TALK: Sophia Bennett

 

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Sophia Bennett is a writer of young adult books including the Threads series, The Look, and You Don't Know Me. She won the Times/Chicken House Competition in 2009. She spoke to StoryWorld about writing tips and obsessions.

Hi Sophia! Tell me about You Don’t Know Me.

It's the story of a girl who gets a fabulous opportunity to be famous, makes a huge mistake and lives to regret it. She unthinkingly betrays her best friend and becomes the subject of a cyber-bullying campaign. In the course of surviving everything that's thrown at her, she realises the value of friendship, and being creative through music. I wanted to write about cyber-bullying because so many people are suffering it at the moment. I hope there are clues in the book about how to make it stop and how to survive it while it lasts. 

  

Why do you write YA?

I've always wanted to write for young teenagers because I used to lose myself in books at that age. Reading was very necessary to me. I escaped my ordinary life, learned a lot and formed most of the beliefs and opinions I hold to this day. Teens are passionate readers, and passionate people. When you make a connection with your readers, it's a special thing.

  

You’ve managed to infuse your love of fashion into your writing. Are there any other obsessions you’d weave into your stories?

There are still stories to be written about my love of art, and dance. But my next book, due out in the summer, is about family and politics, which are two other passions of mine. Oh yes, and Italy. I have quite a few obsessions.

  

What’s your favourite writing tip?

Just write! You'll never get the practise you need to be a great writer if you don't sit down and do it. Two others that I often quote are John Green's 'I give myself permission to suck' on the first draft. You can always make it better later. And Neil Gaiman's 'finish things'. 

Are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes - a book about love. It's what my readers have said they want to read about. It's fraught love, obviously, but I still think I'm going to have a good time with this one. 

  

Thanks Sophia!

You can find out more about Sophia at her website, her twitter, and her facebook. Her books are available in all bookshops and online.