rgz

readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Author in Residence Elizabeth Scott: Writing and the Concept of Loss

Our second amazing Author in Residence, Elizabeth Scott, is a smart and hilarious writer who will be on the rgz team through April! Check out her mini-issue at the rgz website.

Throughout her visit, she will be cross-posting at the readergirlz blog. We are honored to have Elizabeth among us (look at that lineup of books!). Learn more about Elizabeth Scott and our author-in-residence position.

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Here is the first of Elizabeth’s monthly vlog entries about writing, in which she answers readers' requests for info about her workspace, writing rituals, writing process and the best (and worst) reviews she's ever gotten. Plus, Elizabeth gives her thoughts about why the concept of loss figures into so much of her work.



Elizabeth is giving away a signed copy of any one of her currently published books (!!) to three readergirlz blog readers (US residents). Just be sure you follow the blog, then comment below and tell us about your favorite part of Elizabeth's vlog to be entered! We'll choose three winners at random.

PS-Have you guys heard about Simon & Schuster's Call Me Book Club Sweepstakes? It's pretty amazing, and Elizabeth is part of it, natch. (Deets: S&S is giving away up to 25 copies of one of six books to book clubs, and the author herself will call the book club after they read it!) Go enter!

38 comments:

Micol Ostow said...

Great video! Love, love, love Elizabeth. And as someone who is drawn to very dark stories who also had a fairly "normal" childhood, I really do appreciate her genuine curiosity in exploring that side of the human experience. I can't quite put my finger on its attraction to me, either, but since it definitely *does* make the good stuff brighter, I'm okay with it.

Melissa Walker said...

I love this video too--Elizabeth is awesome. Thanks for sharing yourself!

DeNiSe said...

I LOVE Elizabeth Scott book and I think everyone should read them !! I could see who much that would of hurt . I have the same problem with internet i get distracted easily :)maybe i should disconnect it and i could get thing done great answers :)

Denise

denisemadness(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I like her ability to write great stories whether or not she has a glamorous office b/c the lack thereof could be seen as an excuse. Yet, she chooses not to let it be and focuses on what's important--The writing.

JenFW said...

Thanks, Elizabeth--and thanks, readergirlz. I love what you're all doing and am glad to be able to tag along.

I love the pants! I hear you on comfy pants.

Even more than the pants, though, I like the discussion of how the theme of loss factors into all Elizabeth's books. I think it's interesting how writers seem to have themes in their lives that color much of their work, like water for Monet. It feels like permission to explore a topic of interest over and over and over.

The psychologist in me wants to figure out why this is a theme in Elizabeth's life, though, which isn't apparent on the surface.

I'm looking forward to more videos, advice, and behind-the-scenes looks! Thanks for sharing.

The Lovely Reader said...

This so great to watch, I feel as though I can understand you and your writing a bit more now, and I'm so glad I'm not the only person who shuts off their internet in order to write because with it, I would never get anything finished.

Jessica
barbrafl737 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Erica said...

Great video! I loved hearing Elizabeth talk about reviews!

Lorie Ann Grover said...

I heart this video! Elizabeth has the most beautiful blue eyes and is filled with sincerity. I'm a fan!

I love hearing about her writing pants. :~)

Miss Haley said...

Yay! This was awesome. I envisioned someone whom I had no connection to... But Elizabeth... you're a lot like me. That's so *cool*.

my favorite part was the writing pants :D and of course the fact that you couldn't remember which character said what... I do that ALL THE TIME! It's kinda embarrassing not to remember something important about your own book... :\ anyway. I hope you do more vlogs!

Jessy said...

I know this may be a common one, but I like the part about the writing pants! I have certain pants that I wear all the time and I dread when they have to be washed because then I have to wear a pair that isn't as comfortable.

Thanks for the giveaway Elizabeth, You rock!

twentyxfragments said...

I love the writing pants idea. I totally sympathize. I have these black sweatpants that I get for being on the swim team and they are SUPER SUPER comfortable. It does seem like I write better in them. The other alternative are these green Hollister sweatpants which are an odd color, for me, but also incredibly comfortable. <3

Anne Marie said...

YAY! I <3 Elizabeth's books!! Count me in :D

annemariewrites [at] gmail [dot] com

Briana said...

Loved the video!

I really liked Elizabeth's answer to the review question. I've always wondered how authors felt about them or if they even read the bad ones (I wouldn't want to! I'm sensitive. Ha..).
Thanks for sharing! :)


Briana

Bianca said...

I ADORE Elizabeth and her books! She is so amazing.

I really like that little type processor that she writes her novels on. I totally need one instead of just a computer - I get too distracted by the internet and such!

Bianca

infinitemusic19 at gmail dot com

Radio Disney Club Webmaster said...

Oh, that is fantabulous. I really like the bits on her workspace and showing us the paper of draft. I stopped the video to try and figure out where it was from, but it was a little blurry. :P

Adele said...

I love Elizabeth to bits. I think she's the human equivalent of sunshine so seeing her upset over that review (which sounded to be more of a personal attack) made me quite teary.

I finished Living Dead Girl last week and while it might not be to everyone's taste, it's incredibly well written and says something important. Isn't THAT what literature is all about?

A big hug to Elizabeth and her supremely comfortable looking writing pants!

Llehn said...

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for sharing such intimate information about your writing.

I'm so sorry to hear about the author who wanted to ban Living Dead Girl. I read the book and thought it was very thought provoking and insightful and a completely necessary book that needed to be written. I am very glad you wrote it.

Lesley

PS Is it just me or is the audio feed not in sync with the video because I tried watching it twice with the same results.

Unknown said...

Haha, I love the part about the writing pants!

Christine Fonseca said...

I love her vlog...my favorite part, hmm...I guess her sincerity (not to mntion the authenticity of her books!)

Anonymous said...

I really loved to hear about her writing process and how she may write on a computer but still doodles her notes on the paperwork and folders to make it more personalized to her.

katlynpicard(at)yahoo(dot)com

pepsivanilla said...

The Internet is such a great procrastination tool! Haha, but I'm glad that Elizabeth doesn't let it distract her cuz I like her books :)
I like the part about the writing pants!

pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chelsea said...

I completely understand the internet distraction. Whether I'm writing for fun or typing out an essay for English class, the internet is a major time waster.

I felt bad for her during the worst review part... but I'm glad she didn't give up =)

chel_216@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I can't even remember when I first picked up an Elizabeth Scott book. All I know is that I've been hooked on them ever since. She can't come out with new ones fast enough for me. I loved the writing process. The notecards, the folder full of stuff. And I WANT one of those little word processor things! It would keep me focused more on writing and less on FarmVille!

Living Dead Girl is a difficult read, but it's a beautiful piece of literature. I read it about a year ago and it STILL RESONATES with me. It's interesting that Elizabeth got so upset over that review. My husband, also an author, had the same thing happen to his book in Idaho. He embraces that kind of stuff because for him, it's publicity. I think, if I were in Elizabeth's shoes, I'd react as she did, though.

Awesome video! :)

Robby said...

I asked Elizabeth the question about the worst review she'd ever gotten. Watching this video, watching her answer my question, it took a lot of strength right now to not just burst into tears.
I love Elizabeth, and whoever that author was has no idea what they were talking about.
Wonderful video. :]

Lilixtreme said...

That review was so false, I couldn't stand it! You rule, Elizabeth!

Bookish in a Box said...

I enjoyed Elizabeth's answer to the "writing process" question. I'm always interested in finding out how authors get started and how they wrap things up.

whatinabox at gmail dot com

sweetmelissa818 said...

That was an awesome vlog! I love that Elizabeth keeps herself from the internet while working. I have a horrible time keeping from getting distracted. I never get anything done when I'm within reach of an internet browser!

sweet.me.lissa818@gmail.com

Katie said...

Great vlog! I love that she talked about reviews. I always wonder what authors think of reviews. Also, I really need to learn to stay away from the internet when I am trying to work but it just doesn't happen. I am addicted. =]

katieb206@gmail.com

Dahlia (TheBookShopaholic) said...

In all honesty, the vlog is very interesting. Elizabeth opened up her feelings and shared with us.

-Dahlia
thebookshopaholic(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth is amazing!!!
The honesty and transparency were so touching.

Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) said...

Great vlog Elizabeth. My favorite part was the saddest part. The whole thing about your worst review was just terrible. I cannot believe another author would say something like that. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm so happy that you didn't let allow review to stop you from doing what you love.

Amber said...

I love Elizabeth! And I love how she let us into her little space and shared how she is human too and gets distracted. I get SO distracted on the internet!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Great vlog!

I love the comfy black writing pants writing ritual--must invest in one of those myself! :)

sandyshin7 (at) gmail

Bidisha said...

That was great, Elizabeth!

I totally get what you mean by being attracted to darker themes in spite of having a normal children. I have the same curiosity and interest for complexity, although my own life can be read as a book :)
I can't imagine how any writer any can be so cruelly judgemental. I thought writers understood each other, but thanks for sharing that story, Elizabeth. As an aspiring writer, that struck a chord with me.

And thank you, readergirlz! You define awesomeness :D

Jenna said...

I love Elizabeth and her books! I just adore her writing and the real girls she writes about. Also I so agree about the writing pants (like others!) you just can't write if you aren't comfy! I can relate to the distraction of the Internet. Maybe I should try shutting mine off and actually get some work done! Elizabeth, you rock!

lisaghowie said...

Thanks for sharing Elizabeth! I thought it was interesting that you use different technology for your rough drafts and revisions. The "one pounder" is a cool item and must be extremely portable (even though you write mostly from home). Looking forward to reading Cooper Sun!

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