It is
my turn on the Writing Process Blog Tour!
Deep thanks go to Kelly Bennett for asking me to participate. Kelly's
answers to these questions are on her blog—be sure to check them out! And here are mine…
What
am I currently working on?
I am
in the process of revising a middle grade novel titled Marble Boys, a story about two ten year old boys who have
experienced tragedy in their respective lives—one in New Orleans and one in
rural Vermont—and how they end up becoming friends and helping each other heal. This book was just bought by Schwartz and
Wade and will be published in August 2015.
I am
also working on two picture books. One is about to go out on submission and I
am revising the other one. I like having
both novels and picture books in process—I do well moving from one to the
other.
How
does my work differ from others of its genre?
Hmmm…I'm
not sure how my work differs from others in their genres, but I can tell you
that no matter what I am working on—picture books or middle grade or essays,
even—I am exploring connections: the ways people connect (especially when they
don't think they do), the ways they connect to the landscape, the ways they
connect to their own selves. It is true
that most (maybe all) of my work has a touch of magic realism in it too. My work is character-driven, contemporary,
and full of hope. And, finally, I am
most compelled by multiple points of view (see my love of connection above) and
often write from the hearts and heads of a few characters.
Why
do I write what I write?
I
love middle grade novels and picture books.
I just love them. That middle
grade time of life is so full of transparency it makes my heart ache. With sadness sometimes but, most often, with
joy. Watching ten, eleven and twelve
year old kids find themselves is a privilege—and getting to write about them is
too. I suppose I love the picture book
crowd for the same reasons, actually—honesty and emotion—but also because they
just feel like they own the stories that they read, they truly feel like they
are in them, and they are!
I
write what I write because I believe in those kids. I write what I write because I want to
connect with those kids. I write what I
write because creating those stories makes me infinitely happy.
How
does my individual writing process work?
Man
oh man…this has changed over the years.
For a while I wrote painstakingly slowly, writing my stories in order—beginning
middle and end—stopping and waiting when I would get stuck, and then starting
again. And then jumping into a revision
and writing and imagining it and writing it all at the same time. I have evolved from that process though.
(Which is not to say that it is a bad process, but it doesn't work so well for
me anymore.) Now I write whatever scenes
inspire me, in any order. Often that is still
page 1 followed by page 2, chapter 3 followed by chapter 4—but not always. If I get a burning idea for the climax, I
will write it. If I know the ending, I
will write it. Then once I have a rough draft,
I will do some outlining and character development. I will try to take a break from the story too
at this point. (And work on a picture
book or two! Those are shorter
processes, of course. In terms of
getting the story told, not in terms of getting the story right!) I just learned a great exercise, which
consists of telling my story to someone who doesn't know it well, and then
listening to that person's reactions, confusions, ideas and questions. I have also just learned how to plan my
revision before diving into it.
Let's
see. I work best in the morning. I work best at On The Rise Bakery, my local
restaurant/community center at the end of my block—preferably with a mocha
latte on the table!
Truth
be told though, I am still learning about my process. So stay tuned!
And who’s next?
I’m tagging the amazing Debbie Gonzalez AND the incredible Nan Marino!
They will be blogging on May 26. Don't miss them!
Debbie's
been a classroom teacher, a school administrator, an educational consultant, a
curriculum designer, a former adjunct professor, a creative writing workshop
instructor, and once taught PBS's Barney kids in a one-room off-set Montessori classroom.
She earned her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Art in Writing for Children and
Young Adults. Deb currently works on about a zillion free-lance
projects and is a proud contributor of ReaderKidZ, a website committed to fostering a
love of reading for kids ages K-5. Debbie lives in magical Ann Arbor,
Michigan with her husband John and Tripod, her three-legged chocolate lab.
Nan
Marino is a middle grade book author and young adult librarian. She lives in
the Pinelands of New Jersey with her husband and a large goofy dog.
Her most recent book Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace was named a 2103
NPR Best Book of the Year.
In
the meantime, while you wait for Deb and Nan's posts, you can read other posts
on this writing process blog tour at:
Thank you!
Tam
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