Your Questions Answered

Time Capsule?

Question:

I was wondering what Alice in Charge was going to be about. Do you have any other books that your going to write that our like the Alice series? What book was it when Alice did a time capsule?

Phyllis replied:

It’s really too soon to talk about “Alice in Charge.”  The only other series you might possibly like are the girls/versus/boys books, beginning with “The Boys Start the War,” though these are mostly for younger readers.  I’d have to go through the Alice books myself to find out when her class buried a time capsule, but it’s late at night, I’m really tired, and I have other emails to answer, so I’m hoping one of my faithful readers will write in and answer it for me.

Female Masturbation

Phyllis replied:

It’s a lot easier for boys to find their penis than for girls to discover their clitoris, and this is probably why boys discover masturbation early on.  I can assure you there is a huge, huge population of 13 year old girls who masturbate, as well as younger girls, older girls, grown-up girls and even grandmothers.  Some girls do, some girls don’t.  Some do it a lot, some do it once in a while.  Some girls have other ways to relax, and it doesn’t really matter.  I know it’s not a topic girls usually discuss, while guys can actually brag about it.  Maybe they feel it’s not feminine or something.   But it’s good for girls and women to know their own bodies better and what gives them pleasure.  This makes it easier for them to tell their male partners what works and what doesn’t.

Sometimes I Get So Discouraged

Question:

     first off, your books are amazing. your books are what got me into reading when i was younger. ive read evey alice book, they’ve helped a lot. so thank you for writing them. now i have a question to ask you. when you first started writing did you have everything planned out, like very situation, every event? or did you keep changing your mind? also, did you get discouraged while writing or was it easy? does it get easier over time to write? im sorry i asked so many questions, but i want to write a book and even though my friends all give it a 9 out of 10 im not sure its good. i keep changing my ming a lot about the events taking place in the book and sometimes the whole situation too. sometimes i even get so discouraged i consider quitting. i just wanted to know if this is normal? thanks.this will be a great help

Phyllis replied:

First I need to ask you a question:  Are you actually writing a book, or are you talking over the plot with friends?   There’s a difference.  I never discuss a book with anyone until I’ve written a draft that is the best I can do at the time.  Then I let my husband read it, I may read it chapter by chapter to a critique group, and it’s only then that I let other people look at it, or hear it, and make comments.   When I first think of a new plot, I’m obviously very excited about it or I wouldn’t put in all the work it takes to write a book.  But if I talk about it to someone else, and she says, “Yeah, but didn’t somebody write a book like that two years ago?” or “Are you sure you want it to end that way?” or any other kind of criticism, it bursts my bubble and I’m not as excited about it any longer.  I need to keep thinking that it’s going to be a good book as long as I can, but once it’s down on paper, ALL of it, then I’m ready to accept criticism.  When I start a book, I know the plot, I know the characters, I know the climax, I know how it ends, and I know a number of major things that happen along the way.  But that’s all.  I don’t know all the little twists and turns, and it’s the things that surprise me while I’m writing that makes it fun.  Yes, sometimes I do get discouraged because it’s not going as well as I thought it would.  Then I put it away for a while and work on something else.  But it seems to keep playing around in the back of my mind, and eventually I get a new angle on the book that was giving me trouble, and go back to it feeling enthusiastic again.

What’s It About?

Question:

 i lvoe your books! i cannot wait ofr Alcie in Xharge! Could you tell me whats it about? and how many more books in the alice series? i am 12 eyars old and have been reading alice for well 2 3 years

Phyllis replied:

Please don’t ask what the next book’s about.  It hasn’t even come back from the copy editor yet, and I’m sure there’s still work to be done on it.  There will be three more books after “Alice in Charge.”

More Alice Movies?

Question:

I absolutley love your books and how you put such passion into the Alice books! You make life seem so simple especially looking at Alice’s view on things. She has it pretty hard sometimes. I had a question though, Do you think you’d make more movies of Alice? The first time I saw the Movie Alice, I didnt like it at all, because it seemed the characters of Alice, and Lester were from Disney channel, and Alice was grown to have strawberry blonde hair and The Alice character in the book didn’t match up to her. How come? And would you ever do a movie series of Alice? You’re a great author! I love your work!

Phyllis replied:

I didn’t make the first one.  “Alice Upside Down” was done by some movie producers who based it loosely on “The Agony of Alice.”  They had their own version of what the movie should be, and it’s good to remember that you need to view a movie and a book as two separate things, and judge a movie on how well it comes off as a film, not on how much it resembles the book.  There was a lot that was different in the movie, but there was a lot to like, too.  My job isn’t to make movies; it’s to write books.

Need Advice

What Year Was She Born?

How Much These Books Have Meant to Me

Question:

I just wanted to commend you on your excellent Alice series. I originally read them when I was in middle school/early high school – I think, it’s hard to remember :),  and I was always struck by their inspirational messages and especially how funny they were! I am re-reading them now, at age 23, just sentimentally, you know, and I just wanted to write you and tell you how much these books have meant to me. My little sister is going on nine and I can’t wait to give her this series. These books are so wonderful and perfect for any growing girl.

Phyllis replied:

I appreciate your email so much.  I hope your little sister enjoys the books as much as you have!

Your Response Worried Me

Question:

I have been reading your responses to questions for about a year.  I appreciate the advice you give to all writers.  Your response to the Without a Condom email worried me, it seems like this was a teachable moment to get the writer go get some reliable birth control she is responsible for.  Although a condom is better than nothing, it certainly isn’t a fool proof method of birth control

Phyllis replied:

You’re absolutely right.  A nurse or doctor or Planned Parenthood would have good advice about birth control.  The question I printed was only part of a very long letter, most of which concerned the relationship with the boyfriend.  I had answered the reader personally, but chose a small part of her letter to post on the fan mail page.

I Don’t Want My Parents to Read It

Phyllis replied:

When new writers begin to be published, editors usually don’t let them have much, if any, say about the cover.  But if you establish a good sales record with a company and they publish more and more of your books, you will have more influence over the cover.  The editor writes what goes on the fly-leaf at the front of the book; the author generally writes what appears on the inside leaf at the back.  The publisher determines what will go on the very back of the book.  Regarding publishing your book, are you talking about self-publishing–paying to have it printed up yourself?  Because that costs thousands of dollars.  If you are considering sending your manuscript in to a publisher and having them pay you for it, I think I would first concentrate on writing the very best book that you can and getting it accepted.  Then it will be time to think about what you do or don’t want your parents to read.