In the beginning, I wrote 5 young adult novels. Despite requests from several agents and publishers, I could not find a home for my Christian YA. Unless your name is Melody Carlson, it can be a hard sell. Thus, I appreciate how challenging it is to write and publish young adult fiction. In my quest to become a better writer, I read a variety of books. Now, I hope to reach out to several talented writers to learn from them. Last fall, I contacted Mindy McGinnis to talk about her books.
(Photo property of Mindy McGinnis author website)
Mindy McGinnis writes a wide range of young adult fiction (post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, mystery, fantasy, and contemporary). I love that she is down-to-earth and approachable. In 2016, she won an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel with her book, A Madness So Discreet. Although I have only read two of her novels at this point, I believe her work taps into universal truths. She tackles tough issues and brings them to the forefront for teen awareness and discussion.
Because her book, Heroine, portrays drug abuse with raw honesty, she has battled censorship. This book hit close to home for me (discover more about this book and read my review here). Despite being a tough read, I'm so glad she is shining a light on this problem. I pray her efforts might save other impressionable young people from venturing down that slippery slope.
Next, I read Be Not Far From Me. I'm always up for a survival read. I appreciate McGinnis' ability to suck you in and draw you into the world of the character. She also excels at nailing a genuine and unique teen voice. (Find my review, with story details, by clicking here.) I'm grateful for her willingness to answer my questions about the novels and about writing.
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Heroine
Q1: This book struck a chord with me, as my son’s prescription for a sport-related injury was a stepping stone on his journey into deeper drug use. In your opinion, why is this an important book for teens to read?
Mindy: It's important because it illustrates how addiction actually works. When you're writing for teens, many people want any type of risky behavior to have immediate negative consequences. A character that does drugs needs to wake up the next morning in some sort of horrible physical condition, or have a terrifying experience. That's not how it works. People do drugs because they make you feel good. It's that simple. The lessons come later, and they're hard.
Q2: Tough issues are hard to write about. In my review of What a Wave Must Be, I complained that the graphic urgent reality of the topic of cluster suicides led me to feel like a test-dummy. Did you struggle to balance making the story believable, accurate, and true without overkilling the subject for the reader?
Mindy: Nope. I don't struggle with anything. I write what needs to be written in order to accurately convey the material. That being said, I am careful - especially with this book - not to be writing a manual or a how-to. You never actually see Mickey shoot up, and the method she uses to crush her oxy earlier in the book would no longer work, as Purdue Pharma changed the formula of OxyContin when they realized people were crushing it to snort.
Q3: In responding to my letter thanking you for writing Heroine, you wrote: “Addiction is truly heinous and can happen to anyone; none of us are immune, and falling prey to it does not make a person weak or evil. That is the message I hope to convey with Heroine, and I believe it is making an impact... although not always in the ways I had hoped. Heroine is, and continues to be, my most banned book. Many schools have been forced to remove it from their libraries, which is where it needs to be in order for the message to be available to those who need it most.” Do you look back with a desire to change anything?
Mindy: Nope. Wouldn't change a thing. This book isn't hurting anyone, but I know it's helped many.
Q4: In my limited experience with launching a book into the world, I have struggled with disappointment at not being able to get my book into the hands that would most appreciate and benefit from my words. How does banning your book make you feel as an author who believes in your message and the story you want to convey? How do you fight discouragement over this?
Mindy: I don't really have emotions about it, to be honest. A lot of people ask me how I feel, and that's not really applicable. The real question is - what do I think and what am I going to do about it? I think that there are plenty of teachers, librarians, and advocacy groups out there doing good work to make sure kids have the books they need, and I support them. What I'm going to do about it is keep writing what I write, how I write it.
Q5: Many banned books are ones I'm grateful to have experienced, despite content I might not enjoy or agree with. For example, I adored Mark Haddon’s skill at voice in his book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. While I didn’t appreciate the excessive use of expletives, I overlooked it because there were redeeming qualities within the book. Indeed, as a parent, I want to know what books my kids are reading, so I can discuss with them any difficult topics where I want my perspectives on the table. I skimmed the Heroine discussion questions you provide for educators (or parents who wish to read this important book and discuss it with their teen before this ugly issue rears its head). I appreciate how you attempt to lead the reader to see preconceived notions they might have already formed about drugs and addicts who are hooked on them. What is the foremost thing you hope young people gain from the process of reading and discussing Heroine?
Mindy: Addiction can happen to anyone. It cuts across all demographics. A person can feel like they've got their situation under control, but in reality, they are spiraling. A greater awareness of how addiction begins, and how quickly risky behaviors can turn into bad habits is what I hope readers take away, along with empathy for addicts. We all have someone in our lives that is either living the experience, or has come out on the other side. Starting from a point of knowing that they are not weak or evil is key.
Be Not Far From Me
Q1: One thing I appreciate (from the two books of yours I have read and from others I’ve read blurbs for) is your ability to branch out into different subjects and styles. You are not a formulaic writer. That’s fantastic. What would you say helps you attack different subjects and styles? Or, to what do you attribute your skill at approaching different content with each book?
Mindy: I'm a really terrible person to answer craft questions, because I don't know the answers. I have no formal training in writing, and I have no specific process or method for any book. I just sit down and write the story as it comes to me. No plotting. No planning. Just go.
Q2: The main character in Be Not Far From Me, Ashley Hawkins, is a tough, self-reliant, hardened individual. How do you, as a writer, get inside the heads of your characters to pull off a distinct and effective voice, as you’ve done for Ashley?
Mindy: I don't really know how to answer that one either. I just hear them.
Q3: One of my favorite parts of the book is where Ashley does an about-face (for her) and simply says, “I need help.” The character has progressed through her trial and become a better person for it. Do you outline as you write, in order to polish the story arc, or are you more of a pantser, plowing through and then going back into the manuscript to hone and clarify that arc of development?
Mindy: I'm completely organic. I don't typically know what's going to happen in a story, or even who is going to live until the end, or who the "bad guy" is if it's a mystery. I just write. It's a simple approach, but it works for me. Again, any type of craft question like character development or arc, is just not something I even think about.
Q4: Toward the middle of the story, we catch glimpses of Ashley’s exposure to religious beliefs at the camp she attended. Indeed, it surprised me when I learned the title for the book comes from Ashley’s interaction with (no, memorization of) Psalm 22. While Davey Beet's instruction at the camp teaches her survival skills, she also learns survival skills through biblical instruction. On page 156, as Ashley recites Psalm 22 to herself, she muses, “I don’t know if I’m saying it because I think there might actually be a God to listen or if I’m just distracting myself, but… I keep going.” What would you say is your perspective? Do you believe God is listening or do you believe Ashley merely took strength from reciting the comforting words of scripture?
Mindy: What I think doesn't matter - what Ashley thinks matters. And I can't really say that I have access to all of her interiority. I think the camp was a good experience for her, and she drew comfort from it.
Q5: As much as I’ve read about prizing a good beginning, I believe a satisfying end leaves you with completion and a jumping off point for taking the story further. You accomplish this in both books. At the end of Heroine, the reader must decide what Mickey picked up to use later (allowing the reader to determine the course of the rest of the story). The end of Be Not Far From Me is beautiful: “I’m going to find Davey Beet. I’m going to bring home the boy who showed me how to survive. Then I’m going to live every day remembering that’s what we’re all doing, each in our own way. But nobody wants to do it alone. I hike up my pack and square my shoulders. And I go back into the woods.” Some writers say they write the ending before even starting the beginning. Is that true for you? Did these endings come to you prior to the beginnings? How much work did you do to hone your beginning and ending passages?
Mindy: Again, no. I have no idea how the books are going to end. I just write them. I really don't do a ton of work or honing. I'm fortunate that good beginnings and good endings organically happen for me. I'm not really doing the work, I'm just writing down what's being channeled to me.
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I wish to express a giant thank you to Mindy for taking her time to answer my questions. If you are seeking gritty and real young adult literature, Mindy's books offer honesty and authenticity, great world-building and character development. If you are a writer, seeking instruction, Mindy offers expert advice on her blog, Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire. Subscribers receive a free synopsis writing guide. Mindy also offers editorial services and query critiques.
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