154: Writing from Your Heart and Soul - Interview with Sarah Dessen

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have bestselling author of contemporary YA, Sarah Dessen on the show! Sarah has twelve previous novels to her name, and discusses with us here her latest teen read, Once And For All. Listen in as we chat about the ins and outs of Sarah's writing process, and how she keeps her momentum going to create characters and stories that resonate with teens. In this episode Sarah and I discuss: How to craft a story with a balance of light and dark scenes. What challenges arise after you've published multiple books, and why some books are more challenging to write than others. How to use a "skeleton" of your story to draft a manuscript, and how this technique can let you know a book is not working. How to craft realistic and engaging stories that keep teens coming back for more. How to push through the bad writing times and forge ahead. Plus Sarah's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/154