Aden Polydoros, author of PROJECT PANDORA, on not quitting after writing the first fifty pages

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re happy to have Aden Polydoros drop by to tell us more about his debut novel, PROJECT PANDORA.

Aden, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

The hardest scene to write was Chapter 23, which takes place from Hades’s POV. Until Chapter 23, he is a character who inflicts violence on other people, but is rarely the recipient and is never in a position of complete helplessness. It was uncomfortable writing him from a position of vulnerability, because it made me reevaluate him as a character. I had to ask myself how he would react to being faced with one of his greatest fears.

Even though 23 was the hardest chapter to write, it isn’t my favorite. My favorite scene is probably the first chapter. It was one of those chapters I wrote in a single sitting, and it really allowed me to explore Tyler’s character. It was interesting to imagine how he would react to waking up in a stranger’s home with a loaded gun. I also really love when Elizabeth and Hades meet for the first time, because there’s such a contrast between the person he truly is and the way she views him.

How long did you work on PROJECT PANDORA?

I spent three months or so writing the first draft, and another couple months polishing it up. The version that was picked up by Entangled was only 65,000 words, whereas the published work stands at approximately 104,000 words. I added the other 40,000 words during the editing process.

What do you hope readers will take away from PROJECT PANDORA?

Satisfaction, mostly, and a burning desire to find out what happens next in the series. There isn’t really a deep, thought-provoking message. I’ll be thrilled if people just enjoy the story.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

Before I wrote PROJECT PANDORA, I wrote a YA paranormal novel that is now permanently shelved, since I consider it unable to be salvaged. I also began several other stories that I never finished.

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

There was never really an AHA! moment. More like a gradual realization that if I kept quitting after the first fifty pages, I would never finish a novel. I gave myself a deadline and forced myself to sit down and write 1,000 words per day until I finished PROJECT PANDORA. It hasn’t gotten easier since then. Some days, I still struggle to write anything. Other days, the words just fly onto the page.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I usually like to write in bed. I lay down with my laptop and keep a thermos of coffee on the nightstand next to me. I love to listen to music while I write. With Project Pandora, I listened to different bands/genres for different characters.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

Don’t give up and stop halfway through a story. Motivate yourself to keep writing, even if you hate what’s ending up on the page. Even if you think your writing isn’t good or see glaring plot holes, just ignore those things and keep going. It will get better, and by the time you’re finished, you probably won’t be able to distinguish between what you liked and what you hated.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Project Pandora
by Aden Polydoros
Paperback
Entangled: Teen
Released 8/1/2017

Having spent most of his life passing from one foster home to another, seventeen-year-old Tyler Bennett decided the only person he could trust was himself. But he hasn’t been feeling like himself lately. When he learns his entire past is a lie, and someone on the other end of a burner phone can order him to do anything, anywhere, he’s not just powerless. He’s controlled.

But when Tyler wakes during the middle of an assignment, he’s painted a target on his back. In order to unlock his buried memories and keep the Project from killing him, he’s going to need to learn to trust in a group of teens—including a beautiful girl who’s imprisoned in her own mind but he’s desperate to save. If he doesn’t uncover the truth behind the Project before it’s too late, his life is forfeit—and he may be the one to end it.

Purchase Project Pandora at Amazon
Purchase Project Pandora at IndieBound
View Project Pandora on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, the youngest of three children. Aden’s family moved to Arizona when he was in second grade. As a kid, he spent much of his time exploring the desert near his home. When he wasn’t searching for snakes and lizards, he was raiding the bookshelves of the local library.

His debut novel, PROJECT PANDORA is published by Entangled Teen. He is represented by Mallory Brown of Triada US.

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Have you had a chance to read PROJECT PANDORA yet? Do you give yourself a deadline to keep getting words on the page? Are you able to ignore the things you hate to keep writing the story? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Sam, Martina, Emily, Anisaa, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Aug 5, 2017

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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