YA Author Stacey Kade

Ack! Sorry, I’ve missed the last few Wednesdays. My birthday was in there, as was an out-of-town visit and one week of sickness.

But I’m better now (and older), so back to our regularly scheduled blog!

One of the questions I’m asked most often is, where do you get your ideas?

And honestly, I still don’t have a good answer. I’m sure it’s a combination of life experiences, plus things I’ve read, seen, heard, etc. and a flash of something other that binds them all together in some new way.

All I know for sure is that I love it when new ideas whisper in my ear. And yes, that’s usually the way it happens. Someone new appears on scene to tell me some little snippet about themselves or their situation.

The hardest part for me always is figuring out WHICH idea to pursue. Some of these have been hanging around, waiting in the wings, for literally years. Something about them calls to me, or else they wouldn’t still be in the idea file. (I have both paper and electronic files labled “Ideas.”)

I found this in an article on CNN today, which I found interesting:

“In an interview with Betsy Morris of Fortune, Steve Jobs offered an interesting and, typically, upside-down perspective on focus: ‘People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the 100 other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the many things we haven’t done as the things we have done.’”

Lately I’ve been preoccupied with the concept of finding the “right” idea. I think I’ve always thought that some story ideas are more complete, more functional than others. Or, that others are flawed from the get-go, despite their many appealing qualities, and no matter how much work or time or effort you put into them, they are doomed from the start.

It makes me anxious to think like that because then it feels a bit like gambling when you have to choose what next to work on. You have to bet on the right horse, or you’ll end up broke (i.e. 150 pages in and no story, or worse, a story you hate.)

And that may be partially true…some ideas may be more complete than others from the beginning. But better? I don’t know. Mind you, I’m not talking about their sale-ability or their potential for bestseller-dom, merely an idea’s potential for becoming a complete and functional story.

The more I think about this, the more I wonder if it’s less about the idea and more about me. The theory that some ideas are “better” than others seems kind of flawed (aside from obvious technique issues or marketing/sales impracticalities–like a love story with zombies or something, but I bet someone will find a way to make even that work).

I’ve read so many books that took delightfully unusual concepts–ones that people would say, “Oh, that’ll never work,” and executed them brilliantly. Others that have taken tried-and-true stories and flipped them upside down in some way for a fresh perspective.

I’m beginning to wonder if the x-factor is author interest/commitment. For me, some ideas require more development to turn them from a little kernel into a full blown…uh, whatever a kernel becomes. Ear of corn? Popcorn?

And sometimes in that development process, I get wishy-washy. I like these people, but if I don’t know their story, I’m floundering. Sometimes, to make them part of a story, I have to change things about them or their situation. And then…all of a sudden the developing story isn’t as interesting to me as the kernel was. Or maybe there are too many choices and the process of figuring it out suddenly seems overwhelming and not fun.

Fun. I seriously do think that’s the key. I write because I love it, because it’s fun for me. Not all the time, not every day, and it’s a LOT of hard work, but there are certainly more good days than bad. Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it. Nobody would.

And I have to know enough about the characters and where the story is going to be able to relax enough to have fun.

So maybe that’s the litmus test I’ve been looking for. Not is this the “right” idea…but will it be fun? Am I excited about seeing these scenes play out on paper? Do I know enough about this story that I’ll enjoy seeing it come to life? Or is it more of a vague notion than an idea?

Hmmm. It’s something worth thinking about, at least.

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Random Stuff:
–Liar by Justine Larbalestier is fascinating and unsettling. I highly recommend it, but you should come to it with no expectations (or spoilers). Seriously. I finished it two days ago and I’m STILL thinking about it.

–I CANNOT wait for “V” to start next week! November 3 on ABC, people!

–I am SO enjoying my Kindle, which I got for my birthday. I’ll be writing up my experiences about it probably for next week. I have the most fun downloading the free samples to my Kindle and reading them on the couch. It is DANGEROUS, you guys, how easy it is to buy books this way.

I missed my blog post the other day! So, to make up for it, I’m posting today. I created the following as a handout for my talk at Barrington High School. Thought others might find it interesting as well.

Top 10 Myths about Being an Author

1. Professional authors get the story right in the first draft, leaving only minor grammatical errors to be addressed in a second draft.

False. Oh, I wish this one was true, but no. Most of us survive by writing really crappy first drafts and then making them better in second, third and fourth—or more—drafts. Otherwise, the pressure to be perfect is too much, and we won’t write anything at all.

2. You have to know someone in the industry to get your book published.

False…sort of. Some people work for years with their agent and editor without having ever met them in person. They sent their manuscript in, and the agent/editor fell in love. However, in my experience, most people find it a HUGE help to have contacts. Getting out and meeting other writers, agents and editors at conferences can make a big difference. I’ve reached this point in my career primarily because of one person: my mentor, Linnea Sinclair.

3. Once you’ve sold a book, you’ve got it made. Watch for the money to start rolling in.

Uh, false. With the exception of J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Stephen King, etc., most of us are not millionaires. Not even close. You have to write because you love it. If money follows, that’s even better.

4. If vampires are really hot right now, you should write about vampires.

False. You do need to pay attention to the market—what kind of books are selling well—but that should not be your sole consideration. The books on the shelves now were bought by publishers a year ago or more. A trend that was hot then may not be hot now. Also, writers are more passionate about stories and characters that truly interest and engage them. That passion will show through to the agents and editors reviewing your work. So, don’t write vampires just to write vampires. Write the story that speaks to you.

5. The key to being a successful writer is practicing self-discipline and being persistent.

True! There’s an old saying in the “industry” that goes something like this: What’s the difference between an unpublished author and a published one? Persistence. The one who is published just didn’t give up. Self-discipline is all about BICHOK—Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard—even when you don’t feel like it.

6. Writing is an art and a business.

True. What this means for you—you need to write a story that YOU love, but you must also understand that getting it published and on the shelf is a BUSINESS. That means, you have to keep in mind what makes a book saleable, what publishers (editors, specifically) are seeking, and that your artistic vision is subject to bottom line considerations (i.e. making money).

So, if it’s the book of your heart, write your 400,000 word romance novel set on Mars with a rotting zombie as the hero. But be prepared for a bit of an uphill battle when it comes to getting it published. (Love scenes with a zombie=ewww!) That being said, if it’s good, really good, someone will be interested.

7. Once you’ve written the book, your job as the author is finished.
Nope, not even close to true. Aside from the various rounds of edits and copy edits from your editor and copy editor, you also have to be thinking about cover concepts (if you want to have input on your cover, and trust me, you do), promotional items, websites, signings, contests, reviews, getting the word of mouth started. Your next book deal may depend on how well your previous book sells.

8. All successful authors outline their stories ahead of time.

False. This is one of the most fiercely debated topics in the writing community. Plotters vs. Pantsers. There are people who outline every single scene, and others who start off with nothing more than an idea. Typically, even “pantsers” have a vision of the end to help guide them. And plotters admit that sometimes the story doesn’t quite unfold as they envisioned it in outline form and they have to remain open to changes as the story progresses.

As a former “pantser,” I must admit my methods have changed. With contracts and deadlines a part of my writing life now, I’m much more apt to sketch out a vague idea of who everyone is, what they want, and why they want it before I jump in with both feet.

9. You need to be older before you can become an author.

False! There are many young authors out there. Christopher Paolini became a NY-Times Bestselling author at 19, and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes published her first novel at 14.

10. To be a successful writer, you need to read a lot.

True. I’ve heard rumors of writers who manage to write without reading, but I’ve never met one. And I’ve met lots of writers. One hopes you’re inspired to write stories because you enjoy reading them. Like a musician learning to play by ear, a writer learns to write by reading. Some of this happens on a subconscious level. As you start to write, you’ll draw on this subconscious knowledge. You’ll know when your story takes a wrong turn, even if you don’t know why. It’s like hearing a wrong note in a song. Consciously analyzing and picking apart a well-written story (i.e. one you enjoyed or made you feel something) is also a useful exercise. Why does a certain story or character work? How did the author make you care about what happens?