K, writing a graphic novel is HARD. Writing a graphic novel for young readers is VERY, VERY HARD. It is so hard. I've never had it so hard. Did I mention it's hard? I know there are people out there who think that it must be easy to write for kids and easy to write something that's illustrated. Ha! Double ha-ha! This one is kicking my hinny. rapunzel's revenge didn't burst from my head in full armor. There were many rewrites, many hours of frustrating discussions of plot, many times I wanted to throttle the script and scream, "Why won't you work right?!" But we got it eventually. I am ridiculously in love with it.
But now the sequel is saying, "You thought rapunzel's revenge was a challenge? I laugh in your face! Triple ha-ha-ha!" I don't know if I can describe why getting any story to where it needs to be is so challenging. I think most people who have gone through this process have had the same experience, but for people who don't, I think it's difficult to understand. When you read a book, it seems obvious that this had to happen in order for this to happen, or that character had to be a certain way or the writing style had to be thus in order for the story to work. But when you're writing it from scratch...well, the only way for me to describe it is through metaphor. It's like saying to someone, "You know how to scrabble eggs, make chocolate chip cookies, and chili. So obviously you know how to cook. Now I want you to make chicken pompeii. It should taste like this. There's no recipe, and I can't tell you what's in it or even show you a picture of what it'll look like when it's done, but you'll find what you need at the grocery store. Also, there are live alligators at the grocery store. Good luck!"
Well, keep at it. I'm sure it will be great.
Posted by: Harry Potter Fan | July 20, 2007 at 09:17 AM
Gosh, that sounds really tough. You could improvise on the recipe a bit, but live alligators @ the grocery store are potentially problematic... Good luck, and I'm sure it will be fine.
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | July 20, 2007 at 10:10 AM
wow, that sounds like a barrell of fun! i wish i could feel that kind of frustration, but every time i start something, that's as far as i get. i just start it, and somehow can't follow through. i'm excited for rapunzel's revenge though! my first graphic novel, maus, was good (intense and immensely scary, but good) and i'm excited to read another one, especially by one of my favorite authors and one that's about rapunzel. and revenge. revenge is good too. wow, this is a long comment. i think i'll end my rambling now.
Posted by: sara | July 20, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Wow, I'm so excited for RR!!! Even though it was really hard, I'm sure it was worth the effort, in the end.
Posted by: Mads | July 20, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Ha ha. Now I'm really paranoid. Are they at EVERY grocery store? I'm glad to know I'm not abnormal in my struggles to write...it's like the death roll. I won't be around for the release of "Rapunzel's Revenge," but it's certainly at the top of the list of what to read when I get home, and I'm quite excited for it.
Posted by: Alauna | July 20, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Well, speaking for someone who does cook and has experimented with foods I can attest that it can be greatly challenging. You can have anywhere from a foggy to crystal-clear idea of what the finished product should be but getting through all the necessary steps with the right ingredients and tools requires patience, creativity, hard-work, practice and more practice and sometimes even a bit of luck.
Obviously Shannon's doing things right because we keep buying her books. By the way, it's looking good for Austenland possibly being one of the reader's choice selections for the Salt Lake County library system in January(?).
Posted by: Jean | July 20, 2007 at 10:49 AM
That is SO true! I am a fanatic cook, and I particularly like making Indian dishes, and with all the spices there are for Indian food, it would be impossible to make any correctly without a recipe. It's just like that with the novel I'm writing presently (the first draft), and having the same problems as you are. At first, my characters were leading me through the plot, and I was just there for the ride, then all of a sudden they stopped and turned to me expectantly, and I had no idea where we were.
But don't worry, Shannon, the directions will come in time, and your book will be FANTASTIC!
Thanks for writing!
Posted by: Jillian | July 20, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Deep breaths. All will be well. Just think of it this way, at least you don't have to do the pictures too!
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 20, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Alligator tastes like chicken.
Posted by: Jessica | July 20, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Oh and I love to scrabble eggs.
ERROR
G
G
S
Woot! Double word score! I win!
;)
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 20, 2007 at 01:48 PM
That's how I feel about all the novels that I'm *trying* to write. I don't know where to start what to say, how to say it, who to say it to... grgh.
HARRY POTTER"S COMING OUT TONIGHT!
Random, sorry, but I can't think about anything else.
Posted by: Liesolotte | July 20, 2007 at 01:53 PM
I know how to scrabble eggs too! It's really hard to get the little wooden pieces out when you're done...
Posted by: Q | July 20, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Keep going Shannon! I know it will be great!
Posted by: australiangirl | July 20, 2007 at 03:10 PM
shannon, do u read harry potter??
Posted by: marie | July 20, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Q, actually if you cook it long enough and add the right seasonings the little wooden pieces ad just the right amount of crunch.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 20, 2007 at 04:35 PM
LOL Shannon! I bet it'll be great!
Posted by: LESS THAN 5 HOURS TILL DEATHLY HALLOWS (HARRY POTTER) | July 20, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Cooking? I disagree. Cooking is supposed to be done with a recipe, everything measured out exactly and mixed together just so then baked or roasted at a specific temperature for a time recorded to the last minute. Recipes are only published or distributed after being done over and over again by experts and neophytes for a near-guaranteed result.
Humph.
Posted by: Dante | July 20, 2007 at 10:31 PM
maybe THAT'S why my "recipe" for cake didn't go well and smelled like tepid water...
Posted by: Faith HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallowsFanThoughIHaven'tReadItYet | July 20, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Hmm. Interesting opinion Dante.
I think cooking can be anything really. So those people that made up the recipes... they weren't cooking because they weren't using one? A recipe I mean. Well some recipes aren't very specific but still work just fine. I'll use one "Pasta Colin" as an example.
;)
Posted by: Enna Isilee | July 21, 2007 at 11:10 AM
I know how you feel. Maybe not exactly, since I'm not writing a graphic novel, but I am writing a book and it is HARD work.
Posted by: Kate | July 23, 2007 at 01:38 PM
diversion of prescription drugs drugs biography
Posted by: genesis discography | July 28, 2007 at 09:24 AM
That's a very good description of what writing feels like for me!
Posted by: Sookie | August 06, 2007 at 06:47 PM
I love rapunzels revenge. Izza sequel out yet?
Posted by: Eli | October 08, 2008 at 10:25 AM
whats forest born gonna be about? I'm sooooo behind!
Posted by: AnnaBxox24 | October 27, 2008 at 01:18 PM