Adventures in NY (with no pictures)

Last week, I had a whirlwind 24 hours meeting lots of awesome publishing folk. And of course, I took zero pictures commemorating my experience :( Even after I told readers that they should start taking pictures! Still, I had a great day and will try to fill in with some type of pictures.

It all started last Wednesday night, when writer/blogger/publishing guru Dahlia Adler and I met for Crumbs cupcakes. If you've never had the pleasure of eating a Crumbs cupcake, just think of a regular cupcake on steroids. As it always happens whenever I hang out with Dahlia, there's lots of great chitchat but never enough time. Seriously, we talked for an hour but it felt like 10 minutes. It's like that movie Contact.

Yes, we had the largest one. Are you even surprised? (via the Suntimes blog)

The next morning, I traveled down to the Harlequin Teen offices and met my editor Annie. Her office is located in a gorgeous, old building. The lobby is breathtaking. I openly gawked upon entering. The picture below doesn't even do it justice. It's so nice that they have a sign out forbidding sightseers and picture takers. (so I have an excuse this time!)

They don't make em like they used to (via reuters)

I met Annie and the other two Harlequin Teen editors, and they were all such great people, and so excited about THE BREAK-UP ARTIST! It's a good team over there, and I am even more psyched about getting published with this imprint. We chatted about covers and Chicago and--tip for writers--don't forget to number your pages. Throughout my whole trip, I was pleasantly surprised with how nice everyone in YA publishing is. Oh, and I also went home with some H-Teen books :)

Bam! I'm going to start from the bottom up

 Later, I went to lunch with Annie and my agent Becky. I loved listening to them talk about publishing news. We talked about some marketing stuff, and I learned a few secrets about the NYT Bestseller list. Being in my writing corner in Chicago, I sometimes forget that there's a whole publishing business going on. After lunch, Becky and I got some coffee/tea and talked writing and future goals before I zipped uptown to my next meeting.

With YA author extraordinare Kody Keplinger.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this: she is THE COOLEST. I don't know where the time went, but we talked and talked for like two hours about important issues like Awkward, The View, No Strings Attached vs Friends With Benefits, and a smidgeon about publishing. I was nervous about meeting her, in case she was like that obnoxious old author in The Fault in Our Stars. But she wasn't. She was so friendly and down-to-Earth.

These are her books. Read them. Now. (p.s. Doesn't the Shut Out girl look like Liv Tyler?)

Finally, I rushed up to meet some OneFour authors -- Michelle Shusterman, Lauren Magaziner, and Rebecca Behrens. Yes, I was the token YAer in the group of MGers. And I was terribly late! But it was all good, and we chatted over nachos and waffle cheese fries. Being able to talk about publishing jitters with other debuts was refreshing, knowing that you're in the same boat. And we also discussed quitting Facebook one day. Maybe. Possibly. Probably Not.

When I got on the bus back to NJ, I was beyond worn out, but also couldn't sit still. I had a wonderful day, and like I said before, YA publishing is filled with the nicest, friendliest, my-kind-of people.

And next time, I'll promise I'll take lots of annoying selfies.

Trunked Novels

It was recently announced that actor Jason Segel is going to be the latest celebrity to write a YA novel. What's interesting is that he's basing it on an unproduced screenplay he wrote when he was 21. I wonder how many authors, once they get published, return to trunked novels and ideas and try to make them shine.

From one Siegel/Segel to another, good luck! (photo via imdb.com)

I'm sure authors have been tempted. Your publisher is asking for a second novel in half the time you wrote the first one. And oh, look. Here's this completed novel that was subpar when I first wrote it, but that was before someone considered my work publishable. A little read-through and some spackle, and tada -- shiny new manuscript. Right?

Should trunked novels stay trunked?

There's a reason why a novel was trunked, and it wasn't because you had to get published first. Nobody wins by you trying to prove that everything you've ever written is worthy of getting published. I have two trunked novels. The first one is near and dear to my heart, and I gave up on it after four drafts. I always loved the writing in it, but something wasn't clicking storywise. I'll admit, though, once THE BREAK-UP ARTIST sold, I seriously considered polishing it up and sending it off to my agent. I even had a writer friend read it and give me notes -- notes that were nearly identical to the feedback I'd received years ago.

That's when I realized that this novel wasn't a failure. It was a moment in time, a point on my journey as a writer. The problems I saw in this novel I've since overcome on my next books. When I look back on my two trunked novels, I don't see failure. I see progress. I pinpointed where those books floundered and applied that moving forward. Trying to fix them up and make them publishable would diminish their value. You don't need to validate your trunked novels, your aborted attempts, your former SNI's. If you can learn and grow from those experiences, then they are all successes.

Don't go backward. Keep moving forward. If you want to have a career as a writer, you'll need to develop new ideas. If you are *seriously* attached to an old story, don't salvage the old manuscript. Use the idea and redraft from scratch. Make it your own, for the improved, wiser you.

Do you try to rework trunked novels? Have you recycled old ideas?

Five Things I like about Quentin Tarantino Films

If there are books or movies or shows that I really love, why NOT tell the world the few people who stop by this blog about them? Instead of giving a whole drawn-out review, though, I'm just going to list 5 Things I liked. It's more interesting for me to learn why somebody liked someone rather then that they just liked it.

So last time, it was a book. Now, I'm going to share my love for one of my favorite screenwriters, Quentin Tarantino, who recently won his second Oscar for best original screenplay for awesome, rollicking Django Unchained. I love movies that have a distinct voice, ones that only could've been made by this one person. It's crazy to think that Pulp Fiction is almost twenty years old. But since then, Tarantino has continued to turn out great work. There are endless articles about his style and work why it changed cinema. Google it. For now, I'll talk about five things I personally love about this writing, and how it helped me:

(from Wikipedia)

1) Dialogue serves a purpose: His dialogue is pop poetry. Characters speak in this articulate, cooler-than-cool fashion where long stretches of witty banter bounces between them like balls in a pinball machine. Most movies try to have as little dialogue as possible -- more action -- but Tarantino breaks the rules, and yet his films still work. The long conversation Vincent and Jules have in Pulp Fiction isn't just about the Royale with Cheese; it reveals all you need to know about the characters -- Vincent plays by the rules (which will be his downfall), while Jules is starting to question them. There've been SO many imitators (basically 80% of all indie films in the 90s, e.g. this one or this one), but nobody can come close to matching his way with words. And that's because...

2) The simmering tension: What makes QT's long, dialogue-filled scenes so watchable isn't just the dialogue. There's always tension bubbling just under the surface. Characters speak calmly, eloquently, while crap is waiting to hit the fan at any moment. Think of the opening scene in Inglorious Basterds where Nazi Hans Linda is chatting with a farmer. It's a long scene of two men talking at a dinner table, but what makes it so watchable and suspenseful is knowing that just under the floorboards are Jews hiding. What's important is that his scenes are never just two people talking; there's always subtext. 

3) The Images: In such talky films, QT still manages to present images that stick with you. Think the final shot of Basterds or the needle scene in Pulp Fiction or even the costumes worn by Django, the Bride, and Vincent Vega. It's images and moments that stay with you.

4) The over-the-top, humorous violence: QT's movies are violent, but it's all over-the-top and comical. He finds the humor in the bloody, which can be hard to do. Movie violence is a touchy subject currently, but his violence doesn't try to be realistic; it just acknowledges cinema's brutal lineage. He takes what should be serious scenes, and finds a way to turn them on their head. Think of poor Marvin getting shot accidentally in Pulp Fiction, the ear-cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs, or the blood-soaked final acts of Kill Bill 1 and Django.

5) How he changed movies: Yes, I did state above that there are plenty of article on this, but I'll join the chorus. Pulp Fiction made indie cinema mainstream, started the trend of movie stars going indie for awards cred, helped usher in irony to the 90s. And if you like your Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games films being split into 2 parts, then thank Kill Bill for that.

What are your thoughts on QT's films?

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I'm it!

I've been tagged by the amazing SJ Kincaid to participate in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop and answer a few Q's about my book. Check out the answers below:

1. What is the working title of your book?
THE BREAK-UP ARTIST

2. Where did the idea come from?
So much of YA contains intense, all-encompassing romances, and I wanted to write something that turns those relationships on their head.

On a personal level, the further I got into my 20s, the more I saw friends and acquaintances jump into relationships for all the wrong reasons and refuse to see the red flags. I usually kept my mouth shut. That's what you do in those situations, because most people won't listen to you; they would just get offended. I wanted to create a character who was surrounded by that but on a magnified level and see how she would react.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
YA contemporary comedy (is anti-rom-com a genre?)

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I would have Tilda Swinton play every role. 

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A girl who runs a secret business breaking up couples at her school is tasked with splitting up the seemingly perfect homecoming couple, while also fighting back feelings for her best friend's boyfriend.

6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
It will be published May 2014 by Harlequin Teen books.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
About four months of actual writing. But before that, I got to know my characters and crafted a plot outline.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Tonally, it's very much line with contemporary comedies like ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and SPANKING SHAKESPEARE -- books that aren't just "light," but can make you actually laugh.

I consider the book most akin to THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger. Jaded-but-complex protagonist, no swooning romance, lots of witty banter.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
See question 1. Also, I was inspired by one of my favorite movies - MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING. The main character is anti-romance until she falls for her best friend on the eve of his wedding and schemes to win him back. I've seen that movie about 100 times, and Julianne Potter is one of the best rom-com heroines hands down.

*cough* It's on Netflix streaming *cough*

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
It's the perfect palate cleanser if you've been binging on dystopian thriller romances. THE BREAK-UP ARTIST is funny, chock full of great one-liners. (Not Dowager Countess or HAPPY ENDINGS great, but close) I promise. Sorta.

As the final part of the bloghop, I'm tagging two other fabulous writers with books releasing in 2014. Check out their posts next Wednesday!

A. Lynden Rolland - author of OF BREAKABLE THINGS
Kristi Helvig - author of BURN OUT

Five Things I Liked About Anna and the French Kiss

I want to try something new on the blog: a recurring series. I've considered them in the past, but I kinda figured I'd never keep up with them. Until now! I've resisted posting reviews on my blog because a) I hated doing book reports in school. Why start again now? and b) I would never give a negative review in public. (disclaimer: yes, I did review one movie on the blog eons ago. It's a great movie, and you should see it.) However, if there are books or movies or shows that I really love, why NOT tell the world the few people who stop by this blog about them? Instead of giving a whole drawn-out review, though, I'm just going to list 5 Things I liked. It's more interesting for me to learn why somebody liked someone rather then that they just liked it.

I'll start this series with a recent favorite: Anna and the French Kiss. Lots of people have read it and loved it. And for a great take on this book, check out Real Man Read YA's review. I was hesitant to read Anna because I'm not a romance fan, and because I assumed it was about an impossibly beautiful girl who frolics around in Paris with an impossibly beautiful boy and they lived impossibly happily ever after.

But I. Was. Wrong. 

As soon as I began reading it, I realized why so many had fallen in love with the book. Here are 5 Things I liked about Anna:

1) Etienne was short: He was not impossibly beautiful. Have you ever read books where the male love interest has no personality except for being hot? That's what I was expecting here. So it was such a pleasant surprise when Etienne turned out to be short and pasty. He was still good looking, but in a normal, earthbound way. He had flaws. He was a mere mortal real person with a real personality. The most attractive part of him was his charm.

2) Anna's a movie buff: And she has great taste in movies! She mentions Rushmore, one of my favorite movies, and Lost in Translation, which is a gem. I wish I could go to those old movie houses she frequented in Paris. When I studied abroad, I'd go to the movies out of homesickness, but the theater by me was a multiplex (which did make me feel at home).

3) Anna's circle of friends: The fivesome had a great group dynamic. They all had chemistry with each other and read like a genuine group of friends, with their teasing and banter. Perkins writes authentic, funny dialogue.

4) Nobody kissed at the Eiffel Tower: In a book that takes place in Paris, I was waiting for it - and waiting to roll my eyes. The Eiffel Tower is the most overused landmark in stories. But nobody kissed here. In fact, Anna only went to the Eiffel Tower once, and very briefly. We got to see other landmarks, which was refreshing.

5) The kiss: Yeah, it was pretty hot.

What say you, readers? Have you read this book? What did you like most (or hate)?

My First Author Interview

Check out this in-depth interview I did on Kristin Lynn Thetford's blog, where I discuss:
-Querying
-Gossip Girl
-How I came to write YA
-and I even threw in a Clueless quote, too!

Changing My Weekend Routine

First off: I am now a member of the OneFour KidLit blog for 2014 YA/MG debuts. Come check us out here.

I can't believe it's Monday again. It's not that this weekend went by so fast. They usually do. But lately, I feel like I can never get what I want accomplished. Friday night, I make my to-do list, and once I get all my usual weekend errands done, I'm either too exhausted to write or I just don't have time for it. I used to be annoyed that I wasn't writing enough, but I think the problem goes deeper than that.

I once blogged about how my writing suffered from the SIFS, the Save It For Sundays. I've learned to set manageable writing expectations for the weekend. (I'm no Taryn Albright, unfortunately.) Yet even those aren't being met. After this weekend, I realized that my non-writing life has been infected with the SIFS. I make big to-do lists, and it's usually the same culprits: grocery shop (I shop at multiple stores), gym, clean the apartment, call my family, make my lunches for the week. I work full-time, and so I always feel too tired on weeknights to do anything. I know I'll have more energy to do EVERYTHING come Saturday. Every Friday, I never believe those regular errands will take long, and that I'll have loads of time to write. And every Sunday, I am proven wrong.

So new goal! From now on, I will try to check off some items of my weekly to-do list during the week. I can push myself to do a little when I get off work. A little grocery shopping, a little cleaning, a little phone time, and other items that need to be done. That way, I'll have more time -- and more importantly, more energy -- on the weekend to write.

Any routines you're looking to switch up?