This interview was conducted by Joan Axelrod-Contrada. Lisa will be our morning speaker and will conduct a workshop called Secrets of the Plot Goddess.
Why did you become a writer? When did the writing bug first bite you?
When I was in fifth grade, I had a sudden realization – the books I was reading were written by grown ups who wrote those novels, stories, and poems as their job. That was it. I knew that was what I wanted to do.
What is the most rewarding part of being a writer?
The most rewarding part of being a writer is those moments of flow – when you’re so absorbed in what you are doing that you lose yourself. Sometimes, when I look over what I have written, I don’t remember writing it, as if I have been channeling something beyond myself. That, to me, feels like a spiritual occurrence. It feels meaningful.
The most frustrating?
The only frustrating part is the publishing industry. I love my editors, my agent, the art directors, the marketers, my booking agent. All of the people I come into contact with in the industry are smart, talented, and passionate about books. But the business itself feels impenetrable and sometimes arbitrary.
Can you tell us about your latest release?
My next book (out in April 2017) is called APARTMENT 1986. It’s about a girl who – for various reasons having to do with family, friends, and school – decides to skip out on her fancy New York City private school for a week and, instead, visit the museums on the Upper East Side. She makes a friend and, as I like to say, shenanigans ensue. It’s very funny, but it also touches on some serious issues. But, mostly, it’s funny.
What inspired it?
I grew up in Houston, Texas, but when I was fourteen, my father got remarried and moved to the Upper East Side of New York City. He and my stepmother live a block from the Met. When I would come to visit as a teen, I always felt overwhelmed by the city and like a fish out of water. It’s a bit about that, and about other things that were happening in my family around that time. But it’s a novel – it’s not like my actual life at all.
You’re the morning speaker for WriteAngles. Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re planning?
Hah! This question sounds like I might be planning a laser light show or surprise guest appearance by Taylor Swift! (And maybe I am . . .)
My talk is called Creativity Takes Courage, and I’m planning to talk about rejection, failure, fear, and how to handle it. The good thing about that topic is that if I totally blow the speech, I can use all of the advice in my talk right away.
You’re also presenting a workshop called Secrets of the Plot Goddess — How Destiny Drives Your Story. Tell us about that.
This is a workshop I designed for people who are more comfortable thinking about characters than plots. It’s a framework for imagining the plot as if it is a character with a specific desire line, as if it is making choices and taking action along with the protagonist.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new novel called THE DREAMWAY, which is about a girl whose brother is kidnapped by a Nightmare and taken into the underground subway system that powers our dreams. I’m also continuing to work on my grammar humor website, IvanaCorrectya.com, and on helping to develop and grow the low-residency Writing for Children and Young Adults Track of the MFA program at Sierra Nevada College, where I’m on faculty. Our next 10-day residency is in Jamaica in January, so anyone who is considering getting a Master’s degree should check it out!
WriteAngles Conference 