The Nerd Daily recently snagged some time with the illustrious Ben Philippe, the literary genius behind the celebrated The Field Guide to the North American Teenager and the forthcoming YA coming-of-age tale, Charming as a Verb. We peppered him with questions, seeking insight into his writing process, life experiences, and the relentless hustle that is the life of an author.
Who is Ben Philippe?
Hi, Ben! Thanks for gracing us with your presence. Please enlighten our readers about your multifaceted self.
It’s alarming how much of my identity is summed up as “author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager and Charming as a Verb.” Let’s spice this up with ‘red velvet cake enthusiast’ and, oh, let’s not forget: right-handed!
The Lightning Round!
Let’s kick off with a lightning round! What comes to mind with: ivy league, hustle, dogs, heritage?
Ivy League: ‘Gossip Girl’ (Shocking, I know. You’d think I’d go for ‘Gilmore Girls’ but… twist!)
Hustle: ‘Catch Me If You Can’ (Shoutout to Spielberg!)
Dogs: ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ by Mark Haddon
Heritage: ‘Hamilton’ (Who isn’t singing “My Shot”?)
Unpacking Charming as a Verb
Let’s dive into Charming as a Verb! What can readers expect from the escapades of Henri Haltiwanger?
I’m not exactly a psychic when it comes to readers’ reactions to my characters. Henri is, well, a charmer who knows he can charm. Personally, I always side-eye folks like that, but hopefully, readers will find it in their hearts to trust Henri—at least a little. Well, let’s aim for just “like.”
The Side Hustle of Business Ideas
Henri is all about the hustle—if you had to brainstorm a side business right now, what would it be?
I’d become a dating app profile consultant. Seriously, I would crush that gig. Transforming sad emojis and blurry selfies into enticing profiles is my jam. Unfortunately, no one ever pays me for it. Sigh.
Addressing Teen Pressure
Your portrayal of the pressure on teens regarding college applications is spot on. Did your own experiences inspire Henri’s struggle between parental expectations and personal desires?
Oh, absolutely! My mother would’ve loved for me to attend college in Montreal while I lounged at home. But there I was, burning the midnight oil for the American SATs, dreaming of Ivy League schools. I practically had College Confidential as my homepage for months. It’s wild to reflect on the intensity of that yearning as a grownup. Imagining that desire through Henri’s eyes was an intriguing writing exercise.
Dealing with Bad Choices
There’s a particular moment towards the end of Charming as a Verb where Henri makes a baffling choice. While I wanted to shake some sense into him, I completely understood why he acted as he did—despite knowing it was wrong! How do you tackle wrong decisions in your characters?
Oh, it’s tough not to drop spoilers! I’ve embraced my recklessness-free lifestyle these days, having retired with honors in my twenties. But I do enjoy writing those adventurous characters. I usually zero in on the worst choice my protagonist could make and then I just steer them right towards it, like a moth to a flame? It’s a method, I suppose!
The Sophomore Slump
As your second novel, how did the writing process for Charming as a Verb differ from your debut?
It was a struggle—just like they warned me it would be! Honestly, my third book, which was emotionally taxing nonfiction, felt less painful to write than this rom-com. I ended up tossing around 86,000 words of a different take on the story because it was just plain awful. So, about ten months wasted—what a delightful experience!
Advice – Good, Bad, and Ugly
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you’ve ever received?
Best: “Nobody needs to see the story in your head. They didn’t request it. So make it interesting!”
Worst: “You’re alienating readers by making your protagonist Black. Any race would work in this story.” (Spoiler: It does matter!).
Visualizing Characters and What’s Next
Did you have a fancast in mind for Charming as a Verb, considering the vibrant characters leaping off the page?
Thanks for saying that! While I didn’t have a fancast, Henri is a cartoonishly handsome Black teenager. I jotted down sketches of specific locations in New York, but actors? Nope! Pure imagination on this one.
Future Projects and Recommendations
With Charming as a Verb about to hit the shelves, are you already at work on another project? Any teaser for us?
Indeed! I’m currently pouring my soul into a collection of personal essays and rants titled Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend: Notes From the Other Side of The Fist Bump. It’s in copyedits and is set to release in Spring 2021 with Harper Perennial. I know, I’m that insufferable thirty-something writing a memoir. Terrified, but necessary, I think.
Book Recommendations to Savor
Finally, any book recommendations you’d like to share?
Absolutely! You can’t go wrong with The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Plus, I’m eagerly anticipating Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam’s Punching The Air.
