[Jade]

Hi. I'm sorry I haven't made another forum, in like, a week. I've been on a trip. Sorry. In the middle of the school week? Yes. Why? I don't know. So I haven't posted... sorry! So I have a question. Have you ever written a book set in Washington D.C.? If so, what is it? If not, have you made one in Kansas, Connecticut, or Georgia? What are they (if so!) So! Yay!

How are you doing? Is life treating you well? I know I sound like a old woman right now. Probably my mom. Back to the topic above, have you ever even been to the states above? Wondering, since you're from Canada, so you've probably never written books in a country you're not even from... but, well, you've written a lot of books. 

Have you ever used/been a ghostwriter?

 

Be blessed,

Jade

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Jade,

I'll try to answer the gazillion questions you managed to squeeze into just a few lines!

THE TWINKIE SQUAD takes place partly in D.C. because the lead character's father is an ambassador. Kansas, no. Connecticut, I don't recall one. And Georgia, I don't think so. Some of my stuff takes place in NYC. The Macdonald Hall/ Bruno & Boots series was in Canada. And my contribution to THE 39 CLUES was all over the place. NEVER used a ghostwriter. As for being one, I never was, but I did outline a series for a group of writers once (I got paid to do it.) It flopped.

Be blessed yourself.                                                       -----GK-----

[Ruchama]

Have you ever written a book that takes place in Maryland? How did your outline flop? How is it even possible for it to flop? sorry if I'm being too nosy

Thanks, Ruchama

[Jade]

LOL, sorry I forgot to respond. I finally came back (44 min ago reply reminded me to say thanks!) so, wow! What was the ghostwriting for? Can you even say so? You've written so many books before! Like, 99? WOW! Only two series being in Canada... you must have done a lot of research for all of the others

 

Be blessed,

Jade

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Ruchama,

My outline flopped in that it failed to inspire anything fun and creative with the actual writer(s) of the proposed series. You know the old saying -- you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Well, you can outline a good solid series, but you can't make the other writer(s) see the potential that you see in those characters and settings.

                                                                                                                           -----GK-----

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Jade,

Sorry, I can't talk about that series -- you wouldn't recognize it anyway, because the writer(s) never really got it off the ground.

As for research, it's only now, as a mature writer, that I do research. When I was a "kid" writer, most of my stuff was about school or camp, and who needs research, right? I was living the part!                             -----GK-----

[Jade]

Hi. That's... really true. That also reminds me of a question I had a long time ago but forgot! Also, sorry that the series didn't get anywhere. Even if it technically wasn't "yours" you still worked hard on it. I know the outlining was awesome since you're super experienced and all of your books are awesome, I think. Well, you know I think that I just said that. [insert facepalm].

You know, I'm going to semi-organize my forum post so that your brain doesn't have to work overtime just trying to figure out what in the world I'm talking about. I'll just post the questions under these paragraphs! So, about being a kid writer! Also, you replied really really fast. Hi!

I literally said Hi twice. Now that's a third! Cool. And, yeah, who needs research? I don't like it. Only plotting! That's why Fantasy is awesome. Research? Pfft, what is that? Everything in my story is made up and came straight from my brain! Yet it still makes sense! (Most of the time!) Muahahahaha!

Anyway, I think that's all. Bye! (I've talked so much on here today!)

Be blessed,

[Characters 29-32 on the line above "Be blessed,"]

(P.S.) Here are the questions.

1) [This is the question mentioned in the first paragraph that I recalled due to your reply.] Is it okay not to do a lot of research on the setting in a book? Are any of the settings in your books made-believe? Do people notice the little slights that may be there, or no, or does the editor get them? How do you pick a setting for a novel?
2) When did you stop considering yourself a "kid" writer? Does that title apply to age and writing experience, or either or?

3) Do you have any drafts/ideas you never turned into books? If so, why, and/or how many drafts?

4) I feel like I asked this a few months ago, but who is your favorite character to ever have written?

[Gordon Korman]

Wow -- those are a few questions! OK, here goes:

1. If you live in New York City, say, and you know all about it, you really don't have to research your setting. If your setting is NYC and you know nothing about it, better do some research. A lot of my settings are made up places, e.g. SCHOOLED, SWINDLE, UNGIFTED & SUPERGIFTED, and RESTART are examples of fictional places. So is THE  FORT. TITANIC, of course, had to be real, as did EVEREST. I have no idea how I pick a setting. But, for example, if I need the characters to still be in school in June, I pick a northern city. Or I make one up.

2. Being a "kid writer" only applied to me when I was a professional writer, but still a schoolkid. That ship has sailed.

3. No drafts. Just a long list of potential stories I might one day want to write about. I'm always exploring new possibilities.

4. I like all my characters, but I'm especially fond of Malik from MASTERMINDS. And an older Y/A called LOSING JOE'S PLACE had a character named Rootbeer Racinette that I really loved, mostly because I got it off a pop bottle. The word "racinette" is French for "rootbeer." I always enjoy little inside jokes like that.

OK? 'Bye!                                                                                             -----GK-----

[Jade]

Ooh! I've never read Masterminds, I have to now! Also, "Rootbeer Rootbeer" is a spectacular name. Rootbeer Racinette. I love that name, LOL.

You're very smart. Yes, it is bye, but I meant to put Jade, LOL. I guess it doesn't matter since you already know who I am. Also, thanks for the blessing from the first time you answered my forum. Byeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

Be blessed,

Jade

(P.S.) This is the very least I've ever said on here in a long time!

[Gordon Korman]

Oh, if you want to know what makes me tick, reading MASTERMINDS is a must!         -----Gord-----

[Jade]

I finally caved and bought all of the trilogy of Masterminds just now! (I hope you make a lot of money off of it.) And then, I got Unplugged for free! Thanks a lot, Amazon. (I hope you still get money from that, because I know that nothing in life is really free. Let's see how long it takes me to read them! I'm so excited. :)

Be blessed,
Jade

(P.S.) I guess I will learn "what makes [you] tick". 

[Josey]

I agree! Masterminds is awesome! I love Malik! Rootbeer Rootbeer is a totally awesome name! Geez, I say awesome a lot! LOL! Speaking of Losing Joe's Place, I saw it in our school library! I will definitely get it now that I know about Rootbeer Racinette!

You're awesome,

Josey

P.S. Do you like Rootbeer?

P.P.S. What do I need to call you?

[Gordon Korman]

Glad you like MASTERMINDS. I may be proudest of that series above all others. No, I think rootbeer tastes a little bit like cough medicine. And my name is Gordon. Or Gord. Or GK. Take your pick.                         -----GK-----

[Jade]

Ugh... how did literally anyone decipher what I was yapping about? I sure do belong in YAP from FAKER since that's all I ever did! Yapper of the year right here. Goodness...

The amount... of facepalms... Gord, I'm so sorry you had to try and understand what I was saying. Thankfully, you'd already had kids that age at that point so you weren't a total noob at crazy-hyper-excited talk... but still...

BBJ