This week YA author Jennifer Niven took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Jennifer Niven is the author of Take Me With You When You Go. (See YEM’s interview of Jennifer Niven here.) See highlights from the takeover below.

Hi everyone! I'm @jenniferniven and I'll be taking over here for the next two hours talking all things First in the book world! SO EXCITED! #YAAuthorTakeover

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I also want to answer your questions, so please send them over! #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

Just a little intro– I wrote my first books when I was nine years old, and have been writing ever since. My mom was also a writer, and she inspired me and taught me to always believe in myself and my work. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I'd love to know what everyone is reading right now! My TBR is huge, but I'm always looking for new books to add to it.😊 #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

The first author I read who really truly inspired me was @judyblume She taught me that I could not only read myself on the page, I could write myself and the things I was going through onto the page.♥️ #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I studied English lit in undergrad and then went to @AmericanFilm for screenwriting. There I learned to write dialogue, to write visually, to make every word count. At the time I was planning to write movies not books. But it was GREAT training. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I'd love to hear from young writers out there. Is there any writing advice you live by? I'll be sharing some of my own soon… #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

One of the first best pieces of writing advice I received was from my high school teacher. He used to write "pure economy of word" on my essays and stories. All these years later, I still follow this advice. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My first jobs after college were writing-related so I could gain experience in areas of the industry while I figured out what I wanted to write. I was a writer/editor at House of Blues LA and then a writer/producer at https://t.co/rXU61WHkuY. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I discovered the idea for my first book, The Ice Master, by watching a TV documentary on a deadly Arctic expedition. I knew nothing about the Arctic but I knew it was a story I wanted to read. A dramatic story about survival. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I found my first lit agent by reading the Acknowledgments in books that were successful in the genre I wanted to write in. (Authors always thank their agents.) Then I wrote a query letter (that I worked really hard on!) and sent it out. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I initially wrote my first book as a novel but my agent suggested I write it as nonfiction because there were a LOT of firsthand resources. So I began my career in nonfiction for adults. My first two books were about historic Arctic expeditions! #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My first novel was for adults too. A series of 4 books about Velva Jean Hart who becomes a pilot and spy in WWII and later a movie star in 1940s Hollywood. The original idea came from a short story of my mom's! #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I find inspiration all around me. So much of what I write comes from life in some way– experiences of mine, things I've gone through. Or it comes from history. And my characters contain pieces of me and pieces of people I know or have met. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

Writing advice: Write the story you want to read. Read, read, read. Don't write with anyone over your shoulder. Believe in yourself and your work. Don't worry about trying to write something perfect. Try not to put pressure on yourself. Play. #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I create playlists for my characters/stories. Sometimes I listen while I'm writing. I also listen while I'm driving, walking, exercising. It's a great way to see the story and the people in it and to stay close to them even when not at my desk. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

Here's one I did for my character Bea and my new YA novel #TakeMeWithYouWhenYouGo which I wrote with @loversdiction ♥️https://t.co/kJdGQdhqBH

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My first YA novel was #AlltheBrightPlaces which was inspired by a boy I loved and lost to suicide. It's the most personal book I've ever written and the idea of writing it terrified me! That book changed my life in so many ways. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I always tell young writers that in order for your readers to feel the things you want them to feel, you have to feel them yourself. It doesn't mean you have to write your true story, but you should feel the pulse and emotions of your characters. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My new YA #TakeMeWithYouWhenYouGo (which JUST came out 8/31!) is the first book I've written with someone else. I was asked (on Twitter!) who I'd most like to collab with and I said David Levithan. He saw it and sent me a chapter out of the blue! #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

#AlltheBrightPlaces was turned into a movie for @netflix in 2020. It was the first time one of my books became a major film and I got to co-write the script! It was definitely a dream come true.♥️ #YAAuthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

The #AlltheBrightPlaces premiere was at the @ArcLightCinemas in Hollywood– my fave movie theater. It will forever be the last movie I see there because (due to the pandemic) the theater's now closed for good. So many feelings! #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My new book #TakeMeWithYouWhenYouGo came from @loversdiction sending me a chapter out of the blue from the POV of a boy whose sister had run away and he didn't know why. He wrote Ezra. I wrote sister Bea. Our main rule: We never discuss the plot. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

So @loversdiction and I wrote #TakeMeWithYouWhenYouGo never once talking about what was going to happen. We wrote the entire book in email form, David writing Ezra, me writing Bea, and we constantly surprised each other. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I'm currently working on my next solo YA novel and the script for the movie version of #HoldingUptheUniverse !! As well as a few other projects… I have at least a zillion more ideas I'm itching to write! #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

Writing advice: Never limit yourself or your imagination. Find trusted readers to share your work with when it's ready to share. Trust in yourself. Know that you're in charge of the blank page! Learn to love editing but try not to edit as you go. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I use @ScrivenerApp for composing. I'm part pantser, part plotter. (This varies book to book!) Before I begin the actual writing I get to know my characters really well and map out the story in a general way (unless the book is plot-driven!) #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My novel Breathless was the first YA I wrote with a single POV. I traveled to a remote GA island to write it (the story was set there) and met my now-husband. We had all these romantic, fun, wild adventures which I wrote into the book! #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My first agent died in 2013. I was finishing up my series of adult novels and had to decide what to write next. The last thing my agent said to me was, "Write what terrifies you." I knew it was #AlltheBrightPlaces because of how personal it was. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

When I was interviewing new agents one said he could never rep an author who'd written multiple genres. I've always followed the story I wanted to write/read. But suddenly I was full of self-doubt. Don't ever let anyone make you doubt yourself! #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

My mom used to say, "There are enough people in this world who will tell you no. Don't be one of them." Do the very best by your work. Write honestly and responsibly. But remember that after you're done with it, it belongs to the reader. #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

I always "cast" my stories so that I can better picture the characters. No one knew that I "cast" Elle Fanning as Violet when I was writing #AlltheBrightPlaces Which made it even more thrilling when she was actually cast in the film! #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021

Thank you all SO much for being here with me today. And thank you for everything! Readers are– forever– my brightest places.🌟Keep writing! Keep reading! And remember that only YOU can write the story YOU can write! Love, love, love, me #YAauthorTakeover @jenniferniven

— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) September 2, 2021