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Frequently Asked Questions

Writing & Publishing

Where do you get your inspiration?
I get one idea for a novel every day. Generally, it's a person trapped in an interesting situation, or facing a conflict that forces him/her to change and grow. These ideas pop into my head out of nowhere. Sometimes I stumble across them because of something I'm reading, some fragment of dialog I overhear, a scene I witness at an airport or the grocery store.

I start to ponder the magic words: "what if...."

What is your writing process?
I take one of two paths when I am working on a book; I enter the story through character or I enter it through plot.

When I start with character, I meander around and write a lot of scenes that are eventually cut, but that helps me understand the background and motivations of the people in the story.

If I start with plot, the scenes are developed in a much more systematic fashion, but I keep a separate journal in which I develop my characters.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

I HATE first drafts.

What is the best part of writing?

When the magic flows so strong I lose track of where and who I am.

What do you do when you get stuck?

It doesn’t happen much, but a shower or some exercise usually helps.

What keeps you motivated to write?
Writing keeps me healthy and sane. When I am working on a story, I channel the dark, sad, confused, angry bits of me into something constructive and healing. I always feel better after a day of writing.

Where do you write?
My office is the third floor loft of our house, with windows that look over our woods and meadows.

If it’s really cold, I take my computer down to the living room and work in front of the fire. On the road, I write on airplanes, trains, and in deadly beige hotel rooms. I like it better at home.

I know writing is a long process but when I can't get the right inspiration, it stresses me out.

I totally hear you. I feel the same way sometimes. When you run out of inspiration, it's usually means you don't understand your character and the conflicts she's facing.

Brainstorm ten things that could happen next that would complicate her life, and then brainstorm ten things that would make her life easier. Somewhere in there, you'll find a key to the next scene you have to write.

Is it better to outline and plot everything out, or just go with the flow, wherever the story leads you?

It depends on the book and it depends on how quickly you want to finish it. With my historical novels, (FEVER 1793 and CHAINS) I have to outline carefully because the character's journey has to take place within real historical events.

With my YA novels, like TWISTED and SPEAK, I am more flexible. In the early drafts, I write whatever weirdness pops in my head. In later drafts, I sort through the chaos and try to give it structure and a sense of flow. But what works for me might not work for you. Everyone has their own process.

Do you ever set goals for yourself as to when you're gonna finish writing certain parts of the book?

All the time. And I never, ever reach the goal on time because I am a hopeless optimist and I always forget to schedule in sleeping at night. But I keep doing it.

Goals are helpful. Making time to write every day helps even more.

What is a day in your life like?

Busy. Very busy. But in the best way possible.

I wake up between 5 and 6 am. While I’m eating breakfast, I check my email and post a blog entry. When that’s done, I start to write or research. (Note – I don’t check email and try to avoid the internet while writing. I also do not answer the phone or IM anybody.)

I take breaks for tea and for lunch. In the late afternoon, I go for a run or to the gym to work out. After that’s it’s dinner.

In the evening I spend a couple hours on the business and marketing. (No, I don’t have an assistant who takes care of that stuff. I wish.)

If there’s a good basketball or football game on, I answer email while watching that. Then I read until bed.

In good weather (if I am on schedule to make my deadline) I will garden, too.

I try not to work for so many hours on the weekends, but I do make writing and reading time every single day of the year. I am a happy camper.

I can't even believe how professional writers can put writing's unpredictableness aside and meet their deadlines! Care to enlighten me?

By "unpredictableness" I assume you mean that we rarely feel totally inspired every single day. I sure as heck don't. But I have to write every day.

First and foremost because I like it and it is good for me. Second, because by staying in touch with the story every day, the writing flows better. Third (though this one is pretty important, too), the writing pays my bills.

Any career in the arts has a simple truth attached to it: you have to do the work every day. That is how you get better.

It doesn't matter how many books I've published. I have never before written the book I am writing now. I have to respect the work and keep striving to learn more, keep searching for new tools for my work chest.

If you are standing on the outside looking in, it might seem a little boring, and I admit, there are days when I long for a job that has a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks and some kind of health insurance, but the truth is, I feel incredibly blessed to be able to write stories that people want to read. That is extremely motivating.

Do you always write chapter by chapter when you draft? Or do you ever end up with gaps in the initial draft that you have to go back and fill?

No, I don't write chapter by chapter. I generally start at what I think is the beginning and aim for what I think is the end, but those are guidelines, not rules. I always wind up with holes. Going back and figuring out what belongs in the holes is fun. The trick is to play out one of the story threads naturally, not to cram in a scene just so have something in Chapter 7. If it doesn't fit, throw it out.

Do you ever have to adjust the overall pacing of the story, and if so how do you approach that?

Once the stinky first draft is done, I do a lot of tinkering with the pacing. It takes a little time to get the perspective that allows me to see the entire story, but once I can, I examine each thread of the story to make sure the events that pull it forward unfold in a way that makes sense, both for that thread and for the larger story.

I also make a time line of events on a huge sheet of paper. Once I see things on the time line, I usually make changes; speeding up some sections, slowing down others.

How do you think through making a character change over the course of a novel?

To be honest, I don’t think about it much. I focus on creating situations that force the character out of her/his comfort zone, raising the emotional stakes as I go along. If I've developed conflicts that are organic and in keeping with the character's world, her/his response to the conflicts will naturally lead to internal growth.

Was it difficult to eliminate characters? I get very attached to mine.

The different parts of the writing process feel like different countries to me. The etiquette and customs of one country is extremely different from the next. In the early drafts, I include everything that falls into my head and I love it all. I could never cut out a character at that stage.

When I get to later drafts, that changes. The only thing that matters is what works best for the story. if I fall in love a character and she doesn't work in the story, she's gets cut. I can always send her flowers, take her to the movies, or go out for coffee with her. But if she isn't a vital thread in the fabric of the story, out she goes.

Do you ever get upset when you cut a character or throw out pages, or even chapters?

I used to get very upset when I would "waste" a day or a week going off on a plot tangent or approaching a scene from the wrong point. Nowadays, I just mutter a little and get back to work.

I think I have to test out my characters, sometimes following them down the wrong path, to get to know them better and to understand the world of the story.

Do you have any tricks for increasing objectivity? I have a hard time figured out what I need to revise.

Finding objectivity is one of the hardest things we do. I don't think any writer can ever become fully objective about her work. Putting it away for a month and not looking at it helps.

Then - before you read it - give it to three trusted readers; people who read a lot for fun and respect you enough to be honest. (DO NOT give it to relatives or lovers!) Ask them to read it and write down the three aspects of the story that are working the best, and the three that are the most confusing.

Next: take a copy of your story to a new location; NOT where you wrote it. Go to an independent bookstore, a coffee shop, a park, a nice hotel lobby. Read their comments first, then read the manuscript. If you can't find anything you want to change, you're done.

Do you really think that writers should give up TV?

It couldn’t hurt.

Most people who are trying to get published complain about not having enough time to write. But when you ask them about the latest episode of their favorite show, they have all the details. Which makes you wonder if they really want to write.

The average American watches 4.5 hours of television a day. If you want more time to write, it's a no-brainer. Turn off the television. Start writing. End of problem.

What’s advice can you give aspiring authors?

1. Learn to live frugally and don’t get into debt.
2. Write what you want, not what you think “the market” wants.
3. Turn off the television.

4. Don’t major in Creative Writing in college. Chances are it will drain the life out of your creativity.

5. Never, ever criticize yourself during a first draft.

6. Have the courage to revise your work.

7. Read every night before you go to sleep.

8. Do not pressure yourself by saying "I have to get this published by the time I am 20 (or 30, or 40, or 80, etc.)

9. Write the story in your heart.

10. Pay attention to William Faulkner’s wise words. He said “Don’t be ‘a writer.’ Be writing.”

Will you read my manuscript?
Thanks for the offer, but no.

Will you read my manuscript if I pay you?
Tempting, but the answer is the same: no.

Novels

CHAINS

What got you interested in this subject?

I came across pictures of horrible devices used on slaves in Philadelphia when I was researching FEVER 1793. This led me to learn more about slavery in Pennsylvania. I was shocked when I found out that Benjamin Franklin owned slaves. (As he aged, he realized how wrong slavery was. He freed his slaves in his will. This did not help them, however, because they died before he did.)

This, in turn, led me to study more about slavery in the Colonial period and during the Revolution, as well as slavery in the Northern Colonies/States. At the same time, I was researching and writing my non-fiction picture book, INDEPENDENT DAMES, about girls and women who participated in the American Revolution.

The threads of Colonial slavery and the women and girls of the time period wove together in my heart. The result was CHAINS.

***Please post questions about CHAINS for this FAQ on my LiveJournal Blog:

TWISTED

What made you decide to write TWISTED?
Many of the teenage guys I met in the last ten years had fascinating things to tell me. While the book is not based on anyone’s story, the themes of a guy’s alienation from his dad, a broken family pretending to be happy, and the despair that leads kids to kill themselves came from what they told me. And I like a challenge. I’d written a bunch of books from a girl’s point-of-view, and I wanted to see if I could get in the head of a boy.

What would you like readers to learn from Tyler?
That they are not alone with their darkest thoughts, that most people go through hell, and that it is possible to survive having parents who are clueless jerks. Oh, and that friends are gold.

What adjectives would you use to describe TWISTED?
Aaahhh...twisted? No, that’s too obvious. Dark, funny, dangerous, and honest.

Is the videogame in the book real?
Not yet, but maybe soon...

What’s up with the warning in the front of the book?
First, some background. I write books for teenagers, yes. I also write historical fiction that is aimed at grades 5-8 (but read by all ages), I wrote a series for tweens about kids volunteering in a vet's clinic, and I write picture books for little kids. I have lost track of the number of times I have met parents whose children (nine and ten-year-olds) have enjoyed one of my books for younger readers, so they pick up SPEAK or another YA title of mine and ask me to sign it for their child. I always ask the parent to read the book first. They appreciate the heads-up.

And then there are people like the lady who insisted on buying SPEAK for her second-grade daughter because the girl was gifted and reading on a 10th-grade level.

::headdesk headdesk::

For years I have been talking to people in publishing, librarians, teachers, booksellers, and other authors trying to figure out a way to alert book buyers and borrowers about books that are better suited for older readers. The age ranges put on books aren't very helpful - who decides what is right for 13? For 11? For 16? Ask 100 people and you'll get 103 answers. This can be a very confusing muddle. (Plot summaries don't help much either. They present a couple of facts, nothing more.)

I think SPEAK is a book for everyone in 7th grade and older (the main character is 14). TWISTED is aimed at the older end of the age bracket (the main character is 18) - it will have the most meaning for kids in 9th grade and older, though I have already heard from 8th graders who really liked it, and who got a lot out of the main character's struggles.

Hence, The Note. I figure that anyone who is picking up TWISTED for a person that they still consider a "child" (regardless of age) will probably want to wait a while before handing it over, or should read it themselves, first. Anyone buying the book for a "teen" or "post-child person" won't have a problem with it. My editor came up with the brilliant idea of making The Note look like an RIAA stamp.

NOTE: Be sure to check out the Laurie’s video interview about TWISTED on spicyreads.

PROM

Why isn’t PROM depressing like your other books?

Because I was engaged to marry my childhood sweetheart when I wrote it and I was too happy to write a depressing book. Plus, I figured it was time somebody wrote a YA novel that featured a strong loving family. I was also really fed up with seeing working class people always portrayed as tragic victims.

What was it about the prom that drew you to the subject?

The prom has become our common, secular, coming-of-age ritual. I wanted to capture that moment on the dance floor when everyone is on top of the world. I also wanted to write about a “normal” girl who isn’t sure what she wants out of life and doesn’t know where to start looking.

Did you intend for it to be a little like Cinderella?

Yes! I chose the main character’s first name very carefully (think about it) as well as the mascot at her school. There is a fairy grandmother figure in the book (can you figure out who it is?), a magic dress, a prince (sort of) and a ball.

Did you attend your high school prom?

No! At least, not my senior prom. I was an exchange student living on a pig farm in the Denmark my senior year. But I went to a number of proms my sophomore and juniors years, plus I have four kids, so we’ve been through the whole ritual A LOT.

Were you like Ashley?

A little bit. I was not easily excited by anything like proms or pep rallies or school clubs. I think there is a lot of me in the character of Ashley’s mom, too, especially how she loves her husband and kids, even when they’re driving her crazy.

CATALYST

Is it true you are a minister’s daughter?

Yep. Grew up right next the church, as a matter of fact. Ate a lot of chicken and biscuits dinners. I also have a strange fondness for Jell-O salads, preferably with vegetables inside.

And yes, my dad liked the book.

So is Kate Malone you?

No way. I barely passed chemistry. I had to relearn it to write the book. I stink at math, too. I wanted to write about a character who views the world from a very different perspective from my artsy-fartsy literary one. It was fun.

Any secret symbolism/image system tips you want to share?

You have to write an essay, don’t you? Pay attention to the layers of meaning in the last names of the important characters. You might be able to make something of the theme of myth vs. science, too. Oh, and there are a few Alice in Wonderland references, if you know what you’re looking for. Good luck.

Is CATALYST in the same high school as SPEAK because it was easier for you?

I really liked writing in the setting of Merryweather High (where both books are set). After SPEAK, I thought I might reuse some of the teachers. But I ran into an unexpected problem. Kate Malone is a very different kid than Melinda Sordino. Her perspective on teachers like Mr. Neck is not that of Melinda's at all. So I scrapped the scenes that had the teachers from SPEAK. And then when the character of Teri Litch showed up, the book took off on its own path.

It was, however, very nice to be able to show the readers of SPEAK that Melinda is doing well.

FEVER 1793

What inspired you to write FEVER 1793?

I read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer in August of 1993 that gave the details about the epidemic. I was stunned - I had never heard of the epidemic, and American History is my hobby. When I read about the courage of the people who struggled to survive those days, I knew I had to write about it.

Was the epidemic really as extreme as portrayed in the book?

Absolutely. It is hard for us to imagine how scary it was during those weeks. Some people truly thought that the epidemic would continue until every person in the city was dead.

Where can I learn more about the epidemic?

Run, don’t walk, to your nearest library or bookstore and get a copy of Jim Murphy’s non-fiction masterpiece, AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793.

What happened to the parrot, King George?

I think he found a sailor who adopted him and took him on adventures around the world.

What happens after the book? Will there be a sequel?

I've thought about a sequel, but it's going to be a couple of years before I can start writing it. Mattie and Nathaniel will definitely get married, I can promise you that.

SPEAK

Please note: There is a 9-page interview with me in the back of the platinum (paperback) edition of SPEAK. Most questions about the book are answered there. Below are a few extras.

Can you post the query letter that eventually led to the publication of Speak?

I don't have it anymore. (I submitted SPEAK in 1997 and have moved three times since then.)

My query letters tended to be very short: A paragraph with a one- or two sentence summary of the book, a paragraph that briefly detailed my writing qualifications, and a paragraph that said thank you for considering my work.

BTW: SPEAK was plucked from the slush pile. I sold my first four picture books, my series, two novels, and a couple of work-for-hire jobs without an agent.

How many copies of SPEAK have been sold in the US?

More than one million.

Do you think that SPEAK has made a difference?

Absolutely. But it wasn’t the book. The readers of SPEAK changed our world.

Many of them came away from the book with a new understanding of sexual assault and depression. They dug deep and found the courage to speak up about their own pain. They reached out and asked for help. They spoke up.

The teachers and administrators who were smart and bold enough to put a contemporary piece of literature into the classroom are changing the world, too. They put the book where it could open minds and hearts.

SPEAK is great example of the power of Story.

What did you think of the SPEAK movie?
I liked it. I especially liked my part.

I play the rather attractive lunch lady who serves mashed potatoes to Melinda on the first day of school.

Is SPEAK a memoir or an autobiography?

Neither. It is fiction. Parts of Melinda’s emotional journey reflect what I went through in high school, but I made most of it up.

When are you going to write a sequel? What happens to Melinda???

Melinda shows up on one page in CATALYST. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to write a sequel. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?

Picture Books

Why do you write picture books, too?

Because my inner little kid likes to play as much as my inner teen.

THANK YOU SARAH: THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THANKSGIVING

What got you interested in this?

An editor who knows how much I love Thanksgiving suggested I look into the life of Sarah Josepha Hale. Once I started digging, I was hooked.

Are you really related to Sarah Josepha Hale?

Yes, she is a very distant great-aunt.

Why is it so hard to find information on her?

A giant collection of her letters that were scheduled to be auctioned burned in a warehouse fire in the early 1900s. That has left historians with not much in the way of primary sources. I hope that someone will soon write a book examining Sarah’s impact on America.

Is it true you want to start a campaign to get the US Postal Service to issue a stamp with Sarah’s picture on it?

Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing in the world? And what a perfect way to honor all that she did for our country!

Unfortunately, I do not have the time to lead the charge. I am hoping some bold, brilliant, stubborn and smart person will step up and get the ball rolling.

INDEPENDENT DAMES: WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

What is it with you and history, anyway?

I LOVE American history!!! We are so lucky to live in this incredible country. I love learning about the past and figuring out how it influences us today.

Did you do a lot of research for this book?

Years and years worth. It was heavenly.

Do you have a favorite Independent Dame?

I adore Susan Boudinot and Deborah Sampson. I really wish I could hang out with Abigail Adams. I have a lot of respect for the women who lived on the frontier, and who had to be brave enough to take care of their families far away from other people.

Future Books

What’s next?

Look for my next YA in the spring of 2009, a picture book in the summer of 2009, and the next historical in 2010.

What are the names of the books?

It’s a secret! Stay tuned.

Questions Not Asked Frequently Enough

What type of music do you like to listen to when you write?

I develop a playlist for each book. The songs aren’t necessarily tied to the issues, themes, or characters; I choose them because they put me in the right mood.

I also listen to a lot of techno and house music when I’m writing. Anything to keep me in the zone and maintain focus.

Is it true that running helps the writing process?

It works for me. Here’s why:
1. Running makes me happy, thus, it is a very good reward and incentive to do my work.

2. When I write, I am a) sitting still and b) dangerously close to my kitchen. If I didn't exercise regularly (and trust me, there have been times in my life when I didn't) I eat more than my body needs. This slows down my brain and expands my rear end.

3. Running is a meditative exercise - it helps me process my stress in a healthy way.

4. My travel schedule is often grueling. Running (and weight lifting, which I don't talk about much, but I do, too) keeps me physically stronger and better able to fight off the germs that try to attack unsuspecting travelers.

5. Running has helped me develop mental discipline, which allows me to stay immersed in my stories longer. I have several writing/running mantras that I repeat in my head when I am tempted to stop writing or hit the Stop button on the treadmill.

6. Yes, this is a bonus reason. The human body was designed to move. If we want our minds and spirits to produce their best, we have to help our bodies be the best they can be, too. It's all connected.

Do you have any hobbies besides running and working out?
I like to knit, I’m trying to learn how to quilt, and I like to muck around in the garden. Oh, and I love making jam and canning fruits and vegetables. I do like visiting other countries. And I love trying out new food. One of these days I’ll start skiing again.

What’s been your greatest achievement?
Raising my kids to be good people (though they did most of the work).

Childhood ambition?
To read all the books in the library and climb to the top of the rope in gym class.

Can you choose a desert island book?
ULYSSES, by James Joyce.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
There are countless!! The worst was when my little sister and I got into a knock-down, drag-out fight at a family reunion and all of the older second cousins I had been hoping to impress dismissed me as being one of the stupid little kids because of it. (I was 11 years old.)

What was the smartest thing you ever did?
Spent my senior year of high school overseas, took some time off after high school, then went to community college before transferring to a four-year school. Marched to the beat of my drummer. Wrote books instead of staying in a cubicle job.

Who was that author when you were plotting away unknown to the rest of the world, that you aspired to be like?

Me.

Life motto?
I have three:

Adapt and overcome.
Read or die.
It’s not a mistake if you learn from it.

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