Writing lessons learned from THE MAZE RUNNER

All three of our sons have read and loved THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner. One of my 13-year-olds pestered me about reading this book until I finally relented. I'll admit, it took me a few chapters to get into the story. But once I did? I blew through it.

This author did so many things right, but I'll focus on my favorite writing lessons. (Alert! Read no further if you haven't read this book yet and don't want to know any plot points)

• Reader and main character question the story world together: Thomas, the main character, had no idea where he was or why he was sent there. He didn't know how old he was. He questioned everything because he was curious. I was curious, too.
• If you're using story slang, keep it to a minimum: this story had a few unique words--Greenie, shank, shuck-face, klunk. The author did a good job of repeating these few words without overwhelming the reader.
• Groundhog Day: Thomas' memory had been wiped, yet he kept feeling as if he'd been in the maze before. Most of his new life was new and unfamiliar, but then he saw or felt something and knew it wasn't the first time. I was intrigued, and wondered what the backstory was.
• Mysteries within mysteries: Another kid accused Thomas of being a traitor...of being responsible for their predicament. Was it possible Thomas was a bad guy in disguise? A mystery within a mystery. I wanted to know more!
• Avoid confusion: a girl arrived in "the box," with a note saying she's the last one. At first I thought it meant she was the last girl, but then learned otherwise. A couple of words would've clarified that point.
• Necessary world: with a grand story like this, I'd imagine the author could've gotten carried away with world details. But Dashner did a great job of only sprinkling in necessary details when they were important. By spoon feeding world to the reader, it wasn't overwhelming. It was a great blend of action, world, and dialog.
• End book one with something new: without giving too much away, I know that Book 2 will be in an entirely new setting. It'll include some of the characters I'd come to know, but it'll be infused with new characters who showed up at the end of Book 1. Really smart. 

My son was glad to know I'd be moving on to Book Two of the series. I'm sure I'll learn from that book as well! Side benefit: chatting about books with my boys. #win

Have you read this book or the series? What do you think of these writing lessons? And if you write fantasy, dystopian or paranormal, do you sometimes get bogged down in world details? How do you avoid that?

Interview With Author C. Lee McKenzie

Today, the lovely C. Lee McKenzie is here to answer a few questions about her writing experience, and to fill us in on her latest book publication, Alligators Overhead.

A hundred years ago the Hadley mansion vanished. Now it's back, and Pete Riley, the town rascal, is in trouble! When his aunt disappears and the Ornofree alligators threaten war, it's up to Pete to save his aunt and stop that war. But how? (Check out the fun trailer at the bottom of this post)

And now, heeeeere's Lee!

1. Lee, from idea to final product, how did Alligators Overhead come to be?

I've been carrying around this title in my head for years. All I needed was a story to go with it, and lucky for me one sought me out. I've been meaning to write something with "magick" and a touch of spookiness that would appeal to kids. So when Pete Riley popped into my awareness along with his sidekick, Weasel, I was ecstatic. All I needed to do was figure out how to fly a few alligators and make readers suspend their disbelief enough to enjoy the idea. So with this book I kind of worked backwards. Title first. Characters second. Plot last.

2. Can you give us a brief summary of your writing process? Plotter? Pantser? Somewhere in between?

Mostly I'm an in between, I guess. I start with an idea that's about as solid as Jello before it goes into the fridge, and then I work on creating a single sentence (or two) that gives me a "Through Line." That way I have a guide while I'm writing. I put that sentence in the header and adjust the story or the sentence(s) as needed. Sometimes I write the end first, then work my way to it. Other times I write scenes that I want in the book and connect them up. It's always a surprising process and it's never the same for any book.

3. You independently published Alligators Overhead through Outskirts Press. Can you tell us a bit about this experience?

I've been traditionally published by a small press two times. It was less work, I can tell you, than doing it all by yourself. Of course, Alligators Overhead is my first experience with Indie Publishing, so maybe next time will be easier. I hope so. I like the control I have as an Independent, and I'm scared to death I'm making all kinds of mistakes, so you can see where I am most of the time: elated with success, then miserable with self-doubt.

4. Can you offer us any advice about book promotion? What's working for you and what isn't?

So far I'm totally impressed and quite possibly in love with Mark Coker at Smashwords. I like his approach to do-it-yourself publishing and his Style Guide was a great help. I'm published there as well as on Amazon and B & N, but I have't passed the second phase for Premium Status yet. I'm hoping it won't be long or that I won't have a lot more code issues to resolve.

I like Facebook and Twitter and Goodreads, so I focus on those. Of course, I'm a Moderator at YAlitchat and that group is very supportive of their writers, so I use that as well. The bloggers are wonderful and I think they are excellent at spreading the word about new books. Besides so many have become online friends, so I feel very comfortable "talking" to them about my books. 

I stopped thinking about printing and giving away bookmarks. I know a lot of people prefer paper books, but so many are turning to eBooks that I didn't see the point in spending money on anything involving printing and mailing. Besides, I think my sales will be mostly digital anyway.

5. Is there any writing or publishing advice you'd like to share with us?

Take vitamins and try to get good sleep. This is not a job for those without energy. If you're depressed, take a walk or stand on your head. Those two things seem to help me through slumps. You aren't alone and that's a good thing as well as a bad one. You have all kinds of support out there if you ask, but you have all kinds of competition, too. Be prepared for a long haul and, above all, keep your sense of humor.

Excellent advice, right? Big thanks to C. Lee McKenzie for stopping by and sharing her wisdom with us. She's kindly giving away to copies of Alligators Overhead. Simply leave a comment, and we'll draw two winners at random.

Tell us...how does your writing process compare to Lee's? Have you ever had the title first, characters second, and plot last?

Alligators Overhead is available at...

Smashwords
Amazon
Barns & Noble

Visit C. Lee McKenzie at...

Facebook
Twitter
And her website

C. Lee is a writer who captures the pulse of adolescent confusion in her Young Adult fiction, Sliding on the Edge and The Princess of Las Pulgas. She admits to revealing a lot of her Old Adult confusion while doing that. Alligators Overhead is her first Middle Grade novel. She lives in California with her husband and assorted animals at the edge of a redwood forest.

Interview With Author Laurisa White Reyes

Friends, I have a special treat for you. The Rock of Ivanore, by Laurisa White Reyes, releases today, and Laurisa has stopped by to answer a few questions about her creative process, her writing journey, and publishing with a small press.

But first, about The Rock of Ivanore:

Marcus, a young enchanter's apprentice, can't seem to do anything right. Every time he casts a spell, he botches it. When he's sent on a quest to find the mysterious Rock of Ivanore, he must delve deep within himself for the skills and the courage to face the dangers that await him. 

Now, are you ready for two scoops of awesome? Here goes:

1. From idea to final product, how did The Rock of Ivanore come to be?

After spending more than a decade writing for magazines and newspapers, I decided it was finally time to live my dream and write novels. My oldest son was eight years old at the time and I would tell him bedtime stories. One story was about an enchanter's apprentice who bungled his magic spells. Each night my son would tell me what he wanted to hear, be it dragons or battles or magic, and I would weave those elements into the story. Eventually I started writing it down. That was six years ago.

2. Can you give us a brief summary of your writing process? Plotter? Pantser? Somewhere in between?

I am, for the most part, a plotter. I've actually written eleven books in the past six years and I spent months outlining each one before beginning the writing process. Well, with one exception. But usually I start out by writing a 3-10 page summary of a story that is bouncing around in my head. Then I outline it into parts, and then into individual chapters and scenes. I always know how I want a book to end before I even write the first word. 

3. The Rock of Ivanore is published by Tanglewood Press. Can you tell us a bit about your experience with a small publisher?

I can't really compare my experience at Tanglewood to any other publisher since this is my first book. But I have been able to work closely with Peggy Tierney, my publisher, through the whole process. She included me on selecting the cover artist and image and has stayed in close communication with me all along the way. We often email back and forth about things that have nothing to do with publishing. We've become friends. And best of all, because she is so selective about the books she publishes, she is my greatest advocate. I am in very good hands at Tanglewood.

4. Can you offer us any advice about book promotion? What's working for you and what isn't?

I do feel like a fish out of water in that area. But with the team at Tanglewood and the guidance of some fellow authors who have paved the way before me, I'm figuring it out. What is working is my blog and newsletter. I try to keep people informed about my book's progress. Connecting with other bloggers is a lot of fun and a great way to reach people. What hasn't worked...I learned that there is a big difference between the YA market and the middle grade market, especially online.

5. Is there any writing or publishing advice you'd like to share with us?

Don't give up. That's the advice Jay Asher gave me (and everyone else) at an SCBWI event several years ago. He waited many years before publishing Thirteen Reasons Why, which is now a huge success. I heeded his advice and kept going even when I was very discouraged. So I think if your passion is writing, don't let anything dissuade you. My personal motto is: Aim High. Dream Big.

I love that motto, don't you guys? Thanks so much, Laurisa. It's fun to learn about other writers and their journey to publication.

Friends, how does your creative process compare to Laurisa's? And where are you on your publishing journey? Please share!

Don't quit--your future readers NEED you!

We all get discouraged. Our first drafts are birdcage-worthy, and rejections pile up. Successes rain down from the sky, and sometimes we feel like we're standing in the only dry spot. It's times like these that cause many writers to quit.

My advice? DON'T QUIT!

In my opinion, the biggest fault with quitting is that you'd be giving up on yourself. We've all heard the quote "the only difference between the published writer and the unpublished writer is perseverance."

You know who else loses if you quit? Your future readers. If they're giving up precious time and money to buy books, don't they deserve the best? Aren't they worth the scrutiny and hard work?

Imagine this:

Picture Book Authors--Your reader grabs your book from the shelf and then settles into her mom's lap. She memorizes your words, and turns the worn pages herself. She learns about friendship, family, and acceptance in a joyful way because you didn't give up.

Middle Grade Authors--Your reader struggles through an awkward time. Her body and her life are changing faster than she can register. She's still wearing braces, and she's taller than the guy she's crushing on. Her hair and clothes aren't like the other girls', and she wants nothing more than to fit in. She clings to your character like a good friend, because you didn't give up.

Young Adult Authors--Your reader stands on the creaky bridge between childhood and adulthood. She's hanging on for dear life, because drama is all around her. Family troubles plague her. At school, she feels like she's "in" one day and "out" the next, and she knows that one wrong move can ruin her reputation. She can be bullied on Facebook, and each text she sends could be forwarded to a wide audience. She'll read your book and know that she's not alone, because you didn't give up.

Adult Authors--Your reader is stressed out and needs escape. Work is crazy. Traffic on the freeway tightens the screws on her neck. Bills to pay, kids to shuttle, house to clean. When she steals a moment away, she'll sink in a bubble bath and wet the pages of your book, lost in thought. She'll drag your book to soccer practice, or listen to it on tape while commuting. Late at night, your book will rest in her lap while she waits for her teen to come home, because you didn't give up.

When times are tough, don't be discouraged, be inspired. And think of your readers. They don't want you to quit. They need you.

Do you ever get discouraged? If so, how do you handle it? And do you imagine your readers, and what they'll think of your book? If you're published, do you imagine who's reading your book, and where they're toting it around to?

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Dude! Details from a skate park!

Last week I took our three sons to the skate park. It was a gorgeous So Cal day, and while the boys did their thing on the ramps and half-pipes, I sat with my trusty spiral notebook and jotted down setting details. If you write for middle graders or young adults, these scene details may come in handy. Here are some of my observations:

The Setting

• Standard skate park environment--cement bowl, half-pipe, and ramps of various pitches. Metal staircase poles. A brown wooden bridge with blue and green flags flying at the corners.
• Chunks of cement chipped out of the bowl's edges.
• Palm trees planted near the bridge, fronds swaying in the gentle breeze.
• 20' x 20' shades placed intermittently along the surrounding sidewalk.
• Traffic noise from the nearby road--trucks and small cars.

The Toys

• Wooden skateboards, BMX-style bikes, and in-line skates.
• Most kids wore helmets. Adults did not. Some kids wore their helmets unbuckled, the straps hanging free.

The People

• Mostly kids, from around six years old to older teens.
• Two adults on skateboards--one with a shaved head, wearing denim shorts and a white T; the other had thinning longer hair, and he wore an unbuttoned shirt, corduroy pants, and mirrored sunglasses.
• Most kids rode with one eye on their own path, and another eye on what the other kids were doing (tricks, etc.)
• Some kids sat over the edge of the bowl, legs dangling, baseball caps on backwards, iPod buds in their ears.
• Two teen girls were there, but not on a "ride." They ran up and down the half-pipe.
• One older teen had a tattooed "ring" on his ring finger, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Plenty of F-bombs dropped by some teens--young and old.
• Standard uniform was skinny jeans and graphic T's.
• Cringe-worthy crashes (including my sons).
• Sounds of crashes differed, based on the toy. Scooters--silent glide and then metal scraping. BMX bikes--squealing tires, then rubber thumping, and then metal scraping. Skateboards--a whoosh, then wood scraping, and then a thunk as it flipped.

Have you ever visited a skate park? If so, did these scene details sound familiar? And do you ever jot down scene details when you're out and about?

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