How I Write a Book - Step 1 - Ideas

Hi Amy Greensters,
I was posting this blog to my other website - www.sarahwebb.ie and I thought I'd share snippets of it with you guys too!
It's about how I write a book from start to finish. So if you're interested in writing, or in how I write my books, read on.

I’ve just realised I haven’t really blogged about how I write a book from start to finish – from the very first idea to the actual final manuscript. So using the book I’ve just finished, Ask Amy Green: Party Drama-rama (Amy 4) I’ll try to explain how I do this. It might take a couple of weeks as I’m talking details people! ‘Cos I’m that kinda gal. Now first the disclaimer:

Every writer writes in a very, very different way. This is just the way I do it. And I’m certainly not suggesting it will work for everyone. It doesn’t even work for me sometimes! So take everything I say with a large sea rock of salt!

1/ The Initial Idea
This is the number one question I get asked at events and in schools – ‘Where do you get your ideas?’

And it’s a very hard one to answer. If I’m talking to younger readers and writers of say under 14 I tend to tell them about my crazy, mad thought-filled mind and how it never rests and is always spewing up ideas. Like today – I was stuck at home with the kids (snowed in) and thinking about how that might feel if it happened for more than a week – how would we cope. Then – being a writer – I thought, hey, that’s an interesting one for a book. It could be a/ a comedy about a family muddling through and being resourceful and learning to work together after practically killing each other or b/ a Hunger Games type dystopian teen novel where the family really do kill each other – I’d have to throw in some sort of reality tv show then maybe or c/ a romance where 2 neighbouring families are thrown together – maybe a widow and a single mum – and they bond over show shovels. See, my mind works in mysterious ways and there is always, always something cool to write about.

Where was I? Ah yes, ideas. And the idea for Amy 4 in particular.

For me, largely the characters come first. In the case of Amy 4 I already knew all the main characters – Amy, Clover, her crazy 17 year old aunt, Mills, Amy’s best friend, Sylvie, her mum, Art, her Dad, Dave, her step dad and so on.

Before I think about plot, I tend to do a lot of work on the characters. For Amy 4 I had a new character to concentrate on, Bailey Otis. He has a small walk on part in Amy 3 but I needed to flesh him out a lot more. So I grabbed my character note book and started writing pages and pages – what I knew about him – from where he was born, to his childhood, his parents, schools, music he likes, talents, hates, likes etc etc.

Once I’ve got the main characters firmly in my head I think about the plot and the setting.

Plot

Plot is an interesting one. Some writers – especially crime writers apparently – start with plot. But I do have an idea of the type of thing I’d like to write about before I put pen to paper. It tends to swirl around in my head, picking up momentum and speed, before forming into anything coherent.

I knew I wanted to make Amy Green a problem solver. I also knew I wanted to give her an older side kick who could drive and had a job and some money. Clover was originally going to be 21 until my very wise friend, Liz, said that that was way too grown up and younger was better. So I made her 17 instead which worked much better – thanks, Liz!

Once I decided to make Clover a journalist, and an agony aunt for teens, I found my ‘in’ to the problem solving. Basically Amy is brilliant at solving other people’s problems, but not so hot with her own problems.

So then I had my premise and my characters, and I just had to fill in the plot. Which has never been hard with the Amy books as my characters have a lot to say and live very eventful lives!

But basically – ideas come from everywhere – keep your eyes open and one will bite you on the nose. Now, I wonder if that family getting snowed in idea would actually work? Or a teen novel about a Lockdown in a school . . . my son’s school had a Lockdown drill recently, a new one on me, but common now in the US . . . now that’s an interesting one . . .

Writing Competition Shortlist - Wildest Dreams Competition

Hi to everyone who entered the competition - your entries are up on the write a rama section of the website.
As they were all so brilliant I picked the three shortlisted ones out of a hat and they are:
Peace (9 to 11)
Sorcha (9 to 11)
and Tia (12 to 14)
Well done, girls! You will now be in the main draw to win a pack of lovely book and glittery goodies!
News on the overall winner next week right here. Stay tuned.
Sarah XXX

Hi to All the Kildare Gang and Another Great Review from Anna

Hi to all the great girls and guys from Kildare I met today in the Riverbank Theatre. Fab questions, lads!

And here's another quick review from Anna in Cork . . .
If you'd like to submit a review for the website, do send it to me - sarah at askamygreen.com

Here is my review on Bridesmaid Blitz

Bridesmaid blitz is a fabulous book and I could not put it down it is one of her best books maybe the best. My favorite characters are Clover and Gracie. I was mad with my self for finishing it because it was so good. A thrilling book with a real Paris feel, I loved it. Full of emotion, comedy, a French feeling, and a whole lot of Sarah Webb. My favorite part is when Amy becomes godmother. Enjoy and remember "A good book shines light on your life"(I made that up)
xx10 outa 10

Anna O' C xx

Niamh Sharkey and Cecelia Ahern go mad for On the Road . . .

And here's one I took at the Irish Book Awards launch of my mate, Niamh with none other than Cecelia Ahern - Niamh is the one on the left! Don't they look fab, the girls!

Go Niamh!

More celebrity book pics next week!!!

Sarah XXX

Derek Landy and John Boyne

Cool Writers Part 1 and 2: Derek Landy and John Boyne


I know a lot of you love reading - and guess who I bumped into recently at the Irish Book Awards launch - none other than my fellow writer friend, Derek Landy. I first met Derek about a month before his debut Skulduggery book came out, and I've had great fun following his career and chatting books with him ever since. He's a truly fab and cool guy and I think his novels are getting better and better every year.

But the COOLEST thing about Derek is the way he treats his fans. My son, Sam is a mega Derek fan and Derek kindly drew a wee pic on a napkin at the launch and let me take a pic of him holding it for Sam. Needless to say Sam was thrilled!
Derek rocks!

And ask for John Boyne - he's bfs with none other than Danni Minogue, the best judge in the X-Factor by miles. How impressive is that! He was at the show on Saturday with his sister - I'm green with envy.

I have such cool writer friends. And they write pretty fantastic books too!
More on my writer friends soon, including some rather fab pics of me in a pink limo with none other than Cathy Cassidy - if I can find the bloomin' pics that is!

Sarah XXX
PS expect lots more blogging action in the New Year my Amy Greensters, I'm only warming up!

Sarah with lovely illustrator, Niamh Sharkey

and Conor Hackett, our fab Walker Books 'minder' at the

launch of the Irish Book Awards.

To vote for Sarah (or Niamh) log onto

www.irishbookawards.ie and click on the vote button at the top. Ask Amy Green:Bridesmaid Blitz is in the senior children's category.

Thanks for voting!

Sarah XXX

Ask Amy Green Party Drama-Rama - some clues

So what's in store for Amy and Clover next? Well, lots of you have been asking about the next Amy Green so I have some news for you.
First of all it will be out in May 2011 - 5 months to go I'm afraid. But stay tuned here and to the newsletter for more details.
Mills and Seth are back of course, along with Clover - naturally! Try keeping her away.
Clover's going to college but she's really nervous - for very good reason. There's someone in college she really, really doensn't want to meet up with.
And Bailey Otis is back - he of the cheek bones and amazing green eyes. Bailey has a secret, and Amy's determined to find out what it is.
But of course, Mills falls head over heels for him . . . she always has some sort of boy trouble on the go, being MIlls!
I'll tell you more soon, promise. And as Amy says, 'A promise is a promise'.
Talk soon,
Sarah X