Emma Pass has been making up stories for as
long as she can remember. Her debut novel, ACID, is out now from Corgi/Random
House in the UK, and from Delacorte in the US. It won the 2014 North East Teenage Book Award, was
shortlisted for the Doncaster Book Award, nominated for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie
Medal and has been longlisted for the 2014 Branford Boase Award and a Silver
Inky Award in Australia. Her second novel, THE FEARLESS, is also out now in the
UK from Corgi/Random House and will be published in the US in early 2015 by Delacorte.
By day, she works as a library assistant and lives with her husband and crazy greyhound G-Dog in the North East Midlands.
By day, she works as a library assistant and lives with her husband and crazy greyhound G-Dog in the North East Midlands.
The
Fearless. An army, powered by an incredible new serum that makes each soldier
stronger, sharper, faster than their enemies. Intended as a force for good, the
serum has a terrible side effect – anyone who takes it is stripped of all
humanity, empathy, love. And as the Fearless sweep through the country, forcing
the serum on anyone in their path, society becomes a living nightmare.
Cass
remembers the night they passed through her village. Her father was Altered.
Her mother died soon after. All Cass has left is her little brother – and when
Jori is snatched by the Fearless, Cass must risk everything to get him back.
Now, here are her ten stages of writing a novel.
1. The Shiny New Idea
OMG! This is the best idea ever! I can’t
wait to write it! *Walks round with pockets full of notes written on the backs
of shopping receipts, envelopes and bus tickets as ideas pop into head at all
times of the day and night*
2. Creeping Doubt
But… what if I'm not a good enough writer
to do this idea justice? Perhaps I shouldn't bother. Perhaps I should just,
y'know, stick to writing Facebook posts instead.
3. Renewed Excitement
What was I so worried about? The words are
just POURING out right now. I seriously think it's the best thing I've ever
written EVER. *Types until smoke starts to rise from the keyboard*
4. It's Just A Bad Day… Right?
Uh-oh. Plot snarl. But… but… that's normal,
right? Just keep going. Everything will be OK.
5. The Crash
Um, no, it won't. Hello, brick wall.
6. Panic
THIS IS THE WORST BOOK EVER WHY DID I EVEN
START IT WHY DID I EVER THINK I COULD BE A WRITER WHYYYYYYYYY
7. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
OK. Time to get over it. I have a deadline
for this thing, remember? *plays Candy Crush and watches deadline draw ever
closer*
8. FINISHED
I have a first draft! 400 pages of, um… stuff. And plot holes. Plot holes so
wide and so deep you could lose the Empire State Building in them. This book
doesn't actually make any sense.
9. Back to Work
But that's what redrafting is for, right?
*Buys in supplies of chocolate and coffee*
10. ACTUALLY FINISHED
I'm exhausted. The house is a mess. I
haven't seen daylight in months. Remind me never
to do this agai– Wait. Wait. I've
just had the BEST idea for a story! *Runs to write it down*
About Emma Pass
ACID - Her dystopian YA is out now from Corgi Children's Books/Random House (UK), Montena/Random House Mondadori (Spain) and Delacorte (US).
THE FEARLESS - Her post-apocalyptic YA is out now from Corgi Children's Books/Random House (UK) and coming early 2015 from Delacorte (US).
Website: http://emmapass.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EmmaPass
Facebook: http://facebook.com/EmmaPassAuthor