[Zoey]

I absolutely loved your book "The Unteachables" it was such a good story and warmed my heart. I love the character of Elaine (rhymes with pain) and let's not forget Aldo. But my FAVORITE character EVER is Parker's Grandmother. The "Unteachables" made me cry, laugh, and smile. I couldn't stop reading after I picked up the book for the first time.

 

That being said I would be honored if you could answer a few questions I have for you about writing? I'm a young author and have my own blog, One Page a Time. If you have time to reply to even one or two I'd love to share the answers on my blog!

 

What is your favorite thing about writing?

 

2. Do you plan out your stories before you write them or do you just go page, by page?

 

3. If you could go back in time to when you first became an author, what advice would you give yourself?

 

4. What’s a story or plot you’ve always wanted to write about, but it didn’t work out?

 

5. Do you have author friends that help you when you get stuck with a plot or character?

 

Sincerely your hopeful author, 

Zoey Edwards

author@onepageatime.com

Hi, Zoey,

Thanks for posting. I'll try to get to all your questions.

1. Favorite thing about writing: watching the story I've planned out turn into exactly what I had in mind. (It even happens that way sometimes!)

2. Planning is everything. I write towards something, usually a well-imagined climactic scene.

3. What advice would I give myself? Be in touch with your audience as much as possible. After all, you're doing this for them!

4. The latest book is #103. I swear I don't think I've missed anything. But if I discover what it is, it'll be my next book.

5. I don't recall ever being stuck, but there are a few people, not necessarily authors, who will talk a plot or scene out with me.

OK? Thanks for your interest, Zoey. I will check out your blog.                                  -----Gordon Korman-----

[Jonah Nicklow]

I hope you like it! I really look up to you.

Hi, Jonah,

I have always had to make it my policy not to read other people's work. I get too many requests and I haven't got the time or, frankly, the patience for it.

Having said that, I read yours. If it fits well with the rest of the story, then being as choppy as it is will go nicely. You have an interesting way of expressing yourself, and you need a dictionary. It's actually more like a play.

And I will probably be writing you a fan letter one day and telling everybody I knew you when you were just 12!

Forgive me if I figure out how to erase your effort, though. This isn't the place for it.

                                         Regards,                                                       -----Gordon Korman-----

[Jonah Nicklow]

Thank you for writing back! I will take the suggestions. I just spent the last of my money on a dictionary to study. 

Peacing out,

J. R. Nicklow

P.S. That is the little alias I am using.

Write a lot, Jonah -- stories, notes to people, letters, even a diary or journal. Your writing will get smoother, and will probably read smoother too. And NEVER write a single word unless you plan your story first! That's Rule #1, one that I never break. You can't say anything well unless you know exactly what you're trying to convey. And you can;t know that unless you plan it first.

TONS of fun and lots of luck!                                                                 ---GK---

[Jonah Nicklow]

Thanks! I already have a Google document where I write a little story anytime I want too. I had a question though. What is your favorite NFL team if you follow the NFL. Mine is the 49ers, even though I live in Pittsburgh.

[Jonah Nicklow]

I forgot to mention this earlier but my favorite book of yours was most definitely The Fort. I obsessed over it and was disappointed in the end when officials filled the fort up with sand. It was a good kind of disappointment though, and it was lightened at the ending when the members of the fort found the flower blooming. I was amazed at how you fit in the flower to seem nothing like a bit of oil to get the plot machine moving, or to be a doorway for how major Jason’s parents divorce was, but it had far more importance at the end than initially expected.

🤯

Still amazed, 

J. R. Nicklow

P.S. The “R” stands for my middle name. I’m not trying to copy J. R. R. Tolkien or J. K. Rowling.

Hi, Jonah,

Glad to get your commentary on THE FORT. I'm very proud of the way that book turned out. It was my Book #100, which made it pretty special to me.

Re: the cactus: it's a technique I use quite often. Mention something, and let some time go by so the reader has pretty much forgotten about it, That's when you come in and hit them with something like the cactus flowering for its once-a-year time right there on the trash heap.

Thanks, J.R.                                                                                                            ---GK---

P.S., Jonah,

BIG football fan, season ticket holder, love tailgating before the game. The Giants are my team.            ---GK---

[Jonah Nicklow]

Interesting technique. Respectable team, and I think Daniel Jones is underrated.

On a different note, I read Swindle for the first time today. I love how Palomino got what he deserved, but in a different way than what the reader expected. Griffin’s brusque planning nature fitted PERFECTLY with the plot. In my opinion, it was not your best work, but certainly far better than the average book for kids. I started it this morning, but I am an efficient reader, so it only took me a hour. I’ve read War and Peace, Lord Of The Rings, and countless Civil War books. Actually, I can tell someone almost every single battle or movement after Gettysburg and the absolute disasters that happened under the command of Mclelland and Dowell. (Mclelland ran against Lincoln in the 1864 election) 

I actually have a biological relation to the Founding Fathers, being the: Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandchild of John Adams. My Great Grandmother took a DNA test when she was 21 out of curiosity, so that is how she figured out. She was also a member of The Modern Day Daughters Of Liberty. It is quite amazing. Well, I better stop rambling and leave you alone, so I will leave you.

Excited I am talking to the real, legendary Gordon Korman,

J. R. Nicklow

[Jonah Nicklow]

I failed to mention this, but I have started a little bit of a plot to write.

I have decided to respect your policy and I will only post it if you want to see it.

So far, a Straight A student is looking at his grades when he notices the test he just took is graded as a D when it was rightfully an A. It turns out someone is changing the grades of all the students because of a certain motive. (Like I said, it is brief so far.) Everyone starts failing and the school has no proof that the grades are being changed, so it is in danger of being shut down due to poor grades. People blame each other and the county gets mad. 
That’s about it.

Sincerely, J. R. Nicklow

[J. R.]

Dear Mr. Korman,

I just ordered The Superteacher project and it will come in on Tuesday, so I should be able to give you a review Wednesday.

Adding on, I have developed my writing career solely from you advice, at a faster pace than I was just sitting in bed at 3AM “studying” books, hoping I would find some fictional, secret writer’s code on how to write a book. And, to sum it up, I quite frankly need your mentoring. I would like your address so we don’t have to keep in touch on this thread.
I completely understand if you don’t want a 12 year old writer wannabe badgering you for advice or you just don’t have the time or patience. (I would honestly not have the patience myself.) So, once again, this is J. R. walking out.

Sincerely,

J. R.

Hi, J.R.,

Re: your plot. What do you do about hard copy? If a student complains, the test gets a second look, no? (Sorry if I'm nit-picking.)

Sorry, J.R., but I can't commit to much more than the Forum. But why don't you open a new topic, call it J.R., and we'll communicate from there. You are NOT badgering me. You are a colleague. Remember, I was 12 once too!                   ---GK---

[J. R.]

Yes, I totally understand. I was off in some fantasy world last night and I honestly don’t know why I asked that. As C. S. Lewis said, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed six impossible things before breakfast.” Anyway, I will open the forum in a minute.
Sincerely, 

J. R.