You can’t get away with anything pretentious with YA

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From The Bookseller:

1. Can you sum up The Gifted, the Talented and Me in one sentence?

It’s a funny novel about a proudly ordinary teenager who gets sent (against his wishes) to a school for gifted and talented children, and has to find a way to somehow fit in.
 
2. What inspired the book?

Like a lot of teenagers, my son is more interested in his phone than in books. He loves comedy, and when I found myself looking for something funny for him to read, I realised that in amongst all the tearjerkers and dystopias, there was very little to choose from. So I decided that I’d just have to write one for him myself.

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5. What’s the best thing about writing for young adults?

You can’t get away with anything pretentious with a young audience. If you’re writing YA you have to keep your feet on the ground and stay focussed on telling an interesting story.
 
6. What was your favourite book as a teenager?

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend, which was in some ways the inspiration for this novel.

7. What is your top writing tip?

Just get something – anything – down, and worry about getting it right later. Don’t let your anxieties about whether or not it’s any good (which afflict every writer) stop the flow of words.

Link to the rest at The Bookseller