The Writing Process Book Tour has taken the internet by storm, and I'm honored to be a part of it. I was invited by the amazing Anna Schumacher, writer of the thriller Y.A. series End Times. You can read her writing process answers, and her blog here.
I'm supposed to answer some questions about my writing process, so here goes nothin!
1) What am I working on?
Speak Up! is a non-fiction book for middle schoolers coming out in 2015 on Zest Books, distributed by Houghton Mifflin. It is, in essence, a how-to on speaking up for middle school girls. I'm really, really excited about it. I'm also working on an adult fiction novel, which is still in the draft phase. Hopefully it will be my magnum opus!
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
It depends on what I'm working on...additionally I do freelance journalism, blogging and playwriting. But in the case of my published books: they tend to be very frank and very clear, and I never underestimate the audience though they might be young. Speak Up will incorporate loads of digital age graphics, which will differentiate it from text-heavy books that middle schoolers throw away. It also helps to interview actual middle schoolers and conduct research, which seems obvious but a lot of people don't do it.
In terms of fiction, sorry to sound like a jerk, but I think my personal voice is very unique. Whether you like it or not is another story!
3) Why do I write what I do?
I have to write, always have. That's a given. Honestly I've written a couple of books in order to get my foot in the door, but Speak Up is an opportunity to help out kids in a way that I -- and my generation -- were not.
In terms of fiction writing, it's simply what I was born to do...a compulsion, if you will. There is nothing like creating something that makes people laugh and think. Nothing like it in the world!
4) How does your writing process work?
Again, depends on what I'm working on. If it's an article or blog, I usually fly by the seat of my pants -- no outlines, little planning, just reporting and working at it until it reads well. Books, however, are monsters. I tend to create an outline for the entire book, and try to stick to it. But as I actually do the work of writing, I let my mind go wherever it goes. If it means changing the outline, so be it!
Next week on the Writing Process Blog Tour...
Sharon Adarlo: sharonadarlo.com
Sharon Adarlo is a writer and artist based in Newark, New Jersey. As a freelance journalist, Sharon's works have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post and other publications. She has written about topics from Muslim weddings to Filipino food to crime stories such as the Etan Patz case. Her art covers drawing, painting, and illustration. She also makes animation videos.
John Thrasher: johnthrasher.wo
John Thrasher is a New York based entertainment writer and producer. In 2011 he co-founded the entertainment website Hypable.com, where he works as a writer/editor and podcast producer/host. He has worked as a writer, editor and producer for MTV, the U.S. Open and CBS, and currently, NBCUniversal.
(Headshot by Nichole McCall)
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