Author Bucket List

Photo by Ann Kristin Edvartsen

I've been challenged! And this time I don't have to dump ice water on my head!

Julie Cross, an international bestselling author, whose new novel Whatever Life Throws at You is releasing from Entangled Teen the same day as my Love and Other Unknown Variables, challenged me to dig deep and share my Author Bucket List. You can see Julie's list here on her blog.

Here's what I'd love to do as a writer before I, uh…expire. 

1. Write a fantasy book. Not high fantasy, but one day, I want to be brave enough to bend and maybe even break the rules of this universe we live in and make my very own rules.

2. Contribute to a book in which one of my writing idols is also sharing a story. I've got a lot of idols, so my odds are better than I might think!

3. Write a novel in verse. I can't imagine how difficult this would be, but my daughter LOVES these and I think it's the only way she'll ever think I'm cool.

4. Be on a panel at a super cool conference (I'm thinking LeakyCon because I already have a Gryffindor  tie—this is a bucket list after all—a girl can dream). I have no idea what I'd say during the panel. In fact, it'd be fine if I was just in charge of getting the ice water for the other panelists.

5. See one of my books, somewhere down the line, turned into a graphic novel.

6. Work with a team of writers on something cool like a web series. Maybe a web series for younger teens? That'd be fun. I love collaboration and am curious about how writers work together as a team.

7. Write a contemporary middle grade novel from a boy's perspective with the honesty and bravery of Lauren Myracle's The Winnie Years series or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's me, Margaret. It'd be awesome if I could do this before my son hits this age, but it's more likely I'll just pilfer his experiences later in life. I'll change his name in the book, of course.

8. Visit a foreign country to sign my books. It'd be best if they asked me to come, but I'm not too picky. If I should ever find myself in a foreign country with one of my books, signing it and taking a selfie of the act will suffice.

9. Learn to play the guitar. That may not seem writerly, but I've got this character who plays, and I think I'd be able to better capture his voice if I could play too!

10. Write until I can't write anymore!

I'm going to challenge my entire writing group, the YA Cannibals, to join the fun and post their Author Bucket Lists.

Be sure to use #AuthorBucketList and tag me on Twitter or Facebook when you post, Cannibals!