“What keeps you going (either trying to get an agent or to get published or finish that WIP that’s kicking your butt) when you know the odds are stacked way against you?”

I’m going to be honest. When I saw this topic, I groaned. Loudly. Not because it’s a bad topic but because I’m in one of those “This writing life is so so hard” kind of moods. I’ve answered this before and it’s interesting to me that this topic comes up often. I guess it’s because we all want to know how to keep going when the going gets tough. When it stays tough for a long time.

So since Laura asked this question almost 2 weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about it. I don’t have an answer. I just keep going. I feel there’s no other way. I don’t want to be that one book wonder person. I don’t want to fall off the face of the Earth when people barely know who I am, when I haven’t left a mark yet. There is so much more I want to accomplish with my writing–so many more books and genres I want to tackle. Quitting is not me–be it with writing or anything else. Plus, if I quit, I’ll never know if all my goal could have been achieved.

I think the odds are often stacked against us. But then that voice wonders why CAN’T it be ME? So I strive to make it happen. That in itself is hard because I can only control my writing, nothing else. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.

So why do I keep going? Because I’m grown up now and this is what I always wanted to be. If I stop, what else am I going to be when I grow up? It was always this.

Check out Eric’s inspirational post from yesterday, and keep an eye out for the next blog chain.

And then came this week. Where it’s back to reality of revisions and looking at rankings and wanting more. We authors are hard to please, you know. I have often said, “Geez, what is it like to be….normal? To just be content.” I guess I’ll keep wondering. Last week, I read a terrific post by Mandy Hubbard about writers never being satisfied. Check it out here. It explains a lot. And I just want to add something else that can help all us fragile writers just a little bit. Thing is, a lot of the writing community is so supportive and knows what questions not to ask, so I thought I’d create a do/don’t list for friends and family of writers. Please, print it out and refer to it when you get the urge to talk to us about our careers. Thanks!

1. After a signing, please DON’T ask, “So did you sell any books?” or any variation on that question.
DO say: “How did it go?”
Yeah, yeah, it’s kind of the same thing, but to the second one, I can just answer “Fine.” Because, sometimes, I may not sell that many books but I make meaningful contacts and that could lead to something good. Or, I may not sell many books, and don’t really want to go into details. AND, if I do sell lots of books, you won’t even have to ask me. I’ll be telling you all about it myself.

2. I made it a point, not to ask friends and family if they liked my book. Everyone has different tastes; some books are just not your thing. It’s OK. Really. And I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. But, on the same taken, if you didn’t like it, can you not seek me out to tell me? Reviewers critique my stuff, my writing group critiques my work. As I said, I PROMISE, I won’t ask what you thought. So DON’T say, “I really liked this one line. It was so insightful. But I wish there was more of that throughout. I know you’re just starting out, though and learning, so maybe you can focus on doing that more in your next book.”
DO say, “I really liked this one line.” Then please stop talking. And, if you didn’t like the book, that’s OK too. But, really, what will critiquing it at this point do for me?

3. If you’re a good friend or family member, of course I’d love for you to buy the book. Of course, you don’t have to. You can be saving the $9.95 for your latte supply or an imitation Prada bag. Or waiting until Borders discounts my book to 50% off. It’s all good. BUT DON’T say each time you see me, “I really need to get out and buy your book.” They’re not selling out, girl. Go get one. If you’re in my house and there’s a crate of them, DON’T say, “I really need to buy that eventually.” The time is now. The crate is taking up space in my living room. Just like I won’t ask if you’ve read the book, I will never make you feel like you need to buy one. So, if you don’t want to buy the book, just don’t and we can talk about tons of other things, like the newest Glee or Degrassi.

4. If you/your daughter/son/grandma is a writer too and are waiting to get published, DON’T say, “Do you think it was easier to get published because you write YA?” or  ”But it’s YA so….”  I’ll tell you this. The first novel I wrote was aimed at adults and didn’t get published. BUT it didn’t get published not because it was for adults but because the story had MAJOR flaws. Had INCONVENIENT had the same issues, it would not have been published. If you think writing YA will get you published, go for it. Wait, what? You don’t know how to write YA? I guess it’s not so easy then, right?
How about you DO say, “Congratulations. That’s great. You must have worked hard.”

5. Piggybacking off number 4, if you/your aunt/your grandpa/your cousin is trying to get published and you want me to read something or have industry questions, I’m always happy to help. But, can you ask how I am once in a while? Can you send me some e-mails that just say hello? If I told you about stuff going on with me, before you launch into another 2 page e-mail, can you write me one asking if all the stuff got worked out? Seriously, people, just common courtesy.

6. Now, if you’re like my mom, you might say, “Fine, I just won’t ask anything then.” (Love you, Mom!!) But don’t do that. We’re all doing the best we can and sorry that our fragile egos get in the way. If you feel compelled to say SOMETHING, here are a few things that are always good:

I’m proud of you.
So great you’re pursuing your dream.
I saw your book in a store window. Here’s the picture I took.
I recommended your book to a friend.
Congratulations.

However, this year was different. I did think about coffee because how can you not? But I actually took stock of what I have and what I should be thankful for and what the year ahead holds and how important it is to be positive about the good things we have. I was out for a walk with a friend of mine after my last supper (for the next 24 hours anyway), and we were talking about some issues we have with self-esteem and why we feel the way we do, and I shared some writing things that had been going on last week (that were out of my control), and the conversation went in another direction and to our kids and bad tv and so on. At one point, though, she said, “It’s amazing, isn’t it? You must be so excited. Your book will be out in almost a month and you’re accomplishing what you said you would, what you set out to do. It’s so inspirational to me. You must be so proud.” And I had to think about it. Think about it?! The high school and college me and even the before agent me would have slapped me. And had this been a friend all this stuff was happening to, I would have said, “My gosh, you are amazing. That’s so fantastic!” But to me, I had to stop and think.

And I realized how ridiculous my attitude is and how it’s necessary to change it. I have a lot: a great husband, the opportunity to stay home with my beyond awesome three old boy, a great family who lives super close, a house, and now a book coming out. I’m not going to be all Pollyanna because that’s so not me. But I do need to take stock more, appreciate what I have. And I’m happy to say, I did that all Yom Kippur. I thought of coffee three times, but other than that, I had fun playing with my kid and cats and making fun of my hubby who acted as if he was dying of starvation and giving my head a break from all writing angst.

That night, after Yom Kippur ended, I did catch up on e-mails and plan a bit of my writing schedule for the week, but I was calmer. I think I’ll take stock weekly now–with a strong cup of coffee by my side.

Below is ARC on top of the hill behind Alyssa’s house:

Here it is behind Glenfair’s local hangout, CVS. Notice how it’s straddling the rail, like one of the cool kids:

Here it is running the paths of Dunkerhook Park–the location for Alyssa’s retreat and cross-country meet:

Here it is beside the waterfall where Keith and Alyssa had their first kiss:

My ARC taking a spin on the mall carousel:

And because my ARC is so spunky and adventurous, here it is (courtesy of my awesome nephew) going down the falls:

I’ll add the disclaimer that it’s not a one size fits all thing.You’ll run across methods that work beautifully in someone else’s book but makes yours look fugly. Or, like that sweater that always made your sibling look hot but looked gross on you until you added pearls, it’s a matter of adopting a method to work with your talents.

When I taught middle school, I told my students to start their stories/essays in one of 3 ways: description, dialogue, or startling fact. I think this advice can apply to novels as well.

Let’s start with description. You’re probably thinking that’s a great way to lose readers, and you’re right if you spend the first three pages writing heavy detail about a brown coffee table or living room. Heck, if you put this kind of detail even halfway through the book, I’ll skim it and move on to a juicier part, but that’s just me.

One of my favorite books, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger, began with description. I love the poetry of the writing and how, from the start, Niffenegger’s words let us know something monumental is about to happen.

First paragraph:

Clare: The library is cool and smells like carpet cleaner, although all I can see is marble. I sign the visitors’ log Clare Abshire, 11:15 10-26-91 Special Collections. I have never been in the Newberry Library before and now that I’ve gotten past the dark, foreboding entrance, I am excited. I have a sort of Christmas-morning sense of the library as a big box full of beautiful books.

What I love about these lines is that Niffenegger utilizes the senses to draw us in. The details Clare sees and the way she presents them to us, really paint Clare’s character without us knowing anything about her. There is something child-like about her here and endearing, especially when she compares the library to “a big box of beautiful books.”

2. Dialogue–I have heard mixed thoughts on opening a book this way. Some balk at this method because we “hear” words without knowing right away who is saying them or anything about the speaker. But, if the words are alluring, we’re hooked, and then the writer can provide further details to flesh out the missing parts (e.g. setting, etc.).

David Levithan’s WIDE AWAKE begins:

“I can’t believe there’s going to be a gay Jewish president.”
As my mother said this, she looked at my father, who was still staring at the screen. They were shocked, barely comprehending.
Me?
I sat there and beamed.

I love the opening line here, and was pulled in immediately. I didn’t even care who was talking because the line was so surprising. The few lines above are the whole first chapter, but already we get a sense of the narrator. These lines are succinct, and the MC’s optimism/happiness of the moment comes through clearly.

3. Startling Fact–When I taught English and creative writing, this was often my students’ favorite way to open a story. It allowed them to bring out the most crazy, lavish line they could find and present it unapologetically. Sometimes, this is where they would begin and then create a story around the surprising detail. When I’m stuck on a character or chapter, I try to think of the most surprising element of that character and think how it would fit as a chapter opening. At the least, it helps rejuvenate a stalled writing process.

GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray is currently on my to-read list. When I hear a lot about a book, those first pages make me nervous because I really want to like them. I was hesitant to open this but am glad I did. The first page completely pulled me in, and it’s also a perfect example of a startling fact opening.

The best day of my life happened when I was five and almost died at Disney World.
I’m sixteen now, so you can imagine that’s left me with quite a few days of major suckage.

Dying at Disney World is definitely not ideal, but the MC says this was his best day. Really? And it was all downhill from there? Right away, Bray has me, and I can’t wait to read this book.

How about you? What are some of your favorite ways to start stories? Which books did you feel hooked you from the start? How did they do it?

How could I not have known, you ask? Well, I wrote INCONVENIENT more than three years ago. I did MANY revisions on it–most done while caring for my son who was an infant at the time. If you are or were a new mama, those early months are a BLUR. I remember writing the book, the feelings I felt when writing it. The process? Not so much.

It’s funny, too, because I have written about the writing process (in the abstract), answered questions about how I write, but none of that sparked any memories. And then I started working consistently on the MG. I wanted to meet daily word count so if I was stuck on a scene, I wrote other scenes in my head. I focused on the plot points I saw vividly–no matter where they fell in the book. Out of order was fine. As I wrote more of the scenes that jumped out at me, I got ideas for the scenes I had trouble with and went back to do those. And then something amazing happened. The book just came together! I began to cut/paste the later scenes to where they would fit chronologically and now the novel is pretty much in order. Then, I wrote a short outline of the chapters I have coming up. It’s at this point that I realized this is exactly how I wrote INCONVENIENT.

Now, I’m close to finishing the first draft of the MG, which is a huge accomplishment because I had this fear/stuckedness/anxiety that I wouldn’t be able to write another book after INC. Every time I began something new, I’d write twenty or so pages and then get bored or just not know how to proceed. Now, I know I can do it. And what made this even better was that I now know why my YA WIP–my CONTRACTED WIP, that’s due in November–was not working. Once I’m done with my MG, I’ll go back to that and work on it in the same way. One scene at a time, random order, putting together the parts of the puzzle that I see clearly.

That’s how I do real puzzles, by the way. Do the corners first? Nope, not for me. I put together the pieces in whatever order I want. If I see a picture, that’s what gets done first. On a playdate once, I was helping my son put together a puzzle, and a mom just stared at what I was doing. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you you’re supposed to do the edges first?” she asked. “Don’t remember,” I said. “But what does it matter if it gets you to the same place?”

. And I’m lucky to have her as my agent too.

1. Describe your ideal client.

I like authors who are hard-working, who take their work seriously (but are fun about it!) and who are not precious about revising or reworking or throwing things that are not working away.  I don’t like divas.  I also don’t like surprises, and I really really don’t like wasting my time… but who does? So I very much appreciate authors who are good communicators.

2. The agent/client relationship should be a match for both. What are the right questions an author should ask to see if the compatibility is there?

I think that depends on what is important to YOU. But I’d probably start with: What did you like about my book? What do you think I need to change? How much revision would you ask me to do before we can submit? How do you envision the book, with what sort of publisher?  Do you want to know if I have ideas/suggestions for editors we might submit to?  How do you prefer to communicate, and how often? What happens if we don’t sell this book?  Can I see your agency agreement before I make a decision?  (And because for me it would be important that my agent be well-read in whatever my genre would be…) What do you consider comparative titles to mine? What are some of your favorite books in my genre?

3. What is the top mistake writers make?

Probably querying too soon, and/or having unrealistic expectations.

4. What made you want to be an agent?

I love books and authors, and am a real evangelist for my favorite books, but I don’t want to be a writer. And I am good at selling things, but I don’t want to be a door-to-door salesman. And I am good at arguing, but I don’t want to be a lawyer.  Soo…. it was a perfect fit!

5. And, if you weren’t an agent, you’d be…..?

A bookseller, I guess!    If I wasn’t in the book business at all, I would probably be a dramaturg or theatre producer, that is what I went to school for. If I couldn’t do that for whatever reason, I also would not mind working in a fabric or hobby shop, fine paper store, antique store or at a boutique florist. I like buttons and bows!  And I have pretty much zero skills that will translate to a post-apocolyptic world. Ah, well.

5. What’s your best advice for writers?

Read. A LOT. And don’t get too caught up in what other people are writing — you have to make your own path.

6. What kind of manuscript do you wish you had in your hands right now?

I would love some funny wonderful classic-feeling Middle Grade fiction, like THE PENDERWICKS or Andrew Clements. It is extremely hard to write. 

I would also like high-concept, unputdownable, truly stellar but highly commercial YA.  Wouldn’t everyone?

7. If you could create a donut flavor, what would it be?

Hm – I am not so into donuts. I like fleur de sel mini-cupcakes. MINI ONLY! I don’t like large cupcakes. I have an anti-messy-food policy.

8. Favorite book ever?

I could not possibly pick one. My favorite non-client books at the moment are THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson and HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford.

9. Favorite/least favorite aspect of agenting?

I love selling things, and I love making that call to a client that their book is going to be published!  

But, I sympathize with many writers, because I too am frustrated by the length of time we have to wait for things. As we all know, the publishing world is very slow, and it can be excruciating.

10. This question is all you. Anything you have always wanted to be asked but never were or just something you’re dying to share?

Not really. If you want to find out inane things about me daily, feel free to follow my twitter feed: @literaticat

What’s Your Writing Style?

1. Are you a “pantser” or a “plotter”?Whenever I see this question, “plotter” always seems to refer to a written outline, notecards, etc., and “pantser” seems to mean you just sit down and write with no thought as to what’s to come. I think most people are a combo of both. At least I am. I plot in my head–get an idea for characters, story, setting. Sometimes I jot a few notes so I don’t forget what’s to come or where I think I’m heading overall. Then I write.

2. Detailed character sketches or “their character will be revealed to me as I write”?Definitely the second one. I have some idea of my characters–mainly their goals and basic plot–but find out more as I write. In my current WIP, for example, I had this one idea of an MC but just a few days ago he surprised me. His evolution completely makes sense and works with the story, but I wouldn’t have pegged it happening when I started.

3. Books on plotting – useful or harmful? They can be both, depending on who you are. If you have trouble with plotting and need them as a reference or are interested in different ways of plotting, by all means use them. However, if you’re the type who changes his/her writing style at whim and flit from book to book whenever you’re stuck (rather than exploring what’s not working), I can see these books being problematic. Although, I guess it’s not the books that are the problem then, right?

4. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work? Both.

5. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time? I write when I have the time. Being home with a 2.5 year old all day is all about finding a half hour once he’s asleep or a few hours on an afternoon with a sitter, or longer spans on weekends. Whenever I can.

6. Are you a morning or afternoon writer? See above.

7. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate? I usually write better when it’s total quiet, but I can handle Panera’s provided there are no super loud people in the tables next to me.

8. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?) Usually computer, but when I’m stuck, I do longhand too. Switching mediums like this helps free my brain and the words flow easier.

9. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One? In my current WIP, I do. In INCONVENIENT, I thought I did, but it underwent so many revisions that the current ending is not what I first had in mind. But I like it so much better. However, I do always know the gist—like will it end well or badly. How exactly—word for word—no.

10. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write? Not at all. I get a story in my head and go from there. Trends come and go and to try to meet those demands, rather than write what you love, is silly and unproductive.

11. Editing – love it or hate it? I like editing other people’s works more than my own, mainly because it’s easier to see what’s working and what’s not when you’re removed from the book. However, once someone points out where the main issues are, I can move on the manuscript and enjoy the revisions (especially if I’m reworking scenes I love) once I get going.

1.

Today’s Writing Wednesday segment is with Jennifer Brown, terrific Deb and author of Hate List (Little, Brown, September 2009). Despite deadlines and writing work galore, Jennifer had time to answer the questions below and then some. To find out more about Jennifer visit her at www.jenniferbrownya.com

1. Prior to Hate List, you were known for your humorous writing style. Was shifting from humor to serious difficult for you?

Not really. I actually began by writing serious stuff. I didn’t start writing a humor column until 2005, and had already been writing for 5 years at that time. Humor comes naturally to me, and I haven’t left it, but I really like to write on serious subjects. Doing both is a win-win!

2. How did Hate List come to you?

I think a lot of things came together at just the right time for me. I’d been bullied in school, and that had certainly been on my mind for a lot of years (I’ve never really understood what makes some people be so mean for no real reason). Also, as a parent, school shootings really frighten me. It’s shocking and terrifying to find out that the one safe place in the world for you to send your kids may not be so safe anymore. So these things are percolating around in my brain for… years… and, you know, so much of writing is just very mysterious. Things just sort of come together all at once and you didn’t even know all the parts and pieces were there until you look back. So, in that light, looking back, the inciting event for bringing all those parts and pieces together for me — as strange as this sounds — was the Nickelback song, “If Everyone Cared.” The song got stuck in my head one night while I was sleeping, and I woke up with these two characters in my head. I could “see” them so clearly. And their story was just… there. But if I’m being honest, it had been there for a long time. I just finally recognized it.

3. I always find it interesting to know an author’s writing process. How do you work? Do you get your characters first, the story, something else?

I’m a very character-driven sort of writer so, yes, I make sure I have the characters understood first. I usually begin with a little research, and do a ton of thinking about plot. Once I feel I have the basic plot idea in my head, I begin writing (long-hand) everything I know about the main characters (and sometimes even minor ones). I start with police blotter stuff, like age, weight, height, etc., then move on to family dynamics, motivation, and so forth. It’s really important to me to know my characters through and through or they won’t start “speaking to me.” If they don’t start “speaking,” everything just falls apart. Orson Scott Card’s book Characters and Viewpoints changed my writing life! I highly recommend it.

After I get my character information down, I just begin writing. I’m not a big outliner and I despise writing synopses. I like to just have my basic plot in mind and go with it. And I really like for my characters to change the plot themselves.

4. I was not surprised that I felt sympathy for Valerie in Hate List. However, I was surprised that I felt sympathy for Nick and saw him as a boy, not just a murderer. Did you understand him from the beginning? Was the Nick that evolved—the many facets of him—how you envisioned him from the start?

I understood him from the beginning, yes, but I didn’t write the good Nick stuff down at first. It wasn’t until my editor told me that the reader couldn’t just “take Val’s word for it” that Nick was a good guy that it really clicked with me. I’d sort of been treating him like a corpse, while in Valerie’s head he was still very much alive. I realized that, for readers to understand not only him and his motivation, but also to understand Val and her motivation, we needed to see him just being… normal sometimes. After I wrote the good Nick scenes, those turned out to be some of my favorite scenes in the book.

5. I love that you like board games. What is your favorite one?

I’m lucky in that I have a brother who is a major gamer, and is always going to these gaming conventions and always knows/has these games nobody’s ever heard of. They can be really fun. My favorite game at the moment is a card game called Once Upon a Time, where you play cards to build fairy tales. It’s a lot of fun! But there’s a game called Betrayal at the House on the Hill that we’ve played tons of times, and it would rank up there for me. And I love love love the game Ticket to Ride.

6. I’m not into playlists, but seems everyone else is. Are you? Does music inspire your characters?

I don’t think music really inspires my characters, no. But I will hear songs while I’m writing, or will think of songs that will make me go, “Omigosh, my character totally could relate to this song!” And I did create a Hate List playlist for my virtual launch party (http://jenniferbrown09.livejournal.com/5043.html ). That said, I’m a huge music lover, and I do like to have music playing in the background while I’m writing. The trouble is, I like to sing along, so I have to play foreign music that I don’t understand so I won’t get distracted.

7. I saw you have a book, PATCHED, coming out Spring 2011. Can you tell us about it? And I know you’re working on an adult book as well. Different genres, different styles. Is it hard to shift voices? Where else do you see your writing going?

PATCHED is about a girl involved in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. I’m pretty superstitious about giving up too many details while I’m still working on a project, so I’ll leave it at that for now. Yes, I did just finish writing a light romantic adult story. It’s actually a story I began forever ago, before I started Hate List. And I’ve been adding little chapters here and there whenever I felt a need to lighten up. I want to say no, it’s not difficult to shift voices like that, but… well, we’ll see if this adult book sells. It may not be difficult to shift voices,  but that doesn’t mean I do it well… Hahaha! I actually really like to switch up genres, even if I don’t do them all well. It keeps me from getting too one-note, I think.

8. I really enjoyed your blog entry about introverts. Do you have a specific place you like to be alone or that fuels and reenergizes you?

I love libraries. I could live in a library. In fact, I think if I accidentally got locked in a library overnight, that would be the awesomest thing ever! When I want to work — and really get after it! — I go to the library. I can get away with ignoring my cell phone and sitting in a corner with my back to the room and not speaking to anyone for hours on end and it’s totally socially acceptable in a library! What’s not to love about that?!

9. Your book has been out almost four months now. Can you tell us a little about your debut year?

Ahh, the dreaded debut year! Um, scary? How about exhausting? Confusing? Exhilarating? Exciting? Touching? Very, very humbling? All of the above! One thing I’ve learned — no matter how long you’ve been doing this writing gig, you learn very quickly your debut year what a newbie you are! And the first month after your book’s release just flies by — it’s more work than you ever imagined possible!

10. What has been the best part of these debut months?

I’ve had some very touching moments this year that really reminded me why I do what I do, but two really stand out in my mind.

I have these silicone bracelets that say “AGENT OF CHANGE” on them, and I give them out to teens here and there. I usually give them out in twos — one for the student I’m giving it to, and the other for that student to give to someone who isn’t already their friend. I sent a bunch of these to a middle school group who was reading my book, and I later got a note from their teacher, thanking me and telling me that his students were currently working with administration to create their own “Agent of Change Club.” I thought that was awesome!

Another time, during a school visit and library event trip to another city, I got an impromptu request to visit an alternative school in the area. My schedule was full, but something told me that I really needed to make every effort to get to that school. So I did. And it turned out that I was the first and only author to EVER visit that school. And the students were so excited about it, after I left, they decided to create a student-led book group.

Makes me so proud to be part of that!

Yep, I’m back into planning things, making lists, feeling accomplished when I can check things off my list, keeping a tally of all I have to do, yada, yada, yada. And this is all well and good when things go according to plan. When they don’t, the lists just become a false sense of security. That’s what happened this week.

First, the teething. That was a surprise in itself because I thought we were done with the worst of it. Apparently, the teeth feel differently. They’re not done partying and hurting my little guy. So, the nights were bad, which led to the days being bad, which did not help our will he/won’t he nap situation. Then, yesterday, those darn teeth were especially wicked and caused Little Guy to run a fever so I canceled my sitter and plans. Today, had a sitter but Hubby studying for exam and sitter can’t stay late so so much for my writing plans. Oh, and re nap situation—that was when I would write too, so that’s not been happening. And my little lists are sitting and mocking me—not intentionally, of course, because my lists are cute and sweet and mean no harm—and I have projects I need to finish (they may have long term deadlines but still), and I just want to write because it calms and makes things feel less chaotic.

This all got me thinking about how other people do it. All you people with lots of obligations besides writing, how do you get things done when life gets in the way? I love my family, love spending time with my son, but then I get a few weeks where I can’t seem to get anything done. I feel like other people find a way. Where? How? I know people who write when kids are asleep but if they don’t go to bed until later and still don’t sleep through the night, when do you do it? I’m not writing this to complain. Really. I just need some advice. Anything. One of the Tenners, Scott William Carter, just created something called  Games Writers Play. His first is to write 30 minutes or 500 words a day, whichever comes last. I think this is a start. That’s what I’ll do tonight. But what else? One thing I learned is that I need deadlines. Whether people read what I write or not, even having to report to them to acknowledge that I wrote, would work for me. Will you be the lucky one I rope in as my report-to person? Want to volunteer?

Tell me your ideas or advice. Do you just suck up the hard weeks and make up for the loss when things get better? I can do that, but have to learn not to feel guilty in the interim. And guilt is another entry altogether—guilt for not spending time with son to write, guilt for not writing enough, etc. I can bore you will all that another time.

Today is Hump Day. Lots of people just call it Wednesday, but let’s admit we need something good to get us over this blah day in the middle of the week. Writing Wednesday is my little contribution to ending the midweek blahs. To kick it off, I have the fantastic Jay Asher, fellow ABLAer and author of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, to help me out.

But what can I ask this guy who’s been asked EVERYTHING? That’s not a hyperbole either. I did my best, and while some questions are repeaters (but who doesn’t want to hear about his writing process?), I threw in a few original ones (or such is my opinion; Jay may think otherwise) into the mix. And if you still have unanswered questions, check out www.thirteenreasonswhy.com and www.jayasher.blogspot.com.

1. Since I am a child of the 1980s, I love that Hannah Baker leaves her instructions in a series of cassette tapes. How did you come up with this idea, and were you concerned that today’s teens may not be able to relate?

I had the idea to use cassettes as a storytelling device back when cassettes were a tad more up-to-date than they are now.  When I finally found the right story to tell with an audiotour structure, I did wonder whether cassettes were still appropriate.  I liked the visuals of Clay flipping the cassettes over and watching the spools wind the tape, but that wasn’t why I chose to stay with cassettes.  If I chose the most modern form of recording, the terminology used by my characters would be slightly outdated the moment the book was published (and get even more outdated as time went on).  So I used an older form of recording, cassette tapes, and had Clay wonder if he even has a way to play them: “No one listens to tapes anymore.”  My readers end up having the same reaction as my character, which keeps the story current.  In the end, outdated gadgets will always be outdated!

2. This is a great point, especially now when new technology and social networking sites seem to appear daily. Will referring to things such as texts, Twitter, IMs, etc. be something you’ll be mindful of in your books? Do you suggest authors work around this or just sprinkle these things into their novels with caution?

There are a lot of teen novels meant to be very of-the-moment.  Techno-speak, pop culture references, and slang can be found on every page.  And we need those books because there are plenty of readers who want those books.  If a certain type of technology is needed to further a scene, I’ll use it.  If my character needs to pull an iPhone 3GS out of her pocket, then she will.  But if I can get away with having her pull “a phone” out of her pocket, that’s what I’ll say because story is much more important to me than anything else.  In most cases, readers will fill in the details appropriately.  If I’ve done a good job establishing my character, the reader will visualize the exact type of phone my character would use, or what type of car she drives, or which musician she’s listening to, and my story gets to stay current a little longer.

3. Do you carry around a voice recorder or notebook to keep track of your ideas?

After writing THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, in which a girl records the reasons why she decided to take her life, I think the sight of me walking around while talking into a voice recorder might be kind of…creepy.  Almost any time I leave my house, I have a notebook with me.  I mostly jot down ideas so I can stop obsessing about them, but I rarely return to those notes.  I think if a line of dialogue or a plot twist is meant to be included in a story, it’ll naturally be there when I sit down to write that scene.  If I try to force an idea into a manuscript simply because I once thought that idea was really creative, it probably won’t fit naturally with what I’ve already written.

4. Can you describe your writing process?

I’m still trying to find a process.  The only time I’ve ever truly become stuck while writing is when I tried working from an outline.  My process, I suppose, is to write whatever I’m excited about.  If that means I’m bouncing between three manuscripts at a time, then at least I know that each page I write is coming from a creative place and not from an attitude of forcing something just for the sake of writing.

5. Was having your book out in the world all you anticipated? What surprised you—for better or worse—about the publication process and beyond?

On the positive side, my book has sold beyond what I thought I could even cross my fingers and hope for.  I thought it had the potential to be a somewhat underground word-of-mouth success, but then it became a completely aboveground word-of-mouth success, spending over a year on the New York Times bestsellers list, being released in dozens of countries, and even becoming a high school play.  I didn’t think any of those things would happen.  The book has also personally meant more to people than I expected.  I expected to get letters saying the book made my readers want to treat each other with more respect, but I also have people tell me they wouldn’t be here had they not stumbled upon my story.  I feel truly blessed to hear both of those sentiments about something I wrote.

At the same time, certain types of criticism have been much harder to deal with than I expected.  I truly don’t mind if someone criticizes my writing or storytelling skills, but when they say my book is inappropriate for teens, it drives me crazy.  When I first began hearing the “inappropriate” word, it hurt me personally.  But now, it just upsets me for the sake of my readers.  I might get an e-mail from a teenager saying my book made them want to be a better person, or inspired them to ask for help, or to reach out to a hurting friend, and that same day I’ll read a review from an adult saying my book is totally inappropriate for teenagers.  I’ve come to realize that most people who say “inappropriate” actually mean “makes me uncomfortable to think that these things actually happen…so stop talking about it!”

6. The idea of one event changing the course of others or being the catalyst of something greater is something that has always resonated with me. For this reason, Butterfly Effect, is one of my favorite movies. Can you expand on that theme in THIRTEEN REASONS WHY—how it came to you? For example, did you know as you were writing that everything began with that first kiss, or is this something that came to you somewhere halfway in the story?

I didn’t think too much about that theme before I began writing the book. When the original concept came to me, Hannah was just going to talk about a bunch of things that happened to her.  I did make the decision at some point that there shouldn’t be one huge event that everyone (my readers or the characters in the book) could point to and say, “That’s why she did it.”  Making it a bunch of smaller events, where one event not occurring could’ve changed everything, highlights that butterfly effect the best.  And I loved that movie, too!

7. I read something disturbing about you on MySpace. It says—gulp—that you don’t like onions. True? Sweet ones and green ones alike?

Well, I guess I just learned something disturbing about you.  You like onions?  Gross!  And I have to correct something you said.  There’s no such thing as sweet onions, that’s a term made up by the onion lobbyists.  There’s only one type of onion currently available on the market: nasty onions.

8. What tips can you give writers, in general, and debut authors?

For beginning writers, your work will improve dramatically when you join a critique group.  Plus, it feels good to know that you’re helping writers improve their craft at the very same time that they’re helping you.  For any writer, beginning or professional, it’s always important to think about suspense.  Any book, no matter what genre, will be more intriguing with a little suspense.  For debut authors, keep your eyes open for creative opportunities to promote your book.  A book club in Alabama did some very creative things with their discussion of my book, and I then promoted those same ideas to other book clubs around the country.  Book clubs have been a huge factor in the success of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY.

9. What is ahead for you? What are you working on now? Can you tell us without having to kill us?

Actually, no.