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Mark Huntley Parsons

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http://www.markhparsons.com/

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MarkHParsons

Genre

Young Adult, Contemporary, Music

Member Since

November 2011

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Mark Parsons’ YA novel, ROAD RASH (Knopf/Random House) is a band-on-the-road novel which explores coming into adulthood. It was named to the 2015 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, as well as Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list.

Before that Parsons wrote primarily non-fiction for several years, penning a couple hundred articles for national publications as well as a pair of non-fiction books.

“I love the writing process, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction,” Parsons says. “But with this book, I knew I wanted create a work with a young male protagonist, one who’s on his way… but maybe not quite there yet.”

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Parsons was an instructor for a Fortune 500 corporation. He lives in C ...more

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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

Mark Huntley Parsons That’s a great question, with so many possible answers…

And yeah, a few spoilers, but all the spoiler-involved books are from five to fifty years old s…moreThat’s a great question, with so many possible answers…

And yeah, a few spoilers, but all the spoiler-involved books are from five to fifty years old so...

My initial response is to say Bryce & Julie, from Flipped. I love them! Although I suppose they can’t be my official answer because they’re never really a couple during the period covered by the book—one is always zigging (emotionally) while the other is zagging, and they’re never on the same page until the end. And even then, the resolution is more about the potential for them to become a couple than about them becoming an actual item. But definitely, one of the greatest first-love books ever.

Then there is the pair from my all-time childhood fave: Kip & Peewee from Have Spacesuit, Will Travel. (Perhaps the original “teens save the planet” book, half a century before Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent, etc. And perhaps the best of all of them.) But again, they’re not really a couple during the book (she’s too young for one thing, even if she is the smarter half of the team). But, as with Flipped, you can definitely see them being together in the future.

And not that I would ever list my own characters as “my favorites,” but I do have a special place in my heart for Zach & Kimber, and GT & Jamie (and Rocky & Rann, and J & Assi, and…).

Then there are all the iconic pairings from TV: Let’s see… Buffy & Angel… Buffy & Spike… Angel & Cordelia… Willow & Tara… Xander & Anya… (Okay, let’s pass on TV.)

But before leaving human/vampire pairings, is there any better than Tana & Gavriel in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown? Not that I can recall. Even you-know-who & what’s-his-name. (To say nothing of the best fantasy couple that never was: H&H. Damn.)

And of course there are contemporary couples from adult fiction, like the interesting-but-not-quite-believable on again/off again/on again ’ship between Lisbeth and Blomkvist of Dragon Tattoo fame. My credibility isn’t stretched by the waif-like/multi-millionaire/psychologically-damaged/mathematical genius who still needs a legal guardian at twenty-something, but by the supposedly mature, intelligent, middle-aged reporter who’s so emotionally near-sighted he can’t see what’s in front of him. Even with all that, they’re a memorable pairing. (And full disclosure—I actually liked that bastard-child of a fourth book in the trilogy. Partly for the resolution.)

Back in what is ostensibly kidlit land, the story of Liesel & Rudy in The Book Thief is maybe the saddest of them all, because—unlike in Flipped—the potential for them to become a couple is forever destroyed by the realities of living in wartime Germany. They’re both truly heroes at an age far too young to have to be heroic. And although neither of them know it until it’s too late, they’re in love from beginning. The final scene with the two of them just broke my heart.

So, to what may be my favorite actual fictional couple: Puck & Sean from The Scorpio Races. (Don’t you just love the way he calls her by her first and last name?) Everything about that book is so understated… whispered, instead of shouting in your face. But really, I think they’re my favorite literary couple simply because they actually, really, truly belong together.

So... who's YOUR favorite fictional couple???(less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Mark Huntley Parsons The short answer: I go for a nice long run.

The longer answer: For me at least, “writer’s block” is really just a term for “haven’t thought about the s…moreThe short answer: I go for a nice long run.

The longer answer: For me at least, “writer’s block” is really just a term for “haven’t thought about the story quite enough yet.” I don’t typically get the long-term feeling of “I’m totally blocked and have no idea what to write,” but occasionally I’ll get stuck on a particular plot point. (I actually think this smaller level of writer’s block can be a good thing – it’s your subconscious telling you that you need to think a little more about the story before committing words to paper.)

I try not to sit down to write until I have at least a vague clue as to where I’m going, because for me, the very least productive place to come up with new ideas is sitting on my butt staring at a blank screen. I’d rather mow the lawn or wash the dishes or stand in the shower. I think the real writing happens away from the keyboard, and I also believe the subconscious does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to creativity. So if I’m stuck on a plot point, I’ll go for a run (or any other activity that takes just a minimal amount of attention). The slight attention requirement of running or walking or whatever seems to distract the conscious mind just enough to let the subconscious come out and play. Then during the run I’ll sort of mull over the scene in question, playing it in my head like a movie. Each time I play the clip I change it a little, and sooner or later an idea will pop into my mind. And if it’s a good idea, I get that “aha!” feeling. If not, I keep playing the film clip until I do. Then, once I have the inspiring little idea that gets me past the sticking point, I’m ready to sit down and write. And of course, once you have enough of an idea to start a scene, your mind generally comes up with other ideas to extend or complete the scene.

Part of the solution to what people call “writer’s block” may be as simple as writing regularly. Like most skills, if you exercise it regularly you not only get better – in terms of craft – but you also get more efficient at it. And you develop the confidence that if you start the tiny little scene you have in mind, you’ll likely come up with more.

I find it really helps to know where you’re going. I’m not a detailed outliner, but I like a few signposts along the way, and I like to have at least a rough idea as to how it might end. (A provisional ending, if you will. I might change it when I get there, but for now I just want something to drive toward.) Using a road trip as an analogy, I don’t need a detailed route mapped out, with every little meal stop and gas station and motel already decided on. But I like broad ideas, on the order of: “I’m starting on the East Coast – let’s say New York - and heading to the West Coast. I think I’ll swing down through the South instead of the Mid-West, because I prefer the warmer weather and the BBQ… maybe Atlanta, maybe Birmingham, maybe New Orleans… not sure yet. But I know I want to drive through the Southwest, then on to the coast. Final destination is either L.A. or San Francisco… I’ll know more when I get closer.” That’s pretty much all I need, and I’m ready to go. Enough to keep me moving along, but not so much that I can’t take a detour if it looks promising.

Happy writing!
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Average rating: 3.99 · 242 ratings · 64 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Road Rash

3.99 avg rating — 242 ratings — published 2014 — 10 editions

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