YA Highway

17-year-old YA Highway contributor Emilia Plater is currently working on getting her novel (not to mention herself) through the Teen Years. For more about Emilia, visit our Who We Are page.

Last night, I jerked awake at 4AM. 4AM, people. Increasing in volume every second was a high-pitched, blood-curdling banshee wail - also known as the cry of my baby niece, not-sleeping in the other room. Because life is so hard when you're a baby, right? Life is just soo -

Uh, anyway, as I lied awake listening to that sound comparable to ten nails on a chalkboard accompanied by a cat in heat, I got to thinking: kids. Books. Both keep you up 'til 4AM, reading and obsessing and - if you're a writer - writing. And OMG, when it comes to writing, there are even more similarities...

"Pay attention to me, or I will make your life a living hell!"
Makin' the baby AKA Brainstorming This first key step requires intimate interaction with your DC (Dear Creativity). Forreal, it can be an awkward process. Sometimes your DC scares you, sometimes it ejects too many ideas too fast, and sometimes you have to coax it for hours - even months - to just get ONE freakin' idea. But when done, it's so worth it. A book is on its way, dude!


Birth AKA Starting to Write OMG THE FIRST CHAPTER! GUYZ LOOK! IT'S SO CUTE AND COVERED IN BODILY SLIME. TAKE PIX.

The First Year AKA The Beginning This ain't too bad. Sure, you get an average of .5 hours of sleep a night, and you're starting to wonder if that gorilla tap-dancing in your bathroom is actually a hallucination. But you love it. You love the sight of your book, and you love the exciting moments. As much work as it is, you know it'll be worth it. It HAS to be, right?

Terrible Two's AKA The Middle Oh, my god, what were you thinking? How did this horrible beast come out of you? Your book is completely incomprehensible and impossible to make progress with, except when it's running around screaming at you to do things. "New character here!" "Stop writing, I want a popsicle!" Yeah, IT wants a popsicle. More like you want a popsicle. Shoved in your brain.

First Day of School AKA Querying Okay, this is it, man. Sure, you've sent your book to beta daycares - but no one cared then if your story lived with its finger up its nose or couldn't comprehend that 3 went between 2 and 4. Now? It's off on its own, without you there to guide it, and it is being JUDGED. Luckily, your parent-teacher meeting with Ms. Agent isn't a total disaster...

The Teen Years AKA Revisions One word: awkward. Who knew you raised such a weird book? I mean, come on - how much Axe did you spray on it hoping to cover up that plot hole? It's hard to get it to bend to your will these days, but just threaten it with a complete re-write, and it'll get the picture. A nice bucket of acne medicine should clear up that backstory rash real quick. Theeere we go.

High School Graduation AKA Publishing You did it, it's over, and holy shizz, you are glad. Maybe your book will go on to make millions as a venture-capitalist paranormal-romance type. Maybe it'll stick with an indie life, not making much but developing a cult following. You're proud either way. Because man... that was intense.

So there you have it. Books are basically quiet, much-loved kids that live inside your computer. You could also say that preggocy = outlining, and mo'! What other parallels do you see?


Oh, wait. Too late. Crap. (Happy Memorial Day, USers!)

~ Emilia

What to Expect When You're Expecting... A BOOK

Photo via @thejeanmartha

Photo via Lauren MacLeod

• Kirsten Hubbard is giving away more Moleskines,
  
• I'm giving away more handmade book bags and bookmarks,
  
• Michelle Schusterman is giving away an ARC of OF ALL THE STUPID THINGS by Alexandra Diaz,
• and Kristin Miller has an ARC of YOU WISH by Mandy Hubbard!

Field Trip Friday....um, Saturday: May 29

YAH Anniversary Giveaway Day 3: FUN!

YAH Anniversary Giveaway Day 2: WRITE!

YAH Anniversary Giveaway Day 1: READ!

It all started with a request.

April 9, 2009
2:57 p.m.
AbsoluteWrite.com/forums
>Discussion
>>Beta Readers, Mentors and Writing Partners

Thread Title: Another YA novel in need of Betas? Why, yes, of course!

Posted by: Wandergirl

Kirsten Hubbard put out a call for betas, fellow writers willing to read and critique her manuscript, LIKE MANDARIN.

She got several responses. Including mine.

On April 22nd, I'd received the manuscript. By April 28th, I'd read, been wowed, and commented.

I wasn't the only one reading Kirsten's novel. Nor was I the only one chatting it up in the original OPWFT thread. There were five of us who clicked, motivated by a love of YA writing and . . . moose. Kirsten and I and Michelle, Amanda and Kaitlin.

The next e-mail, dated May 13, 2009, was from Kirsten. It began:

Would any of you guys be interested in collaborating on a YA writers' blog sometime in the near future?

Obviously, we were all on board.

After a disappointing "no" to the site moosemoose.com, we tried out blog names. Wayward Writers, Nomadic Notes, VenerableStorytellingSlumberPartyofMultinationalMooseMeeses, and the almost winner, YA Unbounded. But then we struck gold with YA Highway and haven't looked back.

We talked for hours, planned and got to know each other, swapped manuscripts, planned some more . . . until on May 26th, YA Highway went live.

We jogged in the beginning, still getting the hang of the whole group blogging thing. And we met some amazing writers who blew our minds with their greatness. A few more e-mails later (and some secret inititation rites) and Leila and Lee were added to the Highway, then Kody, Emilia and Kristin as teen contributors. Finally, we wrapped our heads around the awesome that is Kate Hart and demanded her presence on the blog, too.

We started a Google Group so we could better keep track of the (yes) hundreds of e-mails we sent each other each day. Blog e-mails, brainstorming e-mails, beta and critiquing e-mails and, of course, personal e-mails. Because meese are there for one another in good times and bad.

And we became BFFs. And it is brilliant.

One year later, we're ready to celebrate. Celebrate YA. Celebrate achievements. Celebrate this blog and each other, sure, but even more so celebrate YOU, our readers. The newest and the ones who've been here from the very beginning.

You are amazing. And we've got some things planned for you, but please bear with us for a moment as we highlight why being part of a group blog - especially this one - is so great. Then we hope you'll check back with us tomorrow as, on our official one year anniversary, we begin listing the goodies we've gathered for our beloved readers.

Leila: I used to think that writing was this lonely thing. You know, where you have to sit somewhere by yourself for hours on end and work very hard at creating things which may or may not ever see the light of day. And then my fellow meese came along and showed me how writing doesn't have to be lonely at all. There are other people, all across the world, fighting the same battle and chasing the same dream. My fellow bloggers inspire me and make me laugh every day, and so has everyone else who has joined in the journey with us. I can't wait to see where we travel to next.




Kristin Otts: YA Highway has given me, more than anything, a support system. A group of woman at different stages of the publishing process, from different parts of the world, who just circulate ideas and stories and advice. It's an amazing feeling to know that out of ten people, someone can help. Someone can offer a hug or a smack to the head or a critique or a pick-me-up. Someone is always there.






Kody: Without the wonderful support of my YAHighway girls, I think I might have gone crazy! They've been there for me every step of the way, and I'm so thankful that I"ve had such great friends to lean on, cheer on, and rely on. Happy anniversary!






Kaitlin: YA Highway is one of the best things I've ever participated in. I've loved watching it grow from its gangly-legged moose calf stage where it was all new and exciting and we had so much growing to do, into something I am so proud of. We would be here all day if I tried to articulate exactly what this blog has meant to me, so I'll just sum up with the best part of all: it's given me ten amazing friends to write with and laugh with and cry with.



Amanda: I'm positive I wouldn't be where I am in my writing had I not found this amazing and supportive group of writers. Dreams are a big thing to carry alone, but when you can share them with other people, knowing they completely understand, it makes that dream seem all the more achievable. I've laughed, learned, and made some incredible friends all through participating in the Highway.





Lee: YAH is the one place I know I can go and say, 'hey guys, does this idea suck?' and have 10 voices say..well yes it does. Okay, maybe not really, but along those lines, it is amazing to have such a diverse group of women who all write YA and who can give you thoughtful criticism you know you can trust and that will make your writing so much better.









Emilia: G is for girls who Rock, who Opened my heart and Uncovered my eyes to all the crazy Possibilities in front of me. Belonging to a blog that lets you be as Lame as this, without doubting you, is pretty much Out of this world. GO GO HIGHWAY RANGERS!









Kirsten: I love this industry with crazy passion and adore the passionate crazies that make up YA Highway. The group that blogs together stays together! Besides providing unconditional support, beautifully brutal critiques, and laughter-fueled tears, YAH has given me the opportunity to interact with an ever-expanding community of awesome readers and writers, long before my book comes out. Thanks for following us!!







Michelle:  We chose "Highway" for the travel theme, but I don't think any of us realized how far we'd drive in twelve months. Like any group road trip, this one has come with shouting matches, hysterical laughter, major growth, and friendships forever sealed. I wouldn't be the writer or person I am now if I hadn't jumped aboard, and I can't express how grateful I am for these girls and the countless other writers I've met through this blog.






Kate: These girls not only encourage my crazy dream of publication-- they treat it like an eventuality. It's hard to lose faith with that kind of support. I hope that YA Highway helps all of you connect with other writers and reach your own writing dreams. Even if you don't get the moose jokes. (I still don't. Shhh.)



Kristin: This journey should not be taken alone. It should be taken with people you love, you grow with, you grow from, you admire, you learn from, you can teach, you celebrate with, you suffer with, you brainstorm with, you giggle with, you bicker with, you share with. The YA Highway girls have risen to that challenge. Not only have they enriched my life in immeasurable ways, all those who have participated in making this blog what it is, either by reading, or participating, by writing and publishing, by being a part of the YA community, have been instrumental in our success. Thanks for a great year.

YA Highway Turns One

I wished my characters weren't arthritic.

When I was a teen, I wanted to write adult fiction. In my mid-twenties, I realized I was all about YA. Just before I turned 30, I started my first middle grade.

So in my sixties I fully expect to be rich off my stellar touch-and-feel board books.

Why the reversal? What's the difference between young adult and middle grade anyway? Well, that's a post for another day. But I can tell you what made me go back to junior high if you're considering doing the same.

My first (forever trunked) novel was young adult, with the main characters at the nice, neat age of sixteen. I was working on a second when another, separate character introduced herself in my head. She didn't belong in that WIP, and I didn't quite get her. She was younger and goofier and more awkward than the characters I'd been writing about. Also, she liked to blog, and my WIP was set in 1912.

So I ignored her.

Then I read Savvy. Now, I could never choose a "favoritest book ever," or even "best book of 2009." Too many. But I can tell you this: I read a lot of books last year that made me say "I love this."

Savvy made me say, "I wish I'd written this."

Two very different things. I couldn't stop thinking about the voice, the innocence, the insecurities and the butterfly-dancing romance that came along with this story of a thirteen year old girl figuring out her own powers. I loved it. I wanted to write a middle grade. And the aforementioned ignored character knocked on my brain and went "He-llo?!"

And that was it. I named her Ruth, wrote the first scene and let her ramble without even plotting. Ruth's story came along eventually.

I think it's like finding "your" genre. Plenty of authors can write well in several genres, but for a lot of us there's one that feels particularly right. I remember hearing Carrie Ryan say she'd written tons of chick lit before realizing she's a bit better at darker, more horrifying, brain-nomming things. I adore YA, and may very well attempt to write another in the future. But writing middle grade is like slipping into my old, worn-out flip flops.

For now. But if you see Grammy MiSchu's Made of Awesome Finger Puppet Board Book in 4D on the shelves in forty years, you'll know the Benjamin Button curse continued.

And please, pick up a copy. Your grandkids will love it.

Why My Writing Went All Benjamin Button

Tuesday kicks off the Book Expo America conference, a three-day feast of authors, agents, editors, social media and, of course, books, books and more books.

It's a place to learn about the publishing business and new directions for publishing, sell international rights, and network with amazing people.

Young Adult books will have a strong showing, with our own Kody Keplinger being highlighted at the Young Adult Editor's Buzz special event. She will also be at the author stage on Thursday.

Attendees will also be on the look-out for the hottest ARCs of the year. Publisher's Weekly listed the Children's galleys they thought would be the most sought after, and I have to admit to some serious salivating over that list. I remember reading Ally Condie's PM deal for MATCHED.And Anna Godbersen writing the Roaring '20s? YES, PLEASE!

Plus a new novel by BEFORE I FALL author Lauren Oliver: DELIRIUM; some Eddie Vedder in ADIOS, NIRVANA by Conrad Wesselhoeft; ZORA AND ME, a book inspired by the life of author Zora Neale Hurston;  Kersten Hamilton's TYGER, TYGER; and a brilliant-sounding Middle Grade: GIRL'S BEST FRIEND: A MAGGIE BRROKLYN MYSTERY, the first book in a series about a girl who sleuths AND maintains a dog-walking business.

Heck, yeah.

Sounds like a blast. I hope to go someday . . . soon.

Take a look at the PW list - any books jump out at you as MUST-HAVES?

-- Kristin Miller

BookExpo America

When I was in middle school, I thought the thesaurus was the best invention ever. I used them all the time when writing my angsty poetry for school, or when describing things in my creative writing, or when I wanted to sound extra smart in an essay. Then I went to high school. And I learned that sometimes, you should just say ‘green’, because if you write ‘viridian’ or ‘pea’ where it doesn’t really belong, you look silly, not smart. My thesaurus got a little bit of a break. Even more so during college, because a thesaurus wasn’t really needed for my major. But I still have the same badass thesaurus I’ve had for years. It’s huge and confusingly organized, and has millions of synonyms in it.

The Thesaurus: Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy

They left this one off the list.

Shirts available here

You can also do your blog: YA Highway shoes!

~ Kate Hart

Field Trip Friday: May 21