Emma Pass and Ten Stages of Writing a Novel

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. 

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/

Blog: http://emmapass.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EmmaPass

Facebook: http://facebook.com/EmmaPassAuthor