Category Archives: Author Interviews

Interview with Marissa Meyer

Meet Marissa Meyer, YA novelist and author of the Lunar Chronicles. (One of my new favorite series!) Cinder, Book 1 of the Lunar Chronicles and Meyer’s debut, was a NaNoWriMo novel. I recently read Cinder and Scarlet and completely fell in love with Meyer’s world and the fairy-tale retellings. Cress, Meyer’s newest release, is first on my Spring Break reading list. Winter, the fourth book of the Lunar Chronicles, has an expected publication date of February 2015. To find out more about Marissa Meyer and the Lunar Chronicles, visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

What is your greatest challenge while writing, and how do you overcome it?

Every book seems to come with its own challenges. I can bet that there will be a period about 40% in where I’m convinced that I’m writing the most boring book in the world, and at 60% of the way through I wonder what on earth I’ve gotten myself into, and at some point during the second draft I’m overwhelmed with world building and subplots… but whatever the problem is, I can always remind myself that I’ve been here before and I’ve had these doubts before and it’s all worked out just fine, so I just need to keep pushing on and get through it. I also find it’s helpful to break the work up into manageable tasks. Maybe I can’t keep every single subplot in my head at once, but I can think about THIS subplot, and I can figure out this character ARC or how to increase this romantic tension, and so I’ll focus on just that one thing and worry about everything else in its own time.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

I like to get the book as far as I can take it on my own before I share it with anyone. Usually after the third draft I hit a wall where I can no longer see the book clearly and I don’t know what I need to do to make it better. That’s when I send it to my editor, agent, and beta readers – I have three amazing betas who are BRILLIANT, and always help me see things that I’ve missed. I don’t know what I would do without them.

What would you say to teen writers who struggle with completing their drafts?

This is obvious, but if you ever want to finish something… you’re going to have to finish something! It’s so, so tempting to get called away by a shiny new idea, especially when your current project is giving you a headache. But eventually you’ll need to hunker down and push through to the end. Remind yourself why you started on this project in the first place – what did you love about it? And if you need to jump to the end and write the big climax or the happy resolution to keep yourself motivated, then do that! Though I will say that there WILL be projects that simply aren’t right for you at this time (I certainly have my share of unfinished writing projects lying around), try to be really mindful about choosing when to keep working on something and when to let it go.

What are the two most important traits writers can possess, and why?

Ooh, good question! I think writers have to be curious. We want to know about people and the world. You never know where an idea will come from – an idea for a new story, or something that opens up your imagination to some cool new twist for your current project, and I find that half the time it’s in reading or researching or talking to someone that I get those little pieces of inspiration that grow into stories.

And I think the second trait for a writer is dogged determination. Or stubborness. Writing can be a long, slow, trying process. There are a lot of doubts along the way, a lot of doubters, a lot of rejection and criticism. But if you can still get up every day and keep moving forward in the face of all that, you’ll always be making progress.

What is the one piece of advice you wish you had been given when you began writing?

Read craft guides! I didn’t start reading books on plot and structure and editing and characterization until after college, and as soon as I started reading them my skills increased exponentially. I think some writers are afraid that learning the elements of writing will somehow destroy their creativity or originality – hogwash! Once you know the “rules,” and WHY something works and why it doesn’t, then you know how and when to deviate from that to make something that’s your own. Knowledge is always a good thing.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

An aspiring writer! 😉

*Thanks so much for answering my questions!!

HAVE YOU READ THE LUNAR CHRONICLES? What did you think?
Read my review of Cinder.

Interview with Elizabeth Stuckey-French

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esf-photo Meet Elizabeth Stuckey-French, author and professor at Florida State University. She is the author of The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady and Mermaids on the Moon, and co-author (with Janet Burroway and Ned Stuckey-French) of Writing Fiction: A Guide to the Narrative Craft. I’ve recently had the privilege of meeting both Elizabeth Stuckey-French and husband Ned, (check out my interview with Ned!) who gave me such great advice about writing and college. Find out more by visiting her website.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

Ned reads drafts of everything I write, and I do the same for him. He’s my best reader. I think it’s crucial for writers to have trusted readers to show their work to, because there many things you just can’t see about your own work, especially in the early drafts. Of course, what I really want when I show him something is to be told that what I’ve just written is amazing! Brilliant! The best thing I’ve ever written! But after some (inadequate) praise, he will get down to asking questions about the draft and pointing out problems. I don’t want to hear it then, but after awhile I always realize he’s right and pull up my bootstraps and get to work. (What are bootstraps, anyway?) After he reads a draft, I have a few other trusted writer/reader friends I’ll show things to before I send to my agent, who will also give me some advice. Sometime takes awhile to find just the right people to help you, and it’s good if you can read their work in return. If someone reads your work and tells you things that make you want to never write another word, that person isn’t a good reader for you.

What are the two most important traits writers can possess, and why?

Patience and Perseverance. Because most people just give up when they realize how frustrating and challenging the whole process is. Many people have writing talent, but most of those people aren’t compelled or compulsive or thick-skinned enough to keep going. Which is fine. Only keep doing it if you can’t not do it.

What is the one piece of advice you wish you had been given when you began writing?

It takes time, and lots of it, to get something into publishable form. It always take much longer than you think it will. Patience and perseverance.

How do you believe writers should connect with their local writing community? Why/why not is this beneficial?

Writers need each other. Join a writing group or start one! Writing itself is a lonely activity, but we can support each other’s work, pass on advice, etc, and make it feel less so. A writing community–either on-line or in person–is essential. I always tell students that they aren’t competing with other writers, although it can often feel that way. The only person they are competing against is the part of themselves that is lazy, careless, and just wants to do what’s easiest.

What do you believe is the greatest myth about succeeding in the writing/publishing world?

That once you’re a published writer everything is smooth sailing. Not true. It’s always a struggle. You always doubt yourself and wonder if you’ll measure up. And the publishing industry is simply a business, and a fickle business at that. A friend of mine won Pulitzer Prize and his next novel was turned down by a number of publishers before it was accepted. You can’t count on anything, so enjoy the process of writing, when you have your own little world to disappear into. That’s the only really satisfying part of the whole process.

What do you enjoy most about being a professor?

I have had some amazing students, many of whom have gone on to publish books. It’s always so exciting to work with students who are in love with writing and watching their progress. And I feel so lucky that I get to go into a class and talk about what I love most in the world. How great is that?

*Thanks so much, Elizabeth!

Interview with Ned Stuckey-French

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Meet Ned Stuckey-French, essayist and professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He is the author of The American Essay in the American Century, co-editor (with Carl Klaus) of Essayists on the Essay: Four Centuries of Commentary, and coauthor (with Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French) of Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft. I’ve recently had the privilege of meeting with Stuckey-French, to discuss writing and college among other things. Find out more by visiting his website.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

Absolutely. I’ve been in many writing groups over the years, sometimes just with fellow essayists, sometimes with people working in different genres. I like them because they force some deadlines and accountability on me, give me a place to hear my work through the ears of other readers, provide some camaraderie and breaks from the isolation of writing, and help me figure out what my piece is really about. I’m not in a writing group now but share drafts (later drafts, I suppose) with Elizabeth or editors.

What are the two most important traits writers can possess, and why?

Honesty (which, I suppose, sometimes goes under the name of bravery, objectivity, or ruthlessness as far as one’s relationship with one’s writing) and perseverance because so much of writing is revising.

What is the one piece of advice you wish you had been given when you began writing?

Don’t be in a hurry. Be ready and willing to revise. And, of course, read, read, and read some more.

How do you believe writers should connect with their local writing community? Why/why not is this beneficial?

Absolutely. We need to support each other, be professional, and develop the institutions that support writing (e.g., magazines, reading series, book festivals, book blogs, independent bookstores, writing groups and programs, small and independent publishers, etc.). Anything else is selfish and self-defeating, I think.

What do you believe is the greatest myth about succeeding in the writing/publishing world?

That most or even many writers make a living as writers. Most have day jobs, often as teachers.

What do you believe is the most important thing you’re able to teach your students?

Again, that writing takes time and revision. I think it takes five, six, seven, maybe eleven drafts before you really know what your piece is about.

Interview with Amy Zhang

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Meet Amy Zhang, YA author of a debut novel to be published in fall 2014 by Greenwillow/HarperCollins. Amy’s blog A Story of a Dreamer chronicles her journey to publication after scoring an agent, and I’ve enjoyed learning her story. Amy is also on Twitter!

Could you give us a brief synopsis of your as-yet-untitled debut novel?

Liz Emerson is very good at hurting people and very bad at Physics. She lies and cheats and spreads rumors and she’s ruined a lot of lives, and the only way she knows how to stop is by ending her own. She plans her suicide carefully—an accident, a crash, and she will die and be forgotten.

Only, she failed Physics so badly that she couldn’t even crash her car right.

Narrated by her abandoned imaginary friend and told in terms of Newton’s Laws of Motion, the book tells not only Liz’s story, but the stories of those who taught her that every word, every move, and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

How does it feel to be publishing your debut novel with your dream publisher, HarperCollins?

Sometimes I wonder if it’s really sunk in yet. Greenwillow is an imprint that I had grown up loving—the one I loved before I ever thought about writing a book. I was obsessed with Amelia Bedelia when I was little. Megan Whalen Turner and Rae Carson wrote some of the books that inspired me to write. When I started this book during NaNoWriMo, I actually fantasized about signing with HarperCollins, thinking they would be the perfect for this.

And then one day my agent called to say that HarperCollins thought so, too, and I hyperventilated (like, seriously–during that phone call, my agent repeated asked if I needed a paper bag).

So basically, I’m saying that it feels like drinking unicorn tears every single day.

What have you learned about the publishing world thus far that you might not have known before?

It doesn’t get easier. Which isn’t a bad thing! Not at all. But when I started writing, I thought, “Oh, I just have to find an agent, and everything will be flowers and sunshine.” Nope. You still have to sell the book. I thought, “Oh, I just have to find an editor who loves it.” Nope. The book I queried ended up hooking an editor, but it didn’t make it past the acquisitions board. I thought, “Oh, I just need a contract PLEEEEEEEASE.” Nope. People still have to, you know, buy the book—there’s marketing and publicity and blog tours and fun things and not-so-fun things. But it’s an encouraging thought, isn’t it? There’s always room to grow.

What is your greatest challenge while writing, and how do you overcome it?

I’d have to say focusing. Finding the time, enough time, to sit down and forget about emails and homework and sports and just write. Usually, I turn off my Wi-Fi and stick a chair under my doorknob and sing the barricade song from Les Miserables until my family gets the message: DO NOT DISTURB.

Fun fact: I wrote my fastest draft ever in a bathtub. I filled it with pillows and blankets, locked the door, turned off the lights, plopped my laptop on my knees, and wrote. 70K in fourteen days (the 70K, though? Not. Good. But that’s what revisions are for).

When are you most productive? What is your writing process like (plotter, or pantser?)

I’m most productive late at night or early in the morning. For me, drafting is a lonely process–I have to be somewhere quiet, somewhere dim. I need to tell myself that I can’t be distracted, that I won’t be distracted until I hit my word count goal (but usually I’m not very convincing. Write or Die is, though. Sometimes I have nightmares about Kamikaze Mode).

I tell myself that I’m a plotter, which is half true–I always start plotting my novels, and around the halfway mark, I get lazy and decide to pants the other half. It works well for me, actually. I always write the second half more quickly than the first, but it’s hard for me to start a new novel without an outline.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

Again, I’m very solitary when it comes to drafting. I’m shy with first drafts. Usually, I send it to my agent and critique partners after an initial revision, along with a frantic, “Here take this make it better what do I do is it decent is it sellable is it GOOD?”

I have an absolutely fantastic writing group that puts up with all of my neuroticisms. We do group chats and writing sprints together, we critique each other, we call to patch up plot holes or to celebrate or cry or exchange publishing gossip. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without them.

What would you say to teen writers who struggle with completing their drafts?

Huh. What a coincidence. I’m having the same issue right now.

I think every author struggles with this. You love your characters and you’ve promised to tell their stories, but at some point or the other, the characters and their stupid friends and the story and the world and the imagery and the foreshadowing are all going to be very uncooperative, and of course there are always (very insistent) shiny new ideas demanding to be written.

Remember–it’s okay to take a break. Take a breath. Take a step back. Take a nap. Do some character development exercises or make a map or talk to a critique partner. Remember why you fell in love with this story in the first place. Find that passion again and remember that no one in the world can tell this story but you.

Why did you begin blogging? What, do you believe, is the purpose of your blog, and what do you typically blog about?

I began blogging in March of 2012, just after I signed with my agent. I wanted to start building a platform, and blogging seemed to be…what everyone else was doing, so I kind of jumped on the bandwagon and found that I really enjoyed it. I talk about my experiences with publishing, the mistakes I’ve made, the things I’ve done right. I blog about manuscripts and frustrations and how I want to kick a particular character in the shins.

What is next for Amy Zhang?

Well, tomorrow, I’m going to get up and spend a good half an hour trying to get out of bed…and that’s about as far as I’ve planned.

Writing-wise, I’m playing with a few ideas right now: MEMENTO MORI, which is about a girl named Mori Lee Monroe, who is trying to find the perfect grave site before she dies of AIDS. It features ice cream water gun fights and paradoxes and letters to the dead. THE BLACK SWAN THEORY (working title) is also told in letters, this time written by August Carter as he struggles to overcome cognitive biases and high school and the memory of what happened after their stupid winter dance, all addressed to his unrequited love, Janie Vivian. THE STORYWEAVER, a fantasy about a castle on a waterfall and a war and a kind of magic made possible through the sacrifice of memories.

Oh, and after I get out of bed, I might have some pie for breakfast.

*Thanks for answering my questions, Amy!

Interview with Kat Zhang

Interview with Rachel Coker

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rachel coker color2 Meet Rachel Coker, YA teen novelist. Coker published her first novel, Interrupted, in March 2012, and recently published her second book Chasing Jupiter in December 2012 (both Zondervan). I love Coker’s story – she discovered her love of writing when she was 11, wrote her first novel when she was 14, and published the novel at the age of 16. To learn more about Coker and her books, visit her website.

What is your greatest challenge while writing, and how do you overcome it?

My biggest challenge is just finishing! I have a short attention span, and I tend to get tired of things before I’ve spent the time necessary to complete them! I sometimes get bored working on the same story for a long time, and I just want to work on something new! But usually, if I go back and remind myself just what it is about this story that makes it worth finishing, I can motivate myself to keep going.

How do you motivate yourself to write consistently? What is your writing process like (plotter, or pantser?)

I’m actually not a super-consistent writer. I usually only write when I feel creative or inspired, which might be days in between! But then when I do sit down to write, I can pour out words and scenes for hours on end! For me, it’s all about letting myself be creative and not constraining myself to follow any certain schedule or pattern, at least when it comes to my creative writing. But that’s different for everyone!

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

The only people to read my first drafts are my mom, sister, and agent. I don’t want to spoil it for people when I know it’s going to get better! But it is good to get the advice of others, and those three people are pretty critical so I respect their opinions.

What would you say to teen writers who struggle with completing their drafts?

“Uuuuggghhh… I feel your pain….” Haha, but really–I do! It’s hard to finish a first draft. It takes a lot of work, and time, and dedication. But then, once you finish it, you experience the most amazing feeling of accomplishment! It’s totally worth the blood, sweat, and tears! Just keep looking for fresh inspiration, and don’t forget to take breaks sometimes so you don’t feel overwhelmed. You can do it!

What are the two most important traits writers can possess, and why?

The ability to find inspiration everywhere, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to create beautiful stories about real, flawed human beings that inspire and touch others. And the ability to write about what you know, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to relate your real struggles in a personal and engaging way.

What are you currently working on? What is next for Rachel Coker?

I’m hard at work on Book #3! I’m almost finished with the first draft and will soon be moving on to editing! Hopefully, it will come out sometime next year! I’m also blogging (www.rachelcoker.com) and giving personal writing lessons to students all across the country through email!

Interview with Laura Lascarso

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laura-3-2 Meet Laura Lascarso, YA novelist. Counting Backwards is Lascarso’s debut novel, the Florida Book Awards 2012 Gold Medal Winner. I recently met Lascarso at an event at my public library, and she was one of the authors who recommended I attend a writer’s conference. (Which was a fabulous idea!) To learn more about Lascarso and her book, visit her blog and Twitter account.

What is your greatest challenge while writing, and how do you overcome it?

My greatest challenge presently is finding enough time to write. Between working full-time and raising a family, there doesn’t seem to be enough time for brushing my teeth, much less writing, but I have been dedicating weekends to writing and revising only, and those sessions have been very productive and rewarding.

How do you motivate yourself to write consistently?

I am pretty self-motivated when it comes to writing the first draft. For revising, I find concrete deadlines very motivating. Chocolate and coffee are also great motivators when it comes to daily rewards.

What is your writing process like (plotter, or pantser/blurter?)

I’m a pantser that has become more of a plotter. My process is to usually write the first 50 pages just so that I can get to know my character, what she wants and what she is up against. Then I take those 50 pages to my critique group with my intentions for the story and together we brainstorm plot twists, added conflicts, subplots and the climax. Many times I have to completely rewrite what I’ve written, but it’s always ten times better because I know more about where my character has been and where she is going.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

I only share with my two critique partners and sometimes my agent if I’m wondering if a project is marketable or not. My agent, Caryn Wiseman, is also an expert in the genres of young adult and middle grade fiction. She has great tips on how to make my work more compelling to those markets. All three women I trust and respect very much. Both of those qualities are important to have when handing over your creative work when it is still in the fledgling stage.

How do you believe aspiring writers should connect with their local writing community? Why/why not is this beneficial?

There are great writing communities in the Tallahassee area that I’m getting to know better and better. I’m also a member of SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Publishers). I go to at least one conference a year to stay current in the publishing business, as well as meet with other writers, agents and editors. I depend heavily on my critique group for feedback on my writing, and I rely on my Twitter community of writer friends for the social and networking aspects of writing professionally. All are extremely beneficial in their own way. I have found it to be true in all avenues of life, the more you give, the more you get back.

What is the one piece of advice you wish you had been given when you began writing?

Be patient. You’ll get there. Maybe not as fast or easily as you would like, but you’ll get there. I’m still getting there myself!

What are you currently reading?

I just finished two really great YA books–If I Stay by Gayle Forman and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. I’m now reading Pure by Julianna Baggott. All three are amazing writers with unique and strong voices. I’d recommend all three books.

Interview with Adrian Fogelin

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Meet Adrian Fogelin, young adult novelist. Fogelin became a full-time writer in the fall of 2001, and currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida. I had the privilege of meeting Fogelin when she visited my English class in middle-school, and I’ve read three of her books (Crossing Jordan, Anna Casey’s Place in the World, and The Sorta Sisters) which I really enjoyed. For more info about Fogelin, her novels, and the community library she created, visit her website or blog! In the following interview, Fogelin talks about her own writing life and offers advice to fellow writers.

What is your greatest challenge while writing, and how do you overcome it?

The greatest challenge is dealing with the slump that hits in the middle of a book. It is easy to start a book and easy to finish one but the middle can sag. I often solve it by writing the end before the middle. That way I know where I’m going.

How do you motivate yourself to write consistently? What is your writing process like (do you outline, or create a detailed plan?)

I have written for so long now that it has become a daily habit. A habit is something you just do, so I don’t have to worry about motivation. I sit in this chair and I write. As for process I am NOT a planner. I am what I call a blurter. I get the germ of an idea and I begin to write. I follow where the idea takes me.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

Like most writers I belong to a writing group. We meet weekly and critique each others pages.

What are the two most important traits writers can possess, and why?

They must be good observers and listeners – stories usually begin with real life. They have to love to write – the rewards can be small or nonexistent; few writers get published. They have to be disciplined. It takes a lot of work to write a book. They have to be able to handle criticism and rejection – there is lots of both in this business! They have to listen to their inner writer. Although other people’s opinions are important, the voice inside the writer is one that should ultimately make the decisions.

What do you believe is the greatest myth about succeeding in the writing/publishing world?

That you should look at the trends in what is selling and follow them. Vampires are so last week!

What do you love most about living in Tallahassee, Florida?

I love the landscape of large oaks and the combination of temperate and tropical plants. But best I love my home neighborhood which is the source of most of my stories.

Interview with Steph Bowe – Part 2

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Enjoy Part 2 of my interview with teen novelist Steph Bowe! If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. Also, be sure to check out Steph’s blog, Hey! Teenager of the Year.

What would you say to teen writers who struggle with completing their drafts?

Don’t give up, don’t doubt yourself, enjoy the process – having fun with writing is the most important bit, so don’t stress about it being perfect. And it’s okay to abandon projects – I have written many, many starts of novels, and far less endings.

Do you keep a “writer’s notebook” of ideas?

I have lots of notebooks! I tend to write notes all over the place, on envelopes and on my phone and on post-its. I always have lots of little lines and thoughts that I want to put into a story, and I write them down and wait for the right moment.

Do you create playlists for your books? As this seems to be a growing trend, do you believe music has any special effects on a writer’s creativity?

I don’t create playlists for my books but I do tend to listen to similar music unintentionally while writing. I think music can be good for focusing (music goes on + sit at computer = writing time… contributes to creating that whole writing ritual) and figuring out atmosphere for certain scenes.

What inspires your blog posts? What, do you believe, is the purpose of your blog, and what do you typically blog about?

The purpose of my blog is to have fun! And hopefully people will enjoy reading what I’ve written/it will be helpful to them. I blog book reviews, author interviews, thoughts on books and writing in general, writing advice, inspiring words and images, updates about my own novels and appearances and my thoughts on entirely non-book-related issues (usually things that affect teenagers, things in the media, etc).

What advice would you give to teen bloggers? Do you have any favorite blogs that you follow?

I would say have a clear idea of what you are blogging about, interact with other bloggers and have fun with it. I read lots and lots of author’s blogs – so many I can’t just pick a few.

What do you love most about Australia?

I don’t think I’ve spent enough time out of Australia to properly know what’s special and wonderful about it. I do love the climate and the beaches (I live on the Gold Coast), and there are lots of lovely people here (including myself! I’m nice).

What are you currently working on? What is next for Steph Bowe?

I’m working on another contemporary YA, but it’s too early for me to talk about it – I don’t want to jinx it!

*Thank you, Steph!*

Interview with Steph Bowe – Part 1

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SONY DSC Meet Steph Bowe, contemporary YA teen novelist. Steph, who currently lives in Australia, published her debut novel Girl Saves Boy in 2010 and recently released her newest novel, All This Could End, in February 2013 (both Text Publishing). I am a fan of Steph’s fabulous blog, Hey! Teenager of the Year, which eventually led to this interview. I have certainly learned much from Steph, so I hope you can, too. In this interview, Steph talks about her newest novel, her writing habits, and her blog. For more info about Steph Bowe, visit her website.

*I asked Steph so many questions I decided to break the interview into 2 parts.

What is a brief synopsis of All This Could End and how is it similar/different than your first published novel Girl Saves Boy?

All This Could End is about a teenage girl who accidentally takes a boy she knows hostage in a bank robbery. It’s about family, and realising your parents aren’t always right, especially if they’re crazed criminals. It’s very, very different plotwise to Girl Saves Boy, though it is also character-driven and ultimately about growing up and figuring out who you are and where you belong.

What was your greatest challenge while writing All This Could End?

Not allowing self-doubt to get to me! And during the editorial process, trying to figure out the right way to end the novel, and the right way to order events (general structure overall changed around a lot through the revision process).

After you finished your first book, did you feel pressure writing a second? Is each novel you write easier to complete or more difficult to complete?

I don’t think I’ve written enough novels to say whether it gets easier or harder, but I certainly know writing the second novel was a lot more challenging, but not because of any external pressures – just the knowledge that other people would definitely read my novel, and that it had to measure up to the first novel, made the process trickier and resulted in a lot of self-doubt.

Do you use a certain program to write? (Have you heard of Scrivener?)

I have heard of Scrivener, but I use plain old Microsoft Word. (Plus lots of notebooks for getting ideas down!)

What is your writing process like, and how do you motivate yourself to write consistently?

To motivate myself to write consistently, I remind myself how much better I feel having written something – it’s difficult to get started, but once I’m in the midst of writing it’s fun. My writing process involves lots of thinking over a plot before I start writing, writing scenes out of order (all the exciting bits first), taking lots of notes and adding in lines, reading and rereading scenes I’ve already written before continuing to write, and eventually filling up all the spaces and having a finished first draft! And then, editing. Which is very, very tricky.

Are you a fan of sharing what you’ve written during the “early stages,” and asking for advice? If so, who has the privilege of reading your first drafts?

I don’t tend to let anyone read anything I’ve written until I’ve finished at least a first draft. The first people who get to read a new manuscript are my grandparents. I won’t look for critical advice until about the second draft.

Why does it take so much longer to revise and edit than it does to write a book?

I think because writing is a lot more fun, and you can switch off your inner editor. The editing part is the part where you question everything and have to work out how to make it better, rather than just expressing raw creativity and imagination.

You finished your first novel when you were 14, before your publication of Girl Saves Boy. What was your immediate reaction? What was your next step?

I was pretty pleased with myself! (Though Girl Saves Boy was the third full novel I wrote.) The first thing I did after finishing it was send it out to writer friends to get some feedback on it before I submitted it to publishers.

Part 2 of my interview with Steph

Brooke Reviews

YA Book Blog

Category Archives: Author Interviews

Interview with Marissa Meyer

Interview with Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Interview with Ned Stuckey-French

Interview with Amy Zhang

Interview with Kat Zhang

Interview with Rachel Coker

Interview with Laura Lascarso

Interview with Adrian Fogelin

Interview with Steph Bowe – Part 2

Interview with Steph Bowe – Part 1