Where did the inspiration for Spoken come from? What was the hardest part of the book to write? How much research was involved? Does Melanie Weiss have any advice for aspiring writers?
Where did the inspiration for Spoken, your first novel, come from?
I had wanted to write a novel for a really long time. I experimented with different genres and found that my voice and storylines fell easily into the young adult world. I love writing about teenagers as they discover their passions and begin to find their place in the world. My husband’s cousins grew up just outside Hollywood in Calabasas and went to school with a bunch of celebrities’ kids. They had a McLaren in their garage and many of their neighbors had barns with horses they rode on trails in the neighborhood. I started to think about a story about a boy who lives that life during his formative tween years. Then suddenly he loses it all and has to move into his grandparents’ Midwestern home with his mom at the same time he begins high school. The rest of the story flowed from there.
Do you have a special room to write in? If not, where do you write? Where do you do your best writing?
I do most of my writing in my home office, though I have done a good amount on airplanes and on vacation where a lack of distractions is so helpful. I started Spoken after my younger child began college. Once I no longer had anyone to worry about at home, this new space just opened up in my brain to allow for the creativity to flow.
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What did you have to research for this book?
After I had a spark of an idea for my novel, I started attending Spoken Word Club meetings and Spoken Word showcases at the high school my two children had attended. I was so impressed and enthralled by the student poets and their honesty about the joys and struggles in their lives. I recall the student who recited a poem about the police knocking down their family’s front door. Another poem was about the boy who realized he was gay and wanted to tell his parents. Other poems celebrated love and family. It inspired me to include some of those voices in my novel. In fact, a few poems in Spokenare from former students in the Spoken Word Club at Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS) in Oak Park, Illinois.
How completely do you develop your characters before beginning to write?
I have learned over time that my writing style is called “neutral pantser”…I basically write and form my characters and plot lines as I go along. I know where I want to start the story and how I want to see it end. The middle is fluid and I enjoy experiencing the characters’ journeys alongside them and filling in parts as they come to me. I get some of my characters’ wisdom from interacting in the world. Things like a fun comment made on my favorite radio show or a mantra read by my yoga teacher contribute to this. Life experiences, including those from raising my two children, also find their way into my stories.
Which scene was the hardest for you to write?
I thought writing the poetry would be really hard for me as I had to convey the complicated emotions of fifteen-year-old Roman. I just dug down deep and decided not to be intimidated by anything that would stand in the way of me finishing my novel. One day, I took a walk in a forest preserve and sat on a picnic table to take in the quiet around me. That serenity inspired me to write. I pulled out my cell phone and started composing some thoughts in the notes section. That became the poem Roman performs on stage at his high school during the competition to be chosen for the London Poetry Slam team.
How long did it take you to decide on a title for this book? Were there any other titles you were considering?
I tried out a few titles and eventually landed on The Spoken Word Club. About a month before I was set to publish my novel, my son said, “Mom, why don’t you just call it Spoken.” Smart kid! I think Spoken reflects the message of this book so well as while Spoken Word Club is a big part of the book, there is more to Roman’s journey than that.
What will your next book be about?
My next novel, In the Deep End, will come out in late summer. In this story,
high school seniors Alli and Brandon are the perfect couple until the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, shakes them to their core. As Alli participates in March for our Lives events, Brandon chooses to defend his pro-gun beliefs, and they begin to stand up for something bigger than themselves for the first time.
What type of books do you like to read?
I read a lot of historical fiction. I have a background in journalism, and I use a hook of something that is real to anchor all my fiction.
Besides enjoyment, what would you like people to get out of reading your book?
That is the core of why I write…to share something important! I am honored that my novel, Spoken, was a winner of the 2019 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for Young Adult-Social Issues. My book talks about the power of spoken word to be a force for change but in a way that is relatable and entertaining.
Where can your fans find you on the internet?
I love to connect. People can find me on the following sites:
Instagram: melanieweissauthor
Twitter: melweissauthor
Website: www.melanie-weiss.com
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Trust your gut! As a new author not sure if the story I had to tell was one people wanted to read, I hired a few editors to review my final draft. I got lots of advice. One editor suggested I combine Roman’s friend, Zuzu, and his girlfriend, Claire, into one character. Another suggested that his dad should not want to meet him and Roman should have to fight harder to connect with his French father than he did. But that was not the story I wanted to, or felt I could, effectively tell.
Recommended Article: Spoken – a Review
Amazon Link: Spoken
