Write On!

I first met sixteen-year-old breakthrough writer Jason "J.R." Sherwood when he got in touch with me through my website. I was instantly impressed with his mature talent and refreshingly unique writing voice -- and I'm not the only one! Jason recently published his first novel, Wilting, which critics call "a groundbreaking and powerful story."

Here's the book's back-cover synopsis: Knowing you have five days to live can be both a blessing and a burden. It brings with it sweet and sheer liberation, yet also the responsibility of tying up loose ends. This poignant yet bitterly hilarious novel about the dilemma of life vs. death is uniquely told through Ben's journal. Unsure of his purpose in life and whether life is worth living at all, Ben embarks on a weeklong emotional journey to grasp conclusion in the last hours of his life. To have closure in his father's death, in his mother's affair, in his sister's future, Ben must face the reality that what is normal isn't always what is right and what seems okay can't always be taken at face value.

I read Wilting in a single weekend and really enjoyed it! (You can get your own copy at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.)

Along with being a remarkably talented young writer, Jason is also a wonderfully humble, down-to-earth guy, and he was kind enough to answer some of my questions in an informal e-mail interview. Here are his tips about finding ideas, defeating writer's block, and shooting for your dreams!

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Write On: How did WILTING begin? How did you get the idea for your book? Did you set out intending to write a novel?

Jason Sherwood: WILTING kind of came out of nowhere. For a long time I had been trying to write mystery novels a la James Patterson, but I didn't find any success there. I didn?t have enough experience in crime or law or police activity to know where to even begin a mystery novel. So I thought about what I knew and all I could think was high school. So WILTING kind of developed from the keel up, starting with Ben, the main character. Ben's situation is nothing like mine. He is abused, has a horrible home life, and is incredibly depressed. His take on high school and the suburban lifestyle is much different than mine. While we are both sarcastic and quite critical, Ben does not like high school and the quiet, tight-knit suburban lifestyle, while I find it quite comforting and normal. By the time I first sat down to write (after a month or two of planning, mind you) I knew I was in for the long haul. I had sat down to write my first novel.

W.O.: Describe your process, from the original writing stages to editing to publication. How long did the entire process take?

J.S.: I first began writing WILTING in September of 2004, my freshman year. I had a pretty clear outline of what was going to happen in the novel. Originally, WILTING was to take place within a single day. When I finished a first draft in December, I read through it and concluded that a single day wasn?t going to cut it. So I took the good parts, scrapped the bad, and re-wrote the entire thing, this time the plot taking place in five days. I finished that draft by April or so, edited through the end of the school year, and, by June, was looking for a publishing opportunity. As I am only sixteen and I was unsure about the quality of my novel, I began researching self-publishing and beginner publishing programs to help me break out into the industry. After a while, I came across iUniverse, a company that provided a great way for me to establish credentials, receive feedback on my work, and have distribution on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other websites. iUniverse allowed me a lot of freedom in determining the outcome of my book, especially in terms of cover design, and also provided me with a literary critique by a professional critic. Though it is true that many people can publish with iUniverse, it is the editorial evaluation and the comments within it that set the good published books apart. While I did receive some constructive criticism, the review of WILTING was incredibly positive, the critic saying such things as, "This young author shows true promise," as well as praising the characters and humor. The editorial review was a great way for me to get some feedback on my work. By the time WILTING was written, edited, at the publisher's, re-edited, designed, proofed, corrected, checked one last time, and distributed, the whole process had taken almost a year exactly.

W.O.: Describe your writing routine. How do you make time to write? Where and when do you usually write?

J.S.: Because I am very involved at my high school and participate in over twenty extracurricular activities, writing time doesn't come as frequently as I'd like. I try to write on weekends in my spare time, and very late at night when the house is very quiet. Often I listen to music when I write, but keep it low to avoid distraction. I usually write in my computer room, or sometimes in my room. Basically wherever I can find some quiet and comfort. I always type all my drafts. Hand-writing anything is a pain and I avoid it at all costs.

W.O.: How do you deal with setbacks like writer's block and rejection?

J.S.: Writer's block is inevitable. Every writer has those days when they can't seem to get the words right. However, by having a general idea of what my piece is about, I can push through and write what I can. While in most cases I will go back and re-vamp the entire new section (because it probably is horrendous), I will still have gotten the ideas on paper and have seen what worked and what didn't. In terms of rejection, it happens to everyone. When I submit pieces to magazines and journals and contests, I can't expect to win/be published every time. It's not possible. So it's important that writers, especially young ones, celebrate victories and shrug off rejections.

W.O.: What inspires you? Which authors do you admire?

J.S.: When I read for pleasure, I am inspired by the authors that are capable of capturing a true sense of realism in their characters. Characters drive the plot of a piece, so I feel characters are truly the building blocks of my pieces. Success stories involving teenage authors (such as Christopher Paolini, the author of Eragon and Eldest), also are very uplifting for a young writer like myself. Some authors I admire include Zadie Smith (though her novels are long-winded she is so lush in her description), Joan Didion (she is wonderfully capable of drawing on her own life in her writing), Philip Pullman (he has an innate talent for taking his readers to many different worlds effortlessly), Laurie Halse Anderson (she is one of the few YA authors that actually gets what it's like to be a teen), Dr. Seuss (his are the only rhymes I can actually stand) and Dave Eggers (he is bitterly hilarious, turning even funerals into full-fledged comedy routines).

W.O.: You have a wonderfully poignant, hilarious, and unique writing voice. How did you find your voice? Is writing a struggle, or do the words flow naturally?

J.S.: Thank you. I'd have to say it varies with every piece. With WILTING, I had to really take on the character of Ben and, in some ways, become him in order to write his thoughts accurately. That was sometimes difficult. But in other pieces, especially those more based on my life, the words really come easily.

W.O.: What is your advice for other young writers reaching for their dreams?

J.S.: Keep writing! I know it sounds corny and cheesy and annoying but you just have to keep writing! Also, never stop reading! I believe Emerson said, "'Tis the good reader that makes the good book!'" Search out markets for publication and always find ways to improve your work!

W.O.: What are your goals and dreams for the future? What's next for Jason Sherwood?

J.S.: I'm in the planning stages of a second novel, this time something a bit on the happier side. A friend just sat me down and shared with me countless, hilarious stories about her grandparents that would make a wonderful novel. So I'm in the stages of brainstorming that, which, as of now is called POOLSIDE but, as my friends know, my titles change constantly during the writing of a piece-- so don't count on that being the final pick! Basically, I'm looking to do some good writing, survive high school, pass my next math test, and make it to college-- at which time I'll just take it from there.

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