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Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
Do you listen to music while you read?
Katharyn Sinelli: Hmmm. I don’t think the theme song to Team Umizoomi counts as a playlist per se. I usually read whenever I have a moment. If I’m really into a book, that can be when I’m waiting for my food at the deli. Most often these days I’m reading late at night in bed so it’s pretty quiet.
Lisa Green: Oooh. I don’t purposely listen to anything while I read because I will be totally sucked into the story and tune out everything else. On the flip side, though, nothing bothers me when it comes to my surroundings when I read. It’s all about the book, baby! Kind of odd when I think about how much I like playlists when it comes to writing.
Alyssa Hamilton: I don't listen to music or anything at all but I can easily do it. I find that because I'm reading in every spare second I have, I've learned to be able to still be aware of my surroundings and follow along with things even if I'm absorbed in my book.
Martina Boone: I can’t listen to anything with lyrics when I read any more than I can when I write. The words conflict. But I do love listening to instrumentals, as long as the music is soft. The problem is that I can’t predict where someone else’s book is going to go the way I can with my own book, so if the mood of the music is too different from the emotional tone of the book, I end up getting irritated and it effects my enjoyment of what I’m reading. As a result, I usually don’t listen to music when I’m reading either. Sad, right?
Clara Kensie: I love the coziness of reading on a rainy day, so sometimes I’ll fake that mood by reading to a thunderstorm playlist on Spotify. Also, pumping music directly into my ears helps me block out distractions, especially when I’m trying to read in a hectic or loud environment, such as my kids’ sports practices and play rehearsals. I’ve bookmarked a few reading playlists on Spotify that I like to listen to, and I've even made my own reading playlist for Spotify. It has 24 songs and it’s 97 minutes long. Here’s the link if you’re interested:
https://play.spotify.com/user/clarakensie/playlist/7coLUz190zzTR8lKrSpsoEWHAT ABOUT YOU? Does reading to music distract you, or do you like to listen to music while you read? Or maybe you listen to thunderstorm or white noise apps? If you’ve made your own reading playlist, tell us the songs you have on it!
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
If you had the opportunity to visit (or even live in) a fictional place, which one would you choose?
Katharyn Sinelli: It’s a toss up between Diagon Alley and Lyra’s Oxford from The Golden Compass. In one place I could do some magical back to school shopping. In the other, I’d get to have an animal daemon I could always talk to. Better than talking to myself.
Lisa Green: I know it’s the “cop-out” answer, but come on! HOGWARTS! Who wouldn’t? I loved Hunger Games and all, but I don’t want to be involved. LOL I would just adore a magic castle where I got to actually use magic. Wow. *drools a little* Sorry. It’s total and complete wish fulfillment. Every morning when I leave my house to take kids to school we hear an owl hooting. And every morning I tell them he must be trying to get us our Hogwarts letters, but got lost. Dumb owl.
Alyssa Hamilton: I have a few but one that has always stuck for me is Libba Bray's England in A Great and Terrible Beauty. I know it isn't fictional but I've always loved the time period and I absolutely love the school. The other one I would choose would probably be Narnia! I've been obsessed with that world since I was little and I loved the snow covered landscape.
Martina Boone: Definitely not Panem. Just saying. I’d love to go to Hogwarts, though. Are you kidding? How amazing would that be? As long as it came with a wand and a Hermione-style ability to use it. If not, then pass, because Voldemort. One place I would love to go? The island of Thisby, because fairy horses.
Clara Kensie: Hogwarts, of course. No question about that. I also have to confess that I’d love to visit Derry or Castle Rock. If you know these places by name alone, then you and I are instant friends. These fictional Maine towns are the settings of many of Stephen King’s novels, novellas, and short stories. To name a few: IT, THE DEAD ZONE, CUJO, THE DARK HALF, NEEDFUL THINGS, INSOMNIA, BAG OF BONES, and THE BODY (which became the movie Stand By Me). He refers to Derry and Castle Rock in many of his other works, and it's always a thrill to catch a glimpse of these towns in his other books (betcha didn't know that Red from The Shawshank Redemption is from Castle Rock). Yes, Stephen King writes horror, so bad things happen in these places, and I suppose most people would think that’s a turn-off. But I’ve been reading Mr. King’s books since I was eleven years old, and these places are so familiar to me that I feel like a part of me grew up in Derry and Castle Rock. If they were real places, I would definitely love to visit. Even if Pennywise the clown was still there.
YOUR TURN: If you could visit a fictional place from a novel, which one would you pick? Maybe Hogwarts? Narnia? Panem? Oz? Neverland or Wonderland? Bon Temps? Westeros or Middle Earth?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
What does your writing space look like?
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| Source: David Goering https://flic.kr/p/6f3qGz |
Lisa Green: Ha! I USED to have an awesome study with a desk and a view. Then I had our third child. Now my study belongs to my son and my workspace is wherever I can stick my laptop when number three isn't looking!!!
Clara Kensie: I do some of my writing at the coffee shop or in a study room at my library. But I write at
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| Clara's tiny, tiny writing space |
home a lot, too. I don’t have a lot of private, quiet places in my house, so I put a tiny, tiny desk in our guest bedroom, in front of a mural of a bookcase. I used to paint murals professionally, and years ago, I cozied up our plain guest bedroom by painting a whimsical, cartoon-y bookcase, fireplace, grandfather clock, and window looking out onto a field of wildflowers. The walls are my favorite color, periwinkle. There is recessed lighting in the ceiling, and the light bulbs turn on and off at will. We can’t figure out what’s causing it, but I really, really hope it’s a ghost. I love the room as a guest room, but as a writing space, it’s far from ideal. One day, I plan to paint over the murals and get a big L-shaped desk, and convert our guest bedroom into my dedicated writing space. Sorry, folks: if any of you are ever an overnight guest in my house, you’ll have to sleep on the couch downstairs. The ghost will stay in my office, I promise.
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| Martina's glamorous writing space |
Martina Boone: So here’s my messy office. Orchid collection is on the back credenza, my stack of stuff to mail out for the blog, the green frog microwave heating pad Jan sent me for when my fingers get too numb to type, my hunk of magnetite lodestone sitting on top of a book I’m reading and a bound copy of the 2nd pass pages for Compulsion, a thesaurus dictionary to hit the fine nuances of different words, and a folklore and mythology dictionary, which is my go to for thinking through ideas. (I can also derail myself in there by getting lost of days and days and days.) An antique blue willow bowl filled with cranberry potpourri, and the books coming up on my reading list, including: Lux: Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. Oh, and Auggie. My loyal and impatient writing buddy. (Zoe, the cat, is on the armchair to my right as I’m taking this picture so she’s invisible.
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| Erin's kitchen writing space |
Erin Cashman: I don't have a dedicated office for writing. I have 4 spots in the house, depending on if my children are home and being loud, but my favorite spot is spread out on the kitchen island with tea and chocolate (if I have no good chocolate, Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips and/or Nutella from the jar both do nicely!) I always have a binder dedicated to my WIP - including character sketches, maps, rough chapter outlines and my brainstorming notes. If I'm revising, I also have a green binder that has words/phrases/expressions/setting descriptions that I can look at when I realize I have written the same expression too much, or something that is cliche. If I've made a story poster for that WIP I have that too, with pictures of the main characters and settings cut out from magazines, and for my current WIP, two books on Celtic myths and legends (and my golden retriever Riley, is always curled up at my feet!)
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| Katharyn's kitty, Kurosawa! |
Katharyn Sinelli: I often write on my bed even though I have a desk in my room. I have to make the bed first so I don't nap. My husband bought me this nifty lap desk and armrest pillow so I snuggle in and type. Kurosawa, my grey tabby, usually accompanies me. Fortunately, his critiques are generally supportive.
YOUR TURN: What does your writing space look like? Describe it for us!
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
DNF (Do Not Finish): How long will you try a book before you DNF it?
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DNFing a book: soooo disappointing!
(image courtesy of Katy https://flic.kr/p/4P4rmS) |
Clara Kensie: It kills me to DNF a book, but I don’t want to spend time reading something I don’t enjoy, when there are hundreds of other books in my to-read pile. I don’t have a set “trial period” of reading a specific number of pages before I DNF it. I’ll stop reading a book once I realize I don’t care what happens to the characters, if the plot is too contrived, if it doesn’t make me suspend belief, if it’s poorly written— any reason, really. I recently DNF’d a book after the second chapter because it was confusing and hard to follow. Reading should be fun: an escape, not a struggle. Recently, a friend highly recommended a book to me, a book she loved-loved-loved. I read chapter after chapter, thinking, “The good part must be coming up next.” “Okay, the next part has to be when it gets good.” But the good part never, ever came. That was one book I wish I had DNF’d. But, it made for a great discussion with my friend!
Alyssa Hamilton: I usually read about 150 pages of a book if I'm feeling iffy about it. If by that point I'm not interested in it, I'll put it down. If I am really not feeling it before that point, I'll definitely put it down. I'm not the kind of person who feels overly guilty or bad if I don't finish a book that I've started. Why spend time on something I'm not enjoying, when I have shelves of other books I may love?
Martina Boone: It really depends on the book. I very rarely DNF, but if I do, lately it’s usually on a book I’ve bought because I wanted to buy it to support an author and therefore I try my best to get through it. Obviously, not every book, including mine!, is for every reader. I try to buy at least an ebook for every author I know or whose work I generally enjoy.
Much, much more difficult for me is when I find a book that I was really excited to read because I picked it, because someone recommended it and it sounded exactly up my alley. You know that book, right? You hoard the idea of that book in your heart and you bide your time waiting for the right moment to read it. You settle in with your cup of tea and your snack and you blanket and your cat, and you start to read and . . . Eeeek. It’s okay. Or it’s awful. Or it’s not bad, but it’s not GREAT. I always read those far longer than I should, because I don’t want to let my disappointment color my thinking. Sometimes the writing is brilliant and the concept just doesn’t live up to it, or sometimes the concept is brilliant and the book just missed the opportunities. That’s heartbreaking. HEARTBREAKING. There was a day when I wouldn’t quit reading even then. I’d just slog through my disappointment. Now, I’d rather just part company and keep looking for the books I truly, truly, truly love. There are so many great ones out there!
As for what makes me DNF a book? The above aside, the one thing that’s guaranteed to make me DNF is a story laced with plot holes.
Erin Cashman: I'm in two book groups, which is great, because I read books I would not normally pick, and often love them. I used to finish everything, even if the book became a chore. Now, I give a book fifty pages. If after 50 pages, I'm not looking forward to picking the book up again, I don't. I love a gorgeous setting and well developed characters, but I need to be swept up in a story. I'll overlook some flat writing or dialogue, an undeveloped or unforgettable minor character, but the story has to captivate me for me to keep reading. If it's an author that I love, I will read more of the book before calling it a DNF. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling was one of those books. I was confused when I first started it, but once I sat and read the first 50 pages in one sitting, the characters all became very distinctive, and I loved the book.
Lisa Green: I am definitely ADD and admit I stop reading pretty quickly unless it's a strong recommendation from a trusted friend.
Katharyn Sinelli: Probably the biggest reason I don't finish a book is because I get distracted by another bright and shiny one. Disingenuous dialogue can be off-putting, unless the author has really taken the time to get me invested in the characters. Then I'll buy into a bit of schmaltz.
YOUR TURN: What makes you DNF a book? How long will you try a book before you give up on it?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
WHICH SUPER-POPULAR BOOK(S) HAVEN’T YOU READ? WHY NOT?
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| Source: Nomadic Lass |
Jan Lewis: I haven't read The Fault in our Stars. I know, I know! I really need to read it. I generally don't read contemporary books, so I haven't gotten around to it.
Lisa Gail Green: Yikes. Too many, unfortunately. Mostly it’s a matter of getting through my horrifically long TBR list. But most are sequels and I do try to read as many first books as I can between those. So I’m dying to get to the last books in Cassandra Clare’s series, which I adore for example.
Martina Boone: Too many. Reading is the best perk of being a writer. I can read and consider it work, but I still struggle with guilt over that a little bit, as if “just” reading is something I have to justify. I’m forcing myself to get over it, though, and I try to stay current on what is being loved by readers. Right now, I’m behind on the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, which is something I need to remedy. I’m also trying to get to Ransom Riggs’ Hollow City. On the other hand, I’ve been binge reading books that are coming up later this year, and I’m beyond excited about a lot of those. This year has been amazing—so many outstanding books from my favorite authors and new authors whose work is truly exceptional.
Katharyn Sinelli: I just read The Giver last month. To tell you the truth,I put off reading it despite recommendations because the old guy on the cover really creeped me out. It's like there should be a saying about not forming opinions of books based solely on their exteriors.
Alyssa Hamilton: Quite a few but I'll narrow it down. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I have read Eleanor & Park and didn't completely love it, so I think I just put Fangirl off. Maybe when the paperback comes out. The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I've started this one but I really really disliked it so I never finished it. I've read 2 of John Green's books and am pretty apathetic towards them so I have no desire to read any more. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. The writing style just holds no interest for me so I know I won't be picking it up either!
Clara Kensie: For me, it's a matter of time. I could copy Lisa’s answer and paste it here, except that I haven’t read any of Mortal Instruments. I have the first book sitting right there on my bookshelf, staring at me every time I look up. I really want to read it, but there are so many books in the series, and I know if I start, it will take me forever to finish. Same with Game of Thrones. And there are so many books on my TBR list that are just as excellent as the super-popular books, but haven't made the bestseller lists. Maybe I'm alone in feeling this way, but I want support those lesser-known books by reading them first.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which super-bestsellers haven’t you read? Why not?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
BUY OR BORROW?
Which do you do more often: borrow books from your library or purchase books from the bookstore?
Clara Kensie: When I hear about a book I want to read, the first thing I do is look for it on my library’s website to see if they have it already or if it’s on order. In fact, I keep my To Be Read list on my library’s website, where I can tell at a glance if the books I want are currently available for immediate download, if they’re on order, or if they’re available for checkout. My library has an phenomenal digital collection of YA, and I always try to get my books as a digital loan first. If it’s not available in digital, I’ll borrow it in print.
While I always prefer to borrow from my library, I purchase lots of books too. I automatically buy books written by my author friends, either in digital or print. If a book I want is digital only and my library doesn’t have it, I’ll buy it. I also cannot resist Kindle Daily Deals and Nook deals or used books stores. I buy dozens of print books at my library’s used book sales.
Jan Lewis: I read ebooks exclusively, so I purchase them from Barnes & Noble. I got used to reading on a Nook before I got my iPad, and I still prefer their reading app.
Lisa Gail Green: I buy far more books than I borrow, but sometimes I can’t afford to support my bad habit and I do go to the library. I’ve always loved libraries and definitely fed my teenage book habit using the library, however. My own mother is a retired librarian. But I try to support authors by purchasing when I can. Plus I love to own my books and use my Kindle.
Martina Boone: I love libraries. I practically lived in them through my teenage years. Until recently, I
bought a lot of books but I also borrowed a lot. Lately, I read a ton of ARCs, and I read a lot of digital books. I know the library carriers lots of digital books, but so far, I have not figured out the mechanism for reading on them. I should though, because when I love a book I’ve read digitally, I usually end up buying a paper copy as well. That might be my solution for avoiding buying multiple copies of books. On the other hand, I have to admit that one of the reasons I LOVE reading digitally is that all my favorites are there with me instantly. My iPad has become my security blanket, except that instead of being fuzzy and soft, it’s filled with places that offer comfort and adventure. I’m hooked.
Katharyn Sinelli: I usually buy more than I borrow, especially via Kindle since it doesn't feel like I'm spending real money. Our local library has stepped up it's digital list of YA titles, so I'll also get my fix there. I do like to own copies of my friends' books and titles I'm likely to reference in my writing process. Sometimes I want to know things like how Lani Taylor differentiated Karou's description of Prague from Akita's. Yep, literary nerd through and through.
Alyssa Hamilton: Well I work in a bookstore and it is seriously just temptation after temptation for me everyday. And I usually give in very easily. Having a discount has saved me so much money I can't even believe it. We also get to borrow books from the store, so it's my own personal library :) I haven't taken a book out of a library though in a really long time. I have this extremely bad habit of needing to own my books. One day I'll get back into it!
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you borrow most of your books from the library, or do you buy most of your books from the bookstore?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO READ?
Alyssa Hamilton: I would love to say my room, because it's a beautiful sea foam green colour with white furniture and accents. It's all very serene and gorgeous but I hate reading on my bed during the day because it just makes me sleepy, so when I'm home I tend to sit in my armchair in the living room right by the window for some good natural lighting. My backyard would have to easily be my favourite place though. We just redid the patio last summer and it's just amazing. I have big outdoor furniture out there and it's private and there are wind chimes and it's the perfect place to read in the summer!
Martina Boone: I have a great chair in my office, or a couch in the living room. But I also love to read on the deck where I feel like I’m outside and can soak up the sun and the words at the same time. Where I really end up reading mostly is in bed. I can’t sleep until I’ve read for a while.
Jan Lewis: In the bed, I guess. That's the only place I ever read.
Lisa Gail Green: I like reading in my bed. I don’t always get to, because the light bothers DH, but that’s why I love my Kindle Paper White. :D Lately though, with the toddler, I fall asleep when my head hits the pillow, and she has a habit of stealing my books out of my hand because she doesn’t want my attention elsewhere, so it’s been a little tougher to find time. So I guess currently my favorite place to read is anywhere I get the opportunity!
Clara Kensie: My favorite place to read is outside, on a not-too-hot not-too-cool sunny day, in the shade. But between the Chicago weather and my busy schedule, those days are hard to come by! When the weather isn’t cooperating, my favorite place to read is on my bed.
YOUR TURN: Where is your favorite place to read?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
IF YOU COULD GET A LITERARY TATTOO, WHAT WOULD IT SAY?
WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT?
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"Don't Panic" quote from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
photo credit: Idhren via photopin cc |
Alyssa Hamilton: Well I have two book related tattoos already, the first one is an actual book on my right wrist. The second is the quote "Books Fall Open, You Fall In" on my collarbone. I've been thing of more that I want because tattoos are so addictive. Recently I read The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and I feel like I could have the whole book tattooed on me and it wouldn't be enough because there are so many beautiful quotes out there. I've always really wanted some form of the butterfly shawl scene from Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor as a tattoo.
Martina Boone: This is a toss up: I love this one from Oscar Wilde: “The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.” I also love “Words have the power to change us,” from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. If I put a quote in a tattoo, I’d want the words to stay readable and beautiful forever, so probably the inside of the wrist would be the place I’d choose.
Jan Lewis: "Winter is coming" from A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. Across my upper back. I've wanted to get it for like 10 years now... one of these days.
Clara Kensie: I love tattoos. I don’t have any, but I’ve wanted a literary tattoo for quite some time. The only thing that’s stopping me is my inability to pick one. After much, much consideration, I think I have it narrowed down to two:
For sentimental reasons, I want to commemorate the publication of my first novel, RUN TO YOU, with a tattoo of my favorite quote from the book. I’d get it inked on my left collarbone in small, swirly, tasteful letters:
“Us,” he said. “You and me.”
And my heart echoed in rhythm: Thump. Thump-th-thump.
Or (and?) I might get a one-word quote, spoken by Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, on the inside of my left wrist. This line of dialogue chokes me up every time I read it. You probably already know what it is:
Always.
YOUR TURN: Do you have a literary tattoo? What is it and where did you ink it? If you don’t have a book tattoo, what would you get?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you and the Adventures in YA team to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
DO YOU LIKE BOOKS THAT MAKE YOU CRY?
WHAT BOOKS HAVE MADE YOU CRY?
Alyssa Hamilton: I LOVE books that make me cry, but I don't cry easily in a book. If it's a movie, I'll be pouring tears, but a book is much harder. My most recent book that had me extremely close to tears was The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson and it's easily become one of my favourite books. The choked up feeling I had the entire time I was reading is an awesome sign for me. It shows me how deftly an author was able to wring my emotions out of me. If they actually make me cry, even better!
Lisa Gail Green: I cry at almost everything. That’s the truth. So it could be a totally fun, lighthearted book, and I’d still bawl. But yes, I do like reading books that have an emotional impact, but I have to be in the mood.
Martina Boone: I definitely like books that make me feel — emotion is a HUGE, HUGE draw for me. (In fact I cry and smile when I’m writing, and if I don’t, I figure I’m not doing my job.) My favorite books make me tense and make me laugh out loud. The best of those often make me cry. I cried at almost all my favorite books, but some of the two-boxes-of-Kleenex reads include: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, If I Lie by Corinne Jackson, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak, If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Jan Lewis: I am super sensitive, so I cry very easily. I have been known to cry as soon as I start reading a book, just because I was so excited to read it. The most recent books that made me cry were COMPULSION by Martina Boone and FORBIDDEN by Kimberley Griffiths Little, and they each made me cry for different reasons.
Clara Kensie: I love books that make me cry! When I signed with my agent, the lovely Laura Bradford, in 2012, she said one of the things she loved about my manuscript was a scene that reminded her of one of her favorite books: Linda Howard’s CRY NO MORE. I immediately bought CRY NO MORE (and yes! There is an amazing, powerful, heartbreaking scene in CRY NO MORE that’s so incredibly similar to a scene in my manuscript!). So of course, I loved that book. And despite the title, I cried, cried, cried. I read it the same day my husband and I were hosting a Superbowl party later that night, and I was late coming downstairs to greet our guests because I was upstairs being an emotional mess. It was fantastic. (By the way: my manuscript is now a book, and it is the first serial from Harlequin TEEN. The first book in the RUN TO YOU series released in February 2014 in three parts: First Sight, Second Glance, and Third Charm. The sequel releases in July 2014, also as a three-part serial: Fourth Shadow, Fifth Touch, and Sixth Sense)
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman is another book that made me cry. Oh my, that scene with the grandpa? If you’ve read the book, you know which scene I’m talking about.
I also cried over ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell. I was reading it while waiting for my daughter’s soccer game to start, and before I knew it, it was already half-time—I’d missed the entire first half of the game, and my cheeks were soaked with tears. Beautiful, beautiful. What a wonderful, moving book.
I originally wrote and answered this question a few weeks ago, but I had to come back to edit my answer because I’m currently reading another book that’s making me cry: PRETTY GIRL-13 by Liz Coley. Back in 2011 for NaNoWriMo I wrote a manuscript on a similar subject, and now I am revising it. I recently bought PRETTY GIRL-13 to read as research. I don’t know if this book will make anyone else’s list of books that make them cry, but the subject is one that hits me right in the heart. And wow. Wow, wow, wow. I cannot stop crying. I can only hope to make my manuscript as powerful as PRETTY GIRL-13.
YOUR TURN: Do you like books that make you cry? What books have made you cry?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. A few times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
How do you switch gears between your writing life and your “real” life?
Writers, when you're done writing for the day, is it difficult for you to clear your manuscript from your head so you can focus on other things? Conversely, is it difficult for you to concentrate on writing when you have so much going on in other areas of your life? How do you switch gears between your writing life and your "real" life?
Lisa Gail Green: When I'm deep into a manuscript I tend to have half of my brain (at least) working on it at all times. This causes issues with others thinking I'm not paying attention to our conversation. They'd be right. *sigh* Conversely, it's really hard to get into another world when a toddler keeps taking over the computer and making things happen that I didn't know could. I love nap time!
Martina Boone: Reading at night is the way that I get out of my manuscript before bedtime, but that doesn’t mean the manuscript is always willing to depart. Most nights, I find myself dreaming about it. As far as switching back and forth between activities, I’ve had a hard time with that. I try to set aside family time always. When I’m on deadline, though, I find that I let other social activities slip and try to put in the extra hours into the writing. I’ve also been bad about putting my health first, so I’m trying to get back in the habit of doing my yoga and riding the bike. Social media and email are my biggest time sucks, so I just downloaded the Concentrate app which lets me set groups of applications that I can use when I’m working on various things. I’m going to try doing that. It will automatically close email, twitter, etc. and automatically activate Scrivener, and it will block whatever sites I tell it to block while I’m working. We’ll see how it goes. So far, I like it.
Clara Kensie: I have a very hard time getting my manuscript out of my head so I can focus on “real” life events. Even when I’m at my kids’ soccer and lacrosse games, my eyes follow the ball, but nothing sinks in because I’m thinking about my book. Horrible, right? Bad mommy. I wish I could clone myself: one Clara would work on her manuscript full time, and the other Clara would be fully present and focused on her family and everything else (as long as I’m fantasizing, I’ll make a third Clara, who would get to read all day, LOL). I have no tips for you on how to switch gears between writing and real life, because I’m failing miserably at it. I hope you can share some tips with me!
YOUR TURN: Is it difficult for you to clear your manuscript from your head so you can concentrate on other things? Or, is it hard for you to concentrate on writing when there’s so much going on in your “real” life? How do you switch gears between the two?
~Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, step-moms, foster moms,
aunties, and grandmas out there! Enjoy your day!!~
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here with another Question of the Week. A couple times a month at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers and book lovers: craft, career, reading, books, and more. Join the discussion!
Question of the Week:
What deters you from reading?
As writers and/or book lovers, we would like make reading a priority in our lives. But very often, we get so busy with family, work, school, household responsibilities, and social obligations that we push reading to the back burner. What deters you from reading? What steps, if any, have you taken to give yourself more reading time?
Lisa Gail Green: Family gets in the way for me. My kids can't stand it when I have a book open. They know I'm only half paying attention to them. I like to think it's a good example, though, so I keep going. Hee hee. The truth is I don't read as much as I used to, but I still have to and want to. I always feel better when I read a good book. How do I make time? I wish I had a magic formula. It's just something I have to find time for but I'm so glad when I do.
Martina Boone: I always put a priority on reading, because I feel that as I writer you need to be a reader first. I also think it’s important to know what’s out there in our field. I read ARCs and already published books, not to mention a ton of research material. The research is for the day—that’s a legitimate writing activity for me. Since I’m on deadline for book two, my fiction reading is limited to about an hour every night, and sometimes if I wake up early, I’ll read before I get out of bed. In between drafts, I’m planning on taking a few days off read, both craft books and fiction, because I find that’s when my brain resets and problems with my own work will surface on their own.
Jan Lewis: I try to read every night before bed, even if it's just for a few minutes. On the weekends, I try to read at least an hour before bed. Doesn't always happen, but I try!
Alyssa Hamilton: For me, school is my biggest deterrent for reading. I am a full time student and also work part time so it's difficult to get in reading on top of my school reading. But I always have a book on me no matter where I'm going or what I'm doing, so any free second I have, I read. Also, I always read before I go to sleep. No matter what. It's my personal, uninterrupted time for just me!
Clara Kensie: Besides writing, my main deterrent from reading is…my husband! I would love to read for an hour or two before bed, but my husband and I are both so busy with work and driving the kids around and other obligations, that those late-night hours are the only time we have to spend time together. He’s not a reader (sinful, I know), so we usually watch TV or a movie. I sacrifice reading time for the sake of our marriage. Every single night I vow that as soon as he falls asleep, I’ll turn off the TV and turn on my Kindle, but I’m usually the one who falls asleep first.
Not reading enough is a huge source of guilt for me. HUGE. I look at my TBR and feel overwhelmed. So, to combat this, I have recently resorted to putting reading time on my daily schedule. Yes, I actually have “READ” on my calendar. On the three days a week when I don’t have to go to the office for my day job, and when I’m not on deadline for RUN TO YOU, I read for an hour or two every morning before I do anything else. I schedule an hour or two on the weekends, too. So far it’s working. This summer, I’m going to schedule this mandatory reading time for my kids as well.
YOUR TURN: What distracts you from reading? What do you do to find more reading time? I will be envious of anyone who replies that reading is already their main activity!
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as books and writing is talking about books and writing. So each week at Adventures in YA Publishing, we’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week
April 20, 2014
Have you ever given up writing? Why? What brought you back?
Jan Lewis: Yes! I gave up on writing when I was pregnant with my youngest. Between the exhaustion and the morning sickness that lasted the entire pregnancy, I just didn't have the energy for it. And of course while I wasn't writing, the doubts crept in. "Am I really a writer if I haven't written for a year? Maybe I don't have what it takes." What brought me back? Martina did.
Martina Boone: This is one of the biggest regrets of my life. I am horrible about trusting myself. I started writing seriously when my son was a baby, and I wrote a few picture books that came close to publication. I snagged a wonderful agent, a superstar agent, who intimidated the crap out of me. And then I decided to write an adult novel. My first adult novel. Without a clue what the heck I was doing. Seat of the pants stuff.
Needless to say, my superstar agent dropped me after reading it, without saying why or providing any feedback. I was devastated and figured I wasn’t meant to be a writer. We were short on money then too, so I started a business and worked about 18 hours a day for a while on top of having two little kids. I told myself that I was too busy to write. I made all kinds of excuses. Then my daughter started reading young adult books, and I fell in love with the genre and started to dip a toe back in. I started Adventures in YA Publishing to learn how to write an actual novel, and I’m still learning from our wonderful guest authors and from Clara, Lisa, and Jan. Not to mention all the wonderful bloggers and authors online. If you want to be a writer, if you want to write a book, if you want to reach people because you have something to say, then here’s my advice. DON’T give up. Don’t diminish your dreams. Write and you’re a writer, even if you’re only managing to write 50 words a day.
Lisa Gail Green: We've all had those feelings that surface when we reach the bottom of the roller coaster where we feel like throwing in the towel. But if you do that then you can NEVER achieve your dreams, so why not try? I am, have always been, and will always be a proponent of encouraging others to work hard and keep trying. I've had points in my life where I put writing on hold, but I hadn't truly committed yet. Since I started doing it seriously? No. I have come close as anyone, but have not quit. I've kept moving forward, sometimes at a slower pace than others, like when I had my third child, but I've never given up and I have no plans to!
Clara Kensie: I met with some author friends recently, and we discussed this topic. The takeaway from that discussion was a quote from author
R.A. Salvatore:
“If you can quit, then quit. If you can’t quit, then you are a writer.” That quote really resonated with me. Yes, there have been times I’ve wanted to quit. Times when I wonder why I got myself into this. Times when I wonder if the struggle is worth it. Last February, my agent (the
amazing Laura Bradford) was the unfortunate recipient of an email in which I poured my heart out after a particularly discouraging month. Her frank response got me back on track, and it still keeps me afloat: “Would you stop writing (because of this)? Of course not.
You are going to keep writing no matter what.” Yes, I am going to keep writing. No matter what. I can’t quit, even if I tried.
YOUR TURN: Have you ever quit writing? Why? What brought you back?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as books and writing is talking about books and writing. So each week at Adventures in YA Publishing, we’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week
April 13, 2014
How do you organize your books?
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How do you organize your books? |
Jan Lewis: I read on my iPad Mini. My books are organized by title on there. The backups on my computer are organized by author.
Martina Boone: My physical books are organized alphabetically on some shelves, and randomly on other shelves, and according to signed books vs. unsigned on yet more shelves. I also have a shelf of commonly reread books. Plus I have shelves of ARCs and books marked for our giveaways here at AYAP, and then two shelves of signed series that are earmarked for giveaways on my own Tumblr and a few guest giveaways I’m doing on other blogs in the next few months. (Have you seen the April giveaway I’m doing on YABooksCentral.com of the Delirium series signed by Lauren Oliver?)
To be honest, though, I do most of my reading on my iPad, because I have that with me all the time, and I snatch moments of reading time wherever I can. Of course, I’m a publisher’s dream consumer; if I love a book I have read electronically, I also have to buy a physical copy. I’m also a pusher; I tend to want to give books I love to to people so I buy extras. Have you read this? You HAVE to read this. Here, read this. Have you read it yet? No, REALLY, you HAVE to read it NOW! You loved it? Me TOO? No, keep it. I want you to have it.) Do you have those conversations, too?
Lisa Gail Green: My books (much like my life) are completely disorganized! I have piles and shelves and random books lying around galore. But that's okay because it means they're used and loved. :D And of course while I'm reading a book it stays close by at all times. Ideally? I'd organize by type then maybe color because that looks so cool! Maybe when the kids are in college and I get my study back!
Alyssa Hamilton: On my shelf, it's pretty much a few shelves for my favourites and I try and display them the best I can. Then everything else by series or genre! I also really like to display covers of my favourite covers but I'm running out of double stacking room so I need to stop that soon. On my Goodreads shelves I go by publishers, release dates and most anticipated!
Clara Kensie: My print books are completely disorganized because I allow my teenage neighbors to come in and borrow my YA books whenever they want. When they return them, they just put them anywhere on the bookshelves and dig through the stash for a new one to borrow. I don’t mind at all, because 1: I am too busy writing to take the time to straighten my bookshelves, and 2: since I got my e-reader a few years ago, 99% of the books I’ve purchased are digital. Even most of the library books I borrow are digital.
I keep my digital books
meticulously organized on my e-reader. My cyber-bookshelves include: Read These Next, Borrowed from Library, YA, Non-YA, Friends’ Books, Books In Which I am Mentioned in the Acknowledgments, Finished, Did Not Finish, Read Again, Classics, Favorites, Childhood Favorites, Non-fiction, Writing Craft, Reference, Research, Awesome Covers, and more. Each of my favorite authors get their own shelf, and of course I have a shelf for my RUN TO YOU serialized series. Most of my books are on multiple shelves.
YOUR TURN: How do you organize your books? Alphabetically by author? By title? By purchase date? By color? A unique method only you understand?
Hey everyone! Clara Kensie here. Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as books and writing is talking about books and writing. So each week at Adventures in YA Publishing, we’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
This week's question is in honor of DIVERGENT's movie release.
Question of the Week
March 23, 2014
HOW DO YOU FACE YOUR FEARS?
What scares you? For us writers, it could be sending a query letter to an agent, sending your manuscript to a critique partner/agent/editor, pitching at a conference, giving a presentation to a writers' group, reading an excerpt of your novel at a book signing. How do you gather the courage to do something that scares you?
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| credit: http://holygrailofgifs.tumblr.com/ |
LISA GAIL GREEN: My hero, Libba Bray, once said, "Write what scares you." That quickly became my motto (and no not just because I sometimes write scary things). I continually try to stretch myself and go where it's uncomfortable for me emotionally because I believe that's what helps me grow as a writer and what makes my work ultimately worth reading. I've learned over the years not to dwell on the eventuality of something frightening. It's like ripping off that bandaid. Just do it without giving yourself time to think. You can always change it in revisions.
MARTINA: That list? It ALL scares me, because the common denominator is that I could fail. I hate failure. It took me a long time to figure out that I am so afraid of failing that I seem to subconsciously sabotage myself to have an excuse, a reason, why it wasn’t actually me who failed when I’d put in every possible effort.
This author gig is all a leap of faith, but you know what? It’s not DIVERGENT that I’m going to be thinking about every time I have to push myself out of my comfort zone in the next months before (and after!) COMPULSION comes out. It’s Jennifer Lawrence picking herself up off the stairs at the Oscars last year, or tripping this year. She gets back up, she laughs, and she goes on to do her best work. That’s all I can do. Focus on the work, not my nerves, not what people are going to think, not what’s going to happen.
COMPULSION is my training wheels novel, the first one out of the gate. I’m scared spitless. But right now, I have to focus on writing Book Two and making it as good as I can. I tripped over the dog yesterday (literally) and went splat while talking on the phone to a #1 New York Times bestselling author. It was in my own house, but still. I’m going to fall on my face. I may as well accept it. And eventually, I’ll have splatted enough that I’ll just laugh like Jennifer and move on. :) It’s funny, because this is one of the themes in COMPULSION too. I just never realized who much it would become a theme in my own life.
ALYSSA HAMILTON: Because I'm not an author, and in fact want to be on the other side of that career and work in a publishing house, I'm going to take a bit of a spin on this question. I think for me right now, my biggest fear is leaving school soon and actually going out into the "real" world and looking for a job. I don't live in a place where publishing is centred, so I want to move and that is terrifying. I think what's getting me through that fear though is the excitement of actually working towards what I want to do with my career and life in general.
CLARA KENSIE: I am dauntless when it comes to pitching, presenting workshops, and live readings. Those things don’t scare me at all. One thing that does scare me is that tiny little
send button on my email. When I’m done with my manuscript and need to send it to my critique partners, agent, or editor, I attach it to an email, write a nice little note, address it to the recipient… and freeze. My finger hovers over that
send key and I… cannot… press it. I went through this with both books in the RUN TO YOU series, from the early drafts to my critique partners through the final, copy-edited draft to my publisher. Now I’m writing a new manuscript, and I’m sure it will happen again. But. When I freeze with my finger over the
send key, I eventually thaw out enough to look at my screen saver, which is a vacuuming alligator (
I explained this right here at Adventures last Thursday), and I get my courage back. Then I hit
send.
Another thing that pumps me up with confidence and courage? Music. When I’m facing a difficult or unpleasant task, I listen to two songs: Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and Defying Gravity from the Wicked soundtrack. Those songs never fail to lift me up and make me feel invincible.
YOUR TURN: What scares you? How do you find the courage to face your fears?
Hey everyone! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as books and writing is talking about books and writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, we’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week
March 16, 2014
What are your favorite social media sites?
The Adventures in YA Publishing gang answers:
Martina Boone: My social media habits go in spurts depending on what I’m doing. When I’m in heavy writing mode, I tend to be on Pinterest more often looking for inspiration. A lot of those images will eventually also find their way to my Tumblr feed. Other times, I love Twitter—but it’s like potato chips; once I’m on, I’m sucked in and clicking on links and massively derailed from doing anything productive. I really need to break that habit. I’m a reluctant Facebook user, although I do go on to skim for news about friends because lately I always seem to be about two weeks behind on email. I recently created a Facebook page, which has the feed from here at Adventures for those who aren’t on Blogger, and there is also Compulsion news, YASeriesInsiders.com news, and more.
Website:
MartinaBoone.comTumblr:
MartinaBoone.Tumblr.comPinterest:
Pinterest.com/MartinaBooneFacebook:
Facebook.com/Martina.BooneYASI Tumblr:
YASeriesInsiders.comLisa Gail Green: Social media. I do love my social media. I adore Twitter, even though I'm not as active as I once was, I still make connections and have great conversations and links that make it soooo worth the time! My handle is
@LisaGailGreen because I want to be easy to find. So just about anywhere that's my handle. :D I admit I am getting used to FB as well. Maybe because hanging with other writers is just so much fun. I have an author page there too (
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Lisa-Gail-Green/419781971445979) and I'm really getting into Pinterest. I love posting and finding fun and quirky, sometimes inspirational things. I can't imagine the solitary life the writer once led. It may seem a bit of a time suck, but I get so much out of it that it's hard to think of it that way!
Alyssa Hamilton: Definitely Twitter! I have connected with and met so many people through twitter it's unreal. I also really love Instagram, mainly because it's a fantastic way to see what books people are reading, receiving in the mail etc. I love Pinterest because it's so fun to follow some authors and see where their inspiration comes from. Facebook is great for allowing your followers a quick tool to see all of your posts if they don't actually follow your blog/website too.
Clara Kensie: Twitter! I am
always on Twitter. You might call it an addition, and I am okay with that. I found it confusing and intimidating at first, but now it’s the place on the web where I feel most at home. It’s a great way to connect with readers, book bloggers, writers, publishers, and to stay current on local, national, and world events. I tweet about lots of topics—RUN TO YOU, books, young adult lit, funny things that happened to me that day, compelling or humorous images, etc. I
love social media and I have accounts all over (see below for the sites on which I'm most active) but Twitter is hands down my favorite. Come and say hey to me on Twitter, or at any of my social media sites!
Twitter:
@ClaraKensieWebsite:
clarakensie.comFacebook:
facebook.com/AuthorClaraKensieTumblr (personal):
the glass jar on my deskTumblr (writing tips):
writerly things from the glass jarInstagram:
instagram.com/clara_kensie
WHAT ABOUT YOU: What is your favorite social media site? Why do you like it? Which ones don't you like?
Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as books and writing is talking about books and writing. So each week (or so) here at Adventures in YA Publishing, we’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Last week, my dad told me that my step-mom regularly borrows twenty or more library books a week. I asked how she can possibly read that fast, and he said that she doesn’t: if she likes the cover, she will borrow the book. When she gets home, she reads the first page, and if she likes the first page, then she reads the last page. If she finds the last page satisfying, then she will read the entire book. On average, she reads about two books a week. Which leads me to the…
Question of the Week
March 9, 2014
Do you peek at the last page before you finish the book?
Martina: Maybe three or four times in my teens and early twenties, when I was afraid that something horrible was happening to a romantic lead I was particularly attached to. On all but one of those occasions, I checked the last page, saw that the name of the character was still there, and flipped back to where I'd left off in the book. Once, I flipped to the end, discovered something horrible really had happened to the character, and abandoned the book completely. I internalize characters as I read. I feel like they are alive for me, and having them die is like losing a family member. It takes an enormous emotional toll.
Jan: I may have done this a few times, but only when I knew it was a “did not finish” anyway and just wanted to know the ending.
Clara: No. No, no, no. Never. I don’t ever recall a time when I read the last page before I finished the book. *Note: My step-mom waited to read RUN TO YOU until all three parts of Book 1 came out, so she could read the entire book at once. This was the one time she didn't read the last page until she got to the end. :-)
Alyssa: Yes! Most of the time it really doesn't ruin the book for me, it just gets me even more excited to get to the part. But every once in a while it will spoil it. I find that I only peek when i'm not totally invested in the book 100%. But if it's a book that I can't even put down, I generally don't peek.
Lisa: I never read the last page first. I used to, long ago, read the last sentence. But I've definitely stopped that habit. I want to enjoy the journey so to speak. And yeah, it's probably because I'm a writer. Don't get me wrong! I still get sucked in when the book is good, and there is temptation, but I've been good for the last several years at least.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you peek at the last page? If so, why? Do you do it to determine if you want to read the book, or is your curiosity simply too much to contain?
Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie, back with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
September 15, 2013
FIRST OR THIRD PERSON?
My answer: I’ve always written in first person. It’s what comes naturally to me when I write. Maybe it’s because when I was a kid, I used my diary to write stories about a girl who used her psychic powers to solve mysteries. I purposely did not hide my diary, in hopes that someone would find it and assume I was writing about myself. So of course, I wrote those stories in first person. The habit, I guess, stuck with me my whole life. When reading, I don't have a preference. I like both. But with writing, it’s first person for me! One day, though, I'd like to try writing in third person. Who knows, perhaps my next manuscript will be in third person.
YOUR TURN: Do you write in first or third person, or both? Why? Do you have a preference for reading?
Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie, back with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week for April 7, 2013:
Did You Write During Spring Break?
I hope everyone had a nice spring break! Now that we’re all back to our usual schedule, let’s talk about how much writing we did over our spring breaks. How did your writing schedule change, if at all? For those of you with kids home from school, were you able to get any writing done? If you went away, did you bring your manuscript and make time to write? Or did you take a break from writing altogether?
My answer: I always have a hard time going “off schedule.” My kids were home from school and we went on a three-day getaway at the end of the week. I scheduled time to write each day, but that time was often cut short. I wrote a whopping 1400 words the entire week. I’m back to my regular writing schedule now and trying to catch up. I’m always envious of those writers who are able to stick to their writing schedule no matter what else is going on. I need to be that disciplined!
YOUR TURN: How much writing did you do over Spring break?
Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie, back with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the week for March 24, 2013:
Other than writing, what creative pursuits do you regularly enjoy?
Crafts, watercolors, photography, pottery. Sewing, music, dancing, design. What are your other creative outlets?
My answer: I’ve always been a creative person. Along with creative writing, art was my favorite subject in school, and my favorite student activities were choir and poms. As an adult I was a huge scrapbooker for a few years—I shudder when I think of how much money I spent on scrapbooking supplies! I also painted, a hobby I was able to turn into a job. Yep, people, actual, real live human beings, paid me to paint murals on their walls, a fact that astounded me because I didn’t think I was very talented.
I’ve enjoyed writing since I was a kid, but when I started writing my first novel a few years ago, it sucked up all my creativity for anything else. I discovered a joy in writing that I’d never experienced before in any other creative pursuit: an obsessive, addictive joy. Today, writing is my main creative outlet. It’s all I need. Every so often I’ll set a canvas on my easel and take a paintbrush to it, but usually it’s to open a new way of thinking about my current manuscript—to capture a mood in paint that I then describe in words.
YOUR TURN: Other than writing, what creative pursuits do you regularly enjoy? Did you give up any of them in favor of writing, or are you able to find a balance? Do you think your other creative outlets help you with your writing? In what way?
By: Clara Kensie,
on 3/17/2013
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everyone! Before you head out to that parade, why don’t you take a couple of minutes to answer the new Question of the Week?
Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week for March 17, 2013:
What is your favorite book on the craft of writing?
As writers, we all probably have at least one bookshelf filled with books about how to write. Which of your craft books do you consider mandatory? To which one do you refer over and over again?
My answer: Yikes! Why did I have to ask such a hard question? How can I pick just one? Let’s see… after much deliberation, I’ve made my choice. While I value many, many craft books and reference them often, my favorite would have to be SAVE THE CAT! by Blake Snyder. Written for screenwriters, the advice and tips work perfectly for novelists too. The book is a quick and humorous read, and Mr. Snyder uses personal anecdotes and analyzes popular movies to illustrate his points, which makes them easy to learn. I reference this book dozens hundreds of times while I’m plotting my manuscripts.
I also love the follow-ups: SAVE THE CAT GOES TO THE MOVIES, which breaks down fifty well-known movies according to the STC plotting method, and SAVE THE CAT STRIKES BACK, which expands upon each point in the original book and offers even more advice. While Save the Cat isn’t the only craft book I use, it is my favorite.
The only negative side effect: my family loathes watching movies with me now because I’m always labeling the plot points according to Save the Cat!
YOUR TURN: What is your favorite book on the craft of writing? Why do you love it?
I can’t wait to go buy a whole bunch of new craft books based on your suggestions!
~Clara Kensie
Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie again, with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week for March 10, 2013
Do you listen to music while you write?
My answer: I can write in silence, but I almost always have my earbuds in while I write. I use music to block out the world around me so I can focus on my manuscript. However, I am a singer, and if I know the lyrics, I will sing along. Therefore while I’m writing, I must listen to music without lyrics, or lyrics I don’t know. I often listen to the Sigur Ros station on my tablet's Pandora app. Sigur Ros is an ambient post-rock band from Reykjavik, Iceland. I love their music but I don’t understand the lyrics, so it’s perfect writing music for me. I also listen to the symphonic and classical music Pandora stations, as well as the Doctor Who station (I know, how awesome is that?), which plays movie and television scores. Scores are lyric-less, and they often have a sweeping, epic feel to them—perfect for writing romantic scenes—or they have a pulsing, urgent tone, perfect for writing action scenes.
I like the idea of making a playlist for each manuscript—a set of songs that match the tone of your story to put you in the right frame of mind to write it—but I’m reluctant to make one myself. Why? Because it would take me days, probably weeks, to select the perfect songs. And that’s time I’d rather spend writing!
YOUR TURN: Do you listen to music while you write? What do you listen to? Do you make playlists, and if so, how do you chose your songs? Or, do you prefer to write in silence?
Hi everyone! I’m Clara Kensie, and I’m thrilled to be back as part of the Adventures in YA Publishing team with a new weekly post. What’s my topic going to be? YOU!
Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week, I’ll post a question for you to answer. The questions will cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
Question of the Week
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Plotter: A writer who plans their plot, characters, and settings before writing the story.
Pantser: A writer who writes “by the seat of their pants.” No plotting, no planning ahead.
My answer: I’m 80% plotter and 20% pantser. I guess that makes me a plantser.
My first two manuscripts were pantsed. I loved sitting at the computer each day and letting my characters surprise me. The result, however, were two manuscripts that totaled 186,000 and 205,000 words respectively, subplots that had no conclusion, and entire chapters that failed to move the story forward. Revision was more painful than prying out my eyeballs with a spork.
So, I decided to give plotting a try. To my delight, I loved it. Now, before I write the first word, I do a detailed story outline, sketches of each main character and setting, as well as a bit of research. However, sometimes there are issues I can’t solve by planning. In those cases, I just start writing and let my characters tell me what to do. And occasionally, once I’m writing, I realize something in my outline doesn’t work, so I change the outline. Pantsing releases my creativity in a way that plotting does not. I think 80/20 is a good balance for me.
YOUR TURN! Are you a plotter or a pantser, or a combination of both? Have you ever tried to switch? To what results?
Psst: there are no wrong answers!
~Clara
Our question of the week is:What outside influences do you use to keep yourselves focused?
ALVINA:
What outside influences do you use to keep yourselves focused?
This is a somewhat ambiguous question--so many ways to answer it! When it comes to my job, it's all about people. I'm influenced by my coworkers and wanting to be good to work with and do a good job; by the authors and illustrators I work with, not wanting to let them down; I'm influenced by the librarians, teachers, parents, booksellers, and others who will read the books I work on; I'm influenced by the knowledge of the reader I am and the memory of the reader I once was as I child; and lastly I'm especially influenced by the child reader that I'm trying to reach, what I think they will love.
I also do have some inspirational quotations up in my office to help me keep things in perspective. One is "Follow your compass, not your clock" which is something I heard at a talk given by Andrea Jung, CEO of Avon. Someone had said this to her when she was trying to make a big career decision amd was conflicted, and I love to think about it when I get frustrated with work, or start thinking that I should be at a higher level, etc. I think, my clock might be saying I'm ready for something else, but my compass is telling me what is most important.
Another quotations is on I commented on in Grace's "Hope and Beauty" post above. "It is Simple. We are where we should be, doing what we should be doing, otherwise we would be somewhere else, doing something else."
And one last quote is from college. I think my roommate Grace (a different Grace!) penned it when we were stressing about midterms or finals. "Feel a sense of iner peace. Do your best. It's never too late!"
ANNA:
One thing that always brings me back to focusing is looking at work that inspires me, and reminds me why I wanted to make books in the first place. This is one of my all time favorite books. It awes me on so many levels. The quiet, perfect pacing, the understated storytelling, the somewhat unresolved, haunting ending.
This book brings me back to my desk for other reasons as well- my older sister gave it to me as a birthday present when I was applying to college. Chris Van Allsburg taught at RISD, and this was one of the deciding factors in my decision to go there to study illustration. So I guess this book also reminds me of all the hope and excitement I felt taking my first real step towards being an illustrator.
GRACE:
Well, I like to write when things are completely quiet with no distractions; I do have a music mix on my ipod I listen to when I paint.
But the one thing I’ve always done is make a folder for my work (I po
Grace: I keep thinking about making curtains, even though I don't have the time and am a poor sewer. But the fabric at Ikea keeps calling to me...which one do you like better?
Alvina: I haven't been procrastinating too badly this week, because I've been on vacation until Wednesday, and then had to dive right back into work. But I guess the two things that have been distracting me lately are:
1) watching the second season of America's Best Dance Crew. Those of you who read my personal blog know that I was a big Jabbawokeez fan last season. This season I love Super Cr3w. But Fanny Pak had the standout routine this week:
2) Making preparations for various birthday celebrations--it's my 34th on Wednesday the 16th. And that means a whole birthday week is in store!
This week's Question of the Week is "How are you procrastinating?"
We all do it, come on, fess up! How are you procrastinating this week? Add your answer to the comments...
Anna: By watching episodes of Clean House. Sometimes I need a little Niecy Nash.
Grace: I keep going to Craigslist and looking at vespas for sale. And I don't even have the motorcycle license one needs to ride or own one!
Elaine: I’m only dabbling in major cleaning projects and gardening around my house at the moment--telling myself that “I can work on that tomorrow.” Instead, I’ve been relaxing in the sun in hopes of getting a little color before we head for New Mexico on June 24th. I’ve also wasted time when the weather was beastly playing solitaire on my computer in my air-conditioned office.
Meghan: stabbing paint tubes, painting Elvis, eating cheese doodles, taking pictures of my bruises, watching Style Wars, taking photographs of graffiti, going to work.
Alvina: By shopping on etsy.com, and watching reality television, especially Top Chef and Jon & Kate Plus Eight.
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Hi Clara - I am still a neophyte writer, but will still weigh in - my first book was first person - it felt right for the character and the plot. The next book that I am working on is third person, and I chose that as I wanted to be able to show multiple perspectives. I found that first person really forces you to have a very strong voice, much more so than third person - but is that just me? thanks for this amazing blog - so helpful!
Hi, WMM! You're right that sometimes 1st person or 3rd person just "feels right" for the character and the plot. Having a strong voice is important too, whether your book is in 1st or 3rd.
Thanks so much for your comment, WMM!
I write in third person because I don't want to be in my character's head THAT much!
It depends on the story. Multiple POVs usually sounds 3rd person when I'm writing it in my head--but one strong-voiced character will always be first person. I'm just finishing up a first person story in the midst of lots of third. The story just came that way.
I think it's helpful (and fun!) when I begin a new story to try out a couple different POVs. It gives me a feel for how I want the story to be told. I've probably written about 50% of each.
My first book was YA fantasy and it was in third person. I now write YA and NA contemp, and only write in first. It feels more natural that way and I can really get inside my character's head. Though that might not always be a good thing, since I also write from a 20 yo male point of view--and we all know how horny they can get. lol
For me it depends on the story. I think a longer bigger work is hard for first person which in my mind is better for shorter/average more intimate books.
I switch back and forth based on which POV bet serves a particular MS. If I need to get into multiple heads, I tend to use 3rd person closed for distinct chapters instead of switching 1st person POVs.
I don't have a reading preference, but I prefer writing in third person. Not sure why; I just like it better when I actually start writing.
First person - always. I need to be in their head, and the character needs to be in mine!
My first published books several years ago were all in 3rd. A few years ago I switched to 1st when I was struggling with deepening the character of Livie in THE HEALING SPELL. Now I write them all in 1st person POV - and have done my last two titles in 1st person *present*. Just came out that way . . . never planned it! :-)
My preference is first person, for a similar reason. Part habit, part because I can slip into the character a lot easier. Also, the current novel I'm working on is in first person for multiple reasons. For one, I prefer it. For two, my "target market" (AKA my teen who loves to read), says she prefers first person. I have seen a few advice articles that says "Don't write in first person", but the main reason being most writers don't know how to write in first person. Honestly, I can somewhat see where they were coming from. Although I believe the writing process is a constant work-in-progress, and as authors we are always looking to improve.
As close minded as it sounds, I refuse to read third person narrative, unless the book is deemed exceptional. I never feel like I truly connect with the characters because I can't become them, or walk in their shoes completely. The stream of consciousness or random thoughts don't come across genuine in third person. And if ther eis only one pov, I like not knowing anything other than what the character knows.
As for writing, I never write in third person because I feel detached from the characters. My biggest struggle is writing in present or past tense or choosing a male or female POV.
Most definitely third person POV, both while reading and writing. First person POV makes me feel claustrophobic, especially if the book is too 'voicey.' That doesn't mean I never read books with first person POV, but the pacing and narrative style has to be exceptional to pull me in.
I used to write ALL my books in 3rd person past tense. Thought I'd never change. Then my agent said she'd like me to try rewriting my novel in 1st. Eeep! But I did, and it just "wanted" to be present tense, too. Now I'm not sure if I can ever write in 3rd/past again!! For reading, I enjoy either.
Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't commented on your comments until today! I was on deadline this week (line edits on RUN TO YOU Book 1 were due Friday!) so I was on the interwebz only for a few minutes here and there.
BUT! Now I'm back and I love your comments! Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and their own reasons for liking and disliking, and that's great! Fantastic variety. Love it!
Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't commented on your comments until today! I was on deadline this week (line edits on RUN TO YOU Book 1 were due Friday!) so I was on the interwebz only for a few minutes here and there.
BUT! Now I'm back and I love your comments! Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and their own reasons for liking and disliking, and that's great! Fantastic variety. Love it!