(For example, in PEARL, Bean spent way too much time on the roof, which was her place to escape. Seeing the images also helps me to think about how stagnant certain chapters or groups of chapters might be, and helps me pinpoint where I need to move my character around more.

I can see the spikes of emotion and how they play out in the text, and where I need to insert more or less action, or emotional peeks. Since my books tend to be less action driven and more emotionally driven, seeing the book this way is a big help. This leaves you with a big visual that illustrates the movement of the book both actively and emotionally. Think of the strongest emotion conveyed in the chapter and write it at the top of the box. Write a very brief phrase that describes the point of that chapter and write it in the bottom of the box.ģ. Part of a storyboard series from READ BETWEEN THE LINES, Jo’s newest project.Ģ. Draw it as best you can in the first box. Think of a scene with the strongest image that best represents that chapter. Basically, you get a sheet of paper that’s large enough to fit enough squares to represent each chapter of the book. The storyboard process I use I learned at a workshop with Carolyn Coman.

After I clean things up a bit and have a basic rough draft, I create a storyboard to help me get organized and figure out the themes, plot and rhythm of the book. Not surprisingly, my first drafts are big messes. So far for all of my books, I’ve just started writing and discovered the book as I went. Q: What’s your writing process? What was your writing process for SEE YOU AT HARRY’S? Her next book, Living With Jackie Chan, a companion to Jumping Off Swings, will be available September 2013. Jo lives in Vermont with her husband and son. Some of her awards include a New York Times Notable Book of 2012, Amazon’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2012, An International Reading Association Favorite 2012 Book, an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, the PEN New England Children’s Book Discovery Award, and YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Jo has a master’s degree in children’s literature and taught writing for children in the MFA program at Simmons College for several years. I’ve also heard great things about Jo’s Pearl and Jumping Off Swings, so am looking forward to reading those next! I’ve been a fan of Jo Knowles ever since reading Lessons From A Dead Girl and even more so after See You At Harry’s (Candlewick, 2012) plus I love her fun and positive tweets JoKnowles on Twitter.

Interview with Jo Knowles on writing process, writer advice & SEE YOU AT HARRY’S February 8, 2013

Pearl by Jo Knowles