We hope you have all had a chance to read KICK, the outstanding YA novel co-written by debut teen author Ross Workman and New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers.
When Ross Workman, then 13, emailed his favorite author, he hardly knew that he would have the opportunity to write a story collaboratively with him, in alternating chapters. What’s so wonderful about the story of these two authors is that it has broadened the conversation about the writing process, not to mention that it’s inspiring for teens considering writing to their favorite author.
Below, Ross Workman poses 5 questions about their writing process to Walter Dean Myers:
1. We did a lot of thinking about the story before we even started writing. You had all these techniques you’d developed to help you figure out your characters and plot—using photographs of the characters to help you think of them as real people and keep them consistent, doing character timelines, and creating a detailed outline. How did you come up with these? Did you ever try to write without them? How did that turn out?
Ross, I started writing without the outlines and without time-lines, etc. My understanding of literature was that the writers were all geniuses and the words just flowed from their pens or typewriters. I kept getting stuck in the middle of a manuscript. Developing the prewriting techniques help me to understand if I really have a book in mind or just the germ of an idea. Now, having said that, I still occasionally jump into a book too quickly. When I do, there’s usually a price to pay in starting over or replotting.
2. At times, I got discouraged, especially when I was worried that my writing wouldn’t be good enough. Did you ever get discouraged when you were writing or revising KICK? Did you ever get discouraged while working on another project? What do you do when you get stuck?
I enjoyed working on the book so much that I didn’t get discouraged. In fact, I’m rarely discouraged. If I do get stuck, I simply revisit my outline to see what I’ve overlooked.
3. Was it easier to edit my chapters or your chapters?
It was easier to edit your chapters because I can’t always see what mine are missing. My wife reads my chapters and reminded me to put in descriptions. Then you would point out my inconsistencies and, finally, our editor Phoebe made suggestions. I get the core feelings right most of the time but I often fall down when it comes to details.
4. You introduced me to the poem “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats. What made you think of that poem and its relevance to KICK?
As I understood the character you created, he seemed always eager to do the right thing. He wanted to help his friend, Christy, when she was troubled. He was very sympathetic and concerned with Dolores, who worked for McNamara. He was even hoping that Mr. McNamara wouldn’t get into too much trouble. I liked Kevin’s character and his willingness to get involved. In “The Second Coming” Yeats describes the end of the world, made easy by the lack of conviction of good people:
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
I believe that the end of the world as we know it ca
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