Where do you find the inspiration for your writing?
I find inspiration everywhere. An old man running for a streetcar, a kid getting yelled at by their mom, a snatch of conversation (“Did the zombies get your dog too?”—actually overheard that on the subway last week). But most of my inspiration comes from inside. Stuff that’s happened to me. Weird funny scary memories that prompt questions like: What if this happened instead? Or. . .what if that happened next? Or . . .what if the watermelon was magical?
What were your favourite books when you were a kid? As a young reader, did you see yourself in the books you read?
Books I loved listening to were Winnie The Pooh, Wind in the Willows, and a sleazy western where the bad guy said, “Git ’em boys!” (My dad really got into them, and that helped.) My first read-alones were The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and Freddy The Detective. I certainly saw myself in Freddie the Pig—lazy, bookish, thinking he was pretty smart but happy to laugh at himself. Narnia was my first experience with metaphysics (I was raised a strict atheist) and I was fascinated by Aslan, an omniscient omnipotent but essentially kind character.
What’s the most surprising thing you learned when creating your book?
I have been surprised in every book I’ve written because my plan for the book has changed every time. Your Story Matters began as a re-creation of a school visit. For years, I’d get kids excited by telling them that stories are made of lies, and lying is a good thing. That’s fine, but by the third draft of the book, I came to realize that the key to story is not the lies but the truth! Was I surprised? Why yes.
What is a challenge you have faced as a writer?
My biggest problem is juggling funny and exciting with clear and understandable. I want readers to laugh but I really want them to know what’s going on—what they’re laughing at. Keep it simple is a good mantra. But make sure stuff happens!
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in writing?
You want to be a writer? Read. Read everything. If you like a certain type of book—funny, scary, exciting, romance-y—read more. But try new stuff too. Also, write. Write your story. Think of the writing like music practice. You won’t get to the concert hall or onto the radio unless you practice a lot! Your stories may stink at first, but so did your violin playing. Keep going. Practice is how you get better.