Ask the Author: Vikki VanSickle
Answered Questions (10)
Vikki VanSickle
Thank you so much! I was very inspired by the TV show The X Files, which was one of my favourites, and books like Into the Dream by William Sleator and The Giver by Lois Lowry. I wanted to write a big epic story but on a small scale, from the perspective of one person (Marivic). She's not really all that interested in "saving the world," she just wants to help her friends and family. I also really love dream theory and interpretation, so it was fun to play with those ideas, too. It took me about a year to write, and then a few more months in editing. Good luck with your school project!
Vikki VanSickle
This summer I can't wait for DO NOT BECOME ALARMED by Maile Meloy, BE READY FOR THE LIGHTNING by Grace O'Connell, YORK by Laura Ruby, THE FASHION COMMITTEE by Susan Juby, JULIA DEFIANT by Catherine Egan and THE MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS by Arundahti Roy. I know I'm missing a ton, but these are the ones that come to mind instantly!
Vikki VanSickle
Hi Avneet! This happens to me, too. I think this comes from a tendency I have to write about topics that I like. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lots of authors have a genre or characters they like to stick to, sometimes over a number of books. For example, I never intended to write more books about Clarissa and Benji after Words That Start With B, but I found myself thinking about them and so I wrote two more! Personally, the more interested I am in a topic and a story the more likely I am to finish the book! I also find that I am influenced by what a read, so maybe switch up what you're reading and you may find inspiration there. Hope this helps! xo
Vikki VanSickle
Sure! I write mostly middle grade novels and picture books. I read and write widely but I prefer first-person narratives about ordinary kids in extraordinary situations.
Vikki VanSickle
I'm just about to delve back into my latest middle grade novel for one more round of edits. Think Stranger Things...for tweens!
Vikki VanSickle
So many things! Disappearing into another world for a few hours, getting to see the world through someone else's eyes, exploring an era or place you've always been interested in...in many ways writing for me is about wish fulfillment, but it's also about exploring problems or issues that bother me from a slightly removed perspective.
Vikki VanSickle
When I'm stuck I either take a brainstorming break, during which I think of all sorts of other ways the scene could work out, or I jump to another part of the story and write that instead. Most of my first draft is written out of order which helps keeps me interested in the story and also allows me an easy out if I get snagged on a scene!
Vikki VanSickle
Read all the time. Make writing a habit. Keep an ideas journal. Find yourself a writing buddy. Don' t be too hard on yourself.
Vikki VanSickle
I'm inspired by good books, movies, and TV. There is so much fantastic writing in the world and so many fascinating people that I'm constantly feeling inspired to write. The tricky part is deciding on one idea and sticking with it.
Vikki VanSickle
Summer Days, Starry Nights is really a love letter to some of my favourite things: girl bands from the early 1960s, summer, mysteries, and movies like Dirty Dancing and Man in the Moon.
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Nov 26, 2020 01:43PM · flag