Gloria Craw, author of ATLANTIS QUEST, on evolving writing rituals

by Jocelyn Rish

ATLANTIS QUEST is the second book of the Atlantis Rising series, and we’re excited to have Gloria Craw here to chat about it.

Gloria, 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?

There’s a scene between Alison and Ian when she explains her reluctance to have a romantic relationship with him. Her reasons are a bit different than they were in the first book, and they come as a shock to him. It’s an emotionally charged conversation, and I wanted to do justice to both of their emotions and adequately explain their points of view. I rewrote that scene numerous times before I felt I got it just right.

It is one of the scenes I’m most proud of, not only because of the time and effort that went into it, but because it’s a pivotal moment for these two characters I love. Just an FYI, all hope is not lost for them.

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

I wish I could say the road was easy, but it wasn’t. It was strewn with blood, sweat and tears. I wrote two as yet, unpublished books before I started working on the Atlantis Series. For six months, I queried agents hoping someone would pick them up. The rejections rolled in, but I put my nose to the grindstone and worked hard to finish Atlantis Rising. When it was time to look for representation on that manuscript, I contacted an agent who had been particularly kind in her former rejection letter and she picked me right up. From then, it took another two years for the book to hit shelves.

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

My writing rituals went through an evolution as I worked on Atlantis Quest. I had been working whenever and wherever I felt the desire. One day, it dawned on me that my method wasn’t an efficient use of time. After this rather obvious realization, I started to set a period of time aside when I can concentrate fully on my work. My most creative period is between ten and one thirty in the afternoon, so I try not to make appointments during those hours.

My other rituals remain pretty much the same. I like background noise while I write. Usually I go to Netflix and play episodes of Bones. I’ve seen all of them enough times that the dialogue doesn’t interrupt my concentration.

As far as location goes, I have a condition called desk-a-phobia. I’ve come to think that desks cause my stress level to spike. I feel pressured to create when I’m in a formal atmosphere and my mind freezes as a result. I like to sit on the sofa or on my bed when I’m writing, and I must have a stash of chocolate within arm’s reach.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Atlantis Quest
by Gloria Craw
Hardcover
Entangled: Teen
Released 3/1/2016

After all they’d cost me, I thought I was done with the Truss clan. I was wrong. Nikki Dawning, my mortal enemy, has been kidnapped, and I’ve been asked to spy on the Truss to find her. The pull between Ian and I has never been stronger, but he can’t help me this time. I have to rely on Theron, a bad-tempered cousin I didn’t know I had. To make matters worse, the people I trust have been keeping secrets.

I’m starting to feel like a weapon in a war I don’t understand. How far am I willing to go to protect the descendants of Atlantis and the common good when I’m not sure what the common good is anymore?

Only one thing is certain. If I’m the next Laurel clan chief, I can’t let myself be manipulated…by anyone.

Purchase Atlantis Quest at Amazon
Purchase Atlantis Quest at IndieBound
View Atlantis Quest on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I grew up in the desert southwest, inspired everyday by the wide skies and rich colors around me. I attended the University of Utah where I majored and got a degree in anthropology. These days, I live in the burbs just outside of Seattle, Washington. I’m married and have four daughters. When I’m not running them to volleyball or swimming, I’m reading, writing or fangirling over some TV show.

—
Have you had a chance to read ATLANTIS QUEST yet? Do you set aside periods of time to write or write whenever you feel the desire? Do you write at a desk or do you have desk-a-phobia? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Erin, Susan, Sam, Lindsey, Sarah, Sandra, Kristin, and Anisaa

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: Mar 5, 2016

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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