Oh, she was sad, oh, she was sad.
She didn't mean to do it.

Certain thrills stay tucked in your limbs,
go no further than your fingers, move your legs through their paces,
but no more. Certain thrills knock you flat
on your sheets on your bed in your room and you fade
and they fade. You falter and they're gone, gone, gone.

- from She Didn't Mean to Do It by Daisy Fried

Read the poem in its entirety.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Author Jennifer Ziegler and I recently had a nice long talk about confidence and self-worth. We also spoke of books, pets, and songs about sugar. Keep reading to find out her nicknames, her pen names, her favorite names, and how to get a copy of her new release, How NOT to Be Popular.

Please help me assure teen readers that being true to yourself is far cooler than being popular. Any advice for those feeling tragically unhip?

Yes. Don't feel that way! (I'm like a regular Dear Abby, aren't I?)

In all seriousness, I do think teens are forever trying to be "someone else" in order to feel accepted. I get that. In fact, I tried it myself. But it's not worth it. First of all, the qualities you think you should be displaying (for example, a sassy attitude when you are naturally sweet or a thrill-seeking persona when you are cautious at heart) might not help you later, out in the real world. Secondly, folks can usually sense when you aren't being real, and that will drive away the quality people and only impress other pretenders. Third and most important, if you aren't being you, how can you truly bond with someone else? Your friendships will be based on lies and pretense, and you'll miss an opportunity to really connect with others. If you are genuinely yourself and open up to people who understand, that's real acceptance. That's what will make you feel good about yourself.

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If you have any questions for Jennifer Ziegler, please leave them in the comments below this interview and she will respond.

Visit the author's website and LiveJournal.

The first person to contact Jenny via her website and mention this blog along with any song lyrics which mention sugar (yes, we're serious!) will receive a free copy of How NOT to be Popular from the author herself! Click over to her contact page and make sure that the references to Bildungsroman and sugar are in the body of the message.