About the Author: Sara Zarr is the acclaimed author of six novels for young adults, most recently Gem & Dixie. She’s a National Book Award finalist and two-time Utah Book Award winner. Her books have been variously named to annual best books lists of the American Library Association, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, the Guardian, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library and Los Angeles Public Library, and have been translated into many languages. Her first book, Story of a Girl, was made into a 2017 television movie directed by Kyra Sedgwick.
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Sara Zarr: It’s difficult to know, exactly. Because I’m in a place in my career where I work with an editor and publisher at very early stages, there’s a lot of wait time that goes on. I’d say I can get to the point I’m willing to show it to my editor for the first time in maybe 6-12 months, depending what else is going on.
SZ: I think there’s a general assumption that there is more money and fame going on than there really is. If you follow all the big YA writers on social media, for example, you could be under the impression that most books hit some kind of bestseller list or get awards and the ones that don’t have failed in some way. The truth is that most books don’t hit these marks. That doesn’t mean the book is a failure or you are not a good writer. Most writers continue working day jobs, plug along with moderate sales and medium advances, and that in itself is a worthy goal.
SZ: I always focused my attention on finding the right agent. I don’t have the temperament or knowledge to negotiate contracts, etc. I cold-queried agents until I found one that wanted to represent me.
SZ: I’ve experienced both. I prefer the former! But usually, it’s the latter.
SZ: Thank you. In real life, I’m the younger sibling, but unlike Dixie, I was always very aware of the ways both my sister and I were taking care of ourselves in the absence of ideal parenting.
SZ: I still doubt my writing all the time. Whatever work you can do in letting go of perfectionism is helpful. Writing is a process of trial and error, and failure is a key component of all of that. I do think that when you’re starting out, especially, it’s important to train yourself to finish a first draft even if you’re uncertain about the idea or where it’s going. You don’t want to keep dropping ideas before they’re finished and never learn what happens when you get to the end.
SZ: It changes day to day. I try to have at least 2-3 days in a given week on which long chunks of writing time can happen. On other days I do errands and little stuff, answer emails, life, etc. I would never describe any schedule I have as “strict,” though. Strictness is not my thing!
SZ: All my characters start with my own life and experiences and observations, or come from imagination. None of them are based on real people, other than a detail here or there. I don’t think about getting into the “teenage mindset” because I don’t think there is such a thing! Every teenager is different. I think it’s more important to tap into your own emotions and experiences at every stage of life.
SZ: I was a teenager in the 1980s, and Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War was a big influence, as were all his books. Or course Judy Blume, M.E. Kerr, and Chris Crutcher. Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak was also a benchmark around the time I was getting serious about writing my own books.
SZ: Everything is kind of difficult. Plot presents challenges, as far as how my imagination works. The hardest thing always is just pushing through resistance to start working at all. After about 15 minutes, I’m good to go and can problem-solve all that other stuff.
SZ: The old cliched answer holds true: reading a lot and writing a lot.
SZ: Next year, the paperback for Gem & Dixie will come out, and I also have an essay in an anthology called “Life Inside My Mind” in which a bunch of writers talk about their own mental health issues. Both will be out in spring. No new novels from me until 2019!
PRR Writer, Julia Shelton