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Jennifer O’Connell (a.k.a. Jenny O’Connell) |
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Jennifer’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume (Pocket, 2007) The Book of Luke (Pocket/MTV, 2007) Insider Dating (NAL, 2007) Better Off Without Him (Adams Media, 2007) |
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Bibliography |
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URL |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I guess I’d say it offered itself up to me and I accepted. I worked for a large consulting firm and then left to start my own market strategy consulting firm. Two years into that venture I had an idea for a book and decided to write it. Three months later I had an agent, a book and a publishing contract with Penguin/NAL. I still own my firm and continue to work at a “real job.” Writing still seems like a lark to me.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I received my BA from Smith College, which is probably why I can’t imagine writing about anything other than female characters. After Smith I attended the Radcliffe Publishing Program because I wanted to be an editor. However, after the program I didn’t go to New York to become an editor, instead I went to the University of Chicago for my MBA. After receiving my MBA I went into consulting. Now I write and continue to consult.
3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer? When I received a check for actually sitting at my computer and typing out what was in my head.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? I’d say it’s very much a contemporary female voice, but it’s definitely a female with a sense of humor. I love to talk, and there’s always a lot of dialog in my writing. Not a whole lot of navel gazing. Pretty much it’s like sitting down with my friends to have a drink. I don’t hold back.
5. What is your writing process? Depends on where I am on my deadlines. I write pretty quickly and am not one of those people who can force herself to write – unfortunately. I don’t outline so much as “calendar-ize” my chapters so I know what’s taking place and when. It keeps me in line. As much as I wish I could say I write every day, I don’t. My writing schedule pretty much depends on my workload and how close I am to having an editor mad at me for missing a deadline. I also don’t write sequentially, so that helps me keep going when I’ve hit a road block on a scene or chapter. It’s nice to be able to skip ahead to something else.
6. What was your path to publication? Having attended the Radcliffe Publishing Program, I knew the publishing process and how the industry worked. Before I even finished the first chapter I was researching agents. Before I finished the sixth chapter I had a query letter and sent it out. Before the novel was finished I had an agent. Understanding the business makes the whole process a lot easier.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? Making friends. I’ve met more wonderful women who write and we’re always looking for ways to help each other. Whether it’s including another writer in an event or telling an interviewer about another author they should talk to. I’m a firm believer that what goes around comers around.
8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer? How much fun it is to talk with other women writers who are funny and insightful and wickedly truthful. We’re all pulling for each other. You’d think there would be a sense of competition, but all of my friends and I firmly believe that each success helps the rest of us.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? Life inspires me – and while that may sound lofty, what I mean is that watching people, hearing something someone says, it gets the wheels turning. Inspiration is all around, all the time. I also love to read, and when you’re reading something you really love, you can’t help but want to write.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? I was on an airplane with my daughter and she was chatting with a girl in the seat ahead of us. She asked the little girl, “What’s your mom do? My mom writes books.” I liked that she thought it was so cool she wanted this little girl to know.
11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing? Don’t edit as you go along. Great advice, but I’m not able to follow it. Wish I was, would make it all go so much faster.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? It’s a moment that recurs often. Someone will mention a writer who is oh-so-fabulous and deep and I have no idea who they’re talking about. I pretty much read what I like and don’t feel too much pressure to read the latest most brilliant person ever to set fingers to laptop. But it can make you feel foolish when everyone expects you to know every single author and book worth knowing.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? This isn’t really an area where I’ve felt challenged. I pretty much treat my writing career like a business, which means investing in it (by hiring an external publicist, etc.), spending time on research, making sure contracts make sense to me, etc.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? If it’s not fun, it’s time to stop. I’m lucky enough to have another career so that I don’t feel like I have to write something I don’t want to write. People have suggested things, like writing mysteries, and I just say no thanks. I don’t enjoy mysteries and can’t imagine writing one just because they’re hot at the moment. Writing has always been fun for me and I want it to stay that way.
15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun? Well, I actually write for fun. I also love my job, so I work for fun. And I read when I have time. And hang out with my kids. Anything is fun as long as you have the right frame of mind. I’ve even had fun cleaning my house.
16. Who do you like to read? I don’t really pick by author, so this is a question I’m asked often but don’t really know how to respond. I like books with smart characters. I like books with women who are complex and interesting but don’t take themselves too seriously. I LOVE books about marital discord for some reason. Stories that take an average, every day life and find the interesting are ones I want to read. But big epic stories that span generations and entail all sorts of giant issues? Not so much.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? Don’t be afraid to write. Don’t think you have to be “a writer.” When people ask me what I do for a living I tell them I’m a consultant. Not because I don’t want them to know I’m a writer, but because writing to me isn’t just a profession, it’s something you do to clear your brain and tell tales and spin characters. Telling people I’m a writer doesn’t do justice to how I feel about it. If you enjoy writing, write. And educate yourself about the business if you want to get published. The more you know the more an agent and editor will want to work with you. Be smart. And have fun.
18. What are you currently working on? I just finished editing an anthology of essays (EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GIRL I LEARNED FROM JUDY BLUME). A lot of my writer friends wrote essays for the collection and they were so amazing. I’m also revising my second teen book, THE BOOK OF LUKE, and I’m writing my fourth adult novel, INSIDER DATING. I’m also writing a non-fiction book with my best friend. It’s a no-holds barred look at divorce for modern women. A guide for getting through it without losing your sense of self – or your sense of humor. I’m writing from the friend’s perspective on how a girlfriend can help a woman through the process. It’s a lot of fun collaborating with my best friend. |
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