sometimes you have to approach it differently. Sometimes the best way to approach writer’s block is to not approach it for days or maybe even weeks. Then there are times when you have to just stare down the page or the curser to push past that block. Listening to music, reading, watching television, or even having a good conversation can help. Something that’s stimulating to the mind; things that inspire you and make you think will usually unblock your flow.
Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.
My genre is poetry intermingled with prose. I didn’t choose to write this sort of book. It’s more like it chose me. I started off trying to write a song, and it came out as a poem, and one hundred poems later, it started looking like a book.
Why did you write about this particular subject?
I don’t think I had a choice about the subject matter either; it pretty much wrote itself! There were things on my heart that just found a way to come to life. But I did choose to use this life force with the intention of touching and uplifting someone, or at the very least making someone feel there is somebody out there who can relate to their pain and struggle and to let others know they are not alone. Hopefully this will encourage others to raise their heads out of darkness into the light awaiting them, glimpsing a possibility–in my words, a glimmer of hope.
What did you learn on your journey as an author?
I have learned, well I’m still learning how to express myself completely, in fullness and not just in part. I am teaching myself how to read my own mind thoroughly and to find a way to put all of those thoughts and words on the page so that what is in my mind and what is on the page is the same. I tend to leave things out in expression, and then I wonder why I feel like something is missing on the page.
What’s next for you as an author?
I am currently working on the next volume of the Raw Mind Series, Soul Searcher. Where Growing Pains deals with experiences, situations, circumstances, and growing from them, Soul Searcher takes a deeper dive into the state of mind and the emotional aspects behind the cause and effect of such experiences, situations, and circumstances. It is exactly as the title implies; readers will witness me doing some soul searching to understand how our mentality is responsible for life’s outcomes. Hopefully, by going deeper within, I am laying a blueprint that others can identify with and follow –those places where shrinks cannot go!
Where did the title Raw Mind come from?
Raw Mind just came; it came out of nowhere. It seemed like it was there the whole time. It was so obvious, unprepared, unpolished, imperfect thought. Thought expressed without thought. How will it be taken? What will they think? Should I say that–none of that? Whatever comes to mind, whenever it comes to mind, it goes straight on the page.
