Stories. Read'em. Write'em.

Interview with Author Marie Lamba

2012-01-18T16:35:00.000-08:00

Today, I am thrilled to have Marie Lamba as my guest author. Marie's book, Drawn, is out in electronic and paper format. I was lucky enough to read it before the launch and reviewed it here.

Let's see what Marie has to say:

1.The setting in Drawn is a village in England. It feels so real. Have you lived there? How did you give such a good feeling for the sense of place?

I did spend four months living in a town in the Cotswold area of England. I was a senior in college and did a semester abroad living in a semi-detached house very much like the one Michelle lives in in Drawn. I stayed in Cheltenham, which had both a posh area and also a sort of more traditional English town area with its requisite pub, a Washateria, a chemists, etc. And there was a tiny old church, just like the one in my novel. In fact, my description of the churchyard came directly from the journal I kept back in college.

Here’s a bit of that:

Closest to the tiny church are the oldest graves. Words washed away by time. Stones cracked and crumbling. My favorite stones are the ones that look like giant gingerbread noblemen resting on the ground. Their arms and legs are separated from their bodies as if they’d been soaked in milk for too long.

But the town in my novel is fictional, which gave me a lot of leeway in laying it out and making stuff up. After all, there is no castle in Cheltenham!

2. I found the tension between what Michelle sees and what she is willing to believe to be compelling. Can you tell us anything about the decision to blur the lines between the paranormal and mental illness?

I think whenever something extraordinary happens in this world, it makes us question our perceptions. Was that a ghost or are we imagining things? Did something streak across the sky or am I dreaming? Did I really hear a voice or am I losing it?

Michelle’s family has a history of both mental illness and of psychic ability. In the novel, everything comes into question. Was her mom really psychic or just loopy? Was her brother really schizophrenic or just attuned to unheard voices and visions? It all comes to a head when Michelle runs into someone who is either a delusion or a ghost. And it’s her own sanity and happiness that hangs in the balance.

It takes a lot to believe in the supernatural. A true leap of faith. The same thing is true of love. I thought this would make for an interesting parallel conflict.

3. How is this story different from what you have written before?

My first two YA novels What I Meant… and Over My Head are both contemporary YA’s set in the real world. Drawn is my first foray into the paranormal. Where my first two novels took place in the U.S., this one is in England and spans a few hundred years into the past. Plus the main character in my contemporaries is a biracial girl who is half Asian-Indian, just like my own daughters. In Drawn, Michelle De Freccio is a teen artist from New Jersey, just like I once was. Different all around!

4. When you move from one project to another, how do you separate yourself from the old project?

Great question! The truth is it’s very difficult. Some books take hold of you and hang on for so long that it’s hard to shake them and move on. Drawn is like that for me. It took me over two years to write it, and that’s two years of complete immersion. Even after it was done, I found myself returning to it over and over again to reread it, to stay lost in that world I created. Is this normal? I have no idea.

I think the only way to cut that bond is to get so involved in a new project that you have a brand new obsession to get lost in.

5. You first published with a traditional publisher, and then formed your own publishing company. What are some advantages and disadvantages of each?

The advantages of a traditional publisher is that you know your book will be in libraries and in many bookstores, and that it will be reviewed by top national folk such as Publisher’s Weekly. You have the publisher and editor behind you to guide you with their wisdom in creating the best possible product,and the publishing house is in charge of making things happen in the best possible way. You also benefit endlessly from their strong reputations. Being endorsed by them is an unmistakable seal of approval.

The good thing about indie-publishing is that you call all the shots. The bad thing about indie-publishing is that you call all the shots. What I mean is that you are responsible for everything and must study up quick to become the expert in things as various as marketing and design, and you must find the best people to do editing, layout, etc. One advantage is that you can get your book out into the marketplace quickly. And with the new distribution channels in place, you have an international reach with your book. Gotta love that.

6. When did you know you would be a writer?

Fifth grade, Sicomac School library, fantasy shelf. I pick up Edward Eager’s Half Magic and he has me believing the craziest things and laughing. And I compulsively read his next book and his next, and I decide that I want to write. The end!

7. Can you name two classes or books that you have found to be particularly helpful in your writing journey?

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass. I use this in the revision stage after I’ve completed a first draft of my novel. The exercises in here really help me with plotting, tension and secondary characters. I recommend any novelist run out and buy this one pronto!

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. This book is shaped after folklorist Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey, which is also a book I absolutely adored. In The Writer’s Journey we are led through classic storytelling techniques and archetypes used in oral and written tradition. And this helps writers shape their own stories in a meaningful way. A wonderful book for story structure.

8. You are an agent as well as an author. How do you make the two roles work together?

Actually, I’m so glad I came to agenting after being a full-time author for such a long while. Because I worked so hard myself to get published, including spending 10 years on a manuscript that was never accepted, I’m endlessly empathetic to writers. I understand how huge it is to get “the call” from an agent, and how important the agent is to the happiness and well-being of an author.

My own agent, Jennifer DeChiara who heads the firm I now agent for, has been an incredible role model for me. Modeling for me an agent who answers your questions, who stands up for you, and who believes in you and reps you throughout your entire career. I’m so grateful for that.

And because I come at this from the writerly end, I’m a strong editor and have really decent marketing skills too. Skills that not only help me as a writer, but that help me to be a supportive agent as well.

As for the day-to-day thing, I tend to do my agent-related stuff in the first half of the day, and the writing stuff in the afternoon, unless a deadline one way or another mixes this up.

I absolutely LOVE reading all the various queries I get each day. Feels like a treasure hunt.

9. What's your next stop on your blog tour?

Next up is The Elliot Review on January 19th! I’ll be doing a guest post called “Positively Medieval,” which asks the all-important question: What’s so exciting about a knight in shining armor? For links and details of all the stops on the blog tour, you can go to my website marielamba.com and click on the top blog tour tab.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself even more involved in agenting with more clients to launch. I see myself writing more novels, both paranormal and contemporary, and drifting into the land of women’s fiction too. And I see myself as having more fun than ever making stuff up.

Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Thanks so much for having me, Stephanie!

Marie Lamba (marielamba.com) is author of acclaimed young adult novels including What I Meant…(Random House), Over My Head, and Drawn. When she isn’t writing or obsessively rereading her own NYC.

About Drawn by Marie Lamba:

Teen artist Michelle De Freccio moves to England in search of a normal life...instead she finds a hot medieval ghost with a sketchy past.

It all begins when a strange guy appears in Michelle's drawings. When she actually meets him at the town’s castle, she's unmistakably drawn to him. But something is definitely not right. For starters, he wears medieval garb, talks of ancient murders and tends to disappear each time they kiss.

Could he possibly be a ghost? Could Michelle be losing her mind? Or has she simply uncovered a love so timeless it’s spanned the centuries…

"...a wonderfully spooky tale of romance and discovery. It’s a magical exploration of the unconquerable power of love. Highly recommended!” — Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay

Drawn out today

2012-01-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Too much fun for the holidays led to illness so a very short post.

Drawn by Marie Lamba is out today. Check it out! You'll enjoy it.

Book review - Drawn by Marie Lamba

2012-01-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't been around my blog much. Like everyone else, the holidays kept me busy. But not so busy that I couldn't read Drawn by Marie Lamba.

Michelle and her father have moved to the United Kingdom. Her mother, a psychic, has left them behind to follow her dreams. Michelle and her father have left behind her brother, diagnosed with schizophrenia and living in a hospital. All Michelle wants is to live without anyone knowing all this. When she draws a sketch of a good-looking boy she does not know, and then starts seeing him, she struggles against the fear that she too is suffering from mental illness. The boy is real. He's just not from this time. In a rollicking adventure, she tries to negotiate the social scene at her school, decide between two modern boys and a third who lives in another dimension, and make sure that her actions don't change the future or the present in ways she cannot predict.

I really enjoyed this story. It has everything. Mystery, romance, adventure, and just enough of the paranormal. The characters are well drawn (sorry, I couldn't resist) and the plot is tight. The pacing is terrific, and kept me turning the page.

Readers should look forward to the arrival of Drawn.

Courage to Submit

2011-12-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine told me that if I didn't start submitting, she would slap me. She wouldn't really hurt me. But she would probably embarrass me in front of some other writer friends. The motivation is right. She wants to push me to get out of my comfort zone. I know she's right, but it doesn't make it any easier. I have several projects that I have just filed away.

With the threat of physical violence and humiliation looming before me, I reviewed some of those earlier projects. I found two to consider. One placed in a contest, and never saw the light of day again. I did submit the other manuscript to one publisher and got a complimentary personal rejection. I made some revisions and sought a professional critique. The critiquer actually sent me a follow up email saying that she had fallen asleep thinking of my manuscript and that she "loved" the story. Yet it remained in my file. There is no possible justification other than a lack of courage.

Tomorrow I mail something out into the world. I don't know if the recipient will like it. I do know that gaining the courage to take the step is an important part of my journey.

Writers view the world differently

2011-12-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

This morning I went to a day spa for a little pampering- a facial. There I was, in the room with the soft glow and that weird harp music that's supposed to help you relax, with the whoosh of waves behind the sound. Under the sound of the waves and the harp, I heard Christmas music. Just little snippets at a time. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas whoosh.....whoosh. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer whoosh joy to the world whoosh.

Now some people would have found this distracting or annoying. Some people would complain. I found myself wondering who would hear these sounds. Perhaps a teen girl whose family went to the tropics. Was she happy about it? I decided she was not. She was mad. This was her mother's fantasy, not hers, The girl wanted frosty air, and snuggling in sweaters and falling into her boyfriend's arms while tromping in the snow. As a matter of fact, that's probably why her mother decided to take her away to this warm and moist place. To get her away from Derek.

Will she find adventure and love in this tropical paradise? Or will she run back into Derek's arms? Where would that lead her?

Writers see the world differently.

Book Review - The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson

2011-11-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

My daughter bought this book and read it within twenty-four hours. I didn't need any more encouragement to read it.

When Rory transfers from Louisiana to a boarding school in the Whitechapel area of London, she's ready to enjoy the experience. This is not one of those stories where all of the girls are mean. Rory immediately bonds with her roommate and a good looking smart boy takes an interest in her. During a night out at a pub, Rory chokes and has a near death experience.

Within a few days of her arrival, a woman is murdered. The date matches the date of Jack the Ripper's first killing in 1888. When another murder occurs on the date of the Ripper's second kill, London goes wild. Although people are frightened, they are also fascinated. Ripper souvenirs fly off the shelves and people hold Ripper watch parties to wait for the news of the next death.

Rory is caught up in the fear and the excitement like everyone else. When she starts seeing people no one else can see, she thinks she's crazy, and then learns that she sees ghosts. And it appears that the murderer might be a ghost. The hunt to find a way to find the murderer and stop him makes for a great read.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is a thriller with a great twist. It has everything a great current YA should have. There's intrigue, a touch of romance, people pretending to be someone they aren't, mystery and the paranormal. Although there are murders, they are not described in a gory way, so it shouldn't bother the squeamish.

Things I learned from my mother

2011-11-25T15:18:00.000-08:00

A few posts back, I wrote about my father. Today, I share about my mother.

My mother has a name that she does not like. I'd tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill you. Well, she ever found out, she'd kill me. Suffice it to say, she was named after two relatives, both of whom died young and tragically. More about that in a moment.

When Mom was a child she was very sickly. She missed an entire year of school due to asthma and persistent pneumonia. She learned to love stories. She read a lot of books, and she acted out stories with figures on the covers of bed. One time when I was little, I found a tiny ivory dominoes set. She casually remarked, "Oh yeah. Some relatives brought it when they came to see me before I died."

She's 81 now, so I guess she showed them. She grew up poor on a farm. Her father figured she went to school on the bus and she could come home on the bus. She had an aunt who lived in town and taught piano and elocution. She stayed with her aunt so she could do things after school.

She took Spanish in high school,and when the teacher assigned Spanish names, she called my mom Enrique. Soon the kids were calling her Rickey, and Rickey she has been ever since. She used this opportunity to reinvent herself. She was no longer a sickly child; she was an intelligent, adventurous, young woman.

She headed off to Texas Tech University, where she studied Journalism with a minor in Spanish, gaining her degree in 1949. She wrote for the school paper, and was nominated as a campus beauty queen. She modeled for (tasteful) photographs. When you think of how few women when to college back then, it's pretty impressive that she earned a degree.

My dad wanted to marry her right away, but she didn't want to go straight from her father's house to her husband's house, so she took a job in Kansas, working for a newspaper.

They married in 1950, and Mom applied for jobs with advertising agencies. One of them required sample work and was very interested, until they figured out Rickey was a girl. She ended up working as an assistant.

When my oldest brother was born, she stayed home, as women in the fifties did. But she was not willing to be ONLY a stay at home mom. She became involved in politics, serving as precinct and county chair for the Republican party. She dressed me in a play suit with an elephant appliqued on the front. I knew about voting when I was tiny - I went with her while she served as a poll worker. I enjoyed these times, and learned how to behave and deal with adults other than my parents very early.

She served as treasurer for the church women's organization for several years. During that time, the group put on an annual bizarre and fed everyone in town. It required a lot of organization and a lot of financial bookkeeping.

When Dad decided to be a weekend rancher, Mom was right out there, helping to vaccinate the calves.

She reared three successful children, and when I was in high school, went back to work. She managed a Hallmark store, and enjoyed selecting the decorative items to stock.

When I was in a bad car wreck and Dad had heart surgery, she worked herself silly waiting on us and caring for us. When some visitors from our church came to visit, one said, "I came here to cheer you up, but when I saw the love and care in this family, it made me feel happier."

Mom cared for both my little ones while I worked. When my husband had heart surgery, she came to our house every night and either bathed the children or made dinner. I don't know how we would have made it through that time without her help.

When her father died and her mother was left alone on the farm, she took her into her home and cared for her until her death.

I learned the following things from my mother:

Don't accept a negative fate. You can make yourself into what you want to be.

Education is important.

A woman can do many things. Be independent and know that you can take care of yourself.

It's important to be aware of your world and do what you can to improve it. Citizenship is an obligation.

Kids are smarter and more competent than most people think they are.

Set priorities in life. Family, education, a nice home.

Sacrifice to care for your family. They are your most important legacy.

Another monologue

2011-11-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Last week I blogged about using a monologue tom focus on voice, and I shared the monologue for one of my two viewpoint characters. Here's a monologue for my other viewpoint character.

The work on this farm just wrung all the fun and adventure out of my Pa. I sure didn't want to end up like him, but when my brother Martin took off, it about broke Ma's heart. I was stuck. I could dream about runnin' off to war to teach those Johnny Rebs a lesson, but the best I could really do was to sneak off for an afternoon.

Our neighbor, Matthew, told us the Indians was hungry and restless. Pa said the Indians was too lazy to do much about it. I reckoned Pa was right. Matthew was always fussing like an old hen.

I was off fishing when they showed up. When I come back, I found they'd burned our house down and stole our livestock. There wasn't no sign of Pa and Ma and Elizabeth. I headed to Matthew's. It was worse there. Bodies burnt so bad I couldn't tell who was who. I hadn't ever felt so scared and full of hate. I wished them Indians was out of this country - one way or the other.

What I learned from my father

2011-11-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

My father had his 86th birthday his week.

He is an amazing man. He grew up during the Depression, but he said his family didn't really notice. They were poor before and they were still poor after it was over. He had his first job at twelve, working at the grocery.

He was seventeen when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He tried to join the Navy and they wouldn't take him - his vision was too bad. He ate a lot of carrots and tried again. They took him. It probably had more to do with the fact that they realized they were in it for the long haul than that his eyes got better. After a short stay at gunnery school, where they discovered the vision problem was still there, he served in the South Pacific as a radioman on a tanker, also known as a floating incendiary device.

He enrolled in college within a day or two of arriving home. With the GI bill and two or three jobs at a time, he completed a degree and set off to make his way. One thing you could say about him - he wasn't afraid to work. He still had as many jobs as it took. When he married my mother, they lived in a basement apartment in a good neighborhood, and had furniture built of apple crates.

When he applied for a job at a bank, he was asked if he knew how to make loans. He said, "Sure." And then he learned how. He attended the Southwestern School of Banking and soon was teaching there.

Before he was 45, he was the president of a bank. He developed a specialty for turning around banks that were in trouble. Before he waa through with his career, he had been involved in the management of at least ten banks.

He always did what was right. Sometimes, he had to tell his employers things they didn't want to hear. At least one time, I remember him saying he might not have a job in the morning, but he had to do the right thing. His employer understood that he was right and he did not lose his job. He never went a day without a job or three.

He developed an interest in woodworking and learned to make beautiful things. My parents have a bookcase that is the length of their living room. It's the sort of thing you couldn't buy in a store.

He retired after heart surgery. He told me as he went into surgery that he didn't want to die yet, but that if he did, he knew he had a good life, loved his children, and was proud of us.

When I was in a car wreck a week later and had a long recovery, he cheered me up, even though he had his own troubles. (I'll write a tribute to my wonderful mother sometime. She took care of both of us through this terrible, wonderful time).

Once again, he had a challenge. He quit smoking, ate better and began walking. He still walks 40 minutes a day on the treadmill. He worked as a volunteer for the Red Cross. And he played with his grandchildren. And he loves my mother, after almost 62 years of marriage.

I learned from my father the following things.

Love your family. Take time to do things with them -- in his case, we camped and went fishing and swam in the lake.

Don't back down from a challenge. If you don't know how to do something, find someone who does and learn from them.

Treat everyone with dignity. People will be loyal to you if you recognize their value.

Do what's right. You have to face yourself every day.

Accept hardships with grace. Know that everyone has them, and know that most of them will pass. When it's a hardship that won't pass, focus on the good in life.

Don't give up when you really want something. It may not come quickly, but if you work for it, you'll honor it more.

If someone really loves you, he'll accept that some days you're grumpy and some days you make bad decisions. At the end of the day, he'll hug you and say, "I love you."

I love you, too, Dad.

Monologues and voices

2011-11-15T04:01:00.000-08:00

I recently attended a retreat. I LOVE writing retreats. Spending time with other writers, getting energized, and if you're lucky, finding out something new about your character.

One of the exercises we did was to write a monologue for our main character. I am currently working on a very ambitious project - a historical fiction written in two viewpoints. The two voices have required a LOT of work. And sweat. And headaches. And tears.

I think my monologue for one of my characters helped me focus and it ended up a little like jacket flap copy. It was longer at first and like most writing, benefited from some slashing.

"The hungry times took my sister. They took my brother. And for a while, they took my belief in honor.

Our leaders made a bargain to give up lands for gold. The gold was to greet us with the fresh green grass of early summer. And like that grass feeds the buffalo, the gold would feed our people. It did not come. And when the sun heated the prairie, and the grass turned golden, still it did not come.

When I asked the trader for enough to save my mother and sister, he replied, 'Let them eat grass for all I care.' Those words hardened my heart. When I held my dead baby sister, I knew that it was time. I had to find the path of honor. It was the time of the Hard Moon."

Try your hand at a monologue, and see what you find out about your character.

Author Interview -Anna Staniszewski

2011-11-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today, we have an interview with Anna Staniszewski.. Her book, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, was released by Sourcebooks on November 1. You can read the first chapter on her website. You're bound to love the funny breezy style of her voice, as you follow Jenny, a girl who would have a normal life, if it weren't for all those missions to save magical creatures.

1. So, Anna, your debut novel just came out. Can you tell us what inspired this fun twist on fairy tales?

Several years ago, I was working on a dark YA project that was really bringing me down. I needed something fun to work on, so I sat down and started writing a scene about a girl named Jenny who comes home from school to find a talking frog sitting on her bed. Now, if that happened to me, I'd probably scream and run away, but Jenny had a completely different reaction. She took that magical frog and threw it out the window! As I kept exploring Jenny's story, I realized she'd been going on magical quests for years and she was tired of it. Once I knew that about her, it was fun to throw fairy tale and fantasy elements at her to see how she would react.

2. You were born in Poland and raised in the U.S. Do you feel that being familiar with two cultures has informed your writing and made it richer?

I think knowing two languages has made me more aware of (and more fascinated by) words in general. I also grew up on a variety of fairy tales in addition to the standard Cinderella and Snow White. I loved hearing/reading about witches and dragons and glass mountains. Those tales are still very much a part of me.

3. There seems to be a fad for "dark" versions of fairy tales lately, with the television show Grim, among other things. Your book has a fun breezy voice. Do you believe that the fad will hurt you, help you or have no impact at all?

Interest in fairy tales seems to come in cycles. I'm glad people are paying more attention to them now, dark or otherwise. If that gets someone to pick up my book then great! I don't know if I think of my story as a fairy tale retelling; it's more of a funny fantasy with some fairy tale influences.

4. There has been some discussion lately about how cruel some of the review sites like Goodreads can be. Your reviews are all fabulous, but there's always that risk that someone will be less than kind. Can you tell us how you prepared yourself for that possibility?

I have been very lucky that people on Goodreads have been pretty nice to me so far! I must say that being part of the Elevensies (a group of 2011 debut authors) has helped tremendously in preparing me for this whole process. The group has shared lots of great advice on how to deal with bad reviews (e.g. Don't read them!) and it's been reassuring to know that others have been going through the exact same thing.

5. You've had the opportunity to serve as a writer in residence. What does a writer in residence do? Did you have a lot of teaching duties?

My time as the Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library was amazing. I was given an office where I could lock myself away and just write. And they paid me to do it! I also had the library's amazing resources at my disposal which was incredibly helpful since the project I was working on required quite a bit of research. I owe so much to the Associates of the BPL for giving me a chance to call myself a real writer!

6. What advice do you wish someone had given you as a beginning writer?

Learn to love revision. It took me years to realize that revising is 90% of the process. Now I hurry through writing the first draft so I can get to the "fun part." I used to think revision was painful, but now I see it as a challenge, an opportunity to problem-solve my way to a better story.

7. Can you name three books, classes or workshops that you found helpful to you in your writing journey?

1. Novel: The Giver by Lois Lowry. After I read that book, I was in awe. It was so beautiful and every word was perfectly chosen. I've reread it many times and am still in love with it. The Giver has inspired me to keep striving to make my writing better.
2. Craft Book: Emotional Structure by Peter Dunne. I've never been great at plot, and I made the mistake of simply thinking about it as a series of events. It wasn't until I read Dunne's book on screenwriting that I started to see plot as an emotional journey rather than a physical one. That's helped me tremendously in my writing.
3. Writing class: When I was in the Children's Literature program at Simmons College, I was lucky enough to be mentored by YA author Lara Zeises. This was my first time working on a manuscript from start to finish, and it was a difficult but rewarding process. Once I completed one manuscript, I knew I could write more.

8. Are you in a critique group? If so, can you tell us what works about that for you?

My critique group has been on a bit of a hiatus recently because of conflicting schedules, life events, etc. but I still have a few trusted critique partners who I can send pages to if I need help. I find that I need the most guidance when I'm first starting a project. I usually send the first few chapters to a friend to see if I'm on the right track. Once I figure out the foundation of the story, I can usually keep going all the way to the end.

9. Do you outline in detail or do you let the characters lead you?

I'm a pantser at heart, so I tend to write the first draft without much of a plan (though I do keep the character's emotional journey in mind). Once I have a draft, then I go through and outline the story. Having the outline helps me to see plot holes, pacing issues, etc.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope to still be teaching and writing. And of course, I'll have a bestselling series or two under my belt. :-)

Thank you, Anna, for stopping by "Stories. Read'em. Write'em." Good luck with My Very UnFairy Tale Life and your next project as well.

Bio:
Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was named the 2006-2007 Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the 2009 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives outside of Boston with her husband and their adopted black Labrador, Emma. When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time teaching, reading, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. Her first novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, was released by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on November 1, 2011.

Website: www.annastan.com

Enjoying the Journey

2011-11-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

We've all heard people say it. Writing is a journey. Enjoy the process.

It hasn't been that easy for me. As a youngster, I made good grades and never thought it was all that hard. I listened, figured out what the teacher wanted, memorized what needed memorizing and made A's. When I was in junior high and decided to play the flute, I listened, I studied, I practiced and by the time I was in ninth grade, I was first chair in the high school band, getting excellent ratings in solo competitions and getting accolades. I didn't do as well in some competitions as I wanted, but at least in my mind, I was still the best in my neck of the woods. Almost straight A's in college (darn that bowling teacher who graded us on our scores). And in law school, seventh in my class while working at a law firm and doing Law Review. Not the top of the class, but high enough to be proud.

My experience was that I decided to do something and I did it. If I didn't have that experience, that activity "wasn't for me," and I moved on.

Until I decided to write. I tried and I wasn't good enough. But I couldn't just quit and move on. For the first time in my life, I strongly felt that this was something I was meant to do, but it didn't come easily. At first it wasn't too bad. People told me I was better than most beginners. I could still feel pretty smug about that. Until I learned how far it was from "better than most beginners" to good enough to be published or even more, good enough to be excellent. Somewhere along the line, the standards changed. Not someone else's standards. The ones I set for myself.

On the project I am working on now, I was having trouble making the leap from having a really good story to having a great story with a great voice. I've made tremendous progress in the last three months. One friend told me that if writing is a staircase, I just bounded up several steps.

How did that happen? What made the dam break? I believe it is because I relaxed. I recognized that if I improve the work some today, I can be proud of that accomplishment. I don't have to focus always on the final product.

I heard Michael J. Fox, speaking about how he has dealt with his illness. He said in acting, there's a saying that you don't play the result of the scene- you have to let the scene travel to the result. The same is true in life. If you are diagnosed with a dread disease, don't live the result, live the life you have now.

I found those words very profound. By trying to live the result, I was feeling that I was a failure because I had not reached the result. Now I believe that wherever I am on my journey, it's okay. Others are more successful and know more? Wonderful! I can learn from them. There is no pressure to be somewhere on the path other than where I am.

The most amazing part of all this is that the freedom that I feel has improved my writing. My writing suffered from my anxiety, my efforts to control it, my efforts to create something that was the right result. I now have the liberty to let my emotions come out. I'm digging down deeper and feeling more. It shows in my writing.

I hope that you find much joy today, wherever you are on your path.

Great retreat

2011-11-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Arkansas Advanced Writers' Retreat was awesome. Stacy Cantor Abrams gave presentations which helped us to understand how to create a great book and market it, and Anna Myers taught several sessions on craft. She worked with us to find the emotion in our writing and to work on the voice. The writing exercises that we did really brought a new level to our writing.

Stacy's critique was thoughtful and thorough and will help me to create a better final product and one which will be more marketable.

The setting at St. Scholastica created a peaceful quiet place to listen, learn and grow in our writing. And Sister Madeline was great. Lovely meals that I didn't have to cook and snacks in the evening.

I really enjoyed getting to know several writers I had not met before. These women were so interesting and so much fun. And talented!
After hearing some of their writing, I'm sure there will be some sales in that group, and that some of them will be big books.

If you get an opportunity to go to an event like this one, jump on it.

Story telling -The Way

2011-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

I saw The Way with Martin Sheen today. It was a terrific movie and a great example of emotional storytelling.

I don't want to ruin the story for you. An adult son dies just after starting an 800 kilometer pilgrimage. His father goes to claim the remains and decides to take the journey himself. Along the way, he meets others. They travel together and we watch them in their struggles. The emotions were very strong, but not because of melodrama. The story was wonderful, the acting was terrific, and I know I will be thinking about this film for several days.

An enduring story-Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan

2011-10-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

I found this book at a used book store, and picked it up. After all, it's Lois Duncan!

When I started the book, I thought it was dated, but as I read further, I found it relevant to today.

A group of ten high school girls belong to an exclusive sorority, and their faculty sponsor helps them to see that girls are not treated fairly. The girls have legitimate complaints. One has a father who abuses her mother. One is an athlete and the school won't fund any girls' sports. One wants to be a scientist, and her mother can only talk to her about getting contact lenses so a boy will want her. How else will she ever get married?

One is told by her parents that she can't join the club because she must be home every afternoon to babysit, clean house, do laundry, and make dinner, while her teen brothers are not required to do anything. The first act of defiance occurs when she goes on strike, for one afternoon a week. Rather than ask the boys to help out, her mom hires a neighbor one day a week, and the girl is grounded.

The discussions become more and more strident. The consequences for those who cross the girls become more severe. A boy uses an overweight girl for sex, treats her with no respect, and stands her up for the Homecoming Dance. The girls attack him in the dark and shave his head.

Things continue to heat up, and some of the girls feel torn. Should they be more loyal to the group or to family? Should they object or refuse to go along when they believe the group is going too far?

I felt so sympathetic toward these girls. They really were mistreated. I began to feel queasy as their actions became less defensible. The line is a hard one to walk. How do you stand up for yourself without losing your moral compass? And how much influence can someone have who has her own agenda or her own bitterness?

This book really spoke to me regarding radicalization and terrorism. What happens when someone feels she has a real problem, a legitimate complaint, and is led into more and more radical and violent actions? These are issues we should be thinking about in the world we live in today.

Changing things up for revision

2011-10-05T15:38:00.001-07:00

I'm working on revisions. Real revisions. Not changing a word here or there.

I have found that I have to get some distance from my prior draft. This is a really good story. It's worth the work to make the story great. If I work from my prior draft, I find I'm too bound to it. So I've made a scene outline. I have a list of every scene I need to rewrite. Before I'm through, I may include some more scenes and I may leave some of my current scenes out. I included in my scene list some stuff that isn't currently in my draft.

If I read the scene and then start typing my rewrite, I find I repeat too much of what I have in the prior draft. I don't want my prior draft. I want a beter story than that.

So what I've found works for me is going back to writing by hand. I haven't done that for years. It works for me though. It frees me to write in the voice I want, with the emotion I need. Those clean letters on the screen are somehow just too tidy, too neat to let me really let loose.

Your technique may be different. Maybe you just talk and record it. Maybe you write on the computer but don't write the scenes in order. Maybe you need to write in a different place, like sitting on a bench in the park. Or at a different time of day.

Just try doing Something different. If something works, drop by and let me know what it is that breaks the dam.

Keeping the focus on the character

2011-09-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when I read a book, I find myself drifting and losing interest. There can be a lot of reasons for this. Maybe I, as a reader, am not in the proper state of mind to lose myself in the story.

Sometimes, though, the writing contributes to the drift. When this happens, it's a great opportunity to study and learn from what went wrong. Here are some questions I should ask about my own writing.

Are the characters well-rounded?

It's very difficult to care about characters who do not have many characteristics. Those characters who are cartoon characters, who can be classified with a single attribute are just not very interesting. I don't care about them if I can substitute descriptive terms for their names. The mean one never does anything for anyone. It's all about her. And she's beautiful and rich and everyone has always given her whatever she wanted. Really? There's nothing in her background that would cause her to have a need for power and attention? She's just evil, because she's the evil one. The sweet one is trying so hard to make everyone happy. She never thinks of herself, always putting others first. She will start the process for being recognized as a saint soon. Heck, even saints with some flaws are more interesting. That Paul guy had some real issues with pride. He even made sinning competitive. "Before I was good, I was worse than the rest of you."

Is something happening?

Okay, my characters are well-rounded and have back stories and conflicting characteristics. But all they do is sit around and think about it. Or what they do is what I mostly do in my life. They go to work, and come home, and clean the kitchen, and read a book or watch tv, and then they go to sleep, and then they get up and take a shower and get dressed and go to work. Don't get me wrong. I have a pretty good life. But it would make a lousy book.

Is my main character involved, actively engaged, in what is happening.?

The movie Forrest Gump is well loved. One of the things that movie did is place Forrest in the middle of all sorts of events the audience was familiar with which caused the audience to see it in a different way. In some ways, it was just a gimmick, but the idea is right. In every scene, I need to think about where my character is in the scene, and how he is actively engaged in it. My main character can't be passive observer.

I'll be thinking on these things as I tackle some revisions.

Three minute fiction contest

2011-09-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

NPR is holding a three minute fiction contest. What a challenge! Write a story in no more than 600 words, that can be read in three minutes. This time, the story must feature someone leaving and someone arriving.

I have entered these before. It's a great exercise in getting just to the core of a story. No extra stuff. Every word must move the story forward.

Go to the NPR website for full rules and instructions. Only a short time to enter.

Reader readiness

2011-09-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Teachers have to be concerned about whether their students are ready to learn specific concepts. I have found the same thing true with my writing and reading. I recently read Revision and Self-Editing: Techniques for transforming your first draft into a finished novel by James Scott Bell. I got so much out of it! The advice seems clear and meaningful with specific examples. Each chapter ends with writing exercises to help improve your writing craft. The last chapter is a comprehensive revision checklist.

I have read other great books about craft. Is this one better than those? Maybe. But the more likely answer is that I am at a point in my writing journey when I was ready to hear what the book had to offer.

I hope you find the right books and resources when you are ready for what they have to tell you.

Interview with Author Donna Earnhardt

2011-09-17T05:31:00.001-07:00

Today we hear from Donna Earnhardt. I first met Donna on the Blueboard over at Verla Kay (if you are not familiar with this wonderful community, you really need to visit it.) For several years now, Donna and I have exchanged critiques, cheered one another on and become friends. So you know how thrilled I was when she sold a manuscript earlier this year. Let's hear from Donna:

1. When did you get interested in writing for kids? Why?

I've always loved writing. My mom still has a poem I wrote for her when I was in elementary school! But my interest in writing for children blossomed when I had my first child. I made up stories for her - then thought, "HEY! I could do this!" So... I did.

2. Was the first thing you wrote fabulous? I know -- this is a trick question, but people need to hear about how writers learn and improve.

I thought it was. Really, who wouldn't think a 4,000 word picture book was fabulous? (You read that right. 4,000 word PB) I sent it to several publishers and couldn't figure out why they didn't want it. Oh - and I also called the Senior editor of a major publishing house to see if he was interested. His secretary must have been pretty new because she put me through to him. I know it's hard to believe, but he didn't want it either! (And he wasn't very nice about it, either.) I met him years later at a conference. His voice was unmistakeable. I did NOT remind him that we had spoken once before. Not something I think he would have remembered... and certainly not something I would want him to!

3. If you, today, were performing a critique for you, then, what would you say?

I would tell myself, "Girl, JOIN A WRITING GROUP!"

Okay, I might not say it quite like that. I would gently, but firmly, say, "I think you have some raw talent, but you need to join a critique group, a writing organization (like SCBWI) and research the different genres. Read. Read. Read!" Then I'd close by saying, "Cut out about 3,400 words of this PB and get back to me. I want to see what you do with it!"

4. Can you name three classes, seminars, conferences or books that you think have helped you most to improve as a writer?

* My first SCBWI conference opened my eyes to so much and it whet my appetite for more. It was like walking into a Baker's shop for the first time. (Did I mention sugar and I are best friends?) Anytime I have the opportunity to talk to other writers, I always recommend SCBWI.

* Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King is incredible. I suggest this book to every writer I know, too. My critique group studied it together. Again - eye opening! (One book on my wishlist: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell!)

* I have also learned more about the ins and outs of the business by being part of critique groups, by volunteering with the Write2ignite conference and joining Twitter and google+. Being around other writers has definitely been one of the best learning experiences. After a while, I can't help but absorb some of the info. Before long, the new-found knowledge has seeped into my writing. Maybe some of my "good stuff" has rubbed off on someone else, too. (That would be cool!)

5. I know you write poetry. in what ways do you feel poetry and prose are similar and different?

A good story written in prose is still poetry to me. It has an ebb and flow - its own unique rhythm. And in the same way, poetry needs to tell a story that doesn't feel restricted, whether the poetry is rhymed or free verse.
HEARTBEAT by Sharon Creech is a great example of a free verse novel. I am a huge fan of free verse and I love running -- even though I look like a chicken when I do. So this book really drew me in. It also inspired me to one day write my own free verse novel. (But I can't promise it won't be about poetic, marathon-running chickens. :) )

6. Tell us something about your magazine publications and what you believe you learned from the process. (Whatever you're comfortable saying.)

Magazines are a wonderful place to be published. When I first started out, I thought I only wanted to write books. After a while, I started submitting to magazines and getting feedback. I learned a lot in the process. When I finally received an acceptance from the online magazine for kids, WeeOnes, my confidence soared! (Sadly, they aren't in business anymore) After that acceptance, I became obsessed with writing for magazines for a while. I received plenty of rejections in the process, but honed my craft a ton. Since then, I've sold to Highlights for Children, the SCBWI Bulletin, Wee Ones and GP4K. I've also sold work to Blue Mountain Arts (SPS Studios). The biggest thing I've learned? The whole business of writing is subjective. What one editor loves... another doesn't.
I had one card editor send me a rejection for a poem I submitted. About two months later I received a phone call (and email!) asking for the same poem from the same company - but for a different line of cards. Mixed signals? Maybe. But it's fine with me!

7. How do you persevere in writing?

I have not always been the best at "perservering". I go through weeks...sometimes months... when I don't get any submission-worthy writing done. So I've found that having accountability partners helps keep me on task. Last week I was a guest blogger and publicly announced my slackness in this area. In the post, I shared my new writing schedule. Since then, I've written more on my WIP MG than I have in about a year. It feels great! (If you have an extra 5 minutes sometime and want to read it, the post is here: http://write2ignite.com/2011/09/02/carving-out-writing-time/)

8. What has your journey been like in marketing your work?

Although I know it's necessary, I sometimes feel very uncomfortable when promoting my work. It's not that I'm not happy about my stories and poems. I am! I am so blessed to be in this business and have the opportunities that I do. But sometimes it just feels like I'm walking around saying, "Look at me! Look at me!". However, I'm learning that marketing my work is also part of the writing process.
One thing that makes marketing my work easier is making sure I have a balance by promoting another writer's work. If I tweet about my own success, then I'll also tweet about a fellow writer and their new book or mag article. If I blog about my upcoming book, I try to make sure I write another post about another writer and their work in another post. I might give away one of their books or share a link to their webpage and upcoming book tour.

9. Tell us about your project that sold to Flashlight Press.

Ooooh! My editor, Shari Greenspan, is fabulous. She worked with me on my pb, BEING FRANK, for over a year and I received my contract this past May.
In BEING FRANK, Frank is a little too frank for his own good. Frank's brutally honest observations land him in  hot water with his friends and  school authorities. And when his best friend becomes his ex-best friend, Frank turns to his Grandpa for help. Outrageous hats, a spicy jar of relish and Grandpa's wisdom help Frank realize the importance of honesty...and the best way to serve it!
I'm really looking forward to seeing what an illustrator does with it. I can see the illos in my head, but I know the artist will have an even better vision and make it come to life.
Speaking of illustrators - have you seen the cover for The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Lodding and illustrated by Suzanne Beaky? You can see it on the Flashlight Press website here: http://flashlightpress.com/Ernestine.html
Flashlight Press is an incredible indie publisher. They have a line of books that make me drool... and I'm tickled purple to be part of their family!

10. What do you see when you look forward?

Oh wow. That's a hard one. I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of gal. But there are definitely scenarios I'm looking forward to seeing realized. I want to see my three girls find what they love to do, were born to do... and pursue it. I want to see my husband thrive in his dreams and biking endeavors. I want to continue to grow in my relationship with my hubby, my girls, my family and as a writer. Hmmm.. I have to admit that there are three things I tend to daydream about on a regular basis:
* Running barefoot in another 10K and not coming in dead last again.
* Rafting and surviving the Nantahala - and getting the T-shirt that says so.
* Seeing my books in the hands of sweet little youngin's, on school reading lists... and on the shelves of libraries and bookstores!

I really appreciate this, Donna.

Thank you for this, Stephanie. You are a good friend, a good writer and a good interviewer, too!

What if we wrote as if our work would be heard?

2011-09-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

My mother suffers from macular degeneration. For my mother, it has been a cruel disease. She has always loved to read and she also painted pictures. She cannot see her grandchildren clearly.

She listens to books on tape all the time. What the book sounds like is so important if you live in darkness. The impact of this didn't soak in on me until I read The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt. This book is gorgeous. Hearing the language is like hearing music. There are descriptions of the piney woods of East Texas that make me feel the humidity and the heat. One chapter about the love of a father for his new born daughter rang like bells.

The combination of Kathi's wonderful book and my mother's blindness caused me to think about my audience. I have heard people say that a book would make a great movie. Is that because they can see it in their head? Or because they can see what the visual would add to it?

Picture books must leave part of the story to the illustrator. A novel doesn't need to describe every detail, but it does need to be rich enough to allow a reader hearing it to feel the place and to feel the emotions of the characters. And it doesn't hurt if the language is so gorgeous that you just want to read it aloud to hear it hanging in the air.

I will be thinking about this as I write. I think it may make my writing stronger, more vivid, and maybe even more beautiful.

SCBWI Fall Conference

2011-09-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

The Oklahoma SCBWI had a wonderful conference this weekend! Kathi Appelt, author of the Newbery Honor Book, The Underneath spoke about adding emotion to your writing. In a special Friday night session, she also spoke about creating believable compelling characters.

I will not give away all of what Kathi taught us, in respect for Kathi. She teaches creative writing and is on the faculty for the Vermont MFA program. I will say, however, that some of what she taught us Friday night was utterly amazing. It was as if the sky opened, and a beam of light came down and shone upon my manuscript. I now know how to make my manuscript more compelling, my characters more engaging. The excitement has returned to my writing.

On Saturday, the programs continued, with break out sessions on various topics, including a session on picture book writing from Tammi Sauer, winner of the Crystal Kite award. All of the speakers presented specific helpful information in an engaging manner.

Anyone who wants to write for children and does not take advantage of SCBWI conferences is doing himself a great disservice.

Journaling Your Character

2011-09-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

My friend, Helen Newton, arranges the programs for our local SCBWI Scmoozes. That makes Helen a very dangerous person to talk to. Sometime ago, I mentioned to her that I had read an interesting snippet about journaling your character. Then last week, she emailed me and reminded me that I had agreed to talk about journaling the character at our schmooze. Of course I did! It was just so long ago that I didn't really think about when the time would come to pay up on my promise. And since I promised to talk about journaling a character, I had to go do it. Isn't it funny how it's easier to talk about writing and read about writing than it is to actually write?

I did the program last night and it was very well received. So I thought I'd share with you.

First, a couple of quotes that my inspire or amuse you:

Don’t quit. It’s very easy to quit during the first ten years.
– Andre Dubus

The most debilitating thing about writing is that the voice inside us, the voice we trust more than others, says, “You’re not good enough, you’re not smart enough, what you wrote yesterday really stinks.” What aspiring writers should keep in mind is that we all hear that voice, and sometimes that voice lies to us. In fact, when it comes to writing, that voice almost always lies to us. Midway through a book you are going to read back and think, “This is awful.” Now it may be awful, but it also may be wonderful and you’ve simply read it so many times your ear has gone deaf. Don’t listen to that voice.
– Randy Wayne White.

There are many “how to” books for writers. After you’ve read a few, you may feel like they all say the same things. Maybe they do, and maybe the reason that they do is because many of us aren’t listening. Or because we have forgotten to implement what we read. Or because it was such a great idea we forgot to keep doing it.

When I read one of these, I am always reminded of things I’ve heard. And there's always something that seems shiny new, even though I've read it before. It's like it just never really took hold in my brain before. I didn’t internalize it. I read something that said you had to say a word twenty times before you really learn it.

In order to learn writing techniques, we must hear them and use them repeatedly until they become part of our normal pattern.

I really recommend Revision & Self-Editing: Techniques for transforming your first draft into a finished novel, by James Scott Bell, from Writers’ Digest Books. It's chock full of good examples, and at the end of each chapter, it has exercises that will help you hone your craft.

Many writing books recommend journaling your character. Here’s what Bell has to say on the subject:

"THE CHARACTER VOICE JOURNAL

Start a free-form document that is just the voice of your character, in stream-of-consciousness mode. Go wild with this. You’re trying to let the voice of the character develop organically. You want to be able to hear the character so he doesn’t sound like any of the other characters.

Personalize and make it unique."

I am writing a book from two viewpoints and I have struggled mightily to try to get the voices right. It is historical fiction, so I got the book, The Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in the 1880’s, for writers of: historical fiction, westerns, romance, action/adventure, thrillers and mysteries, by Marc McCutcheon. If your book is about a youngster who wants to be in the music business, maybe you should read AP magazine. If your book is about an athlete, hang around sporting events and read sports websites and magazines and listen to ESPN. If your book is about a youngster who plays in the band, volunteer to help a band director, go to football games and sit near the band, and attend a school concert. Each world has its own jargon and rhythms.

I don’t have the voices right yet. The story is really good. I just have to find the best way to tell the story. It is very easy to get discouraged when you know what is wrong, but you don’t know how to fix it, when you hear over and over that you’re not getting it, and you know that’s true and you really want to fix it, but you don’t know what to do to make it better.

What is the answer when this happens? My answer is to try everything. Read everything I can find on the subject, travel to the location, talk to people who know about the subject matter and the cultures involved. Read craft books for tips, take time to allow all of these resources to wash over me so that I can absorb something helpful. I always want to get things done, to check them off my list. I have learned sometimes I have to slow down. Maybe I can get a little here and a little there until it is enough. Give myself permission to slow down and take the time to try to learn more.

One of the techniques that I was reminded of was the character journal. I tried it and I found out some things about my character.

1. I had focused on him being frightened, and angry at the main antagonists who create the physical danger. But I also discovered that he’s really angry at his father, because his family left him to fend for himself. He can’t blame his mother because she’s the one who’s kind to him and he has to hold on to that, so he concludes that his father made his mother leave without him. I don’t think he will actually say this (the story is in first person), because I don’t think he can face his anger himself, but I think the story will be richer because I know he has that anger. He has to stand up to his father toward the end of the book, and I think his anger could fuel his courage to do that.
2. His father didn’t give him permission to leave the house. I’m going to have to completely rewrite that. He is not a goody two shoes and he is doing everything he can to avoid the never ending chores assigned by his father.

If I try to do this more, I will probably learn more about my character. And of course, I need to do it for the other character. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. But maybe journaling has helped break a dam so that the voice and words can start flowing again.

After I journaled, I rewrote a scene. It expanded in length, but not because I just stuck meaningless stuff in. It's longer because it's much richer in detail, because the emotion is stronger. This exercise will help me to improve my manuscript and take it to the next level.

Here's a short snippet of before and after journaling.

BEFORE

I stumbled in the grass and fell onto another body. Matthew’s oldest son, Phillip. Blood covered the front of his shirt and pooled under his head – gashed with a hatchet, I supposed.
I crawled a few feet away and threw up all the berries and hazelnuts. Whether from eating too many unripened berries or seeing too much destruction, I couldn’t stop heaving. There was nothing more to come up, yet I kept retching. When it finally stopped, I crept off to some bushes near what had been Matthew’s barn. I huddled beneath the branches.

AFTER

I turned away and stumbled a couple of steps over toward the barn. Another body. It was Phillip, Matthew’s oldest boy. His head was gashed open. Seemed like more blood than a boy his size’d have in him was on his shirt and pooled around him. The grass was just soaked, but the blood had turned black and sticky. Musta been awhile. I reckoned the Indians got him with a hatchet. Maybe that was easier than burning up in the fire. I fell to my knees and heaved. And heaved and heaved. All those hazelnuts and all those chokecherries, half chewed up, layin there in the grass. Shouldn’t of ate so many. I needed some of Johanna’s good bread or coffee cake. I needed some of my Ma’s beans and cornbread. I needed something.

I pulled up from my hands and knees. I needed to put one foot in front of the other and get to the fort, fore I ended up just like them. But I was so tired. I just had to rest awhile. Just sit. But not right next to Phillip. I dragged myself over behind some trees and I curled up in a little ball. For some reason I was cold. Didn’t make no sense. It was the middle of the day and the heat of the sun was just wilting everything around me. I wrapped my arms around me, and snuggled down into a hollow, outa the wind. A mosquito poked around on my arm, and I just watched it. Didn’t even swat it.

_______________________________

I hope you can see a difference. I can feel a difference.

Try journaling. It might just be what you need to get you over the hump.

Learning and letting the story percolate

2011-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a historical fiction novel for middle grade readers for about a year. The story itself came pretty easy, although in revision, I will need to simplify the story some. (including all the accurate historical facts complicates the characters' stories too much).

The difficult part has been getting the voice right for the time period and the culture. Recently, I have been doing less writing and more work to make myself open to the right voice. I have traveled to the location, viewed the places where the action occurred, and sought out organizations dedicated to honoring and preserving the culture involved. I have even found on line readings of a book written by a member of the society I am writing about. I can hear the rhythms of speech firsthand. I also met an artist of the culture at an event. When I explained that I was trying to find ways to learn about his culture so that I could write something authentic, he was not only helpful, but truly pleased that someone was making the effort to get it right, rather than repeating stereotypes.

In some ways, this seems like procrastination, but I have come to believe that it is an essential part of the process. By spending time listening and thinking, I WILL find the voice I need to make the book wonderful. And when I get it right and sell this manuscript, I will have also had the wonderful opportunity to meet and know generous people who shared their time and world with me.

I can only hope that some of you are fortunate enough to have such experiences.

Learning from reading

2011-05-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

If you want to write, you have to read. We have all heard this a gazillion times. Guess what? All those people were right.

I have been struggling with heightening the voice in my current work in progress. I have a great idea and a great plot. The execution has been challenging. While letting things percolate, I have been reading four different books. I have one in every room!

By Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg, I was reminded that I must let the writer within me run free. I went back and wrote as if I were my character, without restraint, expressing whatever popped into my head. My manuscript improved considerably.

From Writing Mysteries, edited by Sue Grafton, I learned about "Dressing for Success" creating my own style. In only a few pages, one of the essays in that book explains about style, and how to create good style and avoid bad style. Again, the recommendation is to let it all hang out, and then go back and take out all the stuff people skip over (a quote from Elmore Leonard). Again, I let it rip, and my manuscript was much improved.

From City of Thieves by David Benioff, I learned about writing emotion in an eloquent manner. Even if it is "telling", it is so well done, I feel like he's talking to me about me. Listen to the beauty of this short passage: "I've always envied people who sleep easily. Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed up in a steamer trunk at the foot of the bed. I was born an insomniac and that's the way I'll die, wasting thousands of hours along the way longing for unconsciousness, longing for a rubber mallet to crack me in the head, not so hard, not hard enough to do any damage, just a good whack to put me down for the night." Again, this gives me freedom to feel emotion and allow it to live on the page.

Finally, from an unnamed mystery novel for adults, I learn a few things I want to avoid. Every time a character enters the scene, we get a head to toe descriptions, starting with the expensively styled hair and traveling down to the Lucchese cowboy boots. Every time we see a scene, we learn what the room looks like, in a stand alone paragraph. We don't know that it's a battered metal desk because it rings when the cowboy boots hit it. We know it's a battered metal desk because the author tells us, something like this. "The battered metal desk took up most of the room, the tacky desk chair with the stained seat sitting close behind it. The flourescent bulb made everything look yellowish, including the yellow pad and black ball point pen." And on and on. You get the idea.

So, if you're struggling with your writing, read someone else's. You're bound to learn something along the way.

Back after a long break

2011-04-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a long time. Did you miss me? I missed you. You've probably forgotten about me, but I'm back.

I experienced a lot of changes this year at work. Parts of it have been very stressful, and one of the things that fell by the wayside was my blog. I have continued to write however,because writing keeps me sane. Hard days? Difficult times? The solution is to go to a world that I control. The second solution is to read and go to a world completely unlike my own, created by wonderful writers.

The Oklahoma Spring SCBWI Conference has come and gone. And it was a particularly good conference. Every speaker was interesting and brought a different perspective to us. One of my critique partners, Valerie Lawson, had her manuscript selected as one of the most promising. Yea, Valerie! It's a great manuscript and will be published one day.

My own critique was positive. My friend, Anna Myers, talks about how writing a book is like building a house. First you have to put up the walls, then you can decorate. My writing has improved and on this last project, I have built the walls and now I need to do the decoration and put on those final touches. I've got to push forward and keep moving. Every bit of effort is a step toward success. Even if the effort ends up in the wastepaper basket, I learn from it.

Speaking of Anna, her new book, The Grave Robber's Secret is out from Walker, available in hard cover or in electronic form for Kindle. Anyone who has read Anna's books will look forward to this historical fiction based upon the one time practice of stealing bodies to sell to medical colleges and researchers.

Another wonderful bit of news about Anna. She has been notified that she will receive a lifetime achievement award next year at the Oklahoma Book Award banquet. I'm proud to know her. Maybe if I sit next to her, some of her brilliance will rub off on me.

That's it for now, folks. My plan is weekly blog posts again. Be on the lookout for book reviews, craft articles, and general musings on the art and craft of writing and the journey of an aspiring writer.

Book Review - Project 17

2010-10-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! I haven't posted in a month. Sorry about that. Sometimes real life interferes, and my life has been very busy with changes at work and work on my new novel.

With the novel clocking in at a little over 21,000 words, I'm on my way with that project. When I get a draft completed, I'll open the Tiki Bar to celebrate.

In the meantime, just in time for Halloween, a review of a creeeeeeepy book.

In Project 17, by Laurie Faria Stolarz, a group of high school kids who don't know each other spend time confined with one another and learn a lot about each other and themselves. One is a brain, distraught because she didn't get into the Ivy League School of her choice. One is the class clown. One is a goth girl. One is known as The Playa. He wants a future other than running the family diner. And two of them are drama rats. The Breakfast Club all over again, you say?

Well, sort of. Except these high school kids are confined overnight in an abandoned insane asylum, the night before it will be destroyed. The Playa thinks his way out is to be a film maker, and he's making a reality film to submit to a contest. And the goth girl's grandmother died there. And one of the dead patients seems to be trying to tell them something. If they survive to tell it.

This book contained just the right amount of suspense and creepiness. Part of the time you're sure that one of the kids has set the others up, and part of the time you're sure the place is really haunted.

I highly recommend this book. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. You get a real opportunity to get to know the characters and share their fear. It might just keep you up!

Character, situation, plot -- what comes first?

2010-09-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

I am currently working on a WIP that is different from anything I have written before. In the past, the character always appeared first to me, begging to have his or her story told. I had a pretty good idea from the start about many of my character's traits. I had an idea what situation my character would face.

This time, I have a clear vision of the entire plot. But the characters aren't so clear to me. I know one of them reasonably well. The other main character is still a bit "cardboardy" at this point. I know that just means I need to work at it. I know a lot of the techniques about creating a character bio, and that's what I'll do.

It's just a different experience. I have a feeling that it is probably very good for me to have to approach this from a different perspective.

How do you get started? Character? Situation? Plot? What do you do when you feel stumped or overwhelmed? I don't think it's the same thing as writer's block. I know what I need to write and I could sit down and hammer out a chapter. I'm just pretty sure it wouldn't be very good until I understand my players better.

Share with me some of your thoughts on these issues. I'd love to hear from you.

Writing prompt and contest!

2010-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am inspired by my friend, Helen, who is doing writing contests on her blog.

So here's my twist. I give you two characters and you write some dialogue.

Today we have Madeline, who is the tallest student in her class. Defying the opinion of anyone around her, she has chosen to wear three inch heels and a very short skirt on the first day of school.

And John, who is excited to start high school, where he will play the oboe in the orchestra.

What do you think they would say to one another?

Link to writing prompt and contest

2010-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hop on over to my friend Helen Newton's blog for a fun contest. She has posted a photograph and the challenge is to use it as a starter for writing something containing a metaphor or a simile. I tried it and it was quite a challenge and fun!
http:writingjourneyofhelendunlapnewton.blogspot.com

Interivew -- Heather Ayris Burnell

2010-08-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today, I have an interview with my fabulous critique partner Heather Ayris Burnell, who is eagerly awaiting the launch of her first book, BEDTIME MONSTER. Join me as we learn more about Heather, her writing journey and what it's like to become a published author.

1. Hi, Heather. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I know you have a book that will come out next month. Tell us about your book. And don’t be bashful! TELL us about the book.

I do have a book coming out! It’s my debut picture book and it’s titled BEDTIME MONSTER. The story is about a little boy named Paul who does not want to go to bed. He has a tantrum so huge… so monstrous, that he turns into an actual monster. He sprouts a tail, claws, and long shaggy hair—a complete transformation. His parents have to help him calm down (and turn back into a little boy) so they can get him to bed.

BEDTIME MONSTER is illustrated by Bonnie Adamson and is being released by Raven Tree Press on September 16th. There’s going to be an English only edition as well and a bilingual English/Spanish edition, BEDTIME MONSTER/¡A DORMIR PEQUEÑO MONSTRUO! I’m really excited about it!

2. I know you live up a mountain, in an atmosphere that most people only get to see on vacation, if they are lucky. How do you feel that this life has given you a unique perspective?

Mountains are full of extremes. Extreme weather. Extreme land formations. Extreme beauty. Nothing comes easy. Just when you think you have finished something like a fence, or have removed all the big rocks from the road, or plowed all the snow so you can drive out, the mountain puts pressure on it and you have to change it or fix it or do it over again. I always have to stay alert too, for bears, rattlesnakes, and cougars.

I certainly didn’t plan it, but it seems living on this mountain has prepared me for the publishing world rather well. I have to revise my life all the time. The mountain continuously rejects me, but I don’t feel bad about it. It’s just the way mountains are. And I stay alert for publishing news as much as I stay alert for deadly animals. They can both be exhausting, and usually there’s nothing that’s life or death (at least as far as publishing news goes), but if you don’t stay alert you might miss something important. Living on a mountain and writing are both hard on the mind and body, but it’s nothing personal. Both make life an exciting, continuous learning process.

3. Do you think your experience as a librarian gives you insight into what kids want and are worried about? Can you tell us one or two things that have happened that made you feel just that much more aware of the world that kids live in?

I have a lot of fun talking about books with the kids who come into the library. I just finished a summer’s worth of storytime reading and I learned a lot doing that too. Some kids want to talk about every minute detail in a book while others are happy to enjoy the story without analyzing it.

One day while I was reading to the group—a really good story, I might add—a little girl said, “you’re wearing pink lip-gloss!” I nodded, smiled, and kept on reading. A few minutes later, with the story still in progress, she wanted to talk some more about my lip-gloss. Something that seems everyday to adults can be totally engrossing to kids. And when they want to know about it, they want to know about it now!

Also, I had a discussion with my tween reading group. They don’t understand why publishers will use a model on a book cover that looks nothing like the character described in the book. They hate it actually. It was a passionate discussion.

4. When you decided to start writing for kids, what steps did you take to learn your craft?

When I decided to start writing for kids I didn’t have the internet or even a computer. (I didn’t have electricity, running water, or a phone either, but that’s another story.) I went to the library and checked out books on writing. I read all the writing books I could get my hands on. Any genre. I still gleaned information I could use from every book whether it was on writing screenplays or adult non-fiction proposals. Of course, I learned the most things I could put to use from books on children’s writing such as Harold Underdown’s COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN’S BOOKS and CHILDREN’S WRITER’S AND ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET.

Then we got a computer and satellite internet. Finding Verla Kay’s Blueboard was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I spent hours reading the discussion threads, following the links to other writing-related sites, and reading agent and editor chat transcripts. I found my critique group through the Blueboard as well. I remember being amazed when I found the Children’s Book Council website and all their links to publishers. I got absorbed into the world of writing for children right here on a secluded mountaintop in front of my computer. I realized that I could do this. I could really be a children’s book author. There was a way to send my material out for publishers to consider and I could find all sorts of help in my quest, given freely online. There’s no local SCBWI—or any writing group that I know of for that matter—where I live, so online is my lifeline to the writing world, for sure.

5. Are there any books, web resources or conferences that you feel have been particularly helpful to you?

I’ve been to two SCBWI Western Washington conferences. They both opened my eyes to some of the realities of children’s publishing. I’m hoping to go again next year, and maybe even try to be a little more outgoing. It may sound funny, but Twitter has helped me a lot. I used to be freaked out about posting anything online. I did manage to blog, but participating in conversation was definitely out of my comfort zone. (I have a very low post count for the amount of years I’ve belonged to the Blueboard.) Somehow, when I was coerced into joining Twitter by one of my critique partners, I just clicked with it. I had found my niche. I talk to all sorts of writers there no problem, and I think it’s trickling over to my other online resources. I’m trying to participate more---if I just had more time I’m afraid I would become quite a blabbermouth.

6. What are a couple or three of your favorite picture books

There are so many picture books that I love. Actually, picture books are my favorite books. If you had asked me what my favorite books are, my answer would be the same.

I just adore BILLY’S BUCKET by Kes Grey. I love the imagination in that story. I was quite pleased that I managed to work in a reading of it at the Summer Reading Program this year. The kids loved it too. None of them knew what a shoehorn was though. It seemed that the room echoed, “shoehorn?” all at once. Made me laugh.

WAKE THE DEAD written by Monica A. Harris, illustrated by Susan Estelle Kwas. Henry’s family tells him he’d better be quiet or else he’s going to wake the dead, and that’s exactly what he does. Then he has to figure out how to get them to get back to sleep. The story is filled with puns. It cracks me up. The book makes a great read-aloud.

I also love OTTO GROWS DOWN written by Michael Sussman, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Whenever I read this book with my kids we have endless discussions on what it would be like if time went backwards. It’s a story that really gets kids thinking, and it’s fun to read too!

7. Are you ONLY a picture book writer? Or do you have a desire to write for other age groups?

ONLY a picture book writer? I hear picture book writing is pretty difficult. ;-) Hee hee. (You know I’m just giving you a hard time, don’t you?!)

I do mainly work on picture books, they fit into my life really well. I can work on a picture book any time I have a moment and jump right back into the story, which is good when you have children and not a lot of time to spare. I love the tight writing and being able to leave openings for the illustrator to fill in.

I do write other things though. I try to resist, but I can’t help myself. I have a middle grade as well as a young adult novel both begging for my undivided attention. I’ve managed to ignore them all summer. I plan to finish them up once my three kids are in school this year—which is a first. Having all three kids at school will give me large chunks time to myself. I’m hoping to get a lot of writing things accomplished.

8. Now that you're about to have a book out there, do you feel any different?

I do. A publishing house has decided my work was good enough to spend money on because they think other people will want to read it. I feel responsible for how well my book does (or does not. Eep!) do. I also feel like I need to work hard to sell another book. I like to write. I’ve never been much of a manuscript subber. I feel like I have got to spend more time on that now.

9. What is your next step as a writer?

I’m too all over the place to have one next step. I have at least a dozen. Finish my graphic novel style picture book. Revise my alternative energy series. Get my manuscripts out into the world. Keep working on my website. Keep up with my writing peeps. Blog. Tweet. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

10. What have you been doing to market your book?

Just like my connection to the writing and publishing world, my book marketing is mostly online. I belong to Authors Now book marketing co-operative. I have a website http://www.heatherayrisburnell.com. I blog, and I’m on Twitter, but that seems more like fun to me. I’ve lined up a few online interviews but I’d love to do more. I am having a book release party at my library at the urging of my supervisor. Together we wrote up a whole Monster Pajama Party plan with food, games, and music. It should be really fun. I’m writing up press releases and such for local newspapers as well. There are lots of little things. I’m hoping they will add up to a successful book.

Thank you, Heather for sharing your time and yourself with us. You're an inspiration!

Temptation and Ornamentaion

2010-08-23T15:10:00.001-07:00

I heard an interview on NPR today with Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, whose voice was selected as one of the fifty great voices. I recommend that you go to the NPR website to hear the interview so that you can hear her voice: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129345910

I was particularly struck by what she said about "getting fancy."

"I don't think my fan base [cares] about how many notes I can hit. They want me to sing the doggone song," she says. "If the song doesn't dictate adding all this other stuff to it, then why do it? Sure, I may be able to hit 15 notes in one bar, but is it gonna help the song? No."

As writers, there are times when we just know we have a wonderful turn of phrase, a great metaphor, a beautiful simile. And we can't wait to use it. And read it aloud to ourselves. And gloat about it.

But listen to Irma. Your audience doesn't care how many big words you can use, and how lovely your prose is, if it doesn't help the story.

I'm not saying that you can't have beautiful language in your writing. You can and you should. Just remember that the beautiful language needs to help the story. If it's not gonna help the song, leave it out.

Tiki Bar results!!

2010-08-16T13:43:00.001-07:00

All are winners! Enjoy your virtual beverage and send me your work, up to five pages. I will critique and send back to you.

The email to send to is sltheban@gmail.com

Thanks for participating. I really enjoyed reading your goals. Of the four, my two favorites are Jerry for wanting make us love his people, and Amy D, because wanting to learn the craft is a great goal.

I look forward to reading what you send me.

Tiki Bar is open!

2010-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

This time, I will critique up to five pages of a novel, a short story, a magazine article, a picture book or a cover/query letter or pitch. Wide open on what you get critiqued.

And to make it more interesting, in addition to selecting the tiki drink of your choice (nonalcoholic is fine), you must give me up to ten words to describe your goals as a writer. The ten words are due by midnight on August 15. I also ask that you post about the Tiki Bar on some form of media - blog, facebook, website. Help me to get over 50 followers! Let me know where you posted when you post your ten words.

I will select my favorite five by midnight on August 16, and then the ones who make it through that round will post up to five words to tell me about your work in progress. Those will be due by midnight on August 18. You've heard that you need to get the essence of your story down to one sentence. Can you give it to me in five words?

By midnight on August 19, which happens to be my birthday, I will post the winners, and you can email your material for critique.

Let the games begin!

Book Review -- Schooled, by Gordon Korman

2010-08-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

This book is a great example of what happens when someone things, "What would happen if a character were thrown into Y situation?"

Capricorn Anderson has been home schooled all his life. That's not so unusual. What is unusual is that he has been homeschooled by his hippi grandmother, Rain, who has been careful to keep him from being exposed AT ALL to the materialism and competitiveness of the world. When he is elected school president as a cruel joke, he doesn't get it. His feelings aren't hurt and he calmly responds when taunted. Soon he is joined on the school lawn for tai chi, and the bully who got him elected finds that Cap is now the big man on campus, even if he has no idea what that means, is completely unconcerned with building a power base, and just wants to help everyone.

This story is funny and poignant. The plot line is fairly simple. The entire story takes place between the beginning of school and Halloween. What drives this book is the sweet nature of Cap, and the absolute confusion of those around him to his total disinterest in manipulation and that all elusive goal of "popularity".

I wholeheartedly recommend this one!

P.S. Someone told me that I can't just give positive reviews. At some point, I'll review books I don't like, but I'm struggling a little with doing that publicly. My mama always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." So for right now, I am selecting books to review that I can recommend.

What Shall I Do With My Millions?

2010-07-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

In only the last few weeks, I have won several million in lotteries from foreign countries. Which is really cool, because I never even had to buy a ticket. And to make things even better, I received an email from the Office of Prime Minister David Cameron notifying me of my inheritance of two million pounds. Nice of him to track me down!

What shall I do with my millions? My first thought was that I'd fund attendance at a few great conferences for me and a few close friends. One of my friends thought this sounded like a great idea and suggested we book the penthouse suite.

And since it's so hard to break into this writing gig, and since I don't want to go the self-publishing route, perhaps I could start a publishing company. Then I'd get to decide what gets published and what doesn't.

I could name it Inherit the Wind Press. Or perhaps Dust in the Wind Press. Or Blowing in the Wind Press. Or Gone with the Wind Press.

I inherited the wind. All we are is dust in the wind. My inheritance is blowing in the wind. My inheritance is gone with the wind.

Aw well, it was fun while it lasted. And it's probably just as stressful to pick what gets published as it is to be on the submitting end.

Not writing makes me restless

2010-07-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

I found myself strangely discontent today. I'm tired but I can't rest. I read but I'm not that interested. I cleaned up some in the kitchen, but didn't get any satisfaction from it. Why the mopes?

Then I thought about my writing for the past week. I worked on a query letter, sent it out and got a request for a partial. I wrote the cover letter and sent it out.

But I haven't really written anything in days. When I have a spare minute, I don't have a story to think about or a chapter I can write, polish or revise.

My problem is that writing has become so much a part of my day that skipping for a few days has left me feeling rudderless, uncertain which way to turn.

Luckily for me, I have the idea for my next project. It's different than the fiction I have written before and will require quite a lot of .... research. Will research be as satisfying as writing? Will I be able to write the next story?

Oh, so now I've really identified the reason for my malaise.

The cure is to do the research while thinking about the story. I need characters to fill the spaces of my mind. Once my characters start talking to me, I'll be better.

I have always read that you have to start writing something new as soon as you finish a project. And now I know why. It's not to keep your momentum or keep your career going. It's to avoid the restlessness that a lack of story can cause.

Happy writing!

And The Tiki Drinks are Served

2010-07-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

On a tray, I have a Watermelon margarita, Mar Tea Ni, Strawberry Virgin Margarita,Water, Lime Margarita, Mai Tai, Wine gum margarita.

And.....

Critiques for Jenn Fisher, One Mom’s World, Romelle, and Binky.

And Donna aka wordwrangler -- you and I go way back!!!!!! You get a critique any time you want one!

So the winners should email your pbs to sltheban@gmail.com, and I'll get to work.

Thank you all so much. I got up to 42 followers. It won't be long until I'm at 50 and then I'll have to do something special to celebrate. Suggestions?

Happy Writing!

The Tiki Bar is Open - Picture Books

2010-07-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me?

I went on vacation and didn't have computer access for almost two weeks. It was weird. I had to pay attention to real people! And notice my surroundings!

I did get some work done on my work in progress, and I will be finishing up some revisions in the next few days.

Then I will have time to serve drinks and critiques on a tray. So let's get the party started!!! You go ahead and start without me. Have a drink (alcohol is not required) and post a comment. Let me know what kind of tiki drink you want, and please make it clear in your comment if you would like a critique of a picture book manuscript. I've been confused a time or two before when someone just told me what drink he wanted and I didn't understand that it was also a critique request.

Post comments until Midnight on July 17. After that, I'll put all the names in a Margarita glass and pick four out to get critiques.

That's right. I will do four picture book critiques. Why four? Why not? It's a nice even number.

Remember, your picture book needs to have everything a longer work has -- characterization, story arc, and a satisfying conclusion, in around 500-1000 words. One of my manuscripts won second place in the picture book category in the OWFI contest (Oklahoma Writers Federation), so the opinion you get won't be from someone with no writing chops.

I currently have 37 followers. You can push me to 40, I know. Maybe even 45.

Let's get it started! Party on!

Interview -- Susan Meyers, author of The Princess and the Pee

2010-06-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Susan, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for my blog. I know that you are busy with the recent launch of your second published book, The Princess and the Pee.

1. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

As long as I can remember I've wanted to write. When I was a kid, I used to write scenes set in exotic places like Hawaii or Ireland. Now, I'd never been to either of those places, so I'm sure my scenes weren't very accurate, but I did love creating my worlds.

Stephanie -- Sounds like fun! I hope you still have some of those stories. They'd be great to talk about or share at school visits.

2. Tell us a little bit about your journey. Were you one of those “overnight successes” we hear about?

More like one of those Alaskan 30 days of night successes! I've been writing complete stories since college, but I only got serious about getting published since my son (now 22) was born. I used to tell him my stories at bedtime. My first story, The Mushy Valentine, was published in 2000. I went on to publish several more short stories, about one every two years. My first book, Callie and the Stepmother, came out in 2005.

Stephanie -- Your son must be proud of you! And he'll always be able to say he heard your stories first.

3. What classes or conferences have you found to be the most helpful?

I love the local SCBWI conferences that I attend each year. Not only do I learn a lot from the speakers, but I also learn from my fellow attendees. Writers rock!
I'm a huge fan of Darcy Pattison's workshops. I've attended the novel workshop and the picture book workshop and recommend them to anyone who wants to improve their writing.

Stephanie -- I agree. I attended both Darcy's workshops and found them to be very helpful. And I learned a lot from the other writers, too.

4. Are there any books or writing or the business that you turn to again and again?

Verlakay.com is one of the best resources on the internet for children's writers. You can find out everything from writing tips to agent response times. It's amazing how much information is on that site.

Stephanie -- I love Verlakay.com, too. I have met some great writer friends on that site and even found my on line critique group there.

5. You have two chapter books out. Chapter books are a puzzlement to a lot of people. What are the most three important elements of a successful chapter book?

I really enjoy writing chapter books. To me the keys are strong, fun characters that the readers can relate to. Remember that most of your readers at this level are just getting into chapter books. A concrete plot (usually NO sub-plot), and a good story arc are the most important elements.

Stephanie -- Story arc just can't be avoided. Which can be really annoying when I'm struggling with it. :)

6. Princess and the Pee is such a clever title and story. How did you decide to write on this topic?

Almost every person I talked to had someone in their family that wet the bed past the "normal" age. In fact, as I researched, I found out that it's not abnormal at all to wet the bed well into kindergarten and first grade. A lot of kids have this problem. As for the title, lol, how could I resist it? This book is also about sibling rivalry, a subject familiar to most children.

Stephanie -- I heard Sara Pennypacker speak once and she said kids at chapter book age have two great fears -- that they won't be able to find the bathroom and that they'll get locked in the bathroom. The whole pee thing is a big thing to kids this age.

7. What has the revision and editing process been like?

When I first start revising, it's fun. My first drafts are so sketchy as I try to get the story out of my head, that it's fun to fill out the story. After a few revisions, however, it's not as fun, lol. Once my critique group has torn it apart and I've put it back together, it starts going out to publishers. After it's accepted (yay!), then the publisher starts making editing suggestions (sigh). But it's all worth it in the end.

Stephanie -- Sounds like you just have to keep your eye on the prize.

8. What kind of activities have you taken on to promote your books?

I've had a couple of bed wetting experts review it. I'm booking signings and am working to get it into the hands of the reading public. I'm always trying to think "outside of the box" (cliche', I know).

Stephanie -- And don't forget your blog tour! Here you are!

9. Where do you want to be as a writer in ten years?

That's a good question. I'd like to have several more novels published. I'd also like to get into inspirational writing and maybe adult novels. My dream, of course, is that everyone knows my name:-)

Stephanie -- And you won't even have to hang out in a basement bar!

10. What are you working on now?

I am revising a middle grade novel for my agent, Jill Corcoran.

Thank you so much Stephanie, for this interview. I enjoyed answering your questions.

Stephanie -- And I enjoyed having you visit my blog. I will watch your career and enjoy your successes.

Reasons I can't stop writing

2010-06-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

This week, faced with the task of writing the last fifty pages of a manuscript that has received some favorable attention, I felt discouraged and overwhelmed. I need to work through the final rising action and climax. I want this story to be more than okay. I want people to turn pages because they can't wait to see what happens next and I want people to care what happens to my characters. I began to contemplate the possibility of failure, and thought of taking the easy way out. I could stop. If I stopped now, I would always believe that I could have done it, if I'd had the time.

I told my critique group that maybe my role in life was to help them succeed and maybe that's okay.

What a reaction I got! You would have thought I'd threatened to jump off a cliff. One of my critique partners told me I couldn't quit because I would end up old and bitter, wondering if I could do it. One of my critique partners took the opportunity to "preachify." She told me not to let the discouragement or fear stop me, because I would end up feeling that I had wasted time that I could have been spending writing or marketing my writing. She also told me that she believed that I am meant to be a writer and that I have wonderful stories in me, and pointed out two specific stories that she believes in.

These discussions got me thinking. Are there reasons that I can't stop writing? Here are five.

One. I want to know what happens to my characters, too. They are real to me. And sure, I have the action sketched out in my mind, but often, it's not the main action that I remember when I read a book. It's the emotion, the human interaction. I can't quit because I want to read the ending.

Two. I have spent several years learning a lot about craft. It would be a real waste of time if I didn't continue and put that all together. It'd be a little like learning to play scales but never playing a song. I want to play the song and hear the song. Another friend talked to me about the importance of story. Story is important to the listener who learns the story and enjoys the story. Story is also important to the storyteller. By telling the story, the storyteller is able to sort through the storyteller's own life, and make sense of the world.

Three. There are people who believe in me, and I would be letting them down if I quit. And some of them would come after me.

Four. My writing journey has set a wonderful example for my children. In an age when many say that all young people think that every problem should be solved within the time it takes to watch a thirty minute sitcom or an hour crime show, my kids understand that some goals take a lot of work, a long time, and much determination.

Five. If I quit writing, I wouldn't have an excuse to hang out with my writing friends, and my life would be so much less if I didn't have them.

Your reasons to continue writing may be the same as mine. Some of yours may be different. Why don't you share with us? We all need to remember these on the days when it's scary or overwhelming or discouraging.

Book review -- The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

2010-06-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

As a writer for children and young adults, I read a lot of fiction directed at those age groups, but I also love to read fiction for adults.

The Angel's Game is an interesting blend of literary fiction and a thriller. David Martin's life has been defined by books and writing. The one place he has felt safe and found a family of sorts is a bookstore. The bookstore owner, Sempere, allows him to read books he can't afford to buy as a child, and continues to support his love of literature as he writes a serial for a newspaper, then writes potboilers on a contract that requires astounding output and nearly causes a collapse, and finally takes the time to write a literary work he is proud of. Sempere also shows him a secret depository for books - books that are loved but endangered.

David feels compelled to live in a gloomy derelict house that has stood empty for years. He finds that another writer, Diego Marlasca, lived here before him, and becomes wrapped up in a quest to find out what happened to the man whose initials and experiences parallel David's.

A strange man seeks him out and pays him a huge sum, to write a book. The commission seems like a dream job, but the "Angel" wants him to cynically create an religion out of whole cloth, with no basis or belief. David becomes more and more uncomfortable with this assignment. He becomes more and more afraid of the Angel.

When people start dying, David has to consider who wants so much to keep the truth about Marlasca's life and death a secret. With plenty of betrayal, unsatisfied romance, death and mystery, the book moves to a dramatic climax and conclusion. Along the way, Zafon manages to infuse each scene with a vague unease and sense of impending but often identified danger.

The book is translated, and some of the descriptions of locations in Barcelona can be confusing. Which calle was that? However, any writer or lover of literature will find the story of the power of literature compelling.

I recommend this book both as a reader and as a writer. The pacing as the story reaches its climax and conclusion is masterful, and thinking about the way Zafon keeps the tension high and the moves the story forward will help us, as writers, improve our own stories.

Upcoming events

2010-06-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

Continuing with my organizational scheme, I'm letting you know what to expect for the next few weeks. I'm up to 33 followers! I'm very pleased, especially since I have been blogging for such a short time. Thank you to all who have opted to follow and welcome to new followers!

June 19, 2010 -- Motivational article

June 27, 2010 -- Interview, I hope

July 4, 2010 -- Tiki Bar

July 11, 2010 -- Tiki Bar results

July 18, 2010 -- Book giveaway

July 25, 2010 -- What is Stephanie doing?

August 1, 2010 -- Ears wide open. What I hear at conferences, etc.

Craft - strong verbs can BE your best friend

2010-05-30T14:30:00.001-07:00

Recently, I served on a panel to critique first pages at a local SCBWI schmooze. I remarked that a writer could improve his piece by avoiding "to be" verbs when possible. He stopped me after the meeting to ask what I meant by this. That triggered this post.

First, I freely admit that I use "to be" verbs way too much and that I then must go through the manuscript with a red pen to eliminate as many of them as possible.

Second, I freely admit that eliminating "to be" verbs isn't my idea. If you google "to be verbs" you will get 196,000 hits. A lot of people must be thinking about this. Why?

The basic to be verbs are

am
are
is
was
were
have been
will be
will have been

You will often see "appears" or "seems" linked with "to be". A writer who uses these phrases has been trained to be diffident. If you don't ever state an outright opinion, you have plausible deniability. A good idea in some corporate settings. A bad idea when writing fiction. Unless of course your character has this quirk.

I recently went back and read the first novel I wrote, several years ago. Everything and everyone in the book seemed to be or appeared to be something. My editing pen still removes these from my prose regularly. My addiction to "to be" words isn't cured; now I know to go through my writing and cut as many as possible.

To be verbs are the backbone of the English language. You cannot get rid of them completely. If you highlight them in your writing and try to find stronger verbs, you will make your writing stronger.

"I was dancing with John" can become "I danced with John" or even better, "I waltzed with John" or "I tangoed with John."

"She had been singing with the choir for two years when the director decided that she would be a soloist" can become "She sang with the choir two years, and then the director assigned her a solo."

"I need a doctor who will diagnose my illness and make me well" can become "I need a doctor to diagnose my illness and cure it" or "Where's the doctor to cure me?"

"The geese were arriving on the pond" can become "the geese plopped onto the water."

When you focus on "to be" verbs, you will also have an opportunity to look at your other verbs. Are they as specific and strong as you can make them?

"John walked down the street." Okay. Did he strut down the street? Or saunter? Or scuff his feet? Or amble or stroll or march or stride or stagger? Any of these more specific words show us more about John. Not only do they tell us more about his physical actions, they tell us more about his mood, his personality, his state of mind.

You could write a poem with all nouns. Many might find it confusing, but you could do it. You could not write a short story or a novel using only nouns. Verbs are an important tool in your arsenal. Make sure you use the best verbs you can find.

Good news for my critique partner, Barbara Lowell!

2010-05-22T04:17:00.000-07:00

Barbara did an interview for my blog a few weeks ago. At that time, it was clear that she had worked hard and was well on her way to writing success. We didn't know that success would come this soon.

She has accepted an offer to publish a picture book biography. This is the first published book for my in-person critique group. The rest of us feel like proud aunts bragging on the new baby in the family. We are celebrating!

Her success has also encouraged our group. Three of us who are working on novels have committed to writing a minimum of 3-5 pages daily. I wrote my five pages already this morning. Sleepless nights can be a good thing, I guess.

We are also reporting our page counts to each other daily, via email, as a way to hold ourselves and each other accountable.

The energizing effect of a success among us is incredible.

Look around your life and find something that energizes you. It feels really good!

What's Stephanie up to?

2010-05-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

Most of my posts have to do with writing topics -- craft, book reviews, critiques. Guess what?

That's what this post is about, too! Writing.

One of my picture book manuscripts won second place in the Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. 2010 contest. I have done some more revisions and it is in the envelope ready to be submitted.

I was fortunate to receive a face to face critique at a recent conference because the critiquer selected my manuscript as one of the top two manuscripts. I am working on completing that manuscript. After that, I will revise and polish that manuscript and submit it.

Another of my manuscripts, a young adult novel, did not place but did get good feedback. The critiquer rated it a 9 of 10 on every criterion. In addition, the critiquer said that the reader would like and sympathize with the main character, that the writing was smooth, that the dialogue was believable, and that the critiquer liked the plot. One of my near time projects will be to rework this manuscript to make it shine. Then I'll be submitting it.

The great feedback that I have been receiving lately puts the responsibility on me. Research publishers, polish query letters, and get these manuscripts out there. I have to conquer that fear of success or failure that all writers face.

I feel as if I have done a lot of the necessary work to learn the craft. In some ways, that's the easy part - the fun part. Now I must be my own taskmaster and tackle the business end of writing.

Happy writing. Happy submitting. Happy publishing.

Tiki Bar winners

2010-05-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

Larissa, Brenda, Maude, Steve, and Ann H, please email your five pages to me at sltheban@gmail.com.

Since I'm doing five pages of each, it will take me a few days to get these completed.

To the rest of you, thank you for playing, and here is your virtual drink!

I'll open the Tiki Bar again in a few weeks. I'm open to suggestions as to what should be offered.

And I made it to 30 followers! Thanks so much.

The Tiki Bar is open! First five pages...

2010-05-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

The first time I opened the Tiki Bar, I had more people who wanted tiki drinks than wanted cri- tikis. That may be what I get for being too cutesy with the title. However, the one person who requested and received a pitch/query critique did find it helpful:

"Wow! Really, that's all I keep thinking. You really have a knack for this! I couldn't wait to get home to tinker with my query, making for a long day at work. Thank you so much for all your help. I'll be sure to pass the word along."

So now, it's your turn for a critique of your first five pages. All you have to do is post a comment requesting a critique before 12 midnight on May 12.

To qualify for a chance at a critique, post a comment, making it clear that you want a critique, name the tiki drink of your choice (nonalcoholic is fine!), and post a link to let me know that you've let others know about my blog and the Tiki Bar. I'm thrilled to get comments even if you don't want a critique -- I just want to make sure that I know what you want.

After the deadline passes, I'll put the names in a Margarita glass and pull out five names. I'll post those names on my blog so that you can email your pages to me for your free critique.

I currently have 28 followers and would love to see that number rise to 30 or even 35. Let's have some fun with this!

Interview with Brenda Reeves Sturgis

2010-05-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Brenda Reeves Sturgis's picture book "10 Turkeys in the Road" is being released by Marshall Cavendish in Fall 2011. Her poem, "Snuggled Child," is being featured in Sweet Dreams, an anthology to be released by Blooming Tree Press in 2011. Brenda generously agreed to be interviewed for my blog.

1. When did you decide to be a writer?

Hi Stephanie. Thank you for taking the time to interview me for your blog. I have been a writer ever since I can remember. In high school I filled book after book with poetry, but in 2004 I attended an author visit at my daughter's school with Lynn Plourde. I sat in the back and listened to every word she said, and clung on every single syllable. When she said writers didn't need to illustrate their own stories, my heart leapt, and I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Stephanie -- It must have been wonderful to have that kind of revelation and then meet people who helped you to learn what you needed to learn.

2. Have there been one or two people who have been a big influence on you in your writing career? If so, can you tell us something about why that one or two were so important to you?

There has definitely been one person that influenced my writing, and that is New York Times best selling author Kelly Dipucchio. http://www.kellydipucchio.com I discovered her inside my very first CWIM (Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market). I contacted her about critiquing some stories for me. She sent me back very favorable feedback, and said that I had a natural ability to hear and write rhyme. Up until that point, I had no idea that I had any talent. Her words of encouragement spurred me forward. I began to write, and joined a critique group. She became my friend and my mentor.

Stephanie -- Boy! When you get a mentor, you don't mess around!

3. How did you decide to focus on picture books?

I love picture books, and most especially rhyming picture books. I am a former daycare owner, and daycare provider and my most favorite age group are 3-4 year olds. I love the illustrations, how the pages feel, cuddling up with a great picture book and reading to Stacie. It is my favorite genre to read and to write. It has been a gratifying experience to see my text come to life in 10 Turkeys in the Road, illustrated by the majorly talented David Slonim. http://www.davidslonim.com/

Stephanie -- I note that you say it's your favorite genre to read. It's so important to read what we write. I'm always amazed when people say they don't read but they want to write.

4. How difficult was it for you to find a publishing home for your work?

It was difficult. For the first several years I submitted on my own, but didn't know how to target well. I received a lot of rejections. But in 2007, I won 1st place in a contest called Smart Writers with Roxyanne Young, judged by Verla Kay. I also received an honorable mention on a second story. This started gaining some attention, and so I submitted a story to a selective conference. I was paired with publisher Margery Cuyler of Marshall Cavendish. Margery didn't like the story I had submitted but asked what else I had, and so I handed her 10 Turkeys in the Road. She loved it and asked for a revision. The revision was sent and she offered a contract.

Stephanie -- Thank you for sharing that! It helps those of us who are still chasing publication to realize that almost everyone has a struggle getting there.

5. You have worked with a smaller publisher and with an international publisher. Can you tell us some of the differences?

I have a poem coming out with Blooming Tree Press this year titled Snuggled Child, in a picture book anthology titled Sweet Dreams. Miriam Hees has been wonderful. My book coming out in 2011 with Marshall Cavendish has been a dream. My editor, Robin Benjamin is amazing, a good mix of professional but also a nice personal touch. She is always eager to read my work, and I am able to submit to her directly. Both experiences have been joyful for me on this journey.

Stephanie -- It sounds like you have had a good experience with them both. I bet it helps that you are easy to work with. There's a lesson for us all.

6. You have been offering paid critiques for picture books. Are you enjoying that experience? Why?

I LOVE offering paid critiques to clients. It is a way for me to give back. To pay it forward, like Kelly DiPucchio did for me. I am enjoying helping writers craft their stories to get them to the next level, ready for submission. It is a rewarding experience, and I am honored when people choose me as a critiquer to help shape and craft their words.

Stephanie -- I know I have found your critiques helpful. You aren't afraid to tell the truth, and you do it in a kind way.

7. Do you have a favorite book about writing that you have read?

Alice Pope's CWIM (Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market) remains to be my favorite. I always find a wealth of information inside the pages. In fact, I have an article coming out in August in the 2011 issue.

Stephanie -- I look forward to reading it.

8. It can be difficult to balance life with writing. How do you manage?

Writing, along with my daughter and husband, is my biggest passion. I write late at night, and whenever I can find a spare minute. There are many nights that I am up critiquing long after everyone has gone to bed. It's important to me to be able to get a writer back their critique in a very timely manner, and so I work to make sure that that happens. I often visit a 2:a.m. writing and critiquing sessions.

Stephanie -- You should be careful about burning that candle at both ends. I am looking forward to reading a lot more of your stories.

9. Would you have worked at being a writer even if you had believed that you would never get published?

I would most definetly write even if I never got published, because to me it was more about leaving a gift, or a legacy for my children. Publishing is a major plus, and I hope to have more of my stories published. I work hard to make that happen, but a lot of it is the right place at the right time, with the right story. That is why it is so important to have a well-crafted story to go out on submission. The competition is fierce, and so I work hard to make my rhyme sing off the pages and my prose dance in the story.

Stephanie -- I'm glad that your children get to hear your stories, but I'm glad other children will share them, too.

10. How did you feel when you got the call?

I felt euphoric but also sad. My mother had died a few months prior and so I was still drowning in my grief, I was sad that she never got to witness an acceptance.

Stephanie -- I bet she took joy in the journey, and maybe she knows and is glad for you now.

Oklahoma Writers Federation 2010 contest

2010-05-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

There were some winners among the members of the Oklahoma chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Congratulations to Maria Veres for winning FIRST PLACE in the picture book category, FIRST place in the middle grade book category, and second place in the young adult novel category. That's impressive, Maria!

Congratulations to Sharon Martin for winning third place in the Middle Grade novel category, and first honorable mention in the picture book category.

Congratulations to Donna Le who won first honorable mention for adult short story.

And,

Congratulations to Jeannie Hagy who won second place for her juvenile short story.

I won second place in the picture book catergory, which means I only lost to Maria Veres, who is a talented and experienced poet. There were thirty-one entries.

Yahoo!!

Sutton Avian Research Center

2010-05-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

I spent part of today volunteering for an event at the Sutton Avian Research Center, near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The event was for financial supporters and volunteers.

This is an amazing facility, where important ecological work is done. The Sutton Avian Research Center took a leading role in bringing back the population of our nation's symbol, the Bald Eagle. When the efforts to hatch Bald Eagle began, it was believed that there were four nesting couples of Bald Eagles in Oklahoma. There are now approximately one hundred and ten.

As part of today's event, Sutton staff presented the educational program that they present to middle school students. The program is "All About Birds," and it includes information about history, art, literature, world cultures, economics, and science. As a writer, I was fascinated by the way the program was designed to meet educational standards and objectives. School visit programs that follow this model will be attractive to schools.

As part of the program, we saw a Harrison's Hawk, a Bald Eagle and several other beautiful birds.

To find out more about this exciting resource, you can visit the website, http://suttoncenter.org You can also see live video feed of a nesting Bald Eagle pair and their baby Eagle.

Book Review -- SPLIT by Swati Avasthi

2010-04-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Jace Witherspoon is beaten and thrown out of the house by his father, a respected judge. His mother provides an address and tells him to run to his brother. Christian made his escape several years earlier. When Christian left, Jace was left to try to draw his father's attention away from his mother. He couldn't stop the abuse, but he could sometimes delay it.

Christian isn't that thrilled to see Jace. He has been careful not to leave any clues for his father to find him. His father already tracked him down and tried to kill him once. After his initial reluctance, Christian does his best to help Jace. Neither are able to communicate well. The two young men are consumed with their past, and Jace is focused on getting their mother to safety.

This book presents a fascinating and complex look into the psychological aftermath caused by repeated and brutal abuse. Avasthi has a background working with a domestic violence center. Her understanding of these issues brings an authenticity to the book.

SPLIT is very well-written and compelling. The descriptions of abuse are realistic enough to be quite disturbing.

What I Learned From Computer Solitaire

2010-04-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

I want to write. I want to have a break through. I’m just too tired. Sound familiar? On those nights, I pull up a writing project and tinker with it, and think about it, and play solitaire. Solitaire taught me a few things.

A small play can change the entire game. The next time through the deck, you will have different options. Even a small change can change the entire direction or tone or voice of a story. Trying things is a great idea. The small change may open up new possibilities for your story.

It’s always fun to turn a card over. It might be the card that will win the game! Let the story go in an interesting direction. When I read a story and I know what is going to happen next, I feel frustrated and disappointed. When there’s a twist, I feel excited. Go for the unpredictable. It’s more fun.

The computer tells me when there are no possible plays. Sometimes, I don’t see the possible when the computer isn’t saying to give up. Your critique partners can see what you can’t see in your own work.

I can save a game for later. Maybe, I’ll pull out a story months or years later and see the possibilities.

I often think, “Two or three moves back, I had a choice. What would have happened if I had made a different choice?” Stories are more forgiving than computer solitaire; you can go back and try that different choice, and see how your story changes.

When I’m offered the opportunity to play again, it’s really hard not to click on “yes”. Wouldn’t it be great if I did the same thing with writing? I’m being given the opportunity. I just need to choose to say yes.

The odds are tough. My computer tells me how many games I have won and played. It even gives me a percentage. If I am consistent and try to learn, there will be some successes with the losses. The only way to work the odds is to keep trying. You must submit and subject yourself to rejection to reach acceptance.

A break’s not always a bad idea. That drag and click process frees up my mind. My eyes are looking at the screen, but in the back of my mind, the story idea is percolating, and sometimes a resolution to a problem comes to me when I give myself a break.

Writers can learn from anything – even a game.

Characterization - again

2010-04-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

I posted last week about making our characters unique. I am working on a mystery, so I picked up a mystery for adults, published in 2001.

I'm not going to say the name of the book or the name of the author. After all, this author has several books published and I do not, so one might be justified in saying the author knows more about writing for publication than I do.

Reading the book was an education on what I want to do and what I must be very careful not to do. The characters have unique traits. A list of unique traits does not necessarily make a believable character for whom the reader develops care, sympathy, and/or empathy.

I read about 60-70 pages of this book before I knew how old the young character was. At that point, her age got dropped into conversation. This was what made me go back and re-read part of the book, to figure out what was missing for me. What distracted me and kept me from connecting with the character and knowing her?

Here's what I figured out. In the first chapter, about nine pages, there are 14 exclamation marks, 15 italicized words, and 16 question marks. The "girl" as she is described is identified by her extreme way of speaking, which by the way, got annoying quickly. Since the viewpoint character is a mature woman, I don't have a good feel for the range of age that she would call a "girl". Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever clicked onto the age of the viewpoint character -- late twenties but acts older? Thirties? Forties? I don't know. Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe.

By the end of the first chapter, I knew that "the girl" has taken up Buddhism after reading The Tao of Physics, that she may have done so to annoy her father who has remarried after the death of her mother two years ago, that she has an extraordinary intellect, but has the emotional life of an adolescent girl, that she speaks in extremes, in that she LOVES or HATES things, and that she helped to save the viewpoint character from her murderous but charming boyfriend a year ago. I know that she told the viewpoint character that she couldn't stand another Thanksgiving with her evil stepmother in Connecticut, so she's coming along to a country inn in Massachusetts, to spend Thanksgiving with viewpoint character and the policeman who also helped save the viewpoint character from the murderous boyfriend a year ago. Her father is paying for her room at the inn. Oh, and she has copper curls, and long gangly legs.

I know that the viewpoint character works at a publishing company, and is lucky because her boss is nice, unlike those other mean editors out there, that the girl is the daughter of the viewpoint character's college friend, now deceased. We know that she likes to think about the physical characteristics of the policeman who helped save her from the murderous boyfriend a year ago.

The action is that they drive through the countryside, listen to the radio, and look at Halloween decorations -- a tableau of a witch eating while fat children wait in a cage to be slaughtered for the next meal.

Why was this dissatisfying to me? What can I learn and apply to my own writing?

Exaggerated characteristics can create a stereotype instead of creating a sympathetic character. Don't insult the reader by creating a dummied down version of the character, just because it's a kid character. I know, this was a book for adults, so what did I expect? But I can still learn from it.

Use exclamation marks and italicized words sparingly. Too many of them are distracting and keep the reader from learning about the story and the character at a comfortable pace and in a deeper way.

Be careful how you release information. For me, the statement that she didn't want to spend Thanksgiving with her evil stepmother "in Connecticut" made me think she was traveling to Connecticut, which made me think she might be older than she actually was. She lives in Connecticut, so it isn't likely that she would specify that she was going to be in Connecticut for the holiday. I should have picked up that she was younger because dad was paying for the room, but dad could pay for the room over a broad range of ages, just as a "girl" could be a broad range of ages, and someone with a broad range of ages could have "the emotional life of an adolescent girl."

Save the mystery for the things that you want to be a mystery. There was no big secret about the girl's age. This was not part of the mystery. I, as the reader, spent quite a lot of time puzzling over her age and looking for clues so I could understand her age. Since this wasn't really important to the story, I was distracted from the important parts of the story by this.

Maybe all this just proves that I read books in an odd way. Maybe it tells more about me as a reader than it does the author as a writer.

I still think I learned a lot from the book. Including that the girl was thirteen.

Happy writing.

Making Your Character Unique

2010-04-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

My last post about craft focused on plot, and why a situation is not a plot. The reason was simple. A situation is not a plot because something has to happen in a plot. Something important to the character. And we have to understand why it is important to the character.

Several years ago, with trembling fingers, I let go of my manuscript and handed it to someone else to read. I was just getting to know Anna Myers, successful author of eighteen published books. Anna, the kind mentor that she is, offered to look at a first chapter for me. I mailed it to her, after telling her repeatedly that I was ready for harsh criticism because I knew that I was new at writing fiction for kids and that I had a lot to learn.

Imagine my hopes rising, as she said something like: "I was really dreading reading your chapter, because you said you were an inexperienced writer. I was pleasantly surprised, because it is clear that you have done a good deal of writing. You handle words well, and your writing is clear and easy to read."

Imagine my hopes crashing as she continued with something like: "But your main character is just a boy -- any boy. I don't know anything about him by the end of the chapter. I know he's a boy and he found a snake, but I don't know anything about HIM and why he is different from any other boy."

I had my work cut out for me. And so do you, if you want to have a character that your reader cares about.

As an example, let me create a character that we don't care about.

Joe is a boy. He is 5 feet 7 inches at age fifteen. He has straight blond hair and green eyes. He has a girlfriend named Margaret. She is cute and has curly dark hair. They are happy together. She is the president of the math club. He wants to win the chess match, because it would be fun to win the chess match. If he does win the chess match, Margaret will kiss him and take him out for a milkshake. If he doesn't win the chess match, Margaret will kiss him and take him for an ice cream sundae. His best friend, Steve, is his competition. If Joe doesn't win, Steve will, and the two boys will celebrate together by going to a movie with Margaret and Steve's girlfriend, Lisa. She is Margaret's best friend. They will have fun, no matter what, because they always do.

Are you bored yet? That's because this character has no motivation, no emotion, no hardships, no obstacles to overcome.

There is nothing more fascinating than watching a bunch of obsessed groupies dissecting the character of a fictional character. I've certainly watched Harry Potter readers do this -- "but you remember when we found out that Neville's parents were in the insane asylum because Death Eaters tortured them to insanity -- we knew then why Neville is so easily ashamed and afraid -- but we also learned that his parents didn't give in. He's tougher than he thinks he is. Yeah, that's why he tells Voldemort he'll join the Death Eaters when hell freezes over." Neville is a complex character, not a stock bumbler.

Would we be very interested in him if he was just there to be the butt of jokes? His very name screams that he will be ridiculed. Just say it slowly. Longbottom. See?

I submit that if Rowling had left him there, we wouldn't much care about him. But she didn't leave him there. She let us in on enough of his background to make us feel for him and then she let him change. As the story progresses, Neville shows aptitudes others don't have. As the battles become more serious, so does Neville. His courage and strength show through. By the end of the series, Neville is a hero.

What makes Neville interesting is his background, his motivation and his development. I have been reading Write Great Fiction: Character, Emotion and Viewpoint
by Nancy Kress, published by Writer's Digest, 2005. This books helps you to focus on your character's motivations, and gives exercises for developing bios for your character. Also very helpful in the book is a discussion regarding how to include the backstory that causes your character to be who he is, in ways that don't stop your story for a lecture.

Spend some time when you're not writing, just thinking about your characters. I find it's helpful to be doing something else, driving the car or cleaning the house. That way my thoughts can just trail in and out. Try it and you may find out something you never realized about your character. Something that will make your character more specific, less generic. More a character than a caracature.

Oh, I have to go. I just learned something about my character. That's why he is so determined to be a scientist! I've got to get this down on paper.

And the winner is . . .

2010-04-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Terry!!!

Please send your mailing address and I will send you the book. Congratulations. I hope you enjoy the book.

Contest for critique with Marcia Hoehne

2010-04-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a great opportunity to get another set of eyes to look at a manuscript. Go to http://marciahoene.blogspot.com and check her blogpost for the rules.

Good luck and have fun!

Upcoming events

2010-04-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

Continuing with my organizational scheme, I'm letting you know what to expect for the next few weeks. I'm up to 24 followers! I'm very pleased, especially since I have been blogging for such a short time. Thank you to all who have opted to follow and welcome to new followers!

April 16,2010 -- Announcement of the winner of the book giveaway!

April 18, 2010 -- Craft article -- character

April 25, 2010 -- Motivational article - Computer solitaire

May 2,2010 -- Book review -- title tba

May 9, 2010 -- Tiki Bar -- first five pages

May 16, 2010 -- Interview with Brenda Reeves Sturgis

May 23, 2010 -- What is Stephanie doing?

May 30, 2010 -- Ears wide open. What I hear at conferences, etc.

Book giveaway -- The Fiction Class by Susan Breen

2010-04-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Enter to win a copy of The Fiction Class by Susan Breen. This is a book that appeals especially to writers. The main character, Arabella Hicks, teaches a fiction writing class, while dealing with her real life, which includes visiting an aging mother in the nursing home. Arabella, her mother and the students in her class all learn from class assignments.

Breen knows the world of aspiring writers. She is an instructor with Gotham Writers' Workshop. Writers will certainly recognize some of the characters in the class, including the character who asks during the first session, "So how do we get published?" And the assignments appear to be real assignments that would help a writer improve her/his craft.

This is not a how-to book. It is a fictional account that helps us to see why words matter.

So, to win a copy of this book, just post a comment to this post, letting me know that you've told others about my blog, and giving me a link to your post, twitter, facebook where you did. I'll draw a name, announce the winner and the book will be on its way to you.

The contest is open until midnight on April 15. There's something else you have to do by then, but this will be easier and more fun.

So you want to be a writer...

2010-04-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

I keep getting questions from acquaintances about the process for publication. I suspect those who read my blog already know these steps, but since I just prepared something on this, I thought it wouldn't hurt to share.

There are two types of publishing companies – self-publishing and traditional royalty- paying publishing companies. A company is a “self-publishing” company if the author pays money to the publishing company to get the book published, even if the company calls itself a “traditional royalty-paying publishing company.”

There are some stories of authors who self-publish and go on to great success. These are rare situations. Most self-published authors find that their sales are limited to those that are made personally, one by one, by the author.

In order to be published by a traditional royalty-paying publishing company, an author must go through a submission process. The author may get an agent who will work to sell the book to a publishing company, or the author may submit directly to publishing companies.

The process for getting an agent requires that the author convince the agent that the author’s work is good enough to merit the agent’s investment of time and effort. Each agent has individual submission guidelines, and an aspiring author must research those and approach the agent according to his or her own rules. Many agents require that the author send a query letter, a letter in which the author describes the book sufficiently to interest the agent in reading some or all of the manuscript. Some require a cover letter and a copy of a short manuscript or the first chapter or pages of a longer manuscript. It is important to do the research and follow each agent’s rules.

The same holds true for publishing companies. Some companies accept unsolicited submissions. Others are “closed houses” and only accept submissions from agents or from writers who have heard an editor from the company speak at a conference.

A good place to start in learning the ins and outs of the industry is to join the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). This organization has a website at www.scbwi.org. The Oklahoma chapter’s website is www.scbwiok.org. The international organization holds two big conferences each year – one in August in Los Angeles, and one in New York City in February. The Oklahoma chapter holds two conferences each year. Editors, agents and art directors are the speakers for the spring conference. The fall conference focuses on the craft of writing. Surrounding states also have active chapters who hold conferences. These conferences can be a great opportunity to meet agents and editors, as well as other writers and illustrators. In addition to the conferences, SCBWI provides a market guide which is updated annually, and publications to help the writer keep current on the industry.

An aspiring writer should read Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Market. It includes articles, but also has listings of publishing companies and agents, together with their submission policies and a description of what sort of book they are seeking. The Guide to Literary Agents also gives information about agents. The Guide to Literary Agents also has a blog and runs monthly “Lucky Agent” contests which give writers an opportunity to get their work in front of an agent.

It is also really important to get feedback on your manuscript from other people. The SCBWI conferences often offer the opportunity to get a critique from an agent or editor for a reasonable fee. In addition, there are writers who offer critique services. I am familiar with a couple of these. Darleen Bailey Beard, whose book Annie Glover is not a Tree Lover is a contender for an Oklahoma Book Award offers a paid critique service. Her website is www.darlenebaileybeard.com. Brenda Reeves Sturgis also offers a critique service and her website is www.brendareevessturgis.com. You can also get feedback at SCBWI meetings which sometimes include critique sessions.

Cynthea Liu has a website, www.writingforchildrenandteens.com, that includes a crash course on how to write for kids and teens and get published. This site has a wealth of information.

Good luck on your writing journey. I hope that some of this information is helpful.

Short report on the SCBWI Oklahoma conference

2010-03-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

The speakers were all great.

The big thrill for me was that my manuscript was selected as one of those for a face to face critique. Each editor/agent selected two manuscripts for this honor and great opportunity.

I had a wonderful session with Greg Ferguson with Egmont who was encouraging but also gave practical helpful suggestions and advice.

I'll blog more later about what the editors and agents shared.

Color me happy!

Contest for crtique from editor with Blooming Tree

2010-03-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Madeline Smoot with Blooming Tree is offering up a critique of a query and ten pages. To enter, go to

http://texassweethearts.blogspot.com/2010/03/critiques-critiques-critiques.html

You must follow the blog and post a comment. The contest is open through March 28.

Interview with Barbara Lowell, winner of Runner Up Barbara Karlin Grant!

2010-03-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

Barbara Lowell is in my critique group. I am so lucky. You will be able to see from the way she answers the questions that she is smart, organized, and determined. It’s one thing to want to write. It’s quite another to study, figure out what you need to learn, and follow up. Barbara is on the road to success with writing. She received the Runner Up Barbara Karlin Grant in 2009. About two hundred people entered that competition, so Barbara is in the top one percent of the competition. That’s the kind of person I like to be around. Maybe some of it will rub off on me.

Now, on to the questions and answers, so that you can get to know Barbara, and be inspired by her, as I am.

1. How long have you been writing?

I played around with writing for years, but I became a writer in 2005 when the wonderful author Anna Myers encouraged me to turn an article idea into a picture book. I had no idea how to write one. I read every book I could find about writing picture books and signed up for my first online class with Anastasia Suen. One of the most important things I learned was to read what I write. I read 100 picture books for Anastasia’s class in less than one month.

2. You have taken classes and attended conferences. Is there one that stands out for you? What made that experience special for you?

They all stand out for different reasons. The four classes I have taken with Anastasia have helped me so much. When I had an idea for my first nonfiction picture book, I took Anastasia’s nonfiction class. When I finished, I had learned how to write one. I have also taken workshops with Darcy Pattison, Linda Arms White and Laura Backes. Linda and Laura taught me the basics. Darcy turned around the manuscript I brought to her picture book workshop with her assignments as well as her valuable advice.

I attend the SCBWI Oklahoma spring and fall conferences each year. I have also been fortunate to attend the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles in 2007 and 2008. Last September, I attended my first SCBWI regional conference (outside Oklahoma) in Scottsdale, Arizona. What makes all of these special is connecting with children’s writers and the opportunity to receive feedback from children’s book editors, as well as to hear their presentations.

3. When did you decide to focus on picture books?

I had so much fun writing the first one that I knew this was the genre for me.

4. What kind of picture books do you write?

I have written two historical fiction picture books, one based on a true event and the other on a true family. I have also written three picture book biographies and am currently working on two more.

My favorite picture book biography/historical authors are: Deborah Hopkinson, Don Brown, and Barbara Kerley. I have learned lots about writing in this genre from each of them.

5. Where do you get your ideas?

I love history. I’ll hear or read about someone or an event that interests me and I have to know more. All my ideas have come this way.

6. Do you enjoy the research? Why or why not?

I like writing, especially revision, best, but I do enjoy researching. If I didn’t, I couldn’t write nonfiction. I learn more about my subjects than I can ever use and I almost feel as if I know them when I have finished my research.

7. How did you decide your were ready to submit to the 2009 Barbara Karlin Grant?

Submitting to the grant was a goal I had. I believed that the manuscript I submitted had a good shot.

8. What were your emotions when you received notice that you were runner-up for the grant?

I felt fortunate and grateful. Many people have helped me with my writing and I am grateful for all of them.

9. What benefits do you feel you received as runner-up for the SCBWI Barbara Karlin
Grant?

I received a monetary award that I used in part to attend the SCBWI “Welcome Home” Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona last September. I will use the rest for future conferences. This award was generously given by author Ann Whitford Paul. I also know that a group of talented writers (Barbara Karlin Grant Committee) enjoyed my manuscript — that means a lot.

10. What are your plans now?

I am currently writing the first draft of a picture book biography. This is the most difficult part for me. I am also researching another “I didn’t know that” idea for a nonfiction picture book. I will be attending the SCBWI Oklahoma Spring Conference this month and a SCBWI Oklahoma sponsored nonfiction workshop in June with author Melissa Stewart. I hope to attend the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in August.

I will keep reading, writing, learning as much as I can about writing, and of course, submitting. I decided recently to step it up and work with a freelance editor and I am looking forward to that experience.

Note: I would like to acknowledge Heather Burnell, who posts interviews of as yet unread authors on her blog, frolickingthroughcyberspace.

Book review -- Heist Society by Ally Carter

2010-03-12T12:33:00.001-08:00

Katerina Bishop has been home-schooled her whole life. Home schooled in the art of high risk high reward thievery. She helped with her first heist -- at the Louvre -- when she was only five. Recently, she walked away from the life and conned her way into a slot at the exclusive Corgan school. When she is accused of a prank and expelled, she finds that she has been called back into the life. A man described as "really bad" is convinced that Kat's dad has stolen five paintings from his fortress of a gallery. The paintings must be returned within ten days or Kat's dad will be killed. Kat's dad can't return the paintings. He doesn't have them. He was pulling a job in another country the night the bad man's paintings were stolen. Interpol is now following his every step. He has no way to act to solve his problem. The only way for Kat to save her father is to find the missing paintings and steal them back. Following Kat and her crew as they track down the paintings and plan their heist leads the reader on a thrill ride that will keep the pages turning.

Ally Carter has shown us in the Gallagher Girls series that she can create memorable characters, put them in glamorous settings, and create quick moving plots. Heist Society does not disappoint. This is a little like you mixed "It Takes a Thief" or "White Collar Crime" with a teen high school romance (completely PG). The characters have sass and humor. I look forward to hearing more from them.

The book has been optioned by Warner Brothers and has hit the New York Times Bestseller list.This is a book that you can freely recommend to any tween or young teen girl. As an aside, I have met Ally Carter at a local SCBWI Schmooze and she is down to earth and fun. If you get a chance to hear her speak or meet her, jump at it.You can visit Ally on the web at http://www.allycarter.com/

Book giveaway at http://tabwriter.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-book-giveaway.html

2010-03-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Go over to Tab's blog to enter for a book giveaway! Who doesn't love book giveaways?

Drinks are served and the Tiki Bar is closed ... for now

2010-03-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

As far as I could tell, Meradeth was the only one who requested a critique, so I ask that she send her query/pitch to sltheban@gmail.com.

I thank everyone for the nice comments.

The Tiki Bar will roll around again in about 8 weeks, and I hope that by then more people will know about the Tiki Bar, and more will request another set of eyes on the first three pages of a manuscript.

Again, my motivations are pretty simple. I want to help others, and I want to help myself by learning more and by creating a web presence.

Happy writing!

Stephanie

Upcoming events

2010-03-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hope that you're finding at least some of my posts helpful. Here's what to look forward to in the coming weeks.

March 7 -- results of Tiki Bar Pitch Crits -- it's certainly looking like everyone who asks for a critique will get one, along with a drink with a little umbrella in it

March 14 -- Book Review of Heist Society, by Ally Carter

March 21 -- Interview with Barbara Lowell, winner of the runner up Barbara Karlin Grant

March 28 -- Short report on Oklahoma SCBWI conference

April 4 -- Longer report on Oklahoma SCBWI conference

April 11 -- Book giveaway

April 18 -- craft article - Character

April 25 -- motivation - What can you learn from computer solitaire?

May 2 -- Tiki Bar First three pages

Welcome to the Tiki Bar

2010-02-24T04:43:00.000-08:00

You are probably wondering why I think I'm qualified to offer critiques. Well, why not? Another set of eyes can't hurt. I've been writing, getting critiques and doing critiques for several years. I attended Bonnie Bader's Pitch a Thon in LA. Some people on Verla Kay's Blue Board have said my suggestions were helpful. My two critique groups (one in person and one on line) haven't thrown me out. And best of all, it's free!

Here are some comments about critiques from I did in the past:

"Go to the thread about ..... and take a look at the query Stephanie wrote. I thought it was an excellent example of a tightly written query."
"Stephanie did a great job of tightening your query."
"Thank so much everyone! And particularly Stephanie for the wonderfully succinct version of my wordy synopsis. Brilliant!"
"Stephanie, I just may have to have you sign a release for this. You're good."
"That's great work, Stephanie. Good to know some things in life are still free -- your help being one of them."

For the first Tiki Bar, I'm offering critiques on pitches. Let someone who knows nothing about your story read it and let you know what I get out of it. Pitches are hard for a lot of reasons -- they have to be short, they have to draw your audience in, and you know so much about your story that you can't always tell if the short blurb you've created tells too much, doesn't tell enough, or just fails to do your story justice.

To qualify for a pitch critique, please mention The Tiki Bar in at least one form of social media. I'll trust you to be honest. Then post a comment telling me you want a critique.

The submissions will be open for five days. At the end of the five days, I draw five names, and post those on my blog. Those people will then email me at sltheban@gmail.com. I'll email the critique to you within five days.

Just for the fun of it, each of the participants will also win a virtual tiki drink (have yours non-alcoholic, if you wish). You can request the tiki drink of your choice. This will help us learn which are most desired. After I do the critiques, I'll post the names and tiki drinks won. Here are the possible choices:

Mai tai, pina colada, Singapore sling, zombie, Margarita, Caiparinha, gin pahit, blue Hawaii, mojito, planters punch.

My promise to you is that I will diligently study your work and give you my best thoughts. In turn, I will expect you to accept the critique as it is intended -- one person's opinion, offered for purposes of helping to improve the work, and not to hurt or judge the writer.

Perfectionism -- Blessing or Curse?

2010-02-24T04:10:00.000-08:00

You might be able to tell from the way I established a plan for my blog that I tend to study things, plan them, and then do them. You may also see a little too much of this quality. There are a lot of names for it. Some of them are just plain insulting and some of them reflect a clinical diagnosis that has not been made for me.
Those of us with perfectionist tendencies tend to make jokes of it. At least I do. "If I were a perfectionist, my house wouldn't be so messy." "If I were organized, I wouldn't have so many uncompleted projects." "I'm not a perfectionist. I just wish I were. Then my life would be perfect." Etc. Etc.
But wait a minute. As writers, we struggle over every word, revise and rewrite. That's good. That's the way it's supposed to be. Right?
Well..... yes ...... and no.
We certainly want to make sure that before we send that manuscript off to an agent or an editor, it is the best that we can make it. We can't settle for okay, all right, pretty good.
But if our perfectionism keeps us from getting anything done, it is not a blessing.
Anne Lamott, in Bird by Bird, says that perfectionism is an obsessive belief that if we never make a mistake, if we never step on a crack, we won't have to die. I believe that for many of us, there is something we fear more than death. Failure and disapproval.
My oldest brother took me to an art museum once, and asked me if I liked a particular painting. I gulped and spluttered. He was a little impatient. "It's not that hard. There's not a wrong answer. Just tell me if YOU like the painting." I realized that I was terribly afraid that I would give an answer that he wouldn't like. To give myself a bit of a break, I was young. I've grown up a lot since then. I think.
Yogi Berra said, "When you come to the fork in the road, take it." I've read that Yogi said this because either path led to his house. I have a different take on this quote. I think it means you have to make a decision. You have to do something. You can't allow the fear of making a mistake or disappointing someone to keep you from action. You will make mistakes. You will learn from those mistakes, and in the long run, most mistakes can be fixed. For those that can't, well, a little humility is a good thing, too.
Especially when you are writing a first draft, you must give yourself permission to write badly. Then you can go back and revise and get critiques and revise and let it rest and revise, until you believe it is the best YOU can make it. Then send it out. Get some professional feedback. There's only so much you can do and learn without putting yourself out into the world. The road to anonymity is strewn with manuscripts in drawers.
So, is perfectionism a good thing? In moderation, yes. But when you stare at those two diverging paths, take one. Otherwise, you'll just be standing in the middle of the road, and someone will run over you.

Southwest Writers Conference

2010-02-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

My brother, Scott Jones, is also a writer. Fortunately for me, he writes poetry and fiction for adults, so I don't have to compete with him.

The good part about sharing a writing interest is that we are able to encourage one another and share information.

He shared this information about an upcoming conference with me:

Workshops
SouthWest Writers offers one-session workshops to advance the skills and marketability of writers in a time-sensitive format. Experienced instructors guide participants through lecture, example, and exercises to increase the quality of their writing.
What is the difference between a class and a workshop? A class is more than one session and usually includes assignments to be completed outside of class. A workshop is one session, and any work required of the students is done during the workshop session.
A Workshop For All Writers Interested in writing children’s books

Chris Eboch
presented by Chris Eboch
Saturday, April 249:00 am - 4:30 p.m.
$79.00 for members (includes lunch)$89.00 for non-members (includes lunch)
At the New Life Presbyterian Church 5540 Eubank just North of Spain
In this hands-on workshop, Chris will explore the children’s book markets, discuss the elements of writing for kids, and brainstorm appropriate ideas. She will review the requirements for different genres, age ranges, and markets. Each participant will start developing a story and will leave this workshop with an article or story in progress and a list of ideas for future development.
Chris Eboch is the author of twelve books for children. Her Haunted series includes: The Ghost on the Stairs The Riverboat Phantom, and The Knight in the Shadows. Her nine other books in print include: The Well of Sacrifice, a middle grade Mayan drama, inspirational biographies, and nonfiction for children and teenagers. She is the New Mexico Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and teaches “Writing for Children and Teenagers” through the Institute of Children’s Literature.
To learn more about Chris and read the first chapters of her books, visit her web page at http://www.chriseboch.com/.

Here's the link for information about the conference.

http://www.southwestwriters.com/workshops.php

Remember, keep learning.

Frolicking through Cyberspace: The Unread - Interview with Karen Akins

2010-02-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

Frolicking through Cyberspace: The Unread - Interview with Karen Akins

Is this a plot?

2010-02-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

Are these plots?

A man goes fishing.

A boy goes to wizard school.

A girl likes to watch wolves.

An Asian girl moves to a small Oklahoma town.

A boy goes to cowboy camp.

No, these are not plots.

How do we know when we have a plot? When I started writing, I often confused a situation with a plot. The situation can be a story starter, but it's not the story. Taking the situations above, great writers created plots.

A man goes fishing and battles the sea for his life.

A boy wants to fit in, and thinks he has found his place in the world when he goes to wizard school, but he finds out that his world is at risk of destruction, and he is the one who must save it.

A girl, fascinated with a wolf, discovers that he is actually a werewolf whom she loves, and she and the werewolf must save one another.

An Asian girl moves to a small town in Oklahoma and learns that every seventh grade girl takes "the dare", so she has to balance her desire to make friends with her desire to stay alive and avoid the ghost of the girl who died taking the dare.

A boy wants to fit in at cowboy camp, but can't because he just isn't the cowboy type -- he can't eat beans, he can't twirl a lasso, and he can't ride a horse, until he becomes the hero of cowboy camp by using all his flaws to save the camp.

I'm sure you recognize these books: Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Rowling's Harry Potter, Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater (http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/), Paris Pan Takes the Dare by Cynthea Liu (http://www.cynthealiu.com/.), and Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer (http://www.tammisauer.com/). My descriptions are based on memory and may not be the best, but I think you can get the idea.

So, what is the difference between a plot and a situation?

Nothing much happens in the situation. It's only a springboard for the plot.

The plot, on the other hand, needs to have a lot going on. The main character needs to want something. That something needs to be important. So important that the character will take serious action to get it. Someone or something needs to stand in the way of the character reaching his goal. The character needs to overcome obstacles. The character must change.

I recently listened and watched as my friend Anna Myers (http://annamyers.info/) did a school visit with my daughter's 8th grade Pre-AP English class. From my back row perspective, I was able to watch Anna, the students, and the teacher, Ms. Thomas. The class had just finished a section on The Hero's Journey. One of the assignments was to write a hero's journey of their own. I knew Anna's presentation was hitting home with what Ms. Thomas had been teaching when I saw Ms. Thomas nodding, saying yes, and waving her hands as if to say, "Did you hear that, class?"

Afterward, Ms. Thomas mentioned how thrilled she had been when Anna said that a story has to have conflict and the character has to change, because dealing with a serious conflict always changes a person. She said some of the students had submitted stories where the character was the same at the beginning and at the end, even though she had explained the need for conflict.

I have heard people ask presenters at conferences many times, "But can't there just be a sweet little story without a conflict? Why does the character have to deal with something hard?"

Because it's not a story if nothing happens! It's a situation. And no one wants to buy a situation.

So, take that situation and turn it into a plot. You can do it.

Think about what the character wants, why the character wants it, what the character is going to do to get it, who or what is going to get in the character's way, how the character is going overcome those obstacles, and how the character will change as a result of all this. Along the way, you'll find a great story. A story only you can tell.

Upcoming events

2010-02-17T02:58:00.000-08:00

Here's what to expect in future posts. I have a plan to post once a week. There will be several topics that appear in rotation. I started with My Writer's Journey. I suspect you will be relieved to learn that you will only have to read my very personal stories about my journey about once every two months. Most of the content will be intended to be encouraging or helpful to you.

So here's the calendar of upcoming events:

Caution: I'm still figuring out how to format the blog so the spacing is a little hinky on this post.

February 21, 2010 Craft: Teacher, is this a plot?

February 28, 2010 Motivation: Perfectionism - Blessing or Curse?

March 7, 2010 Book Review - Title to be determined

March 14, 2010 The Tiki Bar -- Critiques offered - Pitches (If I have inadvertantly
stolen "The Tiki Bar," someone tell me. I don't want to offend)

March 21, 2010 Interview - I have someone in mind but can't reveal the name yet

March 28, 2010 What is Stephanie doing? (this will be a brief report on a project I'm
working on, feedback I've received, etc.) For March 28, it will be the short report on the Oklahoma SCBWI conference on March 27

April 4, 2010 Ears Wide Open - What I hear at conferences and writers' meetings.

For April 4, it will be the longer report on the SCBWI conference and what the speakers shared

April 11, 2010 Contest - Book Giveaway. Title to be determined

P.S. I'm just now figuring out how to post links to your blogs on my blog, so there will be a lot more of that in future days and weeks.

Welcome to My Blog!

2010-02-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Every story has to start somewhere, and I guess this one will start here. Several years ago, my husband and I were traveling with our two small children, my husband's brother and his wife and their two children. If you have never done this, you may not realize the challenges involved in traveling with four children five and under.
As we tried to get the children settled and into bed for the night, we realized that we had left all the bedtime books in the car. My oldest daughter asked me to tell a story, so I did. My sister-in-law, Anita, asked me if I had memorized the story from a book. I shrugged my shoulders and explained that I had made it up. She was amazed, and so was I. I thought everyone did this.
Anita was very encouraging and told me that I should do something with what she called a talent. She even gave my kids a kiddie tape recorder so they could record the stories I told. I doubt that first story she heard was very good. Your own very small children would listen to you read the Yellow Pages. But someone said I had talent! I had always wanted to write, but had never really considered too seriously the possibility that I could write.
Our children were all 5 or under when we took that fateful trip. They are now 17, 16, 14 and 14. During part of the intervening years, I was just too busy or too scared to write. About seven years ago, I got serious about writing. I read, I studied, I attended conferences, and most of all I wrote.
Thank you, Anita, for showing faith that I had talent before I grew to believe it. You are part of the beginning of my story. I'm glad you'll be along for the rest of the tale.