[Jade]

So, in the book I'm writing, the main character has a goal, motive, and conflict, right? Her goal is to solve a real mystery, and her motive is to save her YouTube channel. Is that too weak a goal? She's twelve years old. 

And second question. Do you think majoring in Dramatic Writing helped you with your career? Also, we haven't talked in forever! Did you see the new Book Club coming up?

Be blessed,

Jade

[Jade]

I changed my mind! I'm making a different character the main, Joey. So now I want to know some good middle grade, action/adventure books. First person. Guy's perspective. Twelve to thirteen years old.

And that just happens to describe a whole lot of your books! Are there any in particular that you think really caught the mind of a 12-year-old boy well? I was just going to read WHATSHISFACE again since I love it so much, but I was considering SLACKER. Or MASTERMINDS, since that was full of action. I also liked Jax, so THE HYPNOTISTS? And I loved NOTORIOUS. But I can't just read all of your books. So what books are you thinking?

Also, my book is set in a town that I've never visited. How do you write stories set in different cities, since you can't possibly live everywhere? I also want to see if I can use their environment to my own advantage, since it's an action/adventure novel.

 

Be blessed,

Jade 

[J.R.]

If you mind-being a 12 year old boy and all-of those you mentioned, SLACKER caught on to me like a net. Although I wasn't as intrigued by the sequel, the book was awesome!

Masterminds was on a whole other level. The pacing was perfect and the action was terrific.

Another book I read recently-Sorry Gord, not one of yours-was Sophie Quire by Jonathan Auxier. The book was spectacular but the part that really pulled me in was PETER NIMBLE WAS SO DARN COOL!!!!

He was smooth and refined and I found myself idolizing him at the end. So in conclusion, make the boy plain cool. 

-J.R.-

[Jade]

No, I don’t mind. I’m actually super grateful, thank you J.R.! Your advice means a whole lot, especially since you know being a 12-year-old boy better than I ever will. Will definitely be checking out all of those books!! On a different note, have you gotten your hands on I WANT TO GO HOME?

 

Be blessed,

Jade

Hi, Jade,

Wow! Keeping up with you is like being a tornado hunter! I'll try to answer all this stuff before you change your story again!

The girl you're NOT writing about needs more motive than just saving a YouTube channel. The channel has to be run by a couple of dear old ladies who founded the channel, and love it, and need it to continue to make their meagre living. Or a dear old gentleman. Or 2 newlyweds who are trying to keep body and soul together. The channel has to MATTER.

Now on to Joey. You could do worse than THE HYPNOTISTS, which is about Jax, a supremely gifted person who is from a long line of hypnotists, and barely understands his own powers. Or Noah Youkilis, who is brain-gifted and a complete idiot in every other way -- that's UNGIFTED and SUPERGIFTED. Or the lead kid in EVEREST. Or the kid from NOTORIOUS -- he's a true adventurer, but with a physical handicap that gradually disappears as the story progresses. Whatever and whoever suits your purposes. Can I suggest that you create him from scratch and not worry about any other author's heroes? You might like him better that way.

The town you've never visited. Does it have to be a real place? If so, you'd better look it up and find out a little bit about it. Otherwise, you can do what I do, and create it to suit your story. (Don't tell anyone I said that!)

And you'd be wise to listen to JR, who is very smart and has definite writing instincts, (and don't tell him I said that!)

And yes, I do know that there's a discussion brewing on I WANT TO GO HOME, which was my top seller until RESTART came along.

Have I answered everything? Hope so.                                                                           --G--

[Jade]

Well, the channel does matter. Just because she's twelve doesn't mean she can't care about the channel. It's not the focus of the story, a part of the plot, or anything. It's significant because it's a bridge for her to enter the plot. She doesn't want to lose her channel since she's been so dedicated to it for the past year, maybe more. Her channel's focused on mysteries. She loves that kind of stuff and wants to be a detective when she grows up. Why isn't that a strong enough?

I'm not trying to make Joey off of any sort of character. He's distinct and has a personality--I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I was asking if you know any stories that have good main characters that truly embody what a 12-year-old boy thinks like. It has nothing to do with the heroes or what role it played in the story, but everything to do with making sure Joey sounds like a boy. I don't want him to sound like a little girl, or a girl trying to sound like a boy. I want him to sound like a boy.

Doesn't have to be a real place, but it has to be in Nevada.

 

Be blessed,

Jade

[J.R.]

Dear Jade+Gord

I haven't yet. But I found one for 13 dollars on Amazon, so hopefully I can scrape enough money together for one.

What did you say about my instincts, Gord? Couldn't hear you.

-J.R.-

Hi again, Jade,

That is definitely strong enough. You didn't mention her attachment to the channel, and I felt there had to be one.

Re: Joey. You seem to have a good handle on him. Don't worry so much about making sure he's all male. I feel certain that a bright person like you can remember what it was like to be 11 or 12 and just a kid, not genderless, exactly, but not super-masc either. 12 is like that, with flashes of male attitude (curiosity, courage, determination, a little resentment of authority) from time to time.

Sounds like an exciting new project.                                                                                                       -G-