Behind the Scenes With Aaron Reynolds

Describe your writing process in one word? 

“Revision. A lot of people think a writer’s job is just to come up with brilliant ideas and write it down … done! Nope. The biggest most important part of my job is revision. Going back, X-ing things out, making it funnier, better, creepier. That’s what I spend most of my time on. Revision is what turns a good idea into a great book.” 

Where do you most like to write? 

“While I have a dedicated room at home for writing, I don’t always write there. I often travel places I’ve never been before, just for the purpose of writing. Cafés, libraries, hotel rooms, bookstores—these have all been writing places for me. In fact, I rarely write in the same place twice. But I revise in my writing room at home.” 

What moment in your life felt straight out of a novel? 

“Scuba diving off Grand Cayman. Nestled into a reef right on the edge of a big ocean drop-off, a 15-foot hammerhead shark came over the ridge barely 25 feet above me, soaring like some majestic bird, and disappearing slowly into the darkness of the deep. My first close-up shark encounter. I’ll never forget it.” 

Who are your favourite writers? 

“Roald Dahl, George Saunders, Andy Weir, and Jon Scieszka.” 

Which character from your books would you most likely befriend? 

“Nerdy Birdy. He and I are cut from the same cloth.”