Posted by nisha on Jul 29, 2009 in
Blog
Today we’re putting some art into the ‘Writers on Writing’ column by chatting with artsy author Crissa Jean Chappell, author of ‘Total Constant Order.’ Thanks again for joining me today, Crissa! Let’s get started.
What is your brainstorming process for a new book?
It all begins with a character. I prep myself by asking questions. First thing you need to know: What’s their worst nightmare? Then dish it out.
While writing a scene, I feel like a courtroom reporter, jotting everything down. I talk to the imaginary people in my head. I spend a lot of time with them before typing, “Chapter One.” Sometimes I sketch my characters and listen to music as I draw. They are always with me, even when I’m not plunked in front of a computer.
Can you explain your typical work weekday?
I roll out of bed and stumble towards my desk. In my half-awake state, I type little bursts of new ideas (sometimes I dream a scene before I write it). I’m super obsessive, so I’ll clean up the old pages before plunging ahead (rearranging sentences, juggling nouns, searching for just the right verbs, etc.) I guzzle coffee and zone out to my iPod. Then I jump in my car, drive to the Art Institute, and teach creative writing and film classes. My students keep me fresh. They won’t let me get away with B.S. When I step into the classroom, I know I’m going to learn something from them, every single day.
Tell us about when you made the decision to write.
Growing up, I was the weird kid who made “novels” out of notebook paper and staples. I used to tape-record my epic narratives, complete with a soundtrack cut-and-pasted from the radio, layered with homemade sound effects (crackling Mylar balloons for rain, etc.) I always knew that I wanted to tell stories.
What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?
Don’t be afraid to mess up. Your first draft is just the beginning. Revision is where the real writing begins.
Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.
More stories about marginal kids who hover on the social fringes (in other words, outsiders looking in). They’re my kind of people.
We look forward to more stories from you, Crissa! Thanks for joining me! You can grab a copy of Crissa’s book at your local bookstore or here.
Crissa-Jean Chappell holds an MFA in screenwriting and an interdisciplinary PhD in film theory, philosophy, and literature. She teaches creative writing and cinema studies at Miami International University of Art and Design. For eight years, she wrote a weekly film column for the Miami Sun Post. Her reviews of art and culture have appeared in magazines such as Film Comment, Tate (London), New Times, Urb, Script, and others. Her short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Confrontation and the Southwest Review. Her debut YA novel, Total Constant Order, was recently published by HarperCollins. It is a Florida Book Award medalist, a VOYA “Perfect Ten,” and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Bio image courtesy of Crissa’s website.
Posted by nisha on Jul 25, 2009 in
Blog
I am totally in love with David Boreanaz. I saw him for the first time as Angel on Buffy and I fell head over heals in love with this guy. I mean, who doesn’t love tall, dark and broody? I find him even more endearing on Bones even though he is no longer broody. Anywho. Here is a wonderful taste of happiness. David Boreanaz!
Posted by nisha on Jul 22, 2009 in
Blog
Today we have author Sarah Darer Littman joining us to answer questions about her writing process. Thank you for joining me today for my Wednesday Writer’s Write series! Lets get started…
What is your brainstorming process for a new book?
It’s been a different process for each book. The one thing they all have in common is that I’ve got a character and a very rough idea of a problem or a situation. In some cases, it’s been a matter of brain dumping ideas onto paper combined with research. I’ve found that sometimes it’s through the research that I get more interesting ideas for the plot. In other cases it’s the plot has been more fully derived from characters themselves, and I’ve done research as I’ve gone along in the writing rather than at the beginning.
It’s extremely irritating for my kids when I’m in the brainstorming stage because I’ll start staring off into space while they’re waiting for me to pass the potatoes as a new idea wafts into my brain.
Can you explain your typical work week day?
After I either get the kids to school or drive the car pool, depending on the day, I try to go the gym for an hour at least three days a week. I find exercising early before I write helps me concentrate better. Plus it makes me feel less guilty for any chocolate I consume later in the day, when I’m stuck on my writing. I come home, shower, and then head down to my Writing Lair in the basement, where I will work (with breaks for letting out the dog, wasting time on Facebook and blogs etc) until my kids come home at 3 and all the after school chauffeuring commences.
Tell us about when you made the decision to write.
I wanted to be a writer when I was in high school, but when I was going to college, my parents asked me how I planned to make a living with an English major. In my house it was all about making money. I ended up with two degrees in things that I’m not particularly interested in (including, believe it or not, an MBA in Finance) and it wasn’t until I was approaching forty and having what I suppose was my mid-life crisis that I decided I didn’t want to be in my nursing house some day thinking “What would have happened if?…” I decided I’d lived enough of my life doing what everyone else wanted me to do, and I had to give myself the opportunity to at least TRY writing, even if I failed. I was thirty eight at the time, and I promised myself a book contract as my 40th birthday present. I got the offer for my first book, CONFESSIONS OF A CLOSET CATHOLIC two months after my 40th birthday.
What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?
Read a lot. The best writers I know are prolific readers. Revise, revise, revise. But above all, get your butt in the chair and WRITE. The more you write, the better you’ll write.
Take courses and workshops. Listen to constructive criticism. We’ve all had to cut lines that we love. Sometimes it’s necessary for the greater good of the story.
If you are writing for children, join the SCBWI.
Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.
I’m in the brainstorming stages (*stares off into space*) so I’m not ready to talk about what I’m working on right now, but my third book will be coming out from Scholastic Press next spring. It’s about love and friendship post-9/11. It’s tentatively titled LIFE, AFTER, but that’s not final yet.
Thank you for joining us, Sarah! We look forward to your future books!
Sarah Darer Littman, writer, mother, and unpaid chauffeur, is a living example of the cliche, “Life Begins at 40.” After spending much of her adult life doing things she didn’t really plan to, including such diverse occupations as financial analyst and farmer’s wife, she at long last found her true calling as a writer. She indulges her adult voice as a columnist for the Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Time newspapers. Sarah lives in Cos Cob, CT with her two children and an adorable Havanese puppy named Benny. You check check out happenings with Sarah at her website.
Tags: sarah darer littman, Writers on Writing
Posted by nisha on Jul 20, 2009 in
Blog
I’m back! I have soooo many things to do but I have to tell you all about the conference first.
I finally uploaded RWA pictures and I didn’t realize how few I had. But, I do believe they are sufficient enough to tell you the story of my wonderful trip. I decided to do a two blog thing on RWA nationals. One will be the recap (what you are reading now) and the second will be author pics (and my crazy fan girl-ness pictures). Okay. Here we go.
The first day we were in D.C. Deanna got gum stuck all over her BMW window. Here is a picture of the gross-ness. 
This is what the room looks like. Aren’t they comfy looking? FABULOUS Marriott beds.
We settled in and explored the hotel after that. This is what the lobby of the Marriott looks like.
This is what the outside of the hotel looks like. It’s actually much bigger than this. I know, crazy, right?
We had dinner and went to bed early. Wednesday, we registered early morning. We had breakfast with Susan Lyons. We ended up catching up with other writer friends for most of the afternoon. Deanna, I, Kat Mancos, Theresa, Sandra, and Liz Bemis had lunch at a Lebanese Restaurant that was soooo good. The service kinda sucked but the food was great!
Then we had the literacy signing. This was the line for it. MAD HOUSE. I could barely see or understand what was going on. There were over 200 writers signing!
This is Deanna and I as we wait in line. Notice the ribbons I have. You can’t see the pink one but it says ‘First Sale’ as I sold my novella to Wild Rose Press. It’s an adult paranormal story that I wrote under the pseudonym ‘Tess Quinn.’ I’ll keep y’all posted.
These are the books I picked up at the signings.
After that, we headed to the Liberty States Fiction Writers Dinner. This is me and Anne Carrole (who writes sexy cowboy stories! Check out her website at annecarrole.com).
This is the table I was sitting at. Deanna is taking the picture. There is another table behind us as well.
The next morning I first met with my YATeenLit group from our Yahoo message board. That was GREAT. What a fab bunch of YA writers! After that, we saw Janet Evonovitch. She was the opening speaker of the conference. I thought she was really funny. She started the whirlwind adventure of workshops that was halted for an hour while we saw Linda Howard speak as the Luncheon speaker. Right after Linda ended, we started up the whole workshop routine again which led to dinner and then the Midnight Madness Bazaar where me and Mitzi Flyte (writing as Maci Carter who’s novella comes out in the fall!) sold night shirts for our Pocono Lehigh Writer’s Group. We sold all but four! After the bazaar I crashed for the night in an exhausted heap.
The next day, Friday, was the continental breakfast in the morning where I met the YA RWA group before heading over to do workshops.
Here are Jayne Ann Krentz and Susan Elizabeth Phillips doing their workshop. It was one of the best ones at the conference.
I went to a bunch of book signings throughout the day. For lunch, we saw Eloisa James speak. Deanna and I then went to more workshops and signings before having dinner with Juli Heaton, Tina Gabrielle, and Monica Liming. We went to Meda Terra where I promptly got sick and had to leave early. Don’t worry. I was all better by Saturday morning, the last day of the conference. I had workshops and signings all day and I even pitched! I met up with MK Mancos and Roni Denholtz for lunch and then had dessert with Deanna, Anne Carrole and GH finalist, Dianne Gerber. The workshops ended and then Deanna and I got ready for the GH and Rita Award ceremony.
Here is a picture of the setup of the award ceremony. Gorgeous, isn’t it?
The GH went by so quickly I didn’t even have a moment to blink! Then, the Rita’s started. Anne Stewart was the MC and she was hysterical.
Rosemary Clements-Moore took home the Rita for best YA book.
Nora Roberts took home the Rita for best book with Romantic Elements.
And Tera Lynn Childs took home the Rita for best first book with ‘Oh.My.Gods.’
Overall, it was a wonderful night and a fabulous ending to the conference. We ended up hanging out with some Jersey girls after the show. We cracked open a bottle of champagne and toasted Dianne for her success in finaling in the GH contest, and we cheered for all of our future success. Come Sunday, Deanna and I parked ourselves in the lobby which was where we could get free internet. We watched Nora Roberts walk by and we even sat with Margie Lawson for a while. Deanna finished her query letter and I finished a news article for a deadline I had. A productive end to a productive conference.
Next year, the conference will be held in Nashville, so Deanna and I don’t know if we’re going to go. I know that we’ll make it if I sell my YA, though, so keep your fingers crossed for me!
Hope you enjoyed my story by pictures! Trust me: it was so much better in person.
<3Nisha
Posted by nisha on Jul 14, 2009 in
Blog
Pictures to come soon!
I just wanted to update you guys and say that RWA has officially started it’s 2009 conference! I am currently at the Marriott Wardman with 20,000 other romance writers that are pouring in by the hour.
Recap: Today, my critique partner Deanna and I reached the hotel around 3:30. In the masses, we managed to check in, head up to our room, and unpack. Deanna brought sooooo much soda and stuff as well as other drinks of the alcohol variety. We toasted with a rum and coke. (Mom, I’m 24 years old. Do not get angry because I had one rum and coke. I’m perfectly legal! And my critique partner is a few years younger than you. Don’t judge!)
I felt like a college kid because we took our plastic cups with our drinks down to the main floor and explored the HUGE hotel. We then had dinner at Harry’s Pub and then headed back to the room where we packed up our laptops and sat in the lobby to do some writing. When my laptop battery died, we went back to the room where we have been ever since. I have done some major plotting and I feel like we are already accomplishing stuff!
Tomorrow: registration, breakfast with author Susan Lyons, trip to downtown D.C., literacy signing, and first timer’s workshop. After which, maybe dinner with a bunch of great friends!
Keep a look out on my twitter for more updates and news as I go! I promise, pictures will be coming soon.
Yeay, RWA09!
Posted by nisha on Jul 8, 2009 in
Blog
Hi Everyone!
I wanted to give away the copy of an arc I have of “Eyes Like Stars” by Lisa Mantchev. It just came out this week and it’s AMAZING. Check out my review of the book on Examiner.com.
I knew I couldn’t just…GIVE it away, though. It’s too good for that! So…I’m having my first official contest! Woohoo!! *cheers* *clapping* *happy sitcom laughter in the background*
The contest starts today and it’ll end August First. I’ll announce the Winner August second. Here’s what you have to do:
“Eyes Like Stars” has a lot to do with the theater. Post a comment about your favorite play or theater moment. What did you go see? Why was it your favorite? Post your story below and I’ll pick one randomly to receive the arc. Once that happens, the winner can send me their mailing address and booya! You get a copy of ELS! At this point, it’s just US or Canada only. Sorry you foreigners, but postage can get pretty pricey.
Fun, right? I thought so.
So let me start (even though I’m not allowed to win).
My favorite theater moment was when I went to see Def Jam SLAM poetry on stage. It wasn’t a play but it was the most powerful performance I had ever witness. These twenty somethings were passionately yelling and screaming these words that were engraved on their souls. It was really amazing. After that night, I went and picked up every DEF JAM cd and book I could get my hands on and I was hooked ever since.
Your turn!
Tags: contest, Eyes Like Stars
Posted by nisha on Jul 8, 2009 in
Blog
Today we have special New York Times Bestselling Author Alyson Noel with us! Her book ‘Blue Moon’ was released yesterday. It’s the second book in her Immortals series and she has recently signed a six book contract for the series. Thanks for joining us, Alyson! Let’s get started.
What is your brainstorming process for a new book?
Well, it’s not a very formal process—it’s more of a fermenting process! I’m always on the lookout for new story ideas, and often steal right from my own life. Though once I decide on a premise, I slowly add to it—deciding on a location, a cast, jotting it all down on scraps of paper as I research whatever needs to be researched, all the while waiting for that first line to come, and when it does, I start writing, and I don’t stop until it’s finished.
Can you explain your typical work week day?
I pretty much write all day, every day. In the mornings I drink green tea, answer e-mails, blog hop, and basically indulge in hours of deep procrastination until I can put it off no longer and start going over the pages I wrote the day before—editing along the way until I reach the end and begin writing new stuff. I pretty much keep at it until it’s time to call it a night and join my husband for dinner.
Tell us about when you made the decision to write.
I knew I wanted to write ever since I read Judy Blume’s, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, in sixth grade. I’d always been an avid reader, but Judy Blume was the first author I’d read who wrote the kind of books that I could directly relate to. But aside from some really bad poetry written in junior high, short stories in high school, and some writing classes over the years, I mostly just talked about writing until the tragic events of 9/11 hit and I was working as a flight attendant in NYC and with the massive pay cuts and early morning bomb checks that ensued, I thought a career change might be in order. So I enrolled in some online writing classes, finished a manuscript I’d started years ago, found an agent, and sold it in a two-book deal to St. Martin’s Press.
What suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?
Well, I wish I had something truly inspiring to say here, some kind of magic bullet, but the truth is, perseverance and a willingness to revise will take you a long way!! Publishing is a tough business, one that is always changing, and the road to publication is often long, bumpy, and riddled with rejection. But if you really want it, you just get keep going. And know that it only takes one “Yes!” to get you where you want to go!
Tell us about what you’re working on right now and what we can expect from you in the near future.
I just finished the third book in the IMMORTALS series, SHADOWLAND, and am about to begin work on the fourth book, which I refer to as UNTITLED BOOK #4—though hopefully we’ll come up with something a little more catchy closer to the pub date!
Wow, I totally can’t wait for more Immortals books! Thanks again for sharing, Alyson. Congrats again on your new release and for stopping by! As for you, readers, you can pick up a copy of ‘Blue Moon’ at your local bookstore or here.
Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times, and USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, CRUEL SUMMER, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)- an anthology, and the IMMORTALS series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON (July 09), SHADOWLAND (Feb 2010), and two more titles for 2010. Her books have won the National Reader’s Choice Award, NYLA Book of Winter Award, NYPL Books for the Teenage, TeenReads Best Books of 2007, Reviewer’s Choice 2007 Top Ten, nominated for YALSA’s Teen’s Top Ten Award, chosen for the CBS Early Show’s “Give the Gift of Reading” segment, and selected for Seventeen Magazine’s “Hot List” and Beach Book Club Pick. She lives in Laguna Beach, CA with her husband.
Tags: Alyson Noel, Writers on Writing
