Category Archives: writing

Book Review: Gender Blender

I was really slow getting on the Blake Nelson train. I just read Paranoid Park last year. Didn’t even know it had been a movie. Still haven’t seen that, but I was in love his writing from the start. When I think of edgy YA fiction, I think of Paranoid Park. That book was dark,Continue reading “Book Review: Gender Blender”

Response To: A Question of Character

Over break, one of my college friends tweeted me this link to a snippet from an interview with Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, regarding character and likability in literature. Go ahead and click over and read it. It’s short. And it should open in a new tab so you can easily come back when youContinue reading “Response To: A Question of Character”

The Hunger Games series: Why It Worked (For Me)

I’ve been trying to write a blog post about this series for over a week now. The problem is a) my YA author friends have all read this and are probably exhausted from so many posts concerning this series and really what could I possibly have to say that hasn’t been said, while b) myContinue reading “The Hunger Games series: Why It Worked (For Me)”

How To Plot A Novel

When I started writing young adult books, I found this information over at CJ Omololu’s blog, and put it into the form of a chart. It helps me visually see how elements in each box should connect. This is very basically how I plot a novel. And the only kind of outline I’ve ever used.Continue reading “How To Plot A Novel”

Book Review: Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour

I’m not a huge fan of books that are paced as slowly as this. There was nothing wrong with its pace, so the fact that I wished it would hurry along a little has virtually nothing to do with the book’s quality. I also kept thinking, I bet Morgan Matson is a fan of SarahContinue reading “Book Review: Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour”

A World Made of Pink Bubble Gum

When I was a little girl I would use my birthday wishes to try and turn the world into a place where everything was made of pink bubble gum. If it eventually happens, you know who to blame. I’m not too worried though. But, I was thinking about that and comparing it to how myContinue reading “A World Made of Pink Bubble Gum”

Book Review: An Off Year

It’s possible that I gave this a five star rating because it has one of the best covers I’ve ever seen. But, I think it’s more than that. Do you ever feel like you belong to a book instead of it belonging to you? That’s how I felt when I read this book. And thoughContinue reading “Book Review: An Off Year”

If My Life Were A Book Cover (3)

I love orange. Sometimes it’s my favorite color. Something about it signals the bright part of change. And for me, change is once again in the air. My literary agent and I have decided to part ways. Perhaps I was a naive young writer to believe that we would be together forever. And the businessContinue reading “If My Life Were A Book Cover (3)”

Writing Young Adult Books: Q and A (1)

On occasion, I receive emails with questions about writing young adult books. It makes me feel a little bit like an expert in my field, which is sort of flattering. And while I don’t have so much as an inkling about the world of publishing, I do know a little bit about the craft ofContinue reading “Writing Young Adult Books: Q and A (1)”