““Teen Authors Teen Authors Share Their Secrets”Share Their Secrets”

Source: Source: InstructorInstructor

Margaret GelbwasserMargaret GelbwasserMay/June 2007May/June 2007

Creating CharactersCreating Characters• What the Pros Say:What the Pros Say:

““Novels for me always start with Novels for me always start with characters and the voice,” says Rachel characters and the voice,” says Rachel Cohn, author of Cohn, author of CupcakeCupcake and and GingerbreadGingerbread. “The challenge is staying . “The challenge is staying true to that voice and not imposing your true to that voice and not imposing your own judgments.”own judgments.”

Creating CharactersCreating Characters• Their Best Advice:

“I have a big cabinet in my basement for projects,” says Kristen Kemp, author of this summer’s Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s. “I make folders for the characters and put note cards with their traits in each folder. Then I go through magazines and find outfits they would wear and parties they would go to.”

Plotting a Page-TurnerPlotting a Page-Turner• What the Pros Say:What the Pros Say:

““Sometimes it’s challenging to see Sometimes it’s challenging to see where it’s all going,” says David Levithan, where it’s all going,” says David Levithan, coauthor, with Cohn, of the forthcoming coauthor, with Cohn, of the forthcoming Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss ListNaomi and Ely’s No Kiss List. “You know . “You know the character’s life has to unfold in a the character’s life has to unfold in a certain way. It’s up to the writer to certain way. It’s up to the writer to discover what that is.”discover what that is.”

Plotting a Page-TurnerPlotting a Page-Turner• Their Best Advice:Their Best Advice:

Says Kemp, “The plot has a few Says Kemp, “The plot has a few basic elements: a main character who basic elements: a main character who wants to accomplish something very wants to accomplish something very important to her and a lot of obstacles important to her and a lot of obstacles standing in the way of the character standing in the way of the character reaching her goal. The easiest way to do reaching her goal. The easiest way to do this is to create an antagonist character.”this is to create an antagonist character.”

Organizing a MasterpieceOrganizing a Masterpiece• What the Pros Say:What the Pros Say:

““I believe a story has to start in its I believe a story has to start in its own way,” says Levithan, “but there’s a own way,” says Levithan, “but there’s a point when you have to stop and figure out point when you have to stop and figure out how exactly you’re going to tell the story. how exactly you’re going to tell the story. And that’s where organization comes in.”And that’s where organization comes in.”

Organizing a MasterpieceOrganizing a Masterpiece• Their Best Advice: Their Best Advice:

““People get intimidated by outlines, but People get intimidated by outlines, but this is what works for me,” says Cohn. “After this is what works for me,” says Cohn. “After writing a few chapters, I write a very short outline writing a few chapters, I write a very short outline of one to three pages. It could be very simple, of one to three pages. It could be very simple, like how your character will change from point A like how your character will change from point A to point Z, figuring out problems along the way, to point Z, figuring out problems along the way, and little sentences organized chronologically.”and little sentences organized chronologically.”

Finding the Best BackdropFinding the Best Backdrop• What the Pros Say:What the Pros Say:

““Setting is where the story begins. Setting is where the story begins. It’s the scenery of your story. And it gives It’s the scenery of your story. And it gives you your sense of place, especially in the you your sense of place, especially in the beginning,” says Sarah Dessen, author of beginning,” says Sarah Dessen, author of Just ListenJust Listen..

Finding the Best BackdropFinding the Best Backdrop• Their Best Advice:Their Best Advice:

““Writing about what’s familiar is not a Writing about what’s familiar is not a cop-out,” says Cohn. “Know your basic cop-out,” says Cohn. “Know your basic universe first, and then let your characters universe first, and then let your characters talk to you within that. When I get stuck, it talk to you within that. When I get stuck, it helps me to have pictures of the scenery.”helps me to have pictures of the scenery.”

Staying True to DialogueStaying True to Dialogue• What the Pros Say:What the Pros Say:

Dessen says, “Dialogue is a great Dessen says, “Dialogue is a great way to characterize people. If you can way to characterize people. If you can write dialogue that moves a story forward write dialogue that moves a story forward andand sounds realistic, that’s great.” sounds realistic, that’s great.”

Staying True to DialogueStaying True to Dialogue• Their Best Advice: Their Best Advice:

““One trick is to sit in a coffee place One trick is to sit in a coffee place and write down what people say,” says and write down what people say,” says Kemp. “Everyone speaks differently, and Kemp. “Everyone speaks differently, and characters speak differently too. Another characters speak differently too. Another trick is to watch your favorite TV show and trick is to watch your favorite TV show and pay attention to how they handle pay attention to how they handle dialogue.”dialogue.”

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line““Have faith and the story will Have faith and the story will

follow,” says Dessen.follow,” says Dessen.

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