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Kate Bassett is coming of the gate with a beautiful debut novel that's truly heartbreaking and exquisitely crafted. It's walked away with critical acclaim already, along with a coveted starred School Library Journal review. Want to know how she did it? Read on!
Revision in seven steps, with wise words from writers
by Kate Bassett
Revision. For some people, it’s the most exciting part of writing. For others, it’s almost as much of a swear word as “synopsis.” For me, it’s defined by a manuscript that’s been collecting dust for at least a month, a compiled list of notes from trusted readers, and most important of all: a new pack of Papermate Flair Pens, Post-It Notes and sticky flags...plus a pretty folder or extra-wide highlighter or some other item I’ll never use but had to have in the moment.
Kidding. Kind of.
My friend Sara Zarr calls it the “office supply” phase of revision. I actually subscribe to this method as Step One when digging deep into a draft that still needs a whole lot of work. Something about a fresh pack of pens puts me in hardcore, deep emotional well digging mode. Weird? Yes. True? Totally. While I don’t believe for a second all writers need to go spend 30-bucks (err...or more…) on “tools” to start revising, I do believe in ritual. Whether it’s lighting a candle, listening to an entire playlist, or eating an oven-baked s’more (with Nutella), having some significant moment before diving into a major revision can make a difference. Because it isn’t about the thing you do-- it’s about creating the head/heart space. It’s about acknowledging the habit, work, dedication it requires to take a story from a blob of ideas and characters to a cohesive, meaningful book.
Step two is my least favorite. It’s when I bust out the new pens, sit down with a printed (and spiral bound, for ease) manuscript and begin to read.
The first reading is reserved for general notes-- everything from axing obviously-able-to-go sentences/sections to questions about plot holes and new ideas I didn’t explore-- I try to keep these scribbles in one color.
The second reading is pacing-specific. I’m a “quiet” contemporary writer, which means I can think I’m writing a thrillerish book, but it has 50 pages of dialogue between two characters, in a bus station, about Polaroid photos. In an effort to avoid 10 unnecessary drafts, I take the time to go through every scene (sometimes breaking it down page by page) to ask myself this question: does this move the story forward? What’s the significance in the big picture? If I can’t answer those questions, I take out my red pen. And I draw big ol’ X’s through entire paragraphs/pages.
By reading number three I tend to feel frustrated. Impatient. Ready to send the manuscript to my agent. This is usually the time when I pause and dig up a quote or two from writers or other creatives I respect about the importance of process. I’m still pretty new at this whole author gig-- my debut releases September 8-- so I’m happy to borrow ideas from those much further down the path.
I’m a big fan of re-reading these words by David Foster Wallace before tackling my own work again.
In order to write effectively, you don’t pretend it’s a letter to some individual you know, but you never forget that what you’re engaged in is a communication to another human being. The bromide associated with this is that the reader cannot read your mind. The reader cannot read your mind. That would be the biggest one.
Probably the second biggest one is learning to pay attention in different ways. Not just reading a lot, but paying attention to the way the sentences are put together, the clauses are joined, the way the sentences go to make up a paragraph.
It speaks directly to the work I still need to do. With sticky flags on one side and another colored pen on the other, I read my book a third time. This reading, though, usually looks for three things at once: I flag all the threads in the book (different color sticky flags for each thread); this way, it’s easy to physically see if I drop one for, say, 80 pages. I also repeat that mantra “the reader cannot read your mind”-- and look for any plot points or character traits I see in my head but can’t find on the page. Finally, I look at the physical structure of sentences on the page. If I have 10 sentences that follow the same flow, or have some funky/out of place looking paragraphs, I make notes to rearrange and reconstruct.
Step three involves wine and chocolate. But that’s a whole different post.
Step four is the big moment when I open a new document, my scribbled and flagged and Post-It noted manuscript at my side, and start again. For me, this is the scariest moment. The one where I have to breathe air through my heart bars.
Deep inside, we are all so much the same — our details might be different, but we are all kind of walking the same internal path. And when I allow myself to be vulnerable, I am allowing myself to connect. I’m allowing people to connect to me.--Dana Shapiro
This is a big thing for writers. We create people. We create worlds. But we also put our hearts on the line, because if we don’t, the emotional truth of a story won’t ring true for readers. Another friend, Kat Yah, says this about how she starts to unlock the crossbars of her heart and open up to the most difficult (and perhaps most important) moments in her manuscript:
I take a deep brave breath. And then I take what I’ve written to places that scare me a little. I put it all there on the page for the world to see and let it go….
Feelings of Not Fitting In.
Wishing I could reinvent myself
Wishing for Impossible things
I let go of how I’m just a big cheesy crybaby in love with love.
I let go of the weird quirky humor that I never think anyone else will ever get.
I let go of how I’m probably Too Much and so everything I write will probably be Too Much, but that’s just the way it is.
I let it all go and it’s out there now.
It isn’t easy to face all those shadows. It requires bravery and copious amounts of water (seriously, hydrate). It’s in this place that the manuscript begins to shift into form though, and the feeling of Yes. This is the right track. will start flowing from fingers to keyboard to screen.
Step five is the gut check. The next solid draft is finished. Nourishment has been consumed and sleep/laundry/life has happened. I take a week or so to just think before I do my final run throughs. Walk in the woods, sit in the coffee shop, read books I didn’t write, hang with my family. During free moments, I think about the book I am still writing. I think about every character and their story arc. And I gut check again and again. Does it feel right? Am I missing something? Have I gone down the road of melodrama again? I carry a little notebook with me during this time to jot any last questions or ideas or worries. Sometimes, I’ll look back over the notes when I’m ready for a final read/edit and go “huh? What does Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds have to do with bubblegum under a car?” And I might never remember, but that’s okay. Other times, those notes help me snap into place the last bits of a puzzle I hadn’t quite completed.
Step six feels a like a repeat. I reprint and spiral bind my manuscript (again) in order to read the newest version.
But this time, I read it out loud. This time, my focus is 100-percent oriented toward sound. Writing is music without instruments. It has a beat, rhythm, song. Reading a manuscript out loud, from beginning to end, is the best way to find clunky sentences, repetitive or unnecessary words, and any other structural wonkiness that will pull a reader away from the story. I’m so antsy and ready to move forward by this point, I have to literally walk away (a lot). Removing myself and going to do something grounded and physical-- the dishes or cooking or a lake swim, anything-- helps me keep a fresh ear and forces me to slow down and really, truly pay attention.
Step seven is the spit, polish, shine. It’s the last touches before attaching the document and sending it off to be read by my brilliant agent, Sarah Davies, who always has incredible insights and questions and thoughts...that put me right back in the check out line at Office Max, excited for another round.
Which is okay. Because:
“You have to appreciate the spiritual component of having an opportunity to do something as wondrous as writing. You should be practical and smart and you should have a good agent and you should work really, really hard. But you should also be filled with awe and gratitude about this amazing way to be in the world.”-- Susan Orlean, New Yorker staff writer.
About the Book
Words and Their Meanings by Kate Bassett
Anna O’Mally doesn’t believe in the five stages of grief. Her way of dealing with death equates to daily bouts of coffin yoga and fake-tattooing Patti Smith quotes onto her arms. Once a talented writer, Anna no longer believes words matter, until shocking discoveries– in the form of origami cranes– force her to redefine family and love.
As Anna goes in search of the truth, she discovers that while every story, every human being, has a last line, it might still be possible to find the words for a new beginning.
Kate Bassett has a degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis and a minor in Psychology. She intended to go into teaching but wasn't very good at "classroom control". She moved on to become the editor of her local Michigan newspaper and has been there since. Even though she absolutely loves to travel, there is no where else she would rather be than in her hometown of Harbor Springs. Words and Their Meanings is her debut book.
Whether you're an author, writer, or have a home business you should have a book under your belt. Books are one of the most powerful authority building tools. And, they can be created with little or no money, though services like CreateSpace.
Since bookstores don't have the same draw as they once did, to sell that book you need to think out of the box. You need to think about by-pass marketing
0 Comments on Build Your Authority Through Books and By-Pass Marketing as of 9/5/2014 7:10:00 AM
[Amy Woods] Thanks so much for having me as a guest today!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.
[Amy Woods] Introverted, Curious, Dog lover, Writer
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about your book?
[Amy Woods] His Texas Forever Family is a sweet, contemporary category romance set in the fictional small town of Peach Leaf, Texas.
Paige Graham only has room for one man in her life—her son, Owen. The little boy hasn’t spoken since his father died, but things change when he meets his new art teacher, Liam Campbell. Paige can’t help marveling at the progress Owen makes while working with his instructor—and Mr. Campbell isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either!
New to Peach Leaf, Texas, Liam is captivated by his beautiful boss—who is none other than Paige! He can’t risk his job or his future by falling for his supervisor, but there is just something about her he can’t resist. Thanks to Liam’s lessons, Owen is on the road to recovery. Now if only Liam can show Paige that the best way to heal her heart is to open herself to love again….
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Amy Woods] A spark of an idea, and the wonderful question, “What if?” inspired the story. I wondered what would happen if a child became mute following a terrible incident, and the only person able to help that child was someone with an unconventional way of treating psychological distress. I combined that person with the child’s mother—who has tried everything, without success, to help her son—along with a sweet romance, and the rest is history.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
[Amy Woods] I loved researching art therapy and all of the amazing ways it can help people overcome rough spots or challenges in their lives. It seems to me that there are just about as many ways to heal from trauma as there are people—horse therapy, dog therapy, art therapy, behavioral therapy, and the list goes on. I’m fascinated and inspired by the many wonderful people who go into these fields with the goal of making others’ lives better.
Also, this is my debut novel, but it’s also my very first book and I loved, loved, loved the experience of finishing a full story. Happily, I became addicted to that feeling and have gone on to write more. ?
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What gave you the most trouble with this story?
[Amy Woods] At the risk of having tomatoes thrown at me by the writers out there…this story didn’t really give me much trouble. The characters were fun to write, even at their dark moments, and I didn’t ever get stuck for very long. I’m sad to say this hasn’t happened since, and I’ve finished several other books. I’m learning that some books just require either more or different work than others, and every book is its own animal. I’m still a fairly new writer, and I’m still working out my process. The minute I feel like I’ve grasped something pretty firmly, a fresh challenge pops up.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had a theme song, what would it be?
[Amy Woods] Sara Bareilles’ “Brave”—not because I embody the lyrics but because I’d like to
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing you won’t leave home without.
[Amy Woods] My purse. Lord help me if I ever lose that thing! I’m pretty sure most women can relate.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name three things on your desk right now.
[Amy Woods] -Kleenex (I live in Austin, Texas and we have some of the worst allergens in the US)
-a pen with pink ink (I have approximately one million pens, and I get bored with them regularly and have to switch them out—neurotic much?)
-a hula girl (my brother serves in the Navy and is stationed in Hawaii)
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be?
[Amy Woods] J.K. Rowling. I’d love to know what it feels like to have sold hundreds of millions of copies of something I wrote.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are some books that you enjoyed recently?
[Amy Woods] The Winter King by C.L. Wilson, Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron, and What Once Was Perfect by Zoe York.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Amy Woods] The hubby and I are movie fanatics. I don’t care if it’s old, new, Netflix, or the cinema—if it sounds good, I’ll watch it. My favorites usually have a SciFi or historical setting. I also have a dog (read: child) and I spend a lot of time with her, mostly trying to get her to stop sniffing telephone poles so we can actually walk further than two feet.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Amy Woods] I adore hearing from readers, and they are welcome to contact me through my website at www.amywoodsbooks.com, on Facebook as Amy Woods Books, or on Twitter as @amywoodsbooks. I also have a (non-spammy) newsletter available at http://eepurl.com/0Vmi1, for anyone who is interested in keeping up with new releases
His Texas Forever Family by: Amy Woods
Released August 19th, 2014
Harlequin
“MR. CAMPBELL, PLEASE REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE…
Paige Graham only has room for one man in her life—her son, Owen. The little boy hasn’t spoken since his father died, but things change when he meets his new art teacher, Liam Campbell. Paige can’t help marveling at the progress Owen makes while working with his instructor—and Mr. Campbell isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either!
New to Peach Leaf, Texas, Liam is captivated by his beautiful boss—who is none other than Paige! He can’t risk his job or his future by falling for his supervisor, but there is just something about her he can’t resist. Thanks to Liam’s lessons, Owen is on the road to recovery. Now if only Liam can show Paige that the best way to heal her heart is to open herself to love again….”
Although she’s wanted to be a writer since learning to read, Amy Woods took the scenic route to her job as an author. She’s been a bookkeeper, a high school English teacher, a claims specialist, and a call-center worker, but now that she’s tried making up stories for a living, she’s never giving it up. She grew up in Austin, Texas and still lives there with her wonderfully goofy, supportive husband and a very spoiled rescue dog.
Last night the Fleece Station studio was out in force to celebrate the launch of Gary Northfield's new comic book, Gary's Garden! You may recognise Gary's Garden as a frequent strip in The Phoenix Comic, one of the comics in there that the parents like as much as the kids do because it works on so many levels.
Elissa Elwick and I both wore Chompy the Caterpillar-themed garb. Gary's Garden makes the perfect prezzie for kids (say, 5+ with some help reading), adults who love nature and gardening, anyone who likes a good laugh. Buy it here a The Phoenix Comic online shop! Gary works so hard on these comic strips, has such great drawing skills an perfectly pitched comic timing; we're all very proud of him. Look, Lauren O'Farrell (aka Deadly Knitshade) makes a perfect perch for Bob the Butterfly!
And here are the lovely Ficklings - David and Caro - who make it happen, at David Fickling Books, based in Oxford. It was also great to see Gary's Garden amazing designer Ness Wood (who also designed Jampires!), DFB's Phil Earle and John Dickinson. Jonathan Main and Justine Crow of Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace hosted the party, and they've been great supporters of lots of our books, we love our indie. I love buying books from them, even online; they stock a great selection, including lots of beautiful graphic novels.
...Bits of which were consumed most elegantly by Gary and his partner Nicky Evans.
Speaking of elegance, just as David Fickling was giving his speech, a giant bird swooped down and placed a wafer upon his lips. We all bowed our heads for a moment of awed silence for this great book.
Gary made a big window display; here he is stage directing Nicky in setting it up.
There were a couple other Phoenix Comic people present: the fabulous Jamie Smart (Bunny vs Monkey, also out now as a book!) and the excellent Matt Baxter, who creates the Live from HQ strip with the Phoenix comic-character editorial crew. I didn't manage to get a photo of Jamie, but here's Matt. And you can just spot illustrator and app-creator Heather Kilgour over his shoulder! There were quite a few comics makers there that I didn't manage to photograph, including Francesca Cassavetti.
Hee hee, another hat photo.
This Thursday (called 'Super Thursday' in publishing) was also the official publication date for my book with David O'Connell, Jampires, and wow, a couple of them showed up!
It was really Gary's night, but we had a happy mix of new creative stuff.
I was very proud of my Chompy hat, made from a pencil case, foam balls and pipe cleaners from Poundland, some felt, a yoghurt pot and a coat hanger.
When creating Gary-themed characters, it's very important to get the wonky eyes right.
Before the launch, we went for a top-notch Afternoon Tea in Alex Milway and Katie Lee's garden (Gary lived with them for a couple years while he was working on Gary's Garden), and Dave and I brought along some of our local Butch Institute Jampires-themed jam.
Huge congratulations, Gary! Gary's Garden is amazing, and everyone, spread the word and help it fly off the shelves! And subscribe to The Phoenix Comic for ongoing Gary's Garden goodness.
Diversity is a really hot topic in the Kid Lit world these days. At the recent SCBWI International Conference in LA, hundreds of people attended a panel about diversity and a chat afterward. You hear the word being tossed around all over the place, and sometimes I wonder if everyone is talking about the same thing.
Blame it on my days in high school debate, but I always like to define our terms when talking about something that could mean many things. When I think about children's books/literature, I think of diversity coming in three ways.
First, there is a diversity in authors and illustrators. From what I've seen, the Kid Litverse is full of a diverse cross section of authors and illustrators. Dozens of various ethnic and racial origins are represented. Just off the top of my head I can think of Asian, Hispanic, African-American, Native American artists in every age level of our industry. I know many LBGTQ authors and illustrators, men and women. I know some of almost any religious affiliation. Sure it could always be a higher number, which is I think where the discussion starts. It's not that publishers don't want diverse authors and illustrators, nor do they discriminate. Talent is talent. It seems to me the challenge is encouraging, mentoring, and training more people, letting them know their voices are necessary and welcomed. There are many ways we could do this--scholarships for under-represented groups to attend conferences/schools/events, mentoring programs, and contests. SCBWI is on the forefront of this, offering a wide variety of opportunities for everyone, and some special programs for under-represented groups.
Second, there's diversity in the publishing industry. As we all know, the publishing industry does not always embrace change very fast. But there are publishers out there--Lee and Low comes immediately to mind--that particularly focus on diversity in their publishing program. Plus, with the rise of self-publishing, access is there for anyone of any age, gender, ethnic or religious background. The discussion continues into the blogosphere, where there are numerous blogs and other resources where diversity in literature is the frequent topic.
Third, we're talking about diversity in the characters portrayed in children's books, and this is where the discussion can get heated, but I also find it the most interesting. White, middle-class characters have dominated children's literature for decades. But, as we all know, kids come from all sorts of diverse backgrounds, skin colors, religions, genders, sexual identities, and economic status. In the last few decades, we've seen a few more characters of color, particularly in picture books, which is terrific. And in the last decade, we seem to be getting more ethnic backgrounds represented in novels, too. I think we need more LBGTQ characters. I'd love to see more characters with metal illness, handicaps, autism spectrum syndrome, ADHD. More characters from around the world. Not just Americans with different colors of skin, but different cultures from all over.
Here's where I think things get challenging when we talk about diversity. Who's writing or illustrating these characters? Some people feel strongly that the author/illustrator come from an authentic place in presenting these characters, by which they mean, I think, that only a Native American can authentically write or illustrate a Native American character, for example. I would love to see more people writing characters from their authentic experience, but I also don't think we need to limit ourselves.
Writers and illustrators have always portrayed characters outside of our own experience. We write about historical figures, when we never lived in that time period. We write fantasy, when we've never fought a dragon. It is possible to write characters that are outside your own personal realm of experience. That's why research is so useful and important. I am currently writing a book set during WWII in which one of the main characters is a Japanese American girl. I am Caucasian, so how can my character be authentic? Lots and lots of research. I have another WIP that includes a Native American character. I may not be Native American, but I grew up in a town just outside one of the nation's poorest reservations, and I had daily interactions with Indians both on and off the reservation, so I think I have a fairly authentic grasp of their struggles and issues, even though they are not my personal struggles and issues. I am a female, but one of my latest books is in first person from the point of view of a teenage boy. Again, I live with my teenage son, so I have a pretty good picture of his male voice and viewpoint. I have written gay characters, lesbian characters, and more. Because, basically, I think there are some universalities about our human experience that allow us to imagine and put ourselves into the shoes of people who might be different from ourselves by focusing on what unites us.
To me, this stance isn't a cop out. It's an acknowledgement that an African-American author, for example, is in the best position to authentically portray an African-American character. However, if that author wants to write about a white, middle-class character, I have no problem with that. If he is a good writer, he should be able to manage it. And I think if I do my homework, I can manage to portray an African-American character if I want to. And I want to portray diverse characters. I hope we all do.
I'd love to hear what others think about this.
For more information about diversity in children's literature, check out the We Need Diverse Books campaign, which just recently announced its inception as a 501-c3 non-profit organization.
And look for our Boise SCBWI conference next April, where we plan to focus on diversity in children's literature.
by Neysa CM Jensen Boise, Idaho
0 Comments on Diversity Defined as of 9/5/2014 4:06:00 AM
*Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. *Taken directly from Rose City Reader's Blog Page.
This week's book beginnings is from FLIGHT OF THE SPARROW by Amy Belding Brown. "Later, Mary will trace the first signs of the Lord's displeasure back to a hot July morning in 1672 when she pauses on her way to the barn to watch the sun rise burnt orange over the meetinghouse. She feels a momentary sinking in her bowels as it flashes like fire through a damp haze, putting her mind in the terrors of hell."
I am on page 66. It is an account of how folks had to live in Early America. It is pretty good.
Tomorrow is the start of HUG A BOOK WEEK, a celebration of favorite books. Your child can enjoy his favorite book/character/setting by:
1. Acting out a favorite scene. 2. Dressing as a beloved character. 3. Eating a characters favorite food. 4. Visiting one of the places found in the story. 5. Making up her own adventure with the character. 6. Read your favorite book to a friend. 7. Draw characters or scenes from the story.
Tomorrow is the start of HUG A BOOK WEEK, a celebration of favorite books. Your child can enjoy his favorite book/character/setting by:
1. Acting out a favorite scene. 2. Dressing as a beloved character. 3. Eating a characters favorite food. 4. Visiting one of the places found in the story. 5. Making up her own adventure with the character. 6. Reading your favorite book to a friend. 7. Drawing characters or scenes from the story.
The Middle Toe Sets the Record Straight by Greg Pincus
My choice might surprise you - though in your defense, I think you're tripped up by a matter of tense - But I've done it for me, not to be a contrarian: Yes, this little piggie has gone vegetarian.
I know. I know. You're thinking "he took a long blogging break and came back with that?" And I'm thinking "Darn tootin'! And that's why you're here!" Or maybe you're here because it's Poetry Friday, and you're looking at the roundup of posts - kindly collected by Laura over at Author Amok. Doesn't matter to me, though. The middle toe and I are just glad to have you around.
And guess what? If you want to get all my new poems (and only the poems) emailed to you for freeee as they hit the blog, just enter your email address in the box below then click subscribe!
CALL FOR ILLUSTRATIONS: Need illustrations for this blog. I would love to show off your illustrations during one of my daily posts. So please submit your illustrations: To kathy (dot) temean (at) gmail (dot) com. Illustrations must be at least 500 pixels wide and include a blurb about yourself that I can use.
Below is the September picture prompt for anyone who is inspired to use it for their first page.
Here are the submission guidelines for submitting a First Page in April: In the subject line, please write“September First Page Critique” or “September First Page Picture Prompt Critique” and paste the text in the email. Please make sure you include your name, the title of the piece, and whether it is as picture book, middle grade, or young adult, etc. at the top.
Plus attach your first page to the email. Please format using one inch margins and 12 point New Times Roman font – double spaced, no more than 23 lines. Send to: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com. Remember to also cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail, plus attach it in a Word document.
DEADLINE: September 19th.
RESULTS: September 26th.
You can only send in one first page each month. It can be the same first page each month or a different one, but if you sent it to me last month and it didn’t get chosen, you need to send it again for this month. Of course, it doesn’t have to be the same submission. It can be a first page from a work in process or you can use the picture prompt above.
I will post this months Guest Critiquer next week.
Welcome to the Back to School Giveaway hosted by the authors at Darkly Delicious YA.
Add great YA titles to your to be read list on Goodreads and enter to win an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card so that you can purchase novels from your favorite authors.
Nobody realizes that some people expend a tremendous amount of energy merely to be normal. – Albert Camus
This month I’m working with a team in St. Louis, helping them design several presentations.
Today, one of my work compatriots wore the shirt you see in the photo above. If you can’t see the photo, it says, “Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting.”
It’s true. I believe a majority of people in the world choose to masquerade themselves as “normal” most days, myself included (I’m not judging it as wrong, it’s merely an observation).
The big question in playing the masquerade game is, how do you decide what’s normal?
Before you can put on a Normal costume, you have to decide what’s abnormal so you can play the game. Most of us do that not by using our own internal gauge of normal, instead we tap into a shared societal measuring system. It’s easier.
We didn’t always do that.
Shortly after we’re born, we begin creating our own definition of what’s normal by comparing how we feel from one second to another. We develop a sense for what’s normal by gauging what changes and what stays constant. Right out of the womb, there’s so much that’s abnormal. There’s intense light, louder sounds than the dull murmurs we’re used to, and there’s that whole breathing air issue, which is stranger than anything ever.
This is fantastic for two reasons:
1. We’re using our own internal gauge to decide what’s normal and abnormal.
2. We don’t care what other people think is normal.
Here’s where I get all Peter Pan on you. When we grow up, we lose that innocence. We slowly change how we decide what’s normal by listening to and observing other people, instead of using our own internal gauge. We become indoctrinated into the same version of normal adopted by those we interact with every day. Much of it is based on fear of belonging (yes, we all experience that). Even many of those who purposefully try to appear as abnormal as possible to one part of society still end up falling into the trap of belonging, appearing “normal” to a different part.
Think about that. For every abnormal person you encounter, there’s a group somewhere they fit into and appear normal. To that group, you appear abnormal.
This is not the same value as you and I merely identifying differences between each other. Of course we are all different. Hopefully we are all different. The diversity and individuality among us is the whole damn point. We should be able to see each other and identify our differences without making judgments about them.
The excellent and inspiring news is that we can get that innocence back. It may be easy for you to reboot your internal gauge, or it may take some work. If you try, I promise you’ll at least have a more interesting life.
One of my favourite books of 2013 was A Constellation Of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra so when he reviewed this book in the New York Times I took notice. Set in Russia in 1986 the book follows the events surrounding the nuclear reactor meltdown in Chernobyl. The story doesn’t deal with the accident directly but instead on what it means […]
Famous Men of Rome. Rilla’s first time. Rose and Beanie are listening in—they know these stories well and enjoy them, and it’s amusing to them to watch Rilla encounter them for the first time. She’s doing a lot of narration afterward, mostly at dinner in the guise of “tell Daddy all about Romulus and Remus.” Sometimes during or after a chapter, I use the whiteboard to help her remember names.
Whiteboards in general. You guys, I use them for EVERYTHING. A million years ago I made the brilliant move of buying a whole bunch of scratch-and-dent markerboards for a song. The larger size are perfect as painting boards, underneath our paper—they wipe up easily and can be moved elsewhere while the masterpieces dry. We also use the big ones for things we’re trying to learn by heart. Presidents and their terms, British monarch family trees, and so forth. The smaller ones fit handily beside my chair and are great for our Latin lessons. I’ll write out a sentence and let them parse it. Meanwhile, Huck is keeping himself busy nearby with another markerboard and my best dry-erase pens.
Horrible Histories Kings and Queens of England sing-along. Penny!!! I can’t thank you enough for mentioning this a while back when I wrote about using Memrise to learn British monarchs. This video—all the HH videos—delightful. Hilarious. We’ve been watching this one every morning for two weeks and today we got through the entire song without a hitch. I wish you could hear Huck imitate baby Henry VI. (Wah!) Spot on.
Charles II is my favorite.
Creativebug. The other day I happened upon this rather amazing site. It offers video tutorials in a zillion artsy and crafty pursuits, everything from embroidery to cake decorating. I signed up for a free two-week trial subscription, and if you’re my friend on Facebook you know I’ve been having a whale of a time. Rilla and I have already devoured illustrator Lisa Congdon’s Basic Line Drawing course, and we’re three-quarters of the way through Dawn Devries Sokol’s Art Journaling class. We have Art on our schedule twice a week after lunch, but that’s not been nearly enough to accommodate the creative outpourings inspired by our Creativebug explorations. I’m finding the Lisa Congdon class has been particularly inspirational and instructive, spurring me to do a bit of sketching when I hit a snag in writing. Sometimes my other jobs—raising kids, educating them, managing a household, editing—plant me pretty solidly in my left brain and I need a right-brain pursuit like drawing (even though I’m no visual artist, as the whiteboard above attests*) to exercise my creative muscles. I’m enjoying, too, painting backgrounds in the art journal and returning to them later to practice line drawing. Rose plans to watch all the cake decorating videos. Beanie’s interested in the embroidery. Right now Creativebug is offering a whole MONTH of free trial (use promo code “CRAFT,” good through Sept. 14, and thanks Kortney for the heads up on that!), so if your interest is piqued, now’s the time to give it a try. After the trial, a subscription is $9.95/month for unlimited courses, or $9.95 to buy individual courses that you can access forever.
*In my defense, I did draw a lot of it upside down.
20 Ways to Draw a Tulip. Lisa Congdon mentioned this book of hers during her line drawing tutorial. I’m in love with it. It’s tulips and 44 other flowers. Twenty ways to draw each of them, from simple-and-sweet to highly detailed to stylized and folk-arty. Wonderful, wonderful, out of all hooping.
And guess what’s back. ModPo!!! The best Coursera class I’ve taken, and I’ve taken some darn good ones. Modern and Contemporary Poetry with Al Filreis and his MFA students at University of Pennsylvania. Last year I watched about 75% of the videos. This year I’m hoping to tune into the entire course, but listen, even if you only manage a single video all semester, you’ve gained something. The discussions are engaging, thoughtful, and lively. My highest recommendation.
Best of all: Wisteria and Sunshine, Lesley Austin’s lovely membership site, has reopened its doors. There’s nothing else like it on the web. Lesley’s posts and pictures are nourishment for the soul, and I always come away with something to ponder, something to act on, something to cherish—just like in the Charlotte Mason motto about how a child should always have Something to Love, Something to Think About, and Something to Do.
Today is my last post as a member of the Teaching Authors blog, and I'm kind of melancholy about it. Stepping down is my choice, and I knew my time here was temporary when I agreed to do it. And there are several good reasons I need to leave the group--time being the most pressing. So in some ways it's a relief.
But...but...I am so amazed by these writers! They talk and brainstorm and support each other behind the scenes much more than I expected. They are a great group--and if I didn't have a blog of my own and too many commitments, I would be honored to stay here with Carmela, April, Esther, and JoAnn. In fact, I wish I had met up with this group years ago! You know how you meet people sometimes and think, "If I had met this person 20 years ago, I bet my life would be different right now"? That's kind of how I feel about the Teaching Authors. They might be surprised to hear this, because I've barely had time to answer emails, and I also chose not to participate in conversations and group decisions too deeply, knowing I would be saying goodbye before too long.
OK, enough melodrama, but, in honor of my somewhat melancholy mood about this, I'm sharing this poem by Lilian Moore, one of my favorite poets. This is from Something New Begins, which is out of print, but Amazon has some used copies, which I urge you to grab! It originally appeared in I Feel the Same Way. I love the slightly bittersweet beauty of so much of her nature poetry.
Until I Saw the Sea
Until I saw the sea I did not know that wind could wrinkle water so.
I never knew that sun could splinter a whole sea of blue.
Nor did I know before, a sea breathes in and out upon a shore.
--Lilian Moore, all rights reserved
Isn't that lovely? Sigh... Now, head on over to Laura Shovan's Author Amok blog for the Poetry Friday Roundup!
0 Comments on Until I Saw the Sea, by Lilian Moore [Poetry Friday] as of 9/5/2014 12:50:00 AM
My Young Adult novel Life with Jesse Daniels is in the process of being published by Cold Snap Books! To celebrate I am offering a special coupon code you can use to save on most items sold on DontTouchBaby.com!
Save 10% on any $10+ purchase of the book, home signs, baby signs and bookmarks with coupon code: JESSE (non-stackable, see site for details).
SALE Coupon for Baby Signs, Home Signs, Bookmarks & Gifts
If you're placing a larger order, here are our Autumn Sale coupons (ends 9/30)!
SALE Coupons for Baby Signs, Home Signs, Bookmarks & Gifts
I watched the beginning of the Dalek episode, then switched to something else so I appreciated this review from Tor.com of that episode. If I watch the rerun this Saturday--before the new episode--I'll understand it better: Doctor Who: “Into the Dalek”
I'm a season late with the post Nine Environmental Summer Reading Books for Kids. However, I don't care a lot about reading according to a schedule. So go ahead and check out those books from SCGH, which used to be known as Sierra Club Green Home.
0 Comments on Environmental Book Club as of 9/4/2014 11:18:00 PM
Rain | It has been a creative rainy day. I made changes to my picture book. It feels like it is going in a good direction but I can’t quite see where it will end up. So the process goes on and I am looking forward to a creative sunny day.
Question: My question with novel writing is where do I begin? I have an idea but have no idea how to even get started? Answer: There are two main approaches.
My Young Adult novel Life with Jesse Daniels is in the process of being published by Cold Snap Books! To celebrate I am offering a special coupon code you can use to save on most items sold on DontTouchBaby.com!
Save 10% on any $10+ purchase of the book, home signs, baby signs and bookmarks with coupon code: JESSE (non-stackable, see site for details).
SALE Coupon for Baby Signs, Home Signs, Bookmarks & Gifts
If you're placing a larger order, here are our Autumn Sale coupons (ends 9/30)!
SALE Coupons for Baby Signs, Home Signs, Bookmarks & Gifts
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The above illustration was sent in by Anne Belov. She was featured on Illustrator Saturday 
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Darlene, I didn’t know there even WAS a “Hug A Book Week”! lol So glad you mentioned it! :) For me, I think it’ll have to be a “group” hug :D