Q&A With R.J. Palacio

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Q&A With R.J. Palacio

RJP: I actually have been writing my whole adult life—bits and pieces of novels, lots of stories, and mostly ideas for books, screenplays. But I never carved out the time I needed to have to follow through on these ideas. I’m so glad that I had all those years to quietly hone the craft without feeling any pressure to share it. If the whole 10,000 hour thing is true, then I can say that I’m sure I’ve spent that much time and more practicing—but without having to monetize it or make a living out of it. Believe it or not, this was actually a conscious choice I made when I was in college: do I want to make a living as a writer, or as an artist? I chose to pursue art and become an illustrator exactly so that I wouldn’t have to write for anything other than my own pleasure.

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R.J. Palacio: Words of Wonder

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R.J. Palacio: Words of Wonder

...Like Merrick, August (Auggie) Pullman, the main character in R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, is far from being intellectually debilitated. Home-schooled until the age of 10, he scores well enough on an entrance exam to be admitted to a competitive middle school. Auggie does all the typical things boys his age do; he feels ordinary, he explains in the opening chapter of the book. The reaction to his story, however, is anything but.

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Six Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re Considering Self-Publishing But Always Wanted to Traditionally Publish

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Six Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re Considering Self-Publishing But Always Wanted to Traditionally Publish

You’ve heard the stories: Self-publishing is the new wave. Unknown writers are self-publishing and hitting the jackpot. Well-known writers are doing the same. Finally, publishing has become a democracy in which the writer—not a gatekeeper at a traditional publishing house—has the power to green-light a book. And with all the different self-publishing platforms out there, it’s as easy as uploading a file and following the prompts.

But before you click on the “publish now” link, you might want to consider what self-publishing really entails. Unless you’re famous, have a built-in platform through your company, and/or have excellent social media marketing skills, finding readers beyond family, friends, and your writing community might be a challenge.

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