An Interview with Elizabeth Scott

So, I did an interview with Elizabeth Scott. So, here it is:


1. Is there a main place where you get your book ideas from? Dreams? Experiences?

None of my novels are autobiographical, and so they definitely aren't based on experiences! I've gotten story ideas from all over the place--while I'm driving, while I'm cleaning, and I have actually gotten ideas from dreams.

2. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Most people who want to be writers already have the writing thing down--know the importance of revision, etc. etc. But if you really want to write, I firmly believe you need to read as much as you can--not just in the genre you want to write, but from all over the place.

3. When did you first know you wanted to become a writer?

When I sold my first book! I started writing for fun, and I looked for an agent because my friends had been nagging--I mean asking!! :-) -- me to try and get things published. And then I ended up getting an agent, which stunned me. I figured that would be it, but then I ended up selling two books to an editor I met at an SCBWI conference. When that happened, I thought, "Wow. This is real. And I LIKE this!"


4. Why did you choose to write YA Fiction?

It wasn't a choice--it's just what I've always written. Even when I wrote for fun, I wrote a lot of stories about teenagers. Being a teenager is probably the most intense experience you'll ever go through in that you're expected to be planning your future--and yet, a lot of the time, your life is shaped by what people want you to be. And pushing through that and coming into your own--it's so hard.

5. What was it like finding out your first book was going to be published?

Shocking. Amazing. Magical.


6. Do you have a special place where you do all of your writing?

I do a lot of writing in bed, but I'll pretty much write anywhere.


7. Did you have any say on what the cover of your books would look like? Do you like them? If you could, would you change them?

I do get to offer input, which is awesome, and Simon Pulse is really fantastic about showing me potential covers and asking for my thoughts.

I love all my covers--I've been very lucky!


8. If you could have any other profession, besides being an author, what would you choose to be?

If someone out there is willing to pay me to read, I'd be all over that!


9. Is there anything you would like to add?


What sort of questions do you--kind interview reader!!--like to see asked? What do you wish authors would talk about more?




I would like to say thanks to Elizabeth Scott for doing this interview!