Writers Like Us - Becky Albertalli

So because of this news, this blog series totally got away from me--but I'm back and ready to push the series to 50 interviews. Check them all out here, which include advice and insights from Sara Zarr, A.S. King, and many, many others.

This week, Becky Albertalli stops by to share her writing, publishing, and life advice. She's the author of the hilariously swoony Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and the forthcoming The Upside of Unrequited. You can find her tweeting at @BeckyAlbertalli. Her answers are below in bold.

Becky on Writing

• I've written two books, and 1.5 have seen the light of day (second one is floating around in bound manuscript form, but it will be released in April of 2017!).

• My favorite type of scene/character/setting to write: flirty scenes, first kisses, and drunk Simon Spier.

• No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with overusing words – and the specific words change, depending on the character’s voice! My editor always has a few things she wants me to clean up in find/replace. 

• A typical comment from my critique partner is, “I think it would be okay for this to wrap up less neatly.”

• The book I wished I wrote is HOUSE OF ORANGE by Lianne Oelke (coming in 2017!)

Becky on Getting Published

• When I was querying, I felt like I was seventeen. So much yearning and nervousness and hoping to hear from someone.

• The biggest mistake I ever made querying was nudging agents with an offer over Thanksgiving week. It couldn’t be avoided, and it worked out perfectly, but I feel guilty that there were agents reading during that time!

• What I love most about my agent is how easy he is to talk to, and how excited he gets about even the little victories for my books.

• While my book was out on submission, I did not actually expect it to sell. Brooks (agent) sold it in five days. 

• When I got "The Call," my first thought was that I need to convince Brooks Sherman that I’m about 75% less awkward than I am in real life.

• When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I took a screenshot and sent it to my mom.

Becky on Life Outside Writing

• If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a psychologist (I actually am a nonpracticing licensed clinical psychologist).

• Secretly, I'm terrified of bees.

• My secret girlfriend/boyfriend is Jim from the Office (but only in an alternate universe where I’m Pam, because I cannot break up my OTP).

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I wear pajamas all day. Sometimes when everyone is around, I wear pajamas all day, too.

Becky Albertalli is a clinical psychologist who has had the privilege of conducting therapy with dozens of smart, weird, irresistible teenagers. She also served for seven years as co-leader of a support group for gender nonconforming children in Washington, DC. These days, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons, and writes very nerdy contemporary young adult fiction.

Writers Like Us - Cynthia Hand

So because of this news, this blog series totally got away from me--but I'm back and ready to push the series to 50 interviews. Check them all out here, which include advice and insights from Sara Zarr, A.S. King, and many, many others.

This week, Cynthia Hand stops by to share her writing, publishing, and life advice. She's the author of the Unearthly Series (aka the best angel fantasy ever), the tear-jerking The Last Time We Say Goodbye, and the co-author of hilarious My Lady Jane. You can find her tweeting at @CynthiaHand. Her answers are below in bold.

Cynthia on Writing

• I've written six and a half books, and six have seen the light of day.

• My favorite type of character to write is a conflicted villain.

• No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with pacing. Almost all of my books require an overhaul from first draft to last, just to get the pacing right.

• A typical comment from my critique partner is "where's the rest?"

• The book I wished I wrote is The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness, or The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.

Cynthia on Getting Published

• When I was querying, I felt, well, I never technically queried. I got my agent when a few agents contacted me about a literary short story I published while I was in grad school.

• The biggest mistake I ever made querying was um, see above, but I have never been any good at writing the darned query letter. I'd rather write a novel than a query letter for a novel.

• What I love most about my agent is all the different hats she wears with me. Sometimes she's my friend. Sometimes my fierce defender. My financial advisor. My cheerleader. My editor.

• While my book was out on submission, I ate a lot of chocolate.

• When I got "The Call," my first thought was that I must be dreaming--the whole thing was very surreal.

• When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I cheered. The day I sold my first novel I went to a Barnes and Noble, ordered a caramel frappachino, looked at the YA bookshelves, and cried with utter happiness.

Cynthia on Life Outside Writing

• If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a very bored office assistant or a literature professor.

• Secretly, I'm terrified of elevators getting stuck.

• My secret girlfriend/boyfriend is Jamie from the Outlander series.

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I make myself a batch of homemade fudge, which is a real treat since no one in my family likes it but me.

Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the UNEARTHLY trilogy, the contemporary novel THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, and the new historical comedy, MY LADY JANE. Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, where she teaches creative writing at Boise State University.

Writers Like Us - Courtney C Stevens

Writers Like Us is alllllmost at 50 author interviews, and I've been lining up a stellar line up of inspiring and fun writers to count us down. You can check out all the interviews here, which include advice and insights from Sara Zarr, A.S. King, and many, many others.

This week, Courtney C Stevens stops by to share her writing, publishing, and life advice. She's the author of Faking Normal, The Blue-Haired Boy, and The Lies About Truth. You can find her tweeting at @Quartland. Her answers are below in bold.

Courtney on Writing

• I've written eight point seven books, and four point five have seen the light of day.

• My favorite type character to write is someone who feels real and unreal at the same time.

• No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with sleeping. No, seriously, I still have trouble with everything. The more I write and know, the harder it gets, because I want to level up.

• A typical comment from my critique partner is here’s a link to the difference between farther and further.

• The book I wished I wrote is the one I’m working on now.

Courtney on Getting Published

• When I was querying, I felt like maybe I should just take pictures of baby hedgehogs.

• The biggest mistake I ever made querying was trying to squash hope to protect myself. Many artists are scared to hope. I’m scared not to.

• What I love most about my agent is she’s aware of how my personal life affects my artistry.

• While my book was out on submission, I worked my day job and wrote the next book. I had a really keen sense that if it happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I'd write my way to where I wanted to be with the next thing.

• When I got "The Call," my first thought was I still have to do my day job tonight. How am I going to do my job tonight? I need to call my mom.

• When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I went to my local librarian and thanked her.

Courtney on Life Outside Writing

• If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be an FBI agent. 

• Secretly, I'm terrified of losing my hearing.

• My secret girlfriend/boyfriend is if I told you, well, you see the problem here. 

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I drive fast on country roads and listen to music and look for places that no one else sees. (I also consider trespassing when there is an old silo with vines crawling up the sides, because … how awesome are those things?)

Courtney C. Stevens grew up in Kentucky and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is an adjunct professor and a former youth minister. Her other skills include playing hide-and-seek, climbing trees, and being an Olympic torch bearer. She is also the author of Faking Normal, which Kirkus Reviews called “a story that resonates” and Publishers Weekly called a “rich debut,” as well as the e-novella The Blue-Haired Boy, and the recently released The Lies About Truth.

Writers Like Us - Darcy Woods

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for another round of Writers Like Us. This series started in January of 2013 and has included over 41 authors so far. I'm so excited Darcy Woods is number 42 and will kick off this new round of interviews. You can check them all out here.

Darcy Woods' Summer of Supernovas is out on shelves now and I just adored it to pieces. If you're looking for a fun, swoony romance to kick off your beach reading, pick this one up. In the meantime, let's learn a little about Darcy...

Darcy on Writing

• I've written 2.5 books (I rewrote my first ms from page one, hence the .5 for recycled premise), and so far one has seen the light of day. But technically not till May 10th!

• My favorite type of scene to write is forbidden first kiss scenes with toe-curling tension.

• No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with commas. I've been known to drop them randomly like f-bombs. My brain is not equipped for grammar-ing. 

• A typical comment from my critique partner is "*snorts*" "But why?????" ":)"

• The book I wished I wrote is Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere for ALL THE OBVIOUS REASONS. #genius

Darcy on Getting Published

• When I was querying, I felt like Houdini challenging people to punch me in the stomach. There were times it was absolutely grueling and hurt like hell. But you have to believe in yourself MORE than the pain of rejection. I've been cumulatively rejected almost 200 times. This does not make me a special flower. But it makes me tenacious, a necessary attribute from every author. 

• The biggest mistake I ever made querying was not being myself. When I queried my first ms, I was soooooo nervous! And I'm quite sure I used pompous phrases like "esteemed cadre of authors." Which I would NEVER EVER EVER use in real life. Not even if you held my feet to smoldering flames. I was just so afraid to be me. The irony, of course, is that YOU is precisely what they want to see. 

• What I love most about my agent is her tireless belief in me. During my rocky submission process, Catherine Drayton's certainty was unfailing. Unrelenting. You cannot put a price tag on that kind of loyalty. It is everything when the chips are down.

• While my book was out on sub I got carpal tunnel refreshing my email. Grew ulcers. Drank wine and ate lots of French fries--often all of these were simultaneously.

• When I got "The Call," my first thought was this is a joke. We'd already had a couple offers fall through, so I couldn't quite wrap my gray matter around it actually happening. Then when I finally realized my agent wasn't kidding, I did this weird, hysterical laugh-cry thing. And she said, "Darcy, you're going to be a published author!" I wept like a babe.

• When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I exploded like a supernova. I think every one of my atoms lit up like sparklers. It was an unforgettable moment.

Darcy on Life Outside Writing

• If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a Professional Closet and Refrigerator Feng Shui-er. So let's hope authoring pans out. ;)

• Secretly, I'm terrified of seaweed. Oh, I'll happily eat it, but do NOT ask me to swim where I can touch it.

• My secret boyfriend is Captain Jack Sparrow. Maybe it's odd to adore a man who wears more eyeliner than me, but I don't care. 

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I sing Broadway show tunes to my cats. I also tell my plants they're doing a great job making oxygen.

Young adult author Darcy Woods had three big loves in grade school: Reading, writing, and pizza day. Some things never change. She lives in Michigan with her madly supportive husband, two tuxedo cats (who overdress for everything) and a closet full of neatly organized shoes. Once upon a time, she served in a US Army aviation unit and threw live grenades. Now she throws words.

Darcy’s Golden Heart®-winning debut YA romance, SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS, comes out from Random House/Crown May 10, 2016.

Writerly Rants - Shelving Projects

Tonight, I took the manuscript I've been working on for the last year and shelved it.
>50K words; two drafts.
An idea I was so excited about nine months ago deflated.
Promises of a finish line and a delivery date to my agent cancelled.
I threw my hands up in defeat.

I had no choice, you see. I've been sitting here in front of my computer for weeks staring and agonizing because I didn't recognize this lumpy story I had in front of me. It was just a pile of words and scenes and characters. And there was this thread of story--there was a lot of WHATs going on, but no WHYs.

Why was this happening?
Why would this character react this way?
Why would it go down THIS way rather than THAT way?
And most importantly, what am I trying to say with this story?

I have this problem. I want people to read my work and weigh in, because who doesn't love to hear feedback? But this story didn't incubate long enough. I didn't let it rest and stand back and let myself re-examine it. I didn't give myself the time to throw my all into it. To work until the late hours of night, writing feverishly. Or replay scenes over and over in my head, perfecting each and every line of dialogue. Instead, I wrote it like a shot in the dark. Throwing spaghetti at the wall. Hoping something stuck. Then too many fingerprints got all over it.

Don't get me wrong: I'm totally grateful for the time and effort people take in reading and critiquing my work. But if it happens too soon in the process, it derails me. Instead of finding the road that leads to the story, I'm taking some back way that someone else took this one time. The journey to finding a story is different for every person and every story, and we have to go our own ways at our own speeds.

So I'm sitting here with something shelved. As in, not trashed, but waiting for the dust to clear. Because, at some point, I'll grasp for the right sound and shape and it will be there for me. The story that wants to be told. That feels right and not forced. That is true to my vision. And it won't involve Band-Aid plotting or Frankensteined scenes.

I'll work on something new, and let this project rest. Give it space and time. Until that moment when I have a thought, "I wonder if I did this..." And then the process starts anew and a new story is born.

April Check In

What I'm Writing

Writing the second draft of my book, a new YA thriller. I enrolled in an online class to help brush up on a few things (also to give myself steady deadlines to meet), and I'm really glad I'm workshopping this book. It's a bit strange, but most of my more-stranger ideas tend to do well when they go out to editors. 

What I'm Reading

I'm finally getting to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone after everyone I've ever encountered has raved of this book. I'm, like, 40% of the way through and am NOT disappointed!

What I'm Listening To

In a super pop mood this week!

What I've Been Up To

Puppy wrangling and writing--mostly with Lucy at my feet. Hopefully with the weather warming up, I'll get a chance to do more than just work!

Lucy found a new place to sleep while I write.

A photo posted by Valerie Cole ❤️ (@valeriecoleya) on Apr 18, 2016 at 6:14pm PDT

What Lucy Has Been Up To

Getting into trouble! Mostly because she's starting to get comfortable and feels at home, which makes me happy. This morning she discovered how to unroll the toilet paper--what a fun game (for her)!

No string, Lucy! 😠

Do you think Lauren will understand when I tell her the puppy ate my plot?

A photo posted by Valerie Cole ❤️ (@valeriecoleya) on Apr 15, 2016 at 6:15am PDT

For Your TBR Pile - Summer of Supernovas

Summer of Supernovas
by Darcy Woods
Crown BFYR / Penguin Random House
Published May 10, 2016

The Characters

WILAMENA (WIL) is a fun and spunky girl who has a closet full of vintage dresses and a heart she wears on her sleeve. She's mapped out her romantic future by the stars.

GRANT is the guitar playing, duct-taped shoe wearing brother with a tattooed sleeve and a lime green car.

SETH is the more buttoned-up brother who knows all the right things to say. He'll take you up in a hot air balloon and make you swoon.

When astrology determines your best match for romance, Wilamena is sure she knows which brother is right for her. While Seth wines and dines her, Wilamena continues to bump into Grant at every turn. Does she stay the course of the stars or does she pave her own path? 

For Readers Who

• Are looking for a super-swoony, light-hearted romance
• Loved Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss / Isla and the Happily Ever After
• Knows their Pisces from their Capricorns

What I Loved

That Darcy Woods writes such fun characters, witty dialogue, and soft-hearted relationships. Not only were the boys fun to read, but Wil's relationship with her Grams was so wonderful. It reminded me a lot of the closeness I had with my own Grandmother. 

Wil's friendships with boys, as well as girls, is really refreshing. She mingles well with all the characters, not just focusing on the boy de jour. My favorite non-romantic character was Mannie, the drummer in Grant's band. He was overly flirtatious and comically charming.

Plus, this book won The Golden Heart Award from RWA (Romance Writers of America) in 2013!

Mid-Spring Check In

What I'm Writing

Right now, trying to figure out my story is like throwing spaghetti at the wall and watching it all slide down...

— Valerie Cole (@ValerieColeYA) April 6, 2016

Yeah, writing is hard. I won't lie, sometimes I'm convinced none of my writing sticks and I'm running out of noodles.

I have a pretty solid first draft of a new young adult manuscript. I've been trying to tackle more commercial plotlines. Things that could be considered thrillers or high-concept. My brain is so good at emotional story arcs, but when I have to figure out how a resolution works out or raise stakes, I fizzle out.

The good news is that I had a couple of really great critiques come in and set me back on track--hopefully in the right direction. I'm sitting here in front of a blank cork board with a stack of Post-its and I'm ready to replot my entire book.

What I'm Reading

What I'm Listening To

What I've Been Up To

Pretty much 99% of what I say now:
What are you eating?
Ah-ah-ah!
Oh my god!
On the pad! On the pad!
Noooo!
No bites!
Omg so cute#newpuppy

— Valerie Cole (@ValerieColeYA) April 6, 2016

Well, this little monster has been keeping me on my toes for the last week. Meet Lucy, our new puppy! We brought her home last Tuesday and my life has been full of: puppy wrangling, accident cleaning, ah-ah-ahing, and attempting to look away for oooooone second to work. It's impossible. That face makes it all worth it, though.

Lucy is home!

A photo posted by Valerie Cole ❤️ (@valeriecoleya) on Mar 29, 2016 at 8:57am PDT

January 2016 Check In

Hello, hello! 

This month is almost over and I'm finally sitting down for a check in. Personally, I'm thankful for this impending snowstorm of doom that is about to rain down on us. There's been so much to do this month and I'm ready for a weekend of eating soup and binge watching Grey's Anatomy.

What have I been up to, you ask?

1) Well, Project Blue--my newest manuscript. My seventh, to be exact. And, there's something I've learned from working on multiple projects: each one will feel different. Like, really different. There's some that have taken everything in me to write. Two manuscripts ago, I had to set up any type of reward system I could just to get one word down on the page at a time. It made me wonder if I even liked writing sometimes. But Project Blue isn't like that. It makes me giddy and excited. I love everything about it--even the hard parts. 

I've been doing a lot of writing and researching and re-writing, and am hoping to have a killer first draft soon. I'm so excited to share it and have my peeps read it (and of course poke holes in it so it resembles Swiss cheese). 

2) I also decided to scale back on giving myself so many expectations this year. One big one was how many books was I going to read. I read a lot, and I participated in GoodReads' Reading Challenge like it was my own Olympics. I can't manage to track how many calories I eat daily, but I can log every single page I've ever read in my GoodReads app. This year I decided to bail out. I'm going to read, but not be so focused on that number. And, also DNF books if I want or just read the parts I want. You know, read like an un-obsessed person might.

What am I reading now? The History of Love--a book that was recommended to me six years ago and has been at the top of my TBR list since!

3) Also, puppies. We lost our sweet Nelly girl last month, right before Christmas and I have to be honest, my heart is still broken. The other day I was out running errands and I found myself Google Mapping the nearest puppy shop and drove straight there. I got my fill of puppy kisses, but realized just how much work going from an extremely chill senior dog to an over-active brand new puppy is going to be. Not that I'm not up for the task, but Shannon and I still need some time to prepare and get ready. Meanwhile, I can't promise not to be that crazy lady who shows up in Pet Shops just to pick up puppies and talk about my heartbreak.

Until next month, friends. Bunker down from the snow and godspeed!

Agents Like Us - Melissa Sarver White

Today's a double agent interview day! Melissa Sarver White from Folio Literary Management stops by to chat agenting secrets, clients, and life with us.

She is looking for YA and MG of all kinds and a wide range of adult Non-Fiction (narrative, memoir, business, health & wellness, cookbooks and food writing). You can learn more about Melissa's tastes and guidelines here and follow her on Twitter @mjsarver. Her answers are below in bold.

Melissa on Agenting

• When writers query me, I really wish they didn’t assume I want to read their work and instead write something dynamic that makes me stop everything and want to dive in. Also, be professional! This is a business – we are not friends. And please follow my submission guidelines and do a bit of research to make sure I represent the genre you are writing.

• My favorite part about being an agent is sharing good news with authors, whether it be an offer for their project, a great review, that they’ve landed on a bestseller list, anything! This business tends to kick people around so I relish the times I can deliver happy news.

• Rules and trends aside, what I really look for in a story is unique voice that I haven’t heard before, interesting setting, clever conceit, well-formed relationships, tightly paced story with payoff. I really hate when I get into a story with good writing and characters but feel like it’s not really going anywhere. I’m left with that “so what?” feeling. 

• Whenever I make a book deal, I ... I don’t have a ritual to celebrate each book deal – some are big and some are small. But closing a deal is always very gratifying.

• I really wish I saw more tightly paced stories, high concept YA, literary MG, mysteries in YA and MG in the slush.

Melissa On Clients

• My ideal client would be someone who is always open to revision. That, in my opinion, is the difference between getting a book deal and not. And someone who trusts that I am always looking out for his/her best interest.

• What I love most about my current clientele is I’ve been working with many of my authors for many years and it’s exciting to see them grow and change as writers and expand their audiences with each book. 

• What I want most for any client is well, beyond their book getting the attention it deserves and finding an audience, I want them to be able to build a career as a writer. That won’t mean for most of them to be able to live solely off of their book money; but to be able to write and continue to see their books published and their audience grow over time, that’s the goal.

Melissa On Life

• If I weren't an agent, I'd probably be ... if you asked my 25-year-old self, I would probably say journalist! But now I enjoy working with and representing journalists much more than the idea of being one. I’d probably do something like college admissions if I weren’t an agent. 

• My favorite (non-client) book is a recent pick would be SALVAGE THE BONES; so raw and beautiful. It wrecked me in the best of ways and stayed with me long after I finished reading. All time favorites include A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN and THE HANDMAID’S TALE.

• Secretly, I'm terrified of drowning. I can swim and I enjoy water, but the idea of drowning is terrifying.

• My secret boyfriend is a tie between Idris Elba and U2’s The Edge.

• I have a total girlcrush on Ruth Wilson (have you seen The Affair? Love, love it, and her…)

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I do dance routines to music like I would have done when I was younger. They aren’t pretty but I just can’t help myself after 20+ years of dance classes.

• My favorite drink is beer. Usually a Hefeweizen.

Want to see more Agent Interviews? Check them all out here.

Agents Like Us - Heather Flaherty

This week Heather Flaherty from The Bent Agency stops by to chat agenting secrets, clients, and life with us.

She is looking for young adult (contemporary and horror), middle grade (contemporary and historical), adult (thrillers and commercial women's fiction), as well as nonfiction. You can learn more about Heather here, find her submission guidelines there, and follow her on Twitter @HeddaFlaherty. Her answers are below in bold.

Heather on Agenting

• My favorite part about being an agent is ... everything. It’s a fantastic job. You get to bridge both the creative side with the market side of publishing. You get to push out books that should get out there, whether it’s because they are wanted, or teach the right lessons, or offer new perspective, or are just truly gorgeous. And my clients’ amaze me everyday with their work. Helping their words get to readers is beyond exciting.

• Rules and trends aside, what I really look for in a story is voice, voice, and more voice. Full, real characters immediately pull me into any story, whether it’s a quiet story or a loud one.

• I really wish I saw more variety, quirkiness, innovation… (I know, so helpful.)  in the slush.

Heather On Clients

• My ideal client would be all of my current clients. Hard-workers who are willing to try, writers I can be VERY honest with, and people who enjoy a chuckle.

• What I love most about my current clientele is all of the above! Though some do more chuckling than others…

• What I want most for any client is the right home for their future as an author.

Heather On Life

• If I weren't an agent, I'd probably be a large animal vet. (I know right? Weird.)

• Secretly, I'm terrified of not doing everything I want to do ever.

• I have a total girlcrush on Allie Bosch, Amy Schumer, and Angelina Jolie. 

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I wear extremely ripped jeans. (And not just sometimes. All the time)

• My favorite drink is rye.

Want to see more Agent Interviews? Check them all out here.