Lynn Weingarten, author of SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, on writing in a variety of places

by Jocelyn Rish

SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS is the latest novel from Lynn Weingarten, and we’re delighted to have her join us.

Lynn, what did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

This book taught me to better trust my instincts as a writer. And also taught me (or maybe reminded me?) that there’s a difference between when writing feels like work because it is work and when writing feeling painfully sloggy because I’m forcing myself through a chapter that should actually be a different thing entirely

What do you hope readers will take away from SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS?

I guess my main hope is that readers are entertained. I didn’t write with any kind of moral in mind, though if I had to pick one I think I’d say maybe it’s: be careful of the choices you make when you’re lonely.

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

I write at a whole bunch of different places in my neighborhood—a coffee shop with a pleasant garden that sometimes smells like the delicious Chinese restaurant next door, a creepy museum café with gross things in jars that I try not to look at, a very special pie shop. I live in the same neighborhood as a few writers friends and we meet up regularly to work together, which is great. I also write lying on my couch or at my desk, I write at my kitchen table or at friends’ houses. One of my favorite places to write is on my front stoop late at night, maybe while eating a popsicle.

As for music—I often find music too distracting when I’m writing, but I have an app that lets you mix sounds together—right now I’m listening to a creaking ship, mixed with whale sounds and storm waves. It’s perfect.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls
by Lynn Weingarten
Hardcover
Simon Pulse
Released 7/7/2015

Gone Girl meets 13 Reasons Why in this stylish, sexy, and atmospheric story about friendship packed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

They say Delia burned herself to death in her stepfather’s shed. They say it was suicide.

But June doesn’t believe it.

June and Delia used to be closer than anything. Best friends in that way that comes before everyone else—before guys, before family. It was like being in love, but more. They had a billion secrets, tying them together like thin silk cords.

But one night a year ago, everything changed. June, Delia, and June’s boyfriend Ryan were just having a little fun. Their good time got out of hand. And in the cold blue light of morning, June knew only this—things would never be the same again.

And now, a year later, Delia is dead. June is certain she was murdered. And she owes it to her to find out the truth…which is far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.

Sexy, dark, and atmospheric, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Purchase Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls at Amazon
Purchase Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls at IndieBound
View Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn Weingarten is a writer and a book editor. Her first young adult novel, Wherever Nina Lies, was published by Scholastic Point. It was named an ALA Top Ten Popular Paperback for Young Adults, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, a YALSA Teen’s Top Ten Nominee, a Sequoyah Book Award Nominee, has been translated into German and was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered where Alan Cheuse said, “[it] reminds you of the really great voice of teenage characters, like, say, Holden Caulfield in ‘Catcher in the Rye.’”

Lynn’s second young adult novel, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, was published by HarperTeen. It received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was on Kirkus Reviews’s list of Best Teen Books for 2011. Her third book, The Book of Love, a sequel to The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, will be published by HarperTeen in December 2013.

Her fourth book, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls will be published by SimonPulse in the US (and Egmont/Electric Monkey in the UK) in July 2015.

In the past, Lynn worked as an editor/content developer at Alloy Entertainment. Lynn is currently a part-time editor/content developer at Working Partners.

What did you think of our interview with Lynn Weingarten, author of SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS? Let us know in the comments!

Happy reading,

Lindsey, Martina, Sam, Jocelyn, Erin, Lisa, Shelly, Susan, Kristin, Jen, Sandra, 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: Jul 11, 2015

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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