“There’s no single method of writing that will work for everyone – which is either unfortunate or thrilling, depending on how you look at it.” —Jennifer Ziegler
On Saturday, September 6, Jennifer Ziegler is teaching a class for the WLT called “Write Before You Write: Outlining, Planning, and Plotting.” In this class, students will learn what kinds of writers they are and how they need to approach and prepare for new writing projects, preventing any future project-killing situations.
Jennifer Ziegler is an author of over two dozen books of various genres and markets. Her latest novel, Worser, was named one of the best books of 2022 by the New York Times, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. Other titles include How Not to Be Popular, Revenge of the Flower Girls, and Sass and Serendipity. Jennifer also serves on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA program on Writing for Children and Young Adults. When not writing or teaching, she can be found reading, exploring, making salsa, and trying to keep her Wordle streak going.
Here’s what Jennifer had to share with us:
Who are your earliest influences? What people and books made you a writer?
Jennifer Ziegler: My family, especially my parents, were my earliest influences. My father was a journalist for a long time, and my mother was an excellent writer. Plus, my family was the type that shared stories every evening – anecdotes about our day that might or might not be slightly embellished – so I learned narrative form as I ate dinner. And then there were the books. Books that validated me and opened my eyes to the world. Books that were like friends. There are far too many to name, from all genres, eras, and styles, but they all nurtured me and taught me the power of story.
What writing challenges have you faced? What have these challenges taught you about your process?
JZ: I’ve faced many challenges and, sadly, will continue to do so. Everyone I know who does this for a living has to learn how to deal with ideas that fizzle, projects that go nowhere, rejection, and financial constraints. Slumps, both creative and commercial, are part of this life. You have to truly love writing in order to put up with the messy madness of it all. What I’ve learned is that community is key! Fellow writers can offer advice, give encouragement, and lend a sympathetic ear. Writing is solitary, but being a writer doesn’t have to be. That’s where WLT can offer so much support, both in the form of helpful information and the opportunity to meet fellow creatives – people who can become friends, beta readers, accountability partners, or writing groups. More than anything, community has kept me going.
From your perspective, what’s the most rewarding part about being a writer?
JZ: Writing is equal parts challenging work and playtime. I love the problem-solving aspect of it, the craft. Watching something slowly take shape, even though it can sometimes be frustrating, never ceases to feel miraculous. There was nothing… then there was a mess… then the mess turned into a book! But I also love the playtime of it – disappearing into a character and imagining what they are feeling. We writers are usually existing in more than one world at a time – the real world and the worlds of our stories – which is why we can seem weird. But this multiple-universe existence brings a richness to our inner lives. You can’t observe it, but it’s thrilling.
At the other end of the process is another form of playtime: with readers and fellow writers. It’s a joy to teach classes, visit schools, and attend conferences or festivals as an author. I always come away uplifted and inspired to keep working hard – to continue to earn those opportunities. It’s those moments that remind me why I do what I do.
Who do you write for?
JZ: I draft for my younger self. I don’t think anyone fully grows up – especially those of us who love to read and write and play and imagine. When we create, there are always inner questions we are exploring, whether we’re conscious of it or not. But, once I have a working draft, I revise for the industry – my agent and then my editor and publishing team, all with readers in mind. So it’s a balance. When writing, I have to go deep and personal to hit upon those universal truths in an authentic way. But later in the process I step back, widen the lens, and make sure my story is accessible to others.
What do you hope writers will learn from your course?
JZ: I hope they discover some things about their own unique process. There’s no single method of writing that will work for everyone – which is either unfortunate or thrilling, depending on how you look at it. Each of us creates in a different way, and that takes time to figure out. Even if this revelation ends up being the only take-away for someone, that’s fine. Because it’s the key step that will start them on their journey as writer.
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Thanks, Jennifer!
Click here to learn more about Jennifer Ziegler’s upcoming class.
