Writing Process Blog Tour

I was tagged in the Writing Process Blog Tour by Kelly Jones, author of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (coming from Knopf in 2015).

Here are my answers:

What am I currently working on?

Hmmm. I’m currently working on a YA novel set in Norfolk, UK in 1936.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My debut novel, 5 TO 1, kind of crosses genres and this one does too. It is a lot like Historical Fiction, except that I’ve changed certain elements of history so I suppose that makes it Alternate History. With both of my books, I started with the idea of asking, “What if X changed?” For 5 TO 1, I wrote about how this would make the future of India different and for my current novel, I’m writing about how this would change the past.

Both of my novels are half verse, half prose told in two alternating POVs.

Why do I write what I write?

I wrote several novels of several different genres before I wrote and sold my debut novel. In the end, my debut ended up being a combination of them which turns out to be what works best for me. I love writing verse, but I also love writing prose, and so being able to do both in one story is perfect for me. Also, I’ve discovered that I like using settings that require a lot of research which is strange because that is kind of like saying you LIKE doing homework!

How does my individual writing process work?

I usually come up with the idea first, which for me, is often the concept plus setting. Once I have that, I write a full synopsis of the idea so I can see if it works. Then I break that synopsis up into chapters and start writing.

I rarely write in order. Sometimes, I write one whole POV first and then start the next. Sometimes, I write the beginnings of both and then the ends. Basically, I write whatever scene I am in the mood to write. My first drafts are crazy short so I do a lot of revising.


So that’s me. I’m tagging two more authors who’ll be sharing their answers with you next week, so be sure to visit their blogs!

authoress Authoress is the secret mastermind behind Miss Snark’s First Victim. She writes YA and MG science fiction and fantasy and is represented by the fabulous Josh Getzler of the Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency.
renee Renee Ahdieh is a writer of young adult books. Her life goals include becoming Twitter-verified and discovering what really matters. Her love for books, music, salsa dancing, and Sriracha knows no bounds, as does her passion for college basketball. She lives in North Carolina with her long-suffering husband and their tiny overlord of a dog. Her novel THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, a reimagining of The Arabian Nights, will be published by Penguin/Putnam in 2015.
Category: On Writing