Amanda Hocking

First off, I suppose that saying I’m “in love” with him is misleading. “In love” implies an affection based on knowledge and interaction, usually in a relationship of some sort. What I feel – for a person I have never met – is more like hero worship. I suspect it’s the way many people feel about religion. Except better, because Christian Bale could and would kick someone’s ass.

So, I’m not in love with Christian Bale, but I still would never have sex with him. We’re assuming for the sake of argument that the opportunity has presented itself in a non-heinous way, like a blow behind a trailer on a movie lot. And we’re also assuming that in this time frame, I’m mega-hot, like Megan Fox hot. I would still say no.

I’ve put a lot thought of into it, as its clear that I have no life, and I just couldn’t do it. I don’t even know how his wife does it, and I’m pretty sure he loves her. It would be far too intimidating. How could anyone ever satisfy Christian Bale? I don’t think its possible.

And I don’t just mean sexually. I wouldn’t want to be the guy that brings him waffles at an IHOP.

To clarify – I don’t think he’s a dick. When he yelled at the lighting guy, it seem pretty understandable to me. (Except when he says he’s through with him professionally, which makes me wonder if they still see each other personally, for water polo perhaps). I just think that he is a perfectionist with clear and high standards, and if they’re not met, he doesn’t have a problem vocalizing that.

Honesty and standards are terrifying. I mean, isn’t that what makes Batman so awesome? And our government so terrible? So much about government is about pandering, which makes it impossible to really stand for anything. The urge to please everyone makes you liar.

So what we need out of government is the same thing we get with Christan Bale – the ability to say the brutal truth without regard, to stand for something, to work hard, and to embody something larger then yourself.

Also, the ability to make everyone afraid of fucking you is a pretty good deal too.

Yet its one that I have never asked before. What is my story doing for you? I’ve never asked it for any of my novels, but I decided to ask it particularly with Switched, since I’m trying to publish it, and if someone else asks, I ought to have an answer.

What do I think the audience will gain from reading this?

Answer: I want to give what I’ve gotten.

Writing is it a joy, but that’s not what I meant. The things I read and watch are because I want a chance to escape into something else. If I haven’t cried, forgotten the time, laughed out loud, or felt my race in anticipation or fear, then I’ve probably stopped reading it ten pages in (or watching it ten minutes in). And I’ve also come to love that soft warm feeling in my belly when the heroine and the hero kiss (or almost kiss) for the first time.

That is what I want to give you, the reader. A chance to feel things and forget about what’s going on around you. Life is complicated and messy, but more often, it’s boring and it’s a waiting game between events. But with a book, it can be all the good stuff.

When you stop reading, I want you to feel better than you did when you started, but I want you to want more. And if it all possible, I want to infuse a bit more hope and wonder into your life.

That’s what I’m trying acheive in Switched. I want make you excited, not just about the book, but about life. When I am reading or writing a good book, it feels like I’m falling in love. I’m daydreamy, swoony, and I’m in a good mood. I want you to have that feeling too. That passion and happiness, and I want it to carry on beyond the pages.

So, that’s what I hope my story does for you. Sometimes, it can make you think, but the basic idea is that I want you to feel good. And I think I can do that, if you’re a teenager/early 20’s girl/gay guy that enjoys pop culture and romance. If you watch the CW or read Twilight (or most likely, both), you’ll probably enjoy my book, and you’ll probably take away from what I wanted to give.

I finished The Hollow Land, and after giving it one cursory read-thru before the real editing starts, I’m pleased with it. It’s still hard for me to tell if anything I write is good vs. publishable good, since I’m too close to the product, but I think this is good. 

I think the reason I’m having any doubts is its almost complete lack of pop culture references. They were just hard to fit in a post-apopcolyptic action novel about zombies. I slid in a couple, and only one of them might be off-target. (Paul Giamatti is not big with the young adult crowd.) But it worked for me.

I’m excited to go back to writing the My Blood Approves series, now that I’m done with this one. 

Here’s one thing I learned: It’s hard writing a love interest for a super badass heroine. If he’s more badass than her, if he rescues her all the time, it detracts from her own badassness, and almost defeats the purpose of making her so tough. But if he’s a total wuss and always makes her rescue him, he looks wimpy and unappealing. It’s a very, very fine line.

Writing is hard. I try to keep everything in mind, all the rules of good story telling, without making something that’s formulaic and redundant. Also, it’s hard for me to suspend belief in my own writing. I have to have a logical expalnation for everything, which is hard to do when dealing with the paranormal. 


I wanted to remain true to the zombie genre, keeping intact my favorite things about the gore and violence and mayhem they caused, while lumbering stupidly along. At the same time, I’m aiming this at teen girls, so I didn’t want over the top stuff, and I wanted a believable romance, without detracting from the zombies or the badassness of my heroine. It was all very tricky, and I hope I succeeded. 


Next up, once I wrap my serieses, I sincerely plan on writing about unicorns. I haven’t figured it out. At all. But it’ll work. 


I also want to write a book, that if transalted to film, could be adapted by the Jim Henson Company. Again, I haven’t figured that out either. But I’m working on it. And someday, it’ll work. You’ll see.


At any rate, I’m already gonna start writing and tweaking my query letter. I really hope to query before Christmas. But if I don’t… well, then I don’t.

Over the course of the past year, I have spent a good deal of time reading popular writing tips, many of which have either helped me improve my writing, or at the very least, let me know when I am on the right path. While I am not a dazzling successful published author (yet), I’ve decided to compile a list of things I’ve learned that I find most valuable:

-Use any forms of “to be” as minimally as possibly (e.g. was, were, am, be, been)
-The word “said” reads better than flashier words like “vowed, grumbled, declared”
-Never start a book with too much backstory, a phone ringing, or someone waking up
-Describe things that only need description – if its not relevant, move on
-Adverbs are not your friend
-Topical ideas and pop culture are fun, but they date your book and make it stale
-Be consistent – if your protaganist has brown hair on page 1, make sure it isn’t blond on page 100
-Outlines are vital
-Do not query until you’re revised your manuscript, then revised it again, and again
-When revising, ask yourself “does this need to be here? does it move the story along? develop a character? build tension?” every line, and if it doesn’t, then cut it out
-Over 100,000 words is probably too much (unless your writing fantasy) and under 70,000 words probably isn’t enough (unless your writing children’s)
-Dialogue is important, but make sure it’s necessary, and give you unique speech patterns to each character, without being cliched, repetitive, or over the top
-Never use a longer word when a smaller one will do

-When revising, watch out for modifiers, including “very,” “pretty,” “rarely,” “usually”
-Use the least amount of words as possible – if a sentence can be shortened, shorten it
-Proper editing is a vital skill

-Look at examples of query letters and make sure you read and understand the agents submissions guidelines

-Read constantly, especially in the genre you are writing, but don’t limit yourself to that
-Utelize feedback and don’t take criticism personally – having a thick skin is essential

-Read agents blogs – they’re the most useful resources out there
-Use twitter and blogs to connect with other writers – search for #pubtip and #writetip on twitter
-Don’t ever give up. Constantly write, edit, and read, and don’t constrict yourself to one book or genre. 


I know there are millions more, but these are just some that I found most helpful.