Ask the Author: Lillian Graves
Answered Questions (5)
Lillian Graves
I've been stewing on the idea of UNFORTUNATES for years. I always felt a story was left untold when I read books about people who die young - Jodi Picoult's MY SISTER'S KEEPER and A FAULT IN OUR STARS.
What if those who died unfortunate events got a second chance at life? How many of them would take it? How many would accept their fate and stay in the afterlife? I gotta say, it's a pretty sweet afterlife even with the downfalls.
I just kept thinking and adding to this idea, and eventually I caved and wrote it all down.
What if those who died unfortunate events got a second chance at life? How many of them would take it? How many would accept their fate and stay in the afterlife? I gotta say, it's a pretty sweet afterlife even with the downfalls.
I just kept thinking and adding to this idea, and eventually I caved and wrote it all down.
Lillian Graves
By watching every day life. I live in NYC, so the commute to work is material enough. People are crazy. You can really examine the ridiculousness of humans on the train. Like how someone fights over a bag brushing their back in a crowded rush hour train. Or the extreme PDA of teens licking the backs of their throats as the train lurches down the tracks.
Let's just say I don't have to look far to be inspired, even on a bad day.
Let's just say I don't have to look far to be inspired, even on a bad day.
Lillian Graves
A sequel to UNFORTUNATES, told from the view of an Unfortunate, or the person who died an unfortunate death.
Don't worry, a sneak peek will be added to the back of UNFORTUNATES!
Don't worry, a sneak peek will be added to the back of UNFORTUNATES!
Lillian Graves
Don't give up. Seriously. When those rejection letters come pouring in, when you get your first negative feedback, when it seems like no one will listen and you sink deeper and deeper into yourself, take a step back, but only one.
Go for a run, cook a meal, take a class, have a few beers, go on an extended vacation (always works for me). But never give up. Because that's the only way to ensure you won't get anywhere.
And I promise, in a few months, after you've written something else and gone back to edit the story you were subbing, you will see your weaknesses (and strengths, which they never point out in those pesky rejection letters!) and it will be humbling.
And then the next time you put your work on sub, some of the agents will recognize you and some will congratulate you on your progress. Readers will come back and say they like your second book more than the first.
The business is subjective, so don't let one piece of feedback hold you down for too long. We are all waiting for your next work.
Go for a run, cook a meal, take a class, have a few beers, go on an extended vacation (always works for me). But never give up. Because that's the only way to ensure you won't get anywhere.
And I promise, in a few months, after you've written something else and gone back to edit the story you were subbing, you will see your weaknesses (and strengths, which they never point out in those pesky rejection letters!) and it will be humbling.
And then the next time you put your work on sub, some of the agents will recognize you and some will congratulate you on your progress. Readers will come back and say they like your second book more than the first.
The business is subjective, so don't let one piece of feedback hold you down for too long. We are all waiting for your next work.
Lillian Graves
By writing whatever comes to mind for at least twenty minutes. I find that's where I get the random thoughts that appear in my writing, such as in UNFORTUNATES, Vanessa wonders if she knew she'd get a second chance at life ahead of time, would she be more reckless. Or even the completely off the wall, random remarks like why are the specks of black in your vision called floaters, or if boys know that we can see everything through sweatpants 99.99% of the time.
I think these thoughts make the characters real because, while we may not say it out loud, we all commentate our lives as we go about our business.
While it may not be stellar writing on the initial run, you can use the ideas you accumulate during this exercise to work towards a fleshing out characters.
I think these thoughts make the characters real because, while we may not say it out loud, we all commentate our lives as we go about our business.
While it may not be stellar writing on the initial run, you can use the ideas you accumulate during this exercise to work towards a fleshing out characters.
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