So this time, no outlining.

I’m 10,000 words into my fourth novel and I have no idea where this thing is going. Could be straight off a cliff. I begin every writing session by re-reading what I wrote the day before, then asking myself: “So, what would be an interesting thing to happen next?” All I have to assist in this journey are some backstory secrets for the characters to stumble upon at some point in the future.

I have no reason to think this method of writing will produce a better book. But, so far at least, it’s a much more pleasurable writing experience. I feel as if I’m writing to order, with myself as the reader. I’m asking myself: “What would I like to read next?”

Here’s a taste from the opening paragraph:

In the beginning I was what you’d call a petty thief. I’d take stuff like DVD’s, beer, cigarettes–things I could sell to the scumbags who hung around our apartment. They’d spend their last dollar on a DVD they’d already seen, then worry about eating later. Some of them didn’t even have DVD players, or TV’s. I guess they’d worry about that later too. No matter where we moved, those scumbags would find us. Different ones in different towns, but they always smelled the same–like cigarettes, booze, and b.o.

I’ll let you know how it goes. And for those who like fiction in small doses, I’ll be tweeting a line a day.

I will be attending many events and will be featured in two:

On Thursday, March 19th, from 4-5PM, I’ll be reading from Cycler at the Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library, which is located at 425 Avenue of the Americas (between 9th Street and 10th Street).

Then on Sunday, March 22nd, starting at 4PM, I’ll be signing copies of Cycler, along with 40 other authors, at the legendary Books Of Wonder, which is located at 18 West 18th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues).

HERE’S THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE:

Juvenalia Smackdown
Monday, 3/16, 4-6pm, Tompkins Square Park branch of the NYPL, 331 E. 10th Street

Join Holly Black, Alaya Johnson, Justine Larbalestier, David Levithan, Diana Peterfruend, Scott Westerfeld as they read some of their (ahem) less accomplished work from their middle school and high school years. Hosted by Libba Bray.

I Have Seen the Future and It Sounds Like This
Wednesday, 3/18, Mulberry Street Branch of the NYPL

Teen authors are notoriously stingy about reading from their works-in-progress. But for Guest of Honor Joe Monti, authors Libba Bray, Rachel Cohn, Eireann Corrigan, Justine Larbalestier, Barry Lyga, and Scott Westerfeld are willing to share a little bit from their future books. Hosted by David Levithan.

The Five-Borough Read
Thursday, 3/19

BROOKLYN: Central Library, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
10-11am
Gayle Forman
Jenny Han
Leslie Margolis
Abby Sher
Matthue Roth
Robin Wasserman

BRONX: Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx
4-5pm
Coe Booth
Madeleine George
Paul Griffin
Brian Sloan
Melissa Walker

MANHATTAN: Countee Cullen Branch, 104 W 136th St
4-5pm
Matt de la Pena
Daphne Grab
Mary Hogan
Barry Lyga
Carolyn McCormick

MANHATTAN: Jefferson Market Branch, 425 Avenue of the Americas
4-5pm
David Levithan
Bennett Madison
Lauren McLaughlin
Billy Merrell
Marie Rutkoski

MANHATTAN: Webster Branch, 1465 York Avenue
4-5pm

Lisa Ann Sandell
Courtney Sheinmel
Rachel Vail
Cecily Von Ziegesar
Martin Wilson

QUEENS: Far Rockaway Branch, 2002 Cornaga Ave, Queens
4-5pm
Tara Altebrando
Laura Dower
Heather Duffy-Stone
Aimee Friedman
Eliot Schrefer
Siobhan Vivian
Rita Williams-Garcia

STATEN ISLAND: St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue
4-5pm
Kate Brian
Judy Goldschmidt
Michael Northrop
Micol Ostow
Lynn Weingarten

Rock Out with TIGER BEAT!
Thursday, 3/19, 6pm at Books of Wonder

By day, Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, Barney Miller, and Natalie Standiford are upstanding authors. But by night, they turn into TIGER BEAT, the first ever YA author rock band. Tonight is their debut public performance and it’s sure to go down in legend.

With opening act The Infinite Playlists (Rachel Cohn and David Levithan reading a litany of musical references, but mercifully not singing).

I Love You, New York: Teen Lit in the City
Friday, 3/20, 6pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Court Room

Join authors Coe Booth, Paul Griffin, Maureen Johnson, David Levithan, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Rita Williams-Garcia in a spirited reading and discussion about teen novels set in New York City–from the glamour of the gossip girls to the grit of the Bronx projects, from the everyday battles of the high school halls to the extraordinary events of 9/11.

Stuff for the Teen Age Ceremony
Saturday, 3/21, 1pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Celeste Bartos Forum

This new list only has the best of the best, and includes books, music, movies, and video games. Featuring a keynote by Walter Dean Myers

Teen Authors Celebrate Teen Readers
Sunday, 3/22, NYPL, 42nd Street, Trustees Room, 1pm

Over a dozen authors salute teen readers and teen advisory board members from around the city, including Blake Nelson, reading from his upcoming novel Destroy All Cars.

The Biggest Teen Author Signing EVER
Sunday, 3/22, Books of Wonder, 4pm

Join over 40 authors for a signing extravaganza as they take over Books of Wonder, sign books, and converse with fans new and old. An incredible event that is sure to go down in book-signing history.

Authors include:
Nora Baskin
Jessica Blank
Judy Blundell
Coe Booth
Elise Broach
Susanne Colasanti
Sarah Darer-Littman
Matt de la Pena
Heather Duffy-Stone
Gayle Forman
Aimee Friedman
Madeleine George
Maureen Johnson
Kristen Kemp
Justine Larbalestier
David Levithan
E. Lockhart
Barry Lyga
Carolyn Mackler
Sarah MacLean
Megan McCafferty
Lauren McLaughlin
Neesha Meminger
Billy Merrell
Blake Nelson
Micol Ostow
Matthue Roth
Marie Rutkoski
Lisa Ann Sandell
Courtney Sheinmel
Abby Sher
Brian Sloan
Rachel Vail
David Van Etten
Ned Vizzini
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Cecily von Ziegesar
Melissa Walker
Robin Wasserman
Scott Westerfeld
Suzanne Weyn
Maryrose Wood
Lizabeth Zindel

See you there!

“Writing novels is like walking a tightrope over shark-infested waters, while juggling knives and fire.”

Later, I added:

“While naked.”

To which, he then added:

“Yeah, and with people down below pointing up at you and laughing.”

At that point, the metaphor kind of broke down. Because, at the very least, you don’t have to go through the writing process in front of people.

What got me thinking about this was one of the many intriguing challenges one faces while telling a story:

The Counter-argument.

Every good story has one. It’s the enemy of The Argument, which is the thematic powerhouse that fuels the whole story. If you make your Counter-argument too weak, then your Argument doesn’t get to flex its muscles and decimate it with righteous fury. But if you make your Counter-argument too strong, it can start feeling like The Argument. Hence the tightrope. Or is that the juggling of knives and fire? You decide.

I’m caught in this trap right now on Novel #3 and I’m finding myself oddly persuaded by my own Counter-argument. Make no mistake, my Counter-argument is diabolical. It’s just that it’s also sort of true. In fact, it’s kind of an Evil Genius.

I guess I’ll have to soup up my Argument somehow, maybe give it superpowers.

(Re)Cycler

No, I’m serious. It really is called that.

Now, because it’s a very looooong time until August–as the snow outside my window makes chillingly clear–I’ve decided to post some of my short stories to tide you over. I’m nice like that.

I’ll keep a link to them in the sidebar over there, on the right.

Enjoy!

Check it!

1. I am not the only writer who goes into bookstores to remove her book from the plain old shelves, where it’s appallingly easy to miss, and relocates it to its proper place on the splashy display table. Apparently all writers do this. They told me.

2. All readers are different. In the olden days when I only read other people’s books, I would read, at best, one review and base my purchasing decision on that. When it’s your own book, you read all the reviews. And it’s nothing short of astonishing how diverse they are. I’ve had readers infer some of the craziest, most wonderful, and occasionally disturbing things from this book, none of which I ever knew were in there in the first place. All of it counts. All of it’s legit. And all of it is wildly contradictory.

3. People care a lot about covers. One reviewer complained that the angle was “unflattering.” Others worried about the ickiness of carrying around a book featuring a picture of a girl in her underwear. Others dismissed it as chicklit because of the cover. And a few people thought it was cool. I’d never thought about book covers before. Now I worry about it a lot.

4. People who don’t write novels are oddly impressed by people who do. Sometimes I suspect that each and every person in the world is a secret, would-be novelist, because I’ve never been met by anything other than gob-smacked amazement that I actually have a novel in book stores. You should see the faces people make when you tell them you do. It’s beautiful. It’s like they can’t believe such a thing is possible. I admit, at times, I believe the same thing. But honestly? It’s no more astonishing than a great deal of stuff people do all the time.

5. It doesn’t get easier the more you do it. I’m still holding out hope that this state of affairs will change, that one day I will discover the One True Process that facilitates novel-writing in a pain-free way. But I’m not holding my breath.

6. The more I write, the higher my standards are as a reader. Sadly, this same phenomenon wrecked the movies for me. I used to finish and thoroughly enjoy most novels I read. Now, I’m lucky if I finish a quarter of them. I see the author’s sad wish-fulfilment fantasies so readily now. I see the flaws, the skimmed over middle sections, the wandering pointless sub-plots, the contrived and unreal characters. Undoubtedly, I see these sins because I commit them each and every day. It’s probably good and useful that I see them so clearly in the books I read, but darn it, it sure has taken away some of the joy of reading.

7. I am freshly unprepared for any other type of work. I’ve done lots of things in the past. I’ve been a waitress, a secretary, a film producer, a prop stylist, a substitute teacher. You name it. I was reasonably proficient in a few things too. Just don’t ask me to do any of those things again, because, honestly? It’s over. I’m not saying novel writing is a day at the beach or anything (refer to # 5), but I can’t even conceive of doing anything else now. I’m a goner, a lifer. This is it for me. So it had better work out or I’m deeply, deeply screwed.

That’s my kind of Friday.

Among the top ten most banned books of 2007:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (#5)
The Golden Compass (#4)
The Color Purple (#6)

Interesting factoid. Sarah Palin, used her power as Mayor of Wasilla to fire a librarian who refused to ban books. The public fought back and had the librarian reinstated. Take that, Palin, you would-be book banner.