Right now, Justine and I are in nothern California on her How to Ditch Your Fairy tour. So while I”m on the road with sucky hotel internets, I thought I’d hand over the blog to Robin Wasserman, who I just interviewed a few days ago. She’ll be around for the rest of the week, till we get back to NYC.
Take it away, Robin!
First of all, thanks again to Scott, for letting me camp out here while you’re gone. I’ll try not to burn the place down.
Second, thanks for all the awesome comments on Monday’s interview. And thanks, in advance, for tolerating my continued presence. As opposed to, say, throwing rotten fruit. Stepping in for Scott feels a little like opening for the Beatles. (Just fyi, I’m not nearly as old as that reference makes me sound. Technically, I’m not even half that old.)
Third of all, because before we go any further I figure you should know exactly where I stand:
TEAM ZANE
(If I knew how to make that font bigger, I would. My love for Zane requires sky-high neon letters. Preferably flashing.)
Scott suggested that as long as I’m here, you guys might want to hear a bit about my writing process. Unfortunately, these days my process is as follows:
1. Wake up.
2. Stare at computer.
3. Bang head on computer.
4. Take some Advil for throbbing head.
5. Stare more. Bang more. Wonder if it’s too soon to take more Advil.
6. Type something. Delete it.
7. Freak out when computer crashes. (Possibly connected to all the banging?)
8. Cross fingers and reboot. Eat a cookie for luck. (And for sugar high.)
9. Type something else.
10. Stare at computer.
11. Go to sleep.
The sad fact is, by this point in my “writing process†(ie book due in a few weeks), my brain is basically cheese. And not the sharp kind, like cheddar. Think soft and runny and totally useless.
I’m also at the point where everything I write makes me think, “Why would anyone ever want to read this, or anything else I write? If I ever had any talent, which is debatable, it must have leaked out while I was watching Gossip Girl, because clearly the universe is punishing me for watching too much TV, and now I’m going to have to quit being a writer and go learn to juggle or something so that I can join the circus, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing because even hosing down elephants while scary clowns are stuffing themselves into tiny cars and pretending to pull fake flowers out of each other’s fake noses would be preferable to SITTING IN FRONT OF THIS COMPUTER FOR ONE MORE MINUTE.â€
This point in the writing process is, as you may have noticed, a bit of a downer. So for your reading pleasure — and my own sanity, I figured I would treat you to a glimpse of my favorite part of the whole thing: The end.
A lot of writers I know figure out their stories as they’re going along. But I’m a big fan of outlines, which means I almost always know how my things are going to turn out. Sometimes I even know what the last line will be. You know how sometimes when you’re reading a really good book, you start going slower and slower as you approach the last page, because you don’t want it to end? That’s almost how it feels to be finishing up a book — once the end is in sight, once you can feel it coming, you’re almost sorry.
I said almost.
Because eventually the end comes, and writing that last line is like eating a brownie sundae. (And not the kind where the brownie is stale and the ice cream has freezer burn. I’m talking homemade brownie, hand-churned ice cream, hot fudge sauce. No cherry. I hate cherries.) The only thing better is pressing “send†on my email and shipping the book off to my editor—-then, for a few brief, blissful seconds soaking in the fact that the book is DONE.
At least until it’s time for revisions.
Bring on the Advil.
Questions, comments, requests for my next post? I’ll answer anything you’ve got since, as you may have guessed, I’d rather be reading your comments than writing my book!
I liked that post, it was pretty funny. And I think if you write what you feel (like that post) it’ll be gold.
And We people like it when You people post ALOT.
Team Tally.
[in essence, Team Zane, cept I live.]
OH WHOA!! NUMBER ONE!!
[and two]
Is it okay if I address you as Robin-wa?
Robin-wa it is. I’ve always wanted a nickname! (Robin’s never been the best name for that kind of thing.)
OMG i love you!!! i just started Skinned yesterday and im totally hooked and i couldnt be a bigger team Zane fan!!!! 😀
ooooo ya #3!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
someone stole my #3! and #4!!! sigh. well…
#5! //gives halfhearted cheer…no, make that a quarterhearted cheer//
i luv that post!!! aww poor advilly head. try attaching a pillow to your computer (don’t ask how i know how to do that–i don’t).
GO TEAM ZANE!
but jay-wa how could you make that nasty crack about zane being dead?!?! SOME OF US ARE STILL SAD U KNOW! NOT ALL OF US ARE COLD-HEARTED LIKE U!
‘sides, what would tally say if she heard that? she’d KILL you with her BARE HANDS. BARE HANDS, I SAY.
and i would with one hand tied behind my back. and a foot tied behind my back. i’m that mad.
(fyi, i was jk. i wouldn’t kill u with my foot tied behind my back)
Pfft. Tally is my home girll.
That was a very entertaining post. I audibly laughed, so thumbs up so far.
Sort-of like what Jay-wa said; I don’t really care what you write about, but I like the way you do it. :]
TEAM DAVID BECAUSE ZANE’S A PLASTIC-HEAD.
Team David *pooting noise*
Hes creepy.
WAIT–UMR-wa WHAT ABOUT YOUR HANDDD??!!
Noooooooooooooooooo!!!
[the sound of being murdered by a commenter on Scott-la’s/Robin-wa’s message board, with one hand behind their back, here.]
Okay, so I noticed, Robin-wa, that you said something about brain soup and basket case.
Have you ever heard the song Brain Stew and Basket Case by Green Day?
Rosie-wa: Hooray, glad you liked it!
UMR-wa :-D: Um, I will be very careful not to mention the ‘d’ word (as in ‘Do you think Zane is really d___?’) around here. Thanks for sticking up for our boy.
Coloriiifiiic: See, now I’m forced to admit the real reason I’m anti-David. It’s got nothing to do with my LOVE for Zane. It’s because I’m also (potentially shameful secret alert) a proud member of TEAM SHAY.
Wow, this is the earliest post I’ve had in…forever. xD
I haven’t read your book yet Robin-wa, but it’s on my list to read. Which, mind you, is a VERY long list, but your book’s only about 5 from the top. ^^ And considering there’re about…60 or so books on that list…that’s a very good thing. xD
Gah your post made me want a cookie, after reading the simple word cookie my mind only thought of cookies, and I only caught bits of the rest of your post. I had to actually read it again. I really need your book now, it sounds so good, my style really. Hopefully its either in the library(doubtful) or Im going to borders soon(more possible since Im buying the new PATD cd with change that I found in my jean pocket, which was like $20 so awsome…..I think I might make cookies..snickerdoodles I think.
PS: The Beatles are timeless they dont make anyone sound old, I even burst out in Help! yesterday in math…fun times
still fairly early!
Also, TEAM ZANE FOREVER. David is also a perfectly good choice, however. Just nowhere near as awesome.
But beware of the war you’ve started by bringing it up, Robin-wa.
In vaguely related news, my copy of Skinned came from the library today, so I’ll be reading it as soon as I get some free time. Ummm, June. :/ My mom started it though, and she says she’s liking it.
Right now in the writing process, I’m at the part where I need to write 15K by the end of September to fulfill Unreasonable Self-Imposed Deadline, and people keep assigning me 800 essays and making me get up early. *sigh* I’ll make it somehow.
Also, weirdly, though I know how it ends (not much of an outliner), I don’t have an ending. Usually I write the last couple lines months and months ahead of time, usually before I know the climax-ending. Not even sure what the last line of this one’ll be. Surprises make life interesting!
It’s on my “Must Read List” but my friend keeps loading me with “OMIGODYOUHAVETOREADTHIS” books and my mom doesn’t like me getting hardcover books (but **maybe** I can sneak this one by with all of our membership cards…but I digress).
Hmm…Oh I know what you should post about the ultimate question of course!
Vampires or werewolves?
Team Zane all the way!!! Woot woot. Robin-wa, I must say I absolutely love your writing style. It cracked me up! I’m going to get your book as soon as possible!
OMG no cherry?!?!?! How can you stand a world without the amazing taste of a cherry on top of a sundae???!!!
Ya–I like cherries:P
ARGH my library (both public and school) doesn’t have your book…And I can’t get to a bookstore (which is also VEEERRRRYYYY limited) until October:(
“‘Why would anyone ever want to read this, or anything else I write?'”
I want to read what you’re writing, if that counts for anything…I just finished Skinned and it was delightful.
And I agree with Tara-la. Blog about vampires vs. werewolves! Or zombies vs. unicorns. (But we all know that zombies win in that scenario, so really, unless you are on team unicorn, there’s no point. But why would anyone be on team unicorn?)
Haha. that was funny! I love to write and I do the same thing. I just stare at what I wrote, as if somehow the pages would fill with words! although I think if I chugged the advil my parents would send me to some kind of help facility.
Jay-wa: Basket Case is actually my favorite Green Day song. (And, on the subject of music and age, I’ll admit that I was in 10th grade when that song came out. Tis the music of my wild youth…)
Kenzie-La(a new blog): Okay, the problem is, now *I* want a cookie!
Laura: Fruit is…not so much my friend. Though I like cherry flavored popsicles. Does that count?
All the rest of you, seriously, thanks for checking out Skinned!
My monster preferences will be forthcoming soon…
why exactly do you like david better than zane?
Thats a pretty rad song. [[sorry everybody for posting so much, I just have NO life. I apologize]]
Robin-la I notice your music taste is awsome, what other bands do you listen too, any new upcoming bands since they’re my favorite. 🙂
oh dear…the epic Zane vs. David war…it never ends.
as for me, I’m sorry Zane is dead but i like David too…even though he never told us about his scar…
nice post. i laughed when i read the part about brain cheese. cause my brain felt exactly like that when i tried to finish a story i wrote.
i wish i could finish a story…i’ve got the starts of like 5 epic novels in various notebooks under my bed…
It’s great to hear about your writing process…
I’m sure I’ll be like that one day (I want to be a cartoon creator)
Up at 3:00 in the morining…at a complete creative stand still…ugh! But for some really strange reason…I’ts exactly what I want to be doing!
TEAM ZANE!!!OH YEAH!!!!!!!!
i am one of those people who reread pretties (alot) so mabey the memory of zane *sniff, snff*(“sniff sniff” was a cover up) *eyes start to tear* will go away
OMG!!!I JUST READ Coloriiifiiic’s POST!!!!HE IS NOT(how do u under line?) A PLASIC HEAD!!!!!!
robin-wa: hym, ive never thought about team shay
but i still like david so whatever hes happy with…(and ive requested skinned and am waiting-grr!)
tara-la:VAMPIRES!(team switzerland!!!!)
yeah he never did…
scott-la:could u put the reason for davids scar in bougus to bubbly?
end of my comment that was the effect of boredom;D
Hey, Robin-wa, where do you get your inspiration for writing, like what do you do to get ideas? I have to get your book soon, I’m out of money! Ugh! can’t buy anything till I get my allowance. I did see it though. Pretty cover.
I haven’t read Skinned yet, but I’m working on getting the money. It shouldn’t be that long! =D
And….. Nice writing process, by the way. I’ve always wondered what inspires you authors to write and now I have some idea what!
The illusions and after-effects of Advil dosages!
Jk!
Team david all the way though i never said it. Have you ever read the multipal series books By julian may With jack the bodieless and such
Team marc, jack, or rogi(i understand that hes with marc but be quiet)
Team tanu, lowlife, furviling (sp) or marc (only half the way through the non born king so i don even know if marc is a team)
that was a question no that the books are that well known but so…?
do you have brain monkeys too and do you live in the YA mansion
I just bought your book like on saturday before it even came on scotts blog and Im really excited it looks really good
and YEA TEAM ZANE!!
1st of TEAM ZANE! omg I love him and I threw my book across the room at the end of extras!
2nd I’m attempting to write a history paper and my writing process is about like yours. And just like u, I ended up here 🙂
3rd I am also out of money due to my rabid spending 🙁 always sad.
TEAM ZANE
he may be dead ( i think of him as alive)
but he is awsome and kool and better then david
an yes the writting porgress i’m 60,000 words into my story aand it gets harder with every words. i prefer outlies i get fustrated, banging my head into the computer ( i did that today), when i have to make up stuff out of thin air and i already know the last line of it.
what could you talk about
vamps vs wolves ( i’m team nothing now team HUMAN)
fav books/ sirese
and what is your favoite fictional chareter ( i got off of livejounral)
i will be getting skinned shortly for i have not ride to the book store 🙁
happy writting to all !( ha i crack myself up)
kenzie-la: I’m a little obsessed with the Decemberists these days, and am also in love with the Veronica Mars soundtrack. There’s a Mike Doughty song on there, “I Hear the Bells,” that I have on constant repeat.
emily: So cool — what kind of cartoons?
Miranda-la: Great question, wish I had a better answer for you than “I don’t know.” I honestly do get a lot of my ideas in the shower. Also, lying in bed at night before I go to sleep. Always have a notebook on hand.
For everyone who’s having trouble finishing your stories/novels — not only did I never finish anything in high school, but I could barely force myself to *start* writing anything. So you’re already ahead of me…
Hmmm…. interesting ya not sooo sure i wanna be a writer anymore, but i’ll have to think about that. ur TEAM ZANE huh thats cool not sure who’s team im on i mean it kinda seems like whichever team ur on ur always against another character u like. i dunno maybe thats just the way i think.
Wow! I love you Rodin-wa!! (Your offically one of us since you got the nickname btw =P ) My process of writing is bascily the same as you……I just get distracted ALOT (with music and friedns and RPing…sitll writing…but not what I’m supposed to be doing) I think I might pick up your book…that is when your done. ^.^
Oh..and I hate cherries too. >.<
🙂 🙂 🙂 YAY! I found out I have a book project coming up and I need a fiction novel I havent read before(there are so few)so I pick Skinned unofficially(since I still need to buy the book, cuz you know, thats pretty important and shouldnt be a problem. I get to create a “soundtrack summary” for it, meaning I pick songs related to the events!!!! EEEEE!!! Im so excited now. hehe it would be easier to do Melissa Marr’s book, Wicked Lovely because it already has a soundtrack for it but I cant because 1. I already read it 2. it would prolly be cheating to do that. But this is the perfect reason to exsplain why I NEED Skinned,YAY! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Kenzie-La, that’s so cool (why didn’t they have projects like this in MY high school?) — I hope you let me know what you come up with for the soundtrack!
TEAM ZANE FOR THE WIN! I’ll be looking forward to your posts. =)
Whoa. . .
I wrote all summer with that EXACT SAME SCHEDULE.
-Lena
Oh Robin, that was such a funny post. I can’t wait to read more posts on here from you! 🙂
Still loving Skinned- about halfway through now. I’m excited for the next two books.
And um, I don’t really have any questions… maybe you could talk about what The Call was like when your first book was bought by a publisher?
first off: OMG i live in northern california! that’s awesome, scott-sama! i really don’t think i’ll be able to your tour; i barely have enough time to clean my room.
second off: i love brownie sundaes! and writing! and you robin-sensei! (you’re kinda funny). i must say, however, that i’m…
TEAM DAVID!
all the way.
and TEAM MARCUS in case you’ve been keeping up with Gossip Girl 😉
Because I’ll totally make the Top 100 😉
. . . . .. . . I’m still totally Team Tally, she shouldn’t HAVE to have a guy to be happy, and both guys are good for her at different points in her life. David’s time passed and Zane’s is gone as well. Though I want her to be happy, I can’t help but wonder if she can’t have anyone else or if she can’t simply be on her own?
aaawww… poor Robin-la. (i like the la better than the wa. lalalala.) stick in there! im a short story kinda girl myself. novels are just to… complicated? i dont no, ive just never gotten past the fourth chapter of any of my books.
but on to less sympathetic, more debating subjects:
DAVID IS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY BETTER THAN ZANE! i dont really get the point of thinking Zane-la is better. i mean, hes like, totally fawesome. like TOTALLY fawesome. but… hes dead. and he always will be. (unless you just keep rereading PRETTIES over and over and over and never read SPECIALS just so he wont die. i guess you could do that.)
but seriously. David HAS and ALWAYS WILL BE better.
and UMR-wa? i cood totally take you AND Tally-wa. at the SAME TIME. (well… i cood if you were both asleep… and blindfolded…)
hehe.
-Lizzy-wa OUT! 😛
PS: Zane is too a plastic head and I am totally on team HUMAN when it comes to vampires vs. werewolves. especially on facebook. if someone sends me a “become a vampire” request i immediately delete them from my friend list.
Because I’ll totally make the Top 100 😉
Audrey-Sensei: Marcus? MARCUS? You know what, I’m okay with that. Because that leave Chuck all for me. He’s mine, I say. MIIIIINE!!!!!! (Um, sorry, got a little carried away there…)
Yes…… and I am sorry I haven’t read your book yet.
-I will-
Team David…..
If one is dead and 10 is alive…. David totally wins.
You should have your own blog… I bet a lots of people would write on it.
It is fun.