The Newness

I hate starting a new project. Every time I start something new, the following thoughts pop into my head:

1) Why am I doing this? I don't get paid enough to be this miserable.
2) I'm such a hack. No wonder ____ said _____ about my last book.
3) I could write a novel about ___, but ___ has already done it.
4) I could write a novel about _____, but ____ could do it so much better than I could.
5) I should write something funny.
6) I should write something serious.
7) I should write a fantasy novel. Yeah, Hakim Potter at the Deathly Ghettos.
8) I should write a middle grade, so that I can win a Newbery.
9) I should write an adult novel. That way I could be on Oprah.
10) I should just quit while I'm ahead.

Eventually I'm able to push through these thoughts and get something down on paper. Sometimes it just takes a while. A long while.

In other news, I wish I had something more to add about the sale, but really, there isn't much more to say, at least not now. My editor feels pretty confident that we can get the revisions done in enough time to make the Fall 09 schedule. I'll be sure to let y'all know when something exciting happens.

Rhombus continues to do well--thanks to everyone who's purchased the book or requested it from the library or posted a positive comment about it. A few weeks ago, I uploaded the Discussion Guide for My Life as a Rhombus, created by the multi-talented Tracie Vaughn Zimmer. Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think.

Pictionary

I started a new project last week. So far, I haven't used the following words:













or










or

or even

That's right, kiddos--Mr. V is trying to go:













And truthfully, it:








I gonna stick with this for a while, just because the type of novel I'm writing could work great without cursing, if I can make the dialogue work. But right now, it doesn't. And if after a few weeks I can't get it to work, I'll flush it down the:














And go back to dropping:

Ta Da!

Pop the champagne! Drop the confetti! I am happy to report that I have finally finished the first draft of my latest novel.

Actually, first draft is a little misleading. It's more like the first complete draft of the novel. My process is really pretty complicated. First, I spend a few weeks outlining a novel. I mainly try to identify the big pieces of the novel, and I try to capture any dialog that might work well in certain parts. I also want to make sure I have enough content to actually justify a novel. I tend to go through a lot of drafts of my outlines, and I eventually end up picking two or three that I really like. I don't automatically know exactly what I want to write - I usually have a main theme I want to touch on, but everything else is up for grabs. I tend to over-populate my manuscript with problems at this phase as well.

After I finish my outlines, I spend a month or so really working on the first three chapters. A lot of my outlines bite the dust before I even finish one chapter. Eventually, a writable novel rises to the top. I really believe that the first three chapters should tell you everything you need to know about the novel - who the main characters are, what the main problem is, the tone and voice of a novel, etc.

Next, I begin writing the book. Now, this isn't planned, but what usually happens is that I write about half of the book, before I get a huge epiphany and start over again. If I'm lucky, like I was in this case, I'm able to use a lot of the material that I created before. If I'm unlucky (like with Rhombus) I have to almost start from scratch. I also redo my outline, and at this point, most of the over-the-top problems are eliminated.

Then, it's a mad dash to the finish line as I frantically write the novel. This is probably the most exciting time for me, because it's when everything is fresh and new and exciting. I tend to write a lot of dialog first, and then fill it in with narrative later.

I'm now at the point where I've combined all my individual chapters into one large Word file. This is where I begin the true editing process.

I wish I could tell you guys more about the manuscript (codename: Righteous), but it just isn't at that point yet. Mrs. V hasn't even read this manuscript yet, and my agent has only seen the first three chapters. But, to be fair, I will share this about the novel:

1) It's contemporary fiction.
2) It's the closest thing to a love story that I've ever written.
3) It has a lot to do with religion.
4) My main characters' names are Joshua and Madeline.
5) It has less cursing than Rhombus (at least, for now).

Speaking of Rhombus, I'm almost finished with the next round of edits on the manuscript. They were virtually painless this go around, and in the next round (if there even is a next round), I expect them to be very minor. Stay tuned to the website over the next couple of months. I hope to have more content about Rhombus there by March.

The Printz Dream

I had the Printz Dream again. The dream where I get a call in January, informing me of my selection as the Printz Award winner. My dream self is confused, because even in my dreams I know that I shouldn't be winning the award. But my dream self isn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and therefore accepts the award anyway.

In the Printz dream, I give an awe-inspiring speech the ALA summer conference. I thank my parents, who are seating at a table directly in front of me. I thank SCBWI and my critique group. I thank every librarian I have ever known. I even thank Judy Blume and Walter Dean Myers for setting me on the path to reading and writing. And of course, I thank Mrs. V for all of her support.

I know it's a dream. Even my dream self knows it's a dream. But when that alarm clock goes off at 5:00 in the morning, sometimes a dream is all I have to get me out of bed.

Here's to a Happy New Year. I hope all of your dreams, even the impossible ones, come true.

Poems That Suck - Part 2

Last year, I posted a poem that I wrote back in 1991. For those of you that remember, it sucked. Well, after reading a recent post by Sara Zarr (who's book, Story of a Girl, comes out next month), I am inspired yet again to post bad poetry. Here's another gem from 1991.

I get migraine headaches when I see:

1) grizzly bears
2) flash floods
3) killer sharks
4) science teachers

I seem to get a headache everyday.

Feel free to throw as many imaginary rotten tomatoes as you'd like.

Who's Mr. V?

Super Cool Editor Guy has me working on a bio for My Life A As Rhombus. I won't reveal the bio just yet, but I will reveal what didn't make the cut:

1) Varian Johnson was not a ladies' man in high school, but he will lie and tell you that he was.

2) Varian Johnson uses his powers for good, while other authors use their powers for evil.

3) Varian Johnson loves gummi bears almost as much as Republicans love money.

4) Varian Johnson used to drive a car nicknamed "Jenny, the Mighty Topaz."

5) Varian Johnson likes to cruise the web for "artistic" photographs.

6) Varian Johnson is very jealous of John Green and Markus Zusak.

7) Varian Johnson lives in Austin, TX with his beautiful wife and two dogs that like to lick on stuff, like each other's...stuff.

8) Varian Johnson couldn't do a pull-up if his life depended on it.


Lastly, I've finally become a member of the cults known as Live Journal and MySpace. Feel free to check me out there, if you're more partial to one of those formats. I'll be cross-posting my ass off for the next few weeks, until I figure out how to best synidate posts.

Where's Mr. V?

Currently, I'm hanging out in the great metropolis of Waco, TX. Mrs. V and I were stuck in traffic (there was a horrible accident on IH-35). While making a bathroom break, the car decided to stop on us. Of course, no auto shops are open at 5:00 PM on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so Mrs. V, the two dogs, and I had to bed down here in Waco. I'm currently at the Ford Dealership. So far, I'm amassed at least $235 in auto costs...and they're still not done.

I haven't posted in quite a while, mainly because I've been slaving away at the edits on Rhombus. I'm done...almost. I had to do a total rewrite of one chapter; I'm curious what Super Cool Editor Guy will think of it. I've still got to tweak the ending (as I said in my last post) but that's easy compared to the trickle effect caused by the changes to Chapter 19.

I've also updated the blog to Blogger Beta. It looks like I still have all of my previous posts, but I've lost my old comments.

FYI - If anyone gets stuck at IH-35W exit 337, the only hotel in the area that accepts pets is the Knights Inn. It's not the most upscale motel in the world, but it's better than sleeping in a car.

Happily Ever After

Most YA authors will say that while a YA novel doesn't have to have a happy ending, it must give the reader a sense of hope. And I almost always agree with that...except in the case of Rhombus.

I got the edits on Rhombus last week, but I knew I had to change the ending before I received them. And I agree with my editor and everyone else that's read the novel - I tried to tie up too many loose strings at the end of the novel. It isn't realistic.

I think the reason I want things to end up happily is less about Rhonda (my MC) and more about the person that I want her to forgive. As much as I relate to Rhonda in the novel, there's someone else I relate to a lot more. And if I were that person, I would give anything to be forgiven in the way that Rhonda currently forgives him in the novel.

I really, really want things to end happily for Rhonda and for everyone else in the novel. And the characters will end up being happy...just not by the time the novel ends.

Mr. V meets Imaginary Oprah

Thanks everyone for all of the congrats and well-wishes about the book sale. I know I keep saying it, but it's true - I really, really like what Flux is doing, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Folks have asked a lot of questions about me, the novel, my agent, Flux, and just about everything else over the last week. I figured now would be a good time to answer some of those questions.

Imaginary Oprah: Congratulations on the novel. Can you tell us what it's about?

Mr. V: Umm, didn't you read the blurb on my last post?

Imaginary Oprah: Of course I did. Your blurb didn't give much of a description about the book, though. What causes Rhonda's life to be turned "upside down"? Why is she avoiding the in-crowd?

Mr. V: None of your business. You'll get more answers as the publication date nears.

Imaginary Oprah: But -

Mr. V: I said to drop it. Don't make me call Dr. Phil.

Imaginary Oprah (as she mumbles something under her breath): A lot of people were unhappy with the way you ended your first novel. Will this novel end in similar fashion?

Mr. V: No one buys the farm in this novel.

IO: That's good to hear. Now, according to your blurb, this is your first YA novel. Is that correct?

Mr. V: Finally, a good question. My first novel, although written as a YA novel, was released as adult fiction. My publisher said that we would target both the YA and the adult markets for the novel. Unfortunately, I must not have gotten the memo where they decided to revise their marketing scheme.

IO: You sound bitter for someone whose novel made the Essense Bestseller list.

Mr. V: No, I'm not bitter. It's just that for the past few years, I've felt like a YA author trapped in the land of adult fiction. I had spent all of my time and resources preparing for the YA market. The book hit the stores (well, some stores) and I wasn't prepared for how to handle marketing and promoting an adult fiction book.

IO: Your new publisher, Flux, seems to focus primarily on teen fiction. How do you feel about that?

Mr. V: What kind of question is that? I'm happy about it, of course. I write teen fiction, remember?

IO (narrowing her eyes): You'd better be glad I'm a figment of your imagination, because if not, I'd reach through that computer screen and-

Mr. V: Save the threats for Stedman. Just keep asking questions.

IO: Sara Crowe with the Harvey Klinger Agency negotiated the deal. Do you have any comments on that?

Mr. V: Sara's a great agent. She knows the market, and she knows what I need as an author. I'm lucky to be represented by her.

IO: Flux's belief that YA is a point of view, not a reading level, is a great tagline. By any chance do you have a tagline?

Mr. V: Yeah. I make shit up.

IO (frowning): I thought you were a YA novelist. Shouldn't you keep your language PG, for the kids?

Mr. V: What planet are you living on? Have you heard a teenager talk lately? They stopped keeping it PG in elementary school. But that's a topic for another day.

IO (shaking her head): What do you Flux people call yourselves?

Mr. V: According to Christine Kole Maclean (who's book, How it's Done, is coming out next month with Flux), we're either Flux-ians or Flux-onites. Personally, I think we're a bunch of Bad Mother Fluxers.

IO (as she salutes me): Who's a bad mother fluxer now?

In Flux

Varian Johnson's debut young adult novel, MY LIFE AS A RHOMBUS, the story of Rhonda Lee, an overweight, African-American math genius with a simple goal - to get a scholarship to Georgia Tech while avoiding the "in-crowd" as much as possible - whose life is turned upside-down when she finds herself forced to tutor Sarah Gamble, Senior Class Goddess, to Andrew Karre at Flux, by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc.

This ran in Publishers Lunch last week, so I figured I'd go ahead and break the news (sorry for the long delay). I'm really excited about being a part of Flux's line. Andrew Karre, the Flux editor, is putting out the types of books that I like to read, so naturally I think I'll be right at home with all the Flux folks.

This has kinda been in the works for a while. Andrew called about a month ago to discuss the manuscript with me. He had a lot of good suggestions, and he picked up on a lot of the things I was trying to do in the novel. He also asked if I was open to revisions (umm...of course), and then he ended the conversation saying that he'd be in touch. Sara contacted me a little later to say that Flux planned to put in an offer for the novel. Sara and Andrew did their "thing" (God, I love agents) and voila, I have a new publisher.

Although Flux is a new line, I've actually known about the imprint for some time. I met Megan Atwood, the previous acquisitions editor for Flux (Llewellyn), at the national SCBWI conference last year. We talked some about Red Polka Dot, and she ended the conversation by handing me her card and suggesting that I send her some of my work.

Megan is no longer with Llewellyn, but I've heard nothing but good things about Andrew from some of his authors. And, he keeps a blog. Anyone who has a blog is cool, right?

I know that the Pub Lunch description isn't very telling about the novel, but I like it that way. I've give out more nuggets about the novel as we get closer to the publication date. I've really enjoyed getting to know Rhonda Lee, and I think y'all will enjoy reading about her as well.

SOLD!!!

Sara called a few days ago to give me the good news. Details will be coming...soon.