Ninja-Kickin' Interview with Natalie Whipple

1. I want to hear more about Relax, I’m a Ninja! Just the title alone is awesome! What inspired you? And what kept you inspired through your long journey with this book? The inspiration for the book came from a lot of different places—anime, growing up in the Bay Area, growing up a nerd, always wanting to try martial arts, wondering what it might be like if there were still ninjas roaming around, etc. As for what kept me inspired through the journey? Man, I think I'd mostly say other people. My writing friends, my husband and family, eventually my agent when he signed me. When I doubted my abilities, they'd remind me that I wasn't as horrible at writing as I sometimes think I am. Also, I promised myself I'd do this, that I'd keep trying even if I failed for a long time. Sometimes it's hard to honor that promise to myself, but I've come a long way because of it. 2. You’ve said in a couple of your interviews that editing was the hardest part. How so? It’s nice to see that your book was “kind of a mess” when you were picked up. (OOOOHHHH! That sounds so mean! I’m just saying I’m glad you’re a real human being!) What was it like when Nathan picked you up? Did you go into edits immediately? And then again, when your editor picked it up? *faints* Major note: I don't have an editor. Relax, I'm a Ninja has not yet sold. I know, a lot of people think it has for some reason, but it hasn't. How can this be? I must read this book! Actually, it wasn't picked up when it was a mess! Nathan didn't sign me until AFTER I edited it to a point where it was in good shape. That took about nine months from first contact to signing. But this was also a bit of a unique situation. I didn't send Nathan the book expecting him to be interested—I sent it for the prize critique I'd won from his First Paragraph Contest. The book was still very rough, and I planned on using his advice to revise! Imagine my surprise when he asked for the full. Also imagine my shame and stupidity for sending it when I knew it wasn't ready. (Oh, hindsight...) Little remembered fact: Nathan rejected it after reading the full! He gave me great advice, told me it wasn't ready, and to submit again if I chose to revise. Yup. A nice rejection, but a rejection nonetheless. But I did revise. A lot. And then I sent it to him again. At that point I got what I like to call "The Half Call." He called to say he thought my revisions were fantastic, but there was still work to do. At that point he asked if we could do an exclusive revision. I agreed, and then we proceeded to do that for a full spring/summer. Last September, I got the "real" call, when he offered representation. A couple edits came after that, just to polish it up before submission. It was a long process, but overall I'm happy with how it turned out. During revision, I sometimes wished the agent/client thing would be "official," but then I'd realize it was nice that we could both back out if we wanted without contract issues. I could have chosen to move on if I didn't like what he said. Luckily, his advice was always spot on (even when I hated that it was, it was great). Hopefully I can find just as a good a relationship with an editor! I've certainly been spoiled thus far. 3. What was it like working with your dream agent for the first time? I want to squee with you. Give me details! What’s it like? LOL! Alas, it's probably not as exciting as you think. For the most part, it feels like having an extra smart crit partner who knows the business better than you. It's great, of course, but it also becomes part of your life quickly. I still have moments where I'm like "Whoa, I have an agent," but for the most part I'm still doing all the things I used to do. And every once in a while, I hear back on subs. Also, people think I'm cooler than I am, since my agent is so cool (admittedly, that part is kind of nice). 4. I’m in the middle of Query Hell and have been for about a year and a half with a couple of projects. How did you find the energy to overcome the hardships of waiting and hoping and putting yourself back together after your hopes were crushed? (EVERYONE has been really nice about it! Thank goodness! LOL) It's hard, for sure, but I think what helped the most was to remember that the most important thing is finding that "connection." I queried for around two years, and for a while I had this idea that if I could just find someone—anyone—who liked my book I'd be set. But then my thinking started to change. Actually, the changes came when I saw some of my friends work with their agents. Some had amazing relationships with their agents—they worked so well together. Others struggled and were unhappy. I realized that I didn't just want any agent, I wanted the one who truly understood my work and could help me improve. Querying, oddly enough, is a lot like dating. What's easier? Finding someone to hook up with because they think you're good enough looking, or finding someone who wants to invest in a long term relationship with you because they honestly like you as a person? It's pretty obvious, I think. So sometimes it takes a while to find that agent who truly connects with your work. It might not be who you expect. It might take way, way longer than you want. But I learned that it was worth it, even though it was a really tough time for me. Sadly, sometimes it doesn't get any easier in the next phase. You can't forget that it's about a connection, and there's not really a formula for that. All you can do is be yourself, be proud of it, and work hard to improve continually. 5. ACK! I just saw you’re working on Transparent. I haven’t heard anything about this one! What inspired this one? The first seeds came from this song called "Miss Invisible" by Marie Digby. The song is more about a girl who is ignored and teased at school, and thus invisible, but as I was listening I began to take the words more literal. What would it be like to actually be invisible? What would be the pros and cons? How would it affect someone's identity? Fiona was born out of those thoughts. And then I wrote a really horrible attempt at her story, but I revised it, thought it was enough. But it wasn't. There wasn't a band-aid big enough to fix it, so I scrapped it all and rewrote it. Yup. It was hard, but I'm pleased with the result. I am SOOOOO glad I'm not the only one! I did that with my YA. Still working on the re-write. I took a break from it, but hopefully it goes better like yours! 6. How do you find the time to write while raising Ninja Girl and Dino Boy? LOL!! They seem pretty supportive of the idea of you writing stories. Do they really get what that means? It's hard, especially since I just lost nap time. I'm not sure how I'll manage now, but I'll figure out a new routine over time, I'm sure. Since they're only 2 and 4, they don't quite understand why mommy wants to tap on the computer all day. I do wonder what they'll think when they get older. Right now they mostly just get annoyed when I'm not paying attention to them. 7. You have one of the most successful writers blogs I’ve seen. Now, admittedly, I live under a rock, so this might not be saying much. However, when I’m talking with other writers and happen to mention Ninja Girl or Dino Boy, EVERYONE knows who I’m talking about! LOL! So, that means you’re successful. How do you do that? I really don't know. I find it kind of surreal most of the time—especially since I'm nothing special. I mean, I don't have a book out or even on the way. I am no best-seller or award-winner. I'm not even all that knowledgeable in comparison to real publishing people. I'm just a writer, trying to get there like everyone else. But maybe that's it. While I try to stay positive, I definitely don't sugar-coat. I believe in being honest about how tough it's been. I also try to remind people that it's worth it, even when it's hard. I try to talk about what it's really like to be a writer, and maybe people like that. Again, I'm not totally sure, but I'm so grateful for all the people who do read my blog! Every comment I get still makes me smile. 8. AND how do you stay so dog-gone positive all the time? Are you just that insanely nice? There are times I’d like to just reach through and strangle my in-box, though, not for crimes committed. *hangs head in shame* Mostly, it’s for not reaching into the agent’s OUTbox and retrieving my request for full. Well, I save my whining mostly for offline. I'm certainly not perfect, and there are days where I feel like the entire industry is out to get me. But I've learned something through all the waiting—I feel like crap and act like crap when I'm in that mindset. I don't like feeling like crap. It's true that you can change your attitude—not easy, but true. If you want to be happy, you can be (you know, unless there's a real problem like clinical depression). I try my best not to focus on the things that make me grumpy. These would include the mysterious workings of the industry I can't control: wait times, querying, submissions, rejections, etc. Instead, I focus on what I can control: improving my writing, editing, making writer friends, blogging, cooking, exercising, reading, etc. Publishing is kind of like a cat. When you want it to come and cuddle on your lap, it'll scratch you in the face and run off. The harder you try to pursue it, the more annoyed you'll get when it holes up under the bed—right where you can't reach. But when you ignore it, start writing that great new idea, it'll come rub up against your leg and purr. If you just keep doing what you're supposed to be doing, it'll end up sitting on your keyboard begging for attention. In other words, enjoy your writing and let the publishing come when it feels like it. *breathing through the pain* I'll try that. *cringe* We'll see just how successful I can be. I am a writer. I am a WRITER. I AM a writer! 9. Okay, I hate this question when I get it in interviews, but I’m going to ask it anyway to close it. What wildly wonderful words of wisdom do you have for us, oh Successful One? Umm, have fun. Don't be too hard on yourself. Keep trying. Make friends. Be yourself. Work your butt off. Also, when people say you can't write without chocolate/coffee/bacon/etc., don't believe them. Thanks, guys, for making me fat. No, kidding. Kinda. Wow! That was such a fantastic interview!!! I want everyone to thank Natalie for this AND to stop by her blog, Between Fact and Fiction, and comment. Why? Because it makes her smile, of course!