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When you write as I do—in between things and only after everything else is done—you begin to wonder if this percolating creature is any good, if you will want it (someday) to belong to you. I have been working at the oddest hours of night on Florence, then putting the novel aside, then returning. I have not been able to hold the whole in my hands. I have been frustrated by fragments.
Last night, in the sweetest chocolate fold of 4 AM, I returned to Florence, read these first 120 pages through. It coheres, I think, and it interests me deeply. It is the book that I want to keep writing.
And so I send the first 25,000 words to Tamra Tuller, now at Chronicle Books. I want the conversation we will have as this story and its people take me deeper into their strange and (to me) beautiful and abiding mystery.
3 Comments on The Florence novel reaches its halfway mark, last added: 12/5/2012
It was probably the chocolate - but I did pray some heartfelt stuff for you at around 1:00 a.m. That Old Guy upstairs has a great ear for listening. ;)
When you began to believe your writing might actually be good enough to be published, you were determined to do everything right: you read writing books and blogs, went to conferences, found a critique group, polished your novel, researched agents, and sent the perfect query letter. And in return you got nothing but silence punctuated by the occasional rejection.
You did everything right and you weren’t asking for special treatment, so why didn’t you get any kind of positive response?
Even if you understand publishing is subjective, as time, rejections, and silence wear away your enthusiasm, it’s hard not to suspect agents and editors of conspiring to suppress your genius or being willfully ignorant.
Vengeance and vindication make a powerful motivational cocktail. Like many intoxicating substances, a little might help but a lot is a recipe for trouble: a desire for vindication may be good if it motivates you to finish and polish your project but leaping into artisan publishing because you’re going to show all those shortsighted publishing professionals how wrong they were is a recipe for frustration and failure.
To begin with, the people who rejected or ignored you will probably never know that your project has been published because there are simply too many things being published for anyone to keep track of it all. Should they hear of your project they will likely give it little or no notice: agents and editors are looking for new material to sell.
The only thing guaranteed to get the attention of the gatekeepers is to release a book whose sales go off the charts. But even that won’t convince an agent or editor she was wrong. Beyond subjectivity, there’s so much serendipity in the process of producing and selling a book that having different people involved could produce wildly differing results: a different agent—your dream agent—might have sold the project to a different editor whose sensibilities might have colored the story just enough to miss striking a popular chord.
At a practical level, the slow, laborious path of artisan publishing means that you must invest a tremendous amount of work and patience into something where the odds of it making a big enough splash in the market to cause the gatekeepers even a twinge of regret are extremely small.
But the deeper truth is that artisan publishing is about love and devotion, which makes it fundamentally ill-suited for revenge.
Deren Hansen is the author of the Dunlith Hill Writers Guides. Learn more at dunlithhill.com.
0 Comments on A Propper Comeuppance as of 12/5/2012 11:19:00 AM
Linda Joy Singleton on Linda Joy Singleton: "As a kid, I was always writing. During a two-week school vacation, when I was 14, I challenged myself to write a chapter a day, completing a 200 page manuscript. I kept many of my stories and show them to kids I speak to at school.
"After high school, life detoured me away from writing, until one day I heard a radio announcement about a college writing workshop which led to my joining a writing group in Sacramento.
"Two years later, I sold my first book, Almost Twins, to a small publisher.
"I was thrilled when my dream of being a series author came true when Avon published my first two series: My Sister the Ghost and Cheer Squad. More series followed: Regeneration (Berkley 2000), Strange Encounters (Llewellyn 2004), The Seer (Flux 2004), Dead Girl trilogy (Flux 2008), and my latest book Buried: A Goth Girl Mystery by Linda Joy Singleton (Flux 2012)."
What lessons have you learned from your years as a professional writer?
Writers never stop learning. "Research" is another word for embracing new adventures.
Another writer will understand you better than your most supportive friends/family. Who else can understand that joy in a "good" rejection?
Take notes. Once I asked a very wise friend why she was handwriting notes at a conference that was being taped. She said it wasn't because she needed the notes, but that the act of writing words on paper helps focus the connection between listening and learning. Writing down information creates a learning path from ears, eyes, heart to hand. Grasping information in a way you can remember later.
Read books better than you think you can write. Then you’ll learn to write better.
Craft in writing is a concept wrapped in layers of details, rhythm, awareness and study; a fine wine of words that ripens with experience.
When rejection flames into anger, never reply to an editor or agent unprofessionally. Wait until the heat of hurt simmers down. Vent to a trusted friend or write down your feelings then destroy the paper. Anger never heals; it's only another rip in a heart.
Always say thank you. Gratitude, like a smile, is a gift that keeps on giving. There are no rules. Rules are the figment of someone else's imagination. But there is value in advice, learning and practice. Learn from the wisdom and experiences of others; live by the wisdom and experiences you'll gain along your own journey.
There are always exceptions. Like the writer who self-publishes a book that editors assured her no one wants to read---then the book goes on to be a bestseller. Or the writer who gets an agent with his first book who enthusiastically predicts a bestseller, and instead receives poor sales or rejection. Throw the dice and roll with your own career, listening and learning and working hard.
Writing is not an easy job--it's satisfying, grueling, fun, amazing, heart-breaking, heart-warming, the worst job ever and the best job ever.
Enjoy your writing journey.
What advice do you have for authors experiencing a career stall?
Linda Joy, age 7, with Sandy
Keep on writing.
Be willing to put a manuscripts aside when you love it but the market doesn't. (I have retired about seven manuscripts.)
Listen to advice from your writing friends. Doing this has led to new opportunities for me.
When rejections hurt, vent in private to your friends, never post it publicly.
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. I've been doing a lot of that this year, and my books have improved.
Be flexible and ready to shift your focus and reinvent yourself when an opportunity arises. Change is scary, but often it's just one door closing so you open a door leading to new exciting places.
Be grateful for friends, books you love, and for each "Yay!" moment of your career.
Pay good fortune forward with critiques, encouragement, mentoring or the gift of a book.
Cynsational Notes
Linda Joy Singleton looks forward to the release of Snow Dog/Sand Dog (Albert Whitman).
Attention, teachers & librarians! Linda Joy Singleton will send you free bookmarks if you email her at [email protected] with "Bookmark Request" in the subject line. She'll also offer a free Skype visit to the first teacher (elementary to high school) who emails me.
Enter to win a one-page synopsis consult, plus a copy of Linda Joy Singleton's synopsis template (usually only available at conferences).
A “three-fold personality existing in one divine being or substance; the union in one God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three infinite, co-equal, co-eternal persons; one God in three persons.”
“God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all of which make up our ONE true God.”
Since its components began to be officially codified at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, the “Trinity” has been a topic that has caused great confusion and uncertainty for many truth-seeking Christians. This 16 hour seminar, by Don Snedeker, is filled with fascinating quotes from many Christians through the centuries who recognized that the Trinity has no biblical basis, and who stood firm against opposition and persecution for not believing it. Don aptly shows how critical it is for Christians to truly understand who Jesus Christ really is and what is his relationship to God, not only so they can make a rational defense of our faith, but so they can experience a relationship with God similar to that which Jesus had.
My hubbie and I have a favorite Italian restaurant called Capozzi's. The manager knows which wines we like, the place has an awesome vibe, the portions feed us for days... we love it. But then, about a year ago I quit gluten. *sigh* Which means pasta, which meant Capozzi's. *sniff* :(
So, imagine my delight, when we heard they had a gluten-free pasta! Wahooo!
We went and were seated right underneath a gorgeously framed image of... a dragon that I drew back in 2010! Beware handing an artist crayons and a paper table-cloth in a restaurant. Lo and behold, they had my doodle framed!!! (I only had blue, yellow and red - if you can't see it, it's a dragon flaming a pizza and says "Bon Appetit!") What a total trip and surprise to see it there!
But there's even more special to add to this special night... The Agnes Scott Chorale stopped by (all 50 or so of them) for a holiday dinner before their evening performance. And they used us as a warm-up audience.
We were treated to three amazingly lovely songs... To give you an idea - all these normal looking girls were giggling, telling jokes, and THEN! It was as if all the molecules in the room froze - waiting, allowing no oxygen to flow, until they were finished. They brought tears to my eyes - seriously. As hubbie said on his facebook page:
The Agnes Scott Chorale reserved the entire middle of the restaurant we enjoyed tonight, for their Christmas dinner. They broke into hymns and carols several times, spontaneously, and then sang happy birthday to a guy in a booth who was delivered a slice of cake with a candle. Right before I was escorted out by the police, I held up my lit Bic and screamed "Freebird!"
Whatever. It's a joke this new generation doesn't get anymore - we learned that the hard way recently.
But seriously, wow. I've never heard "Happy Birthday" sung like that!!!
This is what I love about where I live - these random magical happenings. It sets a high bar for the rest of life!
Thanks to the editors at School Library Journal for including GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS on their excellent best of the year list. Lots of pals with lots of great books are represented there.
Of Goldilocks, they say:
"This recasting of the traditional tale features a trio of
hungry-for-human villains, a comically clueless heroine, giant bowls of
ready-to-eat pudding (an essential
0 Comments on GOLDILOCKS & THE 3 DINOSAURS is an SLJ best book of 2012! as of 12/5/2012 9:07:00 AM
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Kids, parents, grandparents gathered to celebrate reading at Randwick City Council Library for the end of The National Year of Reading with a fund raiser for:-
the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation to promote literacy indigenous communities.
As an ambassador for the NYR 2012, I was pleased to accept the invitation to read ‘I AM JACK’ to as part of the celebration of a terrific year of reading.
I am jack is having another season at Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour:-
Thanks
to more years on task than I’d ever imagined, I’m personally acquainted with
the proverbial carrot that swings beneath our writers’ noses whilst we bravely and
anxiously navigate our Writer’s Journeys. Its
name? Publication. We
travel here, there and everywhere, despite unrewarded efforts, creatively
visualizingour stories when printed
and bound, covered and blurbed – in other words, published.
But
you know what?
If
we stop for a second and look around at our Children’s Book World, a multitude
of publishing rainbows are there for our viewing before we reach our wished-for,
worked-for destination. Each
offers its very own pot o’gold, an opportunity to achieve publication and thus
experience pride, satisfaction, affirmation and sometimes even $$$. There’s
a treasure trove of opportunity awaiting us writers, besides the one we first set out to capture.
For
instance, what about writing fiction for children’s magazines?
Or
what about writing nonfiction articles for educational publishers? Even
better, what about writing nonfiction children’s magazine articles?!
Thanks
to Melissa Abramovitz’s Thumbs-Up guide, coincidentally (and appropriately) titled
A Treasure Trove of Opportunity: How to
Write & Sell Articles for Children’s Magazines (E & E Publishing,
2012), we can now put our writing skills, interests and talents to work mining other paths to publication.
There is indeed a market for nonfiction children's magazine articles.
Highlights
senior editor Debra Hess shared with Melissa, “While
we publish roughly the same amount of fiction and nonfiction in Highlights, we receive substantially
more fiction submissions than nonfiction submissions.As a result, nonfiction has a higher chance
of being purchased.We are always
looking for new nonfiction writers.”
Melissa knows all about writing – for all age
groups, from preschoolers through adults.Her publishing credits include educational books on health topics, as
well as science, nature and history, fiction, poetry and five rhyming picture
books.But she especially knows all
about writing nonfiction magazine articles.
In this one-of-a-kind resource based on her
twenty-five years of experience and extensive body of work, as well as
interviews with other nonfiction magazine writers and editors, she generously
shares insights she’s gleaned, proven tricks of the trade and the tools she
uses to move from generating ideas to researching to structuring, on to creating
whole pieces, formatting and revising, on to querying likely publishers,
considering contracts and marketing your work.
Concrete learner that I am, I was especially
taken with Melissa’s “Show, don’t tell” examples when making a point.She shares her own published articles as well
as those of others.She offers the
nitty-gritty details - of referencing
references, photo inclusions, author rights, and nailing a story’s audience,
just to name a few.
Her listing of “salable structures” sparked all
sorts of ideas:How-to articles,
puzzles, quizzes, sidebars, nonfiction verse, personal experience articles, slice-of-life
or inspirational articles, profiles and as-told-to articles.
Appendix A: Grammar Gateway even offers tips on
sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and unbreakable rules – good for any
writer, no matter the format, genre, audience and publishing segment.
Consider this post, consider Melissa Abramovitz's book but one knock at your Writer’s
Door.
(And we all know how many times Opportunity
knocks.)
Happy Mining!
Esther Hershenhorn
6 Comments on Good Ol' Opportunity!, last added: 12/12/2012
I'm so glad so many are finding my review of Melissa Abramovitz's guide to writing nonfiction magazine articles helpful. Let us know if down the road learning about this one-of-a-kind book led you to a published nonfiction magazine piece! Melissa would love that, and so would we TeachingAuthors.
2 years sounds like a very long time--long enough, one would assume, that I'd stop thinking I'll call mom and see what she thinks,
before catching myself. Not long enough though, that there isn't a little
guilt when I realize I've gone a few days without thinking about her and
mourning at least a little. We missed out on sharing a lot with her this past twelve months family, friends, and Dzanc related.
As is typical around here, there is a great deal going on today. Kids
to be driven to school, picked up from school, to practices, a birthday to celebrate, a list
of things to do for Dzanc longer than my arm, etc. But at some point
during the day or evening, I will honor her by spending some time
reading--something that causes pleasure any time I do it, and one that certainly derives from my parents.
Photo of Adrienne: Tanja Tiziana. Steampunk background: http://valerianastock.deviantart.com
I met Adrienne Kress through the Toronto MG/YA Author Group (Torkidlit). She's smart, funny and passionate about her craft, and I've appreciated her advice and encouragement over the years. I interviewed Adrienne about her middle grade novels last year, and I can't wait to buy her new YA steampunk novel, THE FRIDAY SOCIETY (Dial, Dec/2012). More info on her website: AdrienneKress.com.
Summary of the plot from a starred Quill & Quire review of THE FRIDAY SOCIETY: "The steampunk adventure novel, set in Edwardian London, follows the lives of three very different teenage girls, each of whom works for an important man but also maintains a life of her own. The three strangers – Cora (the lab assistant), Nellie (the magician’s assistant), and Michiko (the Japanese fighter’s assistant) – find themselves thrust together as the result of a horrific unsolved murder and quickly discover that, by combining their special skills, they can accomplish more than they ever thought possible."
Above: BookEnds interviews Adrienne about steampunk fiction, writing & THE FRIDAY SOCIETY.
Q. What was your creative process for The Friday Society?
The creative process for THE FRIDAY SOCIETY was very similar to the process for my writing in general.
It starts with thinking. Normally I get a cool basic idea. In this case it was a team of female Steampunk superheroes. Then I start to problem solve: how many should there be? Who are they? How do they meet? What is the basic plot that drives them? What are the supporting characters? Etc. The more I think, the more comes to me. It's all a bit of a logic exercise, "If they are like this, then this means that. If this is their job, that means that they probably live here. . ." and so on.
I really do just think about it for a good while. If the idea sticks with me, if it gives me butterflies still a week later, I take that as a sign that the idea has staying power. That's the key with writing for me. The act of writing is not glamorous. It's hard work. You aren't always inspired to write. In fact many days you feel a bit like a little kid who doesn't want to get up in the morning: "I don't wanna!!" So you need to have a project that you are completely passionate about. That you are willing to work through the rough patches for. At least I do.
Then comes figuring out the voice. This usually begins by jumping into the deep end and just starting writing. For THE FRIDAY SOCIETY it took a bit more effort than usual coming up with the voice. I started out writing it oldy-timey - a bit like the voice I used in my short story in the anthology CORSETS & CLOCKWORK - but it didn't really suit the light irreverent tone I was going for. Eventually the idea of writing the book in a contemporary voice came to me, and it made SO much sense. After all, the key to Steampunk is that it is anachronistic - a story set in the past but with futuristic technology and attitudes. Well why couldn't the actual act of telling the story be anachronistic too?? (if you want to read a post on the subject of anachronisms in Steampunk and why I chose the voice I did, check out my blog here). Once I had the voice, I could really get going on the story.
Photo: Tanja Tiziana
Now back when I was younger when I wrote just for fun, I realised I was the kind of person who enjoyed starting to write and seeing where the story took me. If I planned something out too much I got bored. I would feel, "Well, I already know what happens, what's the point in me writing it?" But I quickly learned that if I didn't do any planning whatsoever I would paint myself into a corner that I just couldn't get out of. So what I tend to do is a combination of both. I come up with a very basic plan, and then I fill in the blanks in the moment as I write. I also tend to plan in phases. So I'll plan the first fifth of the book, and when I'm coming to the end of that, I'll stop and plan the next fifth. Etc. As an example: with the beginning of THE FRIDAY SOCIETY I decided I wanted three chapters of introductions per girl and then I wanted my girls to meet up at a gala where they would come across . . . something mysterious. Seriously, that was it. Not much to go on, but still enough that I knew where I was going.
I should add at this point that I do tend to have a very basic idea of what the novel will be on the whole. This is part of what I think about during the thinking phase. But again it's very basic. In the case of TFS it was, "I want a Steampunk superhero origins story where my three girls defeat someone intent on destroying London for some reason. Also there will be subplots." :)
As I continue to write my book I, of course, come across bumps in the road and face difficult problem solving. This is always tricky to manage but I have learned that if I just stick with it I can get out to the other side. Sometimes it means moving onto something else or just going for a walk to clear my head. Sometimes it means sitting there and figuring it out one word at a time. And it's kind of amazing the direction your brain can take you. The characters of Hayao and Dr. Mantis were meant to be small one offs, but as I wrote them they just took on a life of their own and became integral to the story. This is why I enjoy not planning every little thing as I write, I love being surprised by my own story.
Now my method is simply mine. It certainly does not work for everyone. The most important thing is for a writer to find what works for him/her and be confident in that technique. So many blogs will tell you absolutes. But here's a secret: whatever works for you, works for you. Try different methods, see what sticks and discard that which doesn't. Don't be afraid to fail, and don't second guess when something is working for you.
Q. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Unfortunately my advice in not particularly glamorous nor original. It is: Read and Write. Ta da! To elaborate. . . Read. Read a lot. Read every genre and every medium. Read novels, non-fiction, plays, poetry, graphic novels, picture books etc etc and so forth. Everything you read will inform what you write. It will teach you the writing rules, it will teach you how to break those rules. It will teach you what you like, it will teach you what you aren't a fan of.
And then you have to write. You just have to write. A lot. You never really learn until you do. And you never really improve until you do a lot.
Q. Any upcoming events or current projects you'd like to share?
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Blog Hiatus: This is my last post for 2012 and I’ll be returning on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013. But you can always chat with me on Twitter. For those of you who celebrate during this time of year, have a fabulous holiday season. I hope all of you have a safe and happy New Year!
Whew, 2012 was such a *busy* year. I didn’t get as much reading done as I wanted. I still have so much to read on my Kindle plus I have many books stacked in a TBR pile. I’m looking forward to spending my December nights by the fireplace getting lost in novels.
Fortunately, I did read some great books this year. These are just a few of my favorites that I wanted to share with you.
I'm honored to have one of my favorite people joining us on the blog today--K.M. Weiland. I think of her as The Queen Of The Outline! She offers her thoughts on all things writing on her blog Word Play and has just released her newest book, Dreamlander. BTW, she's also running the BIGGEST & COOLEST contest I've ever seen, so make sure to check it out.
~ ~ ~ ~
An author can have no greater teacher than his own stories. Every book I write teaches me new lessons about both my craft and my life. Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, I start a new story, and—bam!—I realize I still have so much to learn. My journey with my just-released (yay!) fantasy novel Dreamlander was a twelve-year adventure that taught me more than any book I’ve previously written. Joy, sorrow, excitement, frustration, despair, and confidence—it was all there. Now that I stand at the end of that journey, I can look back and identify some of the most important writing lessons I learned. Here are ten:
1. Prepare. Most of us are going to be eager to skip the prep work and get right down to the fun of writing that first draft. But Dreamlander’s sprawling epic of story (which spans two worlds) drove home to me the importance of planning early on. Every writer’s prep work will look a little different; for me, it looks like a detailed outline, which allows me to chart my course safely through the sometimes choppy storytelling waters.
2. Listen. None of us are experts—even when it comes to our own stories. We lose our objectivity somewhere around the first completed page. Sharing our early drafts with knowledgeable and honest beta readers is vital. But, even more than that, we have to be willing to listen to those readers’ advice. Take a little while to let the sting of criticism wear off, then analyze their comments for the truth they will inevitably offer.
3. Persevere. Stories aren’t written in a day, and they’re not edited in a month. You may not need twelve years to bring your story to fruition, like I did, but it’s my opinion that any book is going to need at least a year or two to brew. To truly perfect a story, we have to grow and gain distance from it. During that time, we’re going to be discouraged. We’re going to believe the book will never shed its gray feathers and transform into a swan. But we just have to keep at it. Perseverance conquers the unconquerable.
4. Research. Writers may dwell in the realm of make-believe. But that doesn’t negate our responsibility to the facts. This goes both for research into topical matters (firearms, linguistics, cultures, etc.) and for research into our chosen genres. Don’t just read your genre—study it. Find its clichés, find its opportunities for originality, and use your knowledge to transform your story.
5. Find the magic. Magic is our stock in trade. But sometimes, as we’re slogging through our fifth revision, it can be difficult to remember why we fell in love with this story in the first place. If you find yourself dreading your story, take a break for a while. Take a bit of time to play with it in your head, just for fun, like you did in the days when you first conceived it.
6. Find the conflict. We all know it: no conflict, no story. Dig deep and find the conflict that powers your story. What do your characters want most? What’s keeping them from achieving it? That, right there, is going to be the heart of your conflict. Hit it for all your worth and don’t spare your characters.
7. Find the theme. Once you’ve found your conflict, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the arc your protagonist will take over the course of your story. Once you’ve found the arc, you’ll be able to identify the demons your character will have to overcome. And once you’ve identified those demons, you will have found your theme.
8. Be patient. Sometimes getting to know characters takes time. Sometimes getting all the plot points right takes tries and retries. Realize that and stave off discouragement. View every word written, every word deleted, and every word revised as one tiny step that’s carrying you closer to your end goal of perfection. You don’t have to get everything right the first time. You just have to get it right the last time.
9. Be humble. Writing is tough on egos. We usually react in one of two ways. We either cave beneath criticism and fall into crippling depression. Or we figure we know it all and brush off all other opinions. Both are wrongheaded approaches. Always stay open to learning about your own shortcomings. Don’t box yourself into the prison of thinking you have it all figured out.
10. Be fearless. By the same token as the above, don’t let your own imperfections get you down. The only writers who succeed are those who dare much. Throw everything you’ve got onto the page. Acknowledge your fears about your level of talent and people’s perception of your work—and then face them fearlessly.
In the spirit of #9, I’ll tell you right off that these lessons are all WIPs in my own life. I suspect I’ll still be learning some of them after writing my fiftieth book. But, thanks to Dreamlander, and all the books that have gone before, I’ve learned a little more about myself and the writing life—and I’m ready to apply all those lessons to the next adventure!
Also, if you are looking for a FEEL GOOD Pay-it-forward type event that is easy to do, please check out our OPERATION: HELP THE ELF!Help us spread some Christmas Cheer among writers!
27 Comments on K.M.Weiland: 10 Lessons From a Completed Novel, last added: 12/7/2012
Awesome advice K.M. My own upper middle grade fantasy has taken me 10 years to complete to the stage of starting querying so I can relate to so much of what you've. I've had to learn the hard way by making a ton of mistakes I had to fix.
Listening to critique partners and being willing to boldly change things if needed and be persistent are such good tips. Good luck with your book.
#3 has really become a reality for me as I've grown into my writer shoes. At first, we think "a whole year??" And you hear about those stories written in a month that find success, but setting a story aside and coming back to it a year later sheds a whole new beautiful light on it. Thanks for your tips, KM! All so important to remember, and congrats on your latest release!
@Natalie: I think learning the hard way is the *only* way we truly learn. The lessons aren't always fun, but they're always rewarding in the long run.
@Miranda: I'd be lost without a plan. I need to know where I'm going, so I can plan the best way to get there. Saves all kinds of trouble, time, and heartache.
@Jeff: Thanks for reading!
@Pk: It's important for each of us to find the rhythm that works best for us as individuals. Some of us need less time, some of us need more. We shouldn't feel like we have to fit someone else's mold.
@Melissa: So glad you're enjoying them!
@Charity: Thanks for stopping by!
@Donna: Thank you! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
@Marcia: Unfortunately, art and commercialism are often mismatched bedfellows. To be truly competitive these days, authors often have to churn out books on a short timetable. That's all fine and well, but quality is often lost as a result. As a reader, I would certainly rather wait years for a good book than be glutted with mediocrity.
Great advice! I'm not much of a planner (yet) but I do like to get to know the characters before I write the story too. It's so true how we learn something from every story :)
I do character interviews/sketches at the beginning of every book. It's always one of my favorite parts of the process. Nothing like a little extra time with some of our favorite people!
Awesome advice, thanks so much! I need to especially remember these when I revise my NaNo novel in a few months. For now, I'll read The Emotion Thesaurus to make sure I'm ready to tackle revisions.
It's tough to make our characters suffer sometimes! But conflict is the best way to move past blocks. Just let two characters start arguing on the page and see where it goes!
Thank you so much for this post. I'm at the being humbled, getting down on myself, afraid to get back up and try again stage. Necessary evil, of course. =) It's a relief to know other people go through this, too.
I love things in 10s! A remarkable combination I like is being fearless and humble. These two qualities make for a really great explorer. Writing with this mindset and having the ability to attract the right people to your corner is a winning ticket.
I've been working on my MG adventure for five years. I took a ton of wrong advice on it from crit partners, etc. I had to learn the hard way, that I am the one who makes the final decisions. Not someone else. And while I value their opinion, it might not be right one for my story. Great post! #bepositive
@Joyce: Yes, you're definitely not alone. As Orson Scott Card says, writers have to hold two simultaneously impossible beliefs in their heads: that what they've just written is the best thing ever and that it's unmitigated trash.
@Jeff: Thank you!
@Diane: It really is an unstoppable combo. Unfortunately, it's also more than a little tricky to master. :p
@Robyn: Selecting knowledgeable crit partners is vital. Even more, we need to have input from people who understand both our genre in general and our vision for our stories in particular. Otherwise, we can up confused and heading down the wrong path. Been there myself!
I read your blog on writerly advice, K.M. and you truly are a great help!! Thanks for sharing the knowledge you've gained and showing us all that if we just keep hold of our dreams, we can achieve them!!
Today's lovely WOW post is by C. K. Kelly Martin, who began writing her first novel in a flat in Dublin and finished it in a Toronto suburb. By then she was thoroughly hooked on young adult fiction and her fifth published YA novel, Yesterday, hit shelves on September 25th.
C.K. is also VERY generously offering up 2 prizes each consisting of a signed hardcover of Yesterday and signed paperback of My Beating Teenage Heart! U.S. and Canadian entries only, please.
Just complete the form below by 6:00 pm, December 13th!
Reconnecting with Your Lost Love
by
C.K. Kelly Martin
I don’t know what truly turns someone from a writer into an author. Writing something that a publishing house believes they can sell, sure. But on the inside, is there some important change that occurs? Am I a better or markedly different writer now than before I was published?
I’m honestly not so sure. Going through the editing process with my Random House editor has made me more aware of when I need to speed up or slow down action, the times when I have five lines of dialogue in a manuscript but two would do, and the occasions when I’m generally not communicating clearly. Those things aside, though, I think I’m more or less the same writer I was before my first book, I Know It’s Over, was published in 2008.
During the last few years my mom has handed over several short stories I’d forgotten about, ones I’d penned twenty years ago or more. What’s so surprising is just how much they sound like me. I was actually writing YA before I even had an inclining that I wanted to be a YA writer – most of the stories were ones I’d written solely for me and didn’t even submit anywhere for publication. The experience of rereading these stories reminds me of the Simon and Garfunkel lyric, “After changes upon changes. We are more or less the same.”
As a writer I’m repeatedly drawn to particular types of characters (sensitive, smart ones from the ages of thirteen to early twenties) and material (sometimes people refer to it as edgy). I’m not saying I want to write the same thing over and over but it stands to reason that there’s going to be a certain me-ness to everything I tackle. Things that will make a sci-fi book by me (or you!) different from everyone else’s, and I think continually honing your talent while telling your stories in the way only you can tell them is the only thing you can really control as a writer. Publication, book sales, awards, reviews – none of that is really within our power and can seem downright random at times.
So here’s one thing I do know: if you’re at a point in your writing career where you’re feeling stalled (believe me, I know exactly what this feels like because I was in that spot for a long, long time – I finished 6 YA books over 7 years before Random House offered to buy I Know It’s Over), either because you’re still trying to reach for that elusive first publication deal or you’re having a hell of a time trying to get your next book under contract or for whatever reason you’re just not feeling the love anymore, it can help rejuvenate your writer-self to pretend publication doesn’t exist for a while.
It’s easy to get obsessed with the goal posts after staring at them for so long, and lose focus on what drew you to writing in the first place. Let’s face it, if you were in this primarily for the money you’d probably be doing something else. Odds are you love the written word and have a passion for indulging your imagination. But no matter how much we love to write, rejection can take a heavy toll, riddling us with doubt and draining our creative energy.
So if you’re burnt out from the publication chase and wondering whether you should pack it in, first consider writing a secret novel, just for you. Strictly out of a love for writing. This secret novel should be something you look forward to stealing time with whenever you can – whether it’s a guilty pleasure romance, dark thriller or emotionally harrowing drama. Don’t worry about whether the project is something you can ultimately sell (no one can ever really know that anyway!) or what your writing friends would think of it. This is for you. To keep the magic alive.
My fourth book, My Beating Teenage Heart, was a secret novel. After writing several strictly contemporary YA books in a row and feeling at a bit of a loss as to what I should do next, I decided I needed to stretch myself and do something different. What came to me – the story I felt I had to tell – was something that I wasn’t sure a publisher would find marketable. And even if it was I was uncertain whether I wanted to expose it to what can be the harsh light of the publishing world. The story seemed so awfully delicate and raw. My Beating Teenage Heart is centered around such profound sadness – a dead girl acts as a sort of guardian for a teenage boy who holds himself responsible for the death of his young sister to the point that he’s not sure he can survive the loss – that I resolved to write it just for me and think about what to do with the manuscript later. That decision gave me the room to do precisely what I wanted with the story, no holds barred.
When I finished it and ultimately decided to show my editor, she deeply connected with the manuscript. Unfortunately, not everyone did. Barnes and Noble decided not to stock the book. Down the road a ways it was shortlisted for the Canadian Library Association’s Young Adult Book Award 2012 and British Columbia British Columbia's Teen Readers' Choice Award. Regardless, My Beating Teenage Heart is never going to sell like Twilight. But I’m extremely proud of it and I believe something magical can happen when you let go of thoughts of publication. Unencumbered you are free to do some of your best work and reconnect with what started you writing in the first place. That might not turn you from a writer into an author but if you’ve lost that loving feeling your secret novel can restore it in spades.
YESTERDAY
THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas's life. Until that world starts to crumble.
NOW: It's 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her father's death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories feel so foggy? When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can't get him out of her head. She's sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they've never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be numbered. Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place they really came from. Yesterday will appeal to fans of James Dashner's The Maze Runner, Veronica Roth's Divergent, Amy Ryan's Glow, Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Ally Condie's Matched.
Yesterday by C. K. Kelly Martin Random House, 2012 0375866507 (ISBN13: 9780375866500)Reading level: Young Adult
MY BEATING TEENAGE HEART
Ashlyn Baptisteis falling. One moment she was nothing—no memories, no self—and then suddenly, she's plummeting through a sea of stars. Is she in a coma? She doesn't remember dying, and she has no memories of the life she left behind. All she knows is that she's trapped in a consciousness without a body and she's spending every moment watching a stranger.
Breckon Cody'son the edge. He's being ripped apart by grief so intense it literally hurts to breathe. On the surface, Breckon is trying to hold it together for his family and his girlfriend, but underneath he's barely hanging on.
Even though she didn't know him in life, Ashlyn sees Breckon's pain, and she's determined to find a way help him. As her own distressing memories emerge from the darkness, she struggles to communicate with the boy who can't see her, but whose life is suddenly intertwined with hers. In alternating voices of the main characters, My Beating Teenage Heart paints a devastatingly vivid picture of both the heartbreak and the promise of teenage life—a life Ashlyn would do anything to recover and Breckon seems desperate to destroy.
My Beating Teenage Heart by C. K. Kelly Martin Random House, 2011 0375868550 (ISBN13: 9780375868559)Reading level: Young Adult
This is such a great post!! I think writing is only one thing we need to reconnect with. But it's a great start!! I've been reconnecting with a lot of things lately :)
Great idea to write a secret novel if you're burnt out. Some days I feel like Andrea and need to reconnect with the love of writing, not the feeling of I have to write or I don't have time to. Thanks for sharing your tips on how to reconnect.
Well said! I like the idea of going back to the roots of a writer's passion...to remember WHY we write. Easy to forget sometimes, with the push toward publication. Easy to start criticizing a work-in-progress before it has a chance to breathe and open its eyes, too. :)
Boy, Howdy, do I connect with this post. I have been in a writing funk most of this year and would love to find a way out. Maybe this is the way. Thanks so much for posting this.
How To Tame A Willful Wife: 1. Forbid her from riding astride 2. Hide her dueling sword 3. Burn all her breeches and buy her silk drawers 4. Frisk her for hidden daggers 5. Don’t get distracted while frisking her for hidden daggers… Anthony Carrington, Earl of Ravensbrook, expects a biddable bride. A man of fiery passion tempered by the rigors of war into steely self-control, he demands obedience from his troops and his future wife. Regardless of how fetching she looks in breeches. Promised to the Earl of Plump Pockets by her impoverished father, Caroline Montague is no simpering miss. She rides a war stallion named Hercules, fights with a blade, and can best most men with both bow and rifle. She finds Anthony autocratic, domineering, and…ridiculously gorgeous. It’s a duel of wit and wills in this charming retelling of The Taming of the Shrew. But the question is…who’s taming whom?
Review:
I had high hopes for How to Tame a Willful Wife, and I was left disappointed for one reason; I didn’t like the hero, and he never won me over. Caroline, on the other hand, was a fun heroine, full of spunk and not willing to just sit around and wait on her overbearing husband. She was overindulged as a child, and allowed to explore life in her own way. Her father, a rough and crusty sort of guy, saw no problem with his daughter learning how to wield weapons and learn to defend herself. The world wasn’t a safe place, after all, what with all of the conflicts going on around them. Raised by fighters, Caroline is unrepentant that she isn’t a girly type of a girl. Her mother is less than thrilled, and constantly harps on her to grow up and act like a lady, but Caroline is too stubborn and too independent to listen.
One of the things that I liked about her was that despite being a rough and tumble girl, she was always aware that she had a duty to uphold. Her reputation was everything, and she tried not to bring any embarrassment or scandal to the family. After her hasty, unwanted marriage to Anthony, whose wealth saved her family from poverty, she finds that nothing she does is good enough for her husband. She’s not allowed to be herself, and he expects her to conform to his idea of the perfect wife. No more riding aside, no more weapons lessons, no more, well, FUN, and Caroline doesn’t like that at all. What I didn’t like was that Anthony expected her to change who she was, without making any changes to himself. He still intended to carry on as before he was married, with his wife tucked away at his country estate. He would continue his own pursuits in London, and that included visits to his mistress. While that might have worked in Shakespeare’s day, it didn’t work for me.
My greatest disappointment with the book was my least favorite plot device, and it’s one that’s used too often in YA novels. The hero has made a terrible enemy, an awful man who ruined his younger sister. Instead of explaining the situation to Caroline, Anthony becomes evasive and refuses to tell her why she must stay away from one of the only friendly and welcoming people she’s met. Why, why, why must she never speak to Lord Carlyle? By not treating Caroline like an adult, by not being upfront with her, all he did was push her into danger. Carlyle is a smooth operator, always kind and helpful, more so than her husband. I found Anthony annoying and thought Caroline deserved better. I did enjoy the author’s writing style, and hope that the hero of the next book in the series is a little more likable for me.
Hi Folks, well, with Christmas just around the corner, my deadline for finishing the brand new Worlds End Colouring & Storybook met and Malta’s yearly comic convention imminent I thought it would be a good time for a quick tri-promotional Blog before I find myself jetting to warmer climes.
Okay first up, the new book is finished and, although it was a mad rush to get things done in time, I managed to complete the artwork and the design of the new book in time for a world exclusive Pre-Christmas launch once again atMaltaComicCon 2012 in a few short days time.
This has been a chance to draw some new scenes from the world of Gaeyrth on which the saga takes place. The artwork is purposely very open as it is a colouring book as well as containing some Worlds End back-story too. It contains some great action scenes and some more tranquil moments and includes all of your favourite characters, both hero and villain.
We have received some really nice complimentary comments and emails via our Worlds End and Wizards Keep FaceBook pages since we began to show some of the artwork a few weeks ago.
The new Colouring & Storybook will be available for sale on the website from Wednesday 5th December.
In the meantime for everyone that orders a graphic novel before Christmas, on the evening of Christmas Eve, even if you have missed the last Pre-Christmas post, we will include one of the new 40 page books, as a special seasonal stocking filler.
Here is a little teaser cover-art from the book:
The book has been produced to fill in the gap between the first two graphic novels in the "Science Fusion" series, Worlds End – Volume 1 – The Riders on the Stormand Worlds End – Volume 2 – A Hard Reign’s Gonna Fall.
In this book I am joined by three – yes three – guest artists. Dave Windett, Paul Eldridge and Lauren Hanratty.
You may remember that back in January 2009 we announced a new Worlds End project, which would launch after the publication of the first graphic novel. Three pages were left open for three lucky winners to fill in the book. It was just a fun thing and the competition was open to four categories – Professional, Semi Professional and Amateur. Dave won the Pro category, Paul won the Semi-Pro and Lauren won the Amateur category.
The Competition required the guys to draw a black and white line drawing of one, or more, of the Worlds End Characters. Well they did just that and after sifting carefully through hundreds of entries we decided on our winners.
So, please make sure you get your orders for the graphic novel in before Christmas day to receive your FREE Colouring and Storybook or if you prefer to order just the colouring book itself I am sure we will throw in some extra goodies for those fans/customers too, but as to what those may be - well, that will be Santa’s secret for now.
Well, Thursday will see me heading out from old Blighty, as a guest once more, for the sun-drenched island of Malta, home to some of the most enthusiastic comics fans and creators I have ever met, as well as some of the nicest folks ever to grace our wonderful planet.
This year’s convention has a great line up of guests and includes some big guns from the world of comics – a full list of which you will find in my earlier Blog here.
You can bet your bottom dollar I will be posting my thoughts and a great plethora of photos as soon as I get chance when I get back to the UK.
Excited, even though this is my fourth trip out there?
You bet I am, because having been to all of the conventions held there this time I know what is to come there. I will also get to share more moments with my Maltese mates, fans, and a lovely warm culture that will leave indelible memories in my heart once again.
If you have been thinking of going and need a little nudge as to whether or not to attend – do yourselves a favour and order your flight now! You won’t be disappointed.
If any of you reading this are going to be at the convention and would like to buy something in particular, please get in touch ASAP before I fly on Thursday to ensure I pack your goodies in the cases. That way you will make sure yours is included and won’t miss out.
I’ll just add here I can’t wait to see you all once again.
And now…
“What, there’s more?” I hear you say. Yes, a little teaser for you all. We are launching a NEW competition.
The Worlds End Search For A Superstar!
Okay, it’s just that time of year for us here at the Keep, so we’ll spill the beans already.
The competition is Free to enter and is open to everyone and the prize will go to someone very special indeed. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work on a special comic book project for real? Well, now’s your chance to find out.
So what do you need to do?
You are going to be invited to colour a page from the Worlds End Colouring & Storybook!!!
If you work traditionally with “real” paints, inks or coloured pencil crayons then you will need to create your masterpiece, scan your finished artwork and then send it off.
Please DO NOT send off original artwork – we cannot accept responsibility for any potential damage or loss.
If you work digitally you can scan the page from the book you intend to digitally colour and then work on the computer to colour it.
After which you need to email it to one of our email addresses.
Now here is the prize – the winner will get the chance to work with us here at the Keep on a new Worlds End project as the colourist.
Yes, it’s a paid Gig and a chance to work alongside us here at the studio. Now, don’t worry you don’t need to leave home to come along here it can all be done virtually from your own homes. But the work needs to be of a professional standard and it is even better if you can do this digitally.
So there you have it in a nutshell.
The winner will be the colourist on the next Worlds End Project that we will announce following the prize draw!!!
Check back here soon for ALL the details and Good Luck when you enter.
Here is a copy of the Competition Flyer for you to pin on your notice boards...
In the meantime – I have some books and clothes to pack and a flight to catch soon, so as always…
Until next time, have fun!
Tim Perkins…
December 5th 2012
2 Comments on Deadlines, Conventions and Stocking Fillers, last added: 12/25/2012
Karol and me, chief organizers of this year's LA Kid Lit holiday event
40 to 50 people were there at the height, with several of us lined up before the bar opened, and others hanging out until Happy Hour's bitter end three and a half hours later. I didn't bring my flash, though, so I didn't document most of it. (Deliberate strategy, honestly.)
Last partyers standing! Closing down LA Kid Lit Holiday Happy Hour 2012.
I also took a few token shots at the screening of Library of the Early Mind that happened just before this, at the Santa Monica Public Library just a couple blocks away. I was so happy to see this film at last--and to see so many familiar faces gathered there!
Free screening of Library of the Early Mind, a 2010 documentary exploring the art and impact of children’s literature on our kids, our culture, and ourselves. Above, Lee offers a few words of introduction on behalf of SCBWI Los Angeles, who co-sponsored the event with the Santa Monica Public Library, and Karol gets mad props for making this screening and partnership happen.
"Thank you again to the Westside Writers Schmooze (Karol and Charlie!), SCBWI-LA, and the Santa Monica Public Library for putting this together. Those of you who didn't make it, don't despair. Apparently you can also watch this movie on Library of the Early Mind's Web site--for a $5 rental fee. :) But it was so great to watch it with this vibrant group!"
Happy Holidays, Kid Lit Community!!
Cheers, Rita
P.S. Special thanks to D for helping me decorate boxes for the holiday book drive, engaging with the movie (yay! I'm glad he liked it!), and then keeping me supplied with food and drinks throughout the Happy Hour, when he knew I would be too scattered to feed myself. I'm lucky, I know.
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Your novel is progressing nicely and you finish a chapter. But then, the next chapter is calling and you procrastinate, you read blogs, you do laundry, you AVOID.
How can you get started on that next chapter?
Sensory details. I like to imagine where my character is in the next chapter, then close my eyes, put myself there and try to imagine all the things the character might see, hear, touch, taste or smell. Then, I push hard to find an interesting detail and I start writing there. The danger is that you might start with too much description. That’s OK, you can take care of that during revision. The goal here is to get started.
Action. Alternately, starting with a great verb can help jumpstart the story. Think beyond the usual: walk, run, turn head, whirl. Instead, go for something distinctive: salute, pirouette, regurgitate. (Please, avoid those pesky adverbs, which add so little. Not walked lazily. But strolled.) Get your character in motion and keep him/her in motion for a page or so, and you’ll figure out where to go next.
Dialogue. One of my favorite openings to a novel is Tom Sawyer, which opens with his aunt calling: “Tom!”
When in doubt, begin a new chapter with a bit of dialogue. Keep it going for about ten exchanges and then move on.
Dead End Ways to Start a Chapter
On the other hand, there are some dead-end ways to start chapters:
Waking up. Rarely does it work to have a character start a chapter in bed, then wake up. Boring. (OK. Prove me wrong! As long as it gets you going on a new chapter.)
Backstory. Long explanations of a character’s history rarely excite the reader either. We don’t need to know about Mary’s uncle’s horse and how it escaped and caused Mary to jump into a ditch where she broke her leg. Instead, show-don’t-tell how she is dealing with that broken leg. Past action is boring; current action is exciting.
Dull vocabulary. If there’s ever a place for brilliance of voice, phrasing, interesting vocabulary, it’s the opening of a chapter. Here is where you want to catch a reader’s attention. No, you don’t want it to be so overblown that it is out of character with the rest of the story; however, you do want it to catch a reader. And, the beauty is that if you do overwrite, it’s just a first draft.
These are ideas to help you get something—anything—on paper. There’s plenty of time for revision. But that first draft has to get written, one chapter at a time. Stop procrastinating. Write!
Ten years ago, I started writing a young adult novel based on a situation that happened with my daughter and athletics. I've written, erased, rewritten, revised, removed characters, created new ones. For the past two years, it's taken space on a flash drive. Once every few months, I open the file and fix what I perceive as weaknesses. Someday, it will be "good enough" to publish.
Warner breaks down the creative process and the path to publishing in five chapters. In "The Art of Becoming an Author," Warner starts by making you think about your purpose. Why write a book? After penning your top five reasons, Brooke walks you through exercises that categorize your work, target your audience, and focus on the final product.
Chapter two is devoted to six obstacles that may prevent you from reaching your writing goal. What I really enjoyed about this chapter were the exercises that forced me to confront what stands in my way and set new goals, free of excuses.
Next, Warner urges writers to challenge their mindset and accomplish established goals. This chapter is loaded (maybe overloaded) with about dealing with daily writing life, including procrastination and perfectionism—two of my worst enemies. There's a lot of information to absorb in this chapter. Or maybe I don't want admit where my weaknesses are so I avoid reading about them. (smile)
My favorite chapter talks about building a solid platform. It's filled with honest and realistic approaches to handling social media, blogging, and communications. It's a must-read for any author!
The final chapter builds a road map toward publication. Whether you're ready to shop your book to an agent or plan to pursue self-publishing, this chapter offers positives and negatives of both worlds.
Straight forward, honest, and maybe even a bit eye-opening, I'm ready to tackle this project and end up with one of my books in my hand after reading Brooke Warner's What's Your Book?
****About the Author****
Brooke Warner is founder of Warner Coaching Inc., publisher of She Writes Press, and author of What's Your Book? A Step-by-Step Guide to Get You from Inspiration to Published Author. In her thirteen years in the publication industry, Brooke shepherded over 500 books through the publication process. Her expertise is in traditional and new publishing, and she is an equal advocate for publishing with a traditional house and self-publishing.
LuAnn--This sounds like a wonderful resource. And since my crashed and burned NaNo project is begging to be revived, I could probably put it to great use.
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
Yay! More post-apocalyptic mayhem! The Ward by Jordana Frankel will be in stores April 2013.
Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.
However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.
Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.
Here's another little peek at what I'm up to on Oliver on the Seawigs, my book with Philip Reeve and Oxford University Press (coming out next autumn). I'm drawing mermaids! This one's a bit embarrassed. I think she's my favourite character in the book. Here's the sketched drawing and inked version on my light box.
And here's the final version, with one colour. I've always liked mermaids; I used to play with plastic ones in the bath and dreamed about being one when I grew up. I even believed I could breathe underwater, and I used to sit at the bottom of pools and lakes for ages, breathing, and very pleased with my secret. I still can't remember actually making this up, but I do remember once going into the pool and sadly realising I wasn't able do it anymore.
And here are lots of mermaids! I had fun making them look a bit silly.
Are mermaids warm-blooded or cold-blooded? It'd be helpful to be cold-blooded in our studio right now, it's a bit nippy. Here's a peek at the drawing board of my studio mate Gary Northfield, a panel in his strip Gary's Garden for The Phoenix Comic. At least his fictional character is enjoying the weather. Ha ha, I love how it looks exactly like Gary. We have also solved the problem of how to keep our toes warm.
And thank you for all your lovely tweets and blog comments! Here's an encouraging tweet in response to the hullabaloo we've been making about The Phoenix. (Do subscribe! A great Christmas prezzie!)
And wow, that library sign I made for the Mass Lobby of Parliament for School Libraries has been doing the rounds! It was just a snapshot, but I was a bit stupid not to put my name on it when the New York Public Library (1,212 shares!) and the Chicago Public Library posted it but didn't mention who drew it (darn). Thanks to those of you who let me know! But I'm glad people are being able to use the printable poster.
Thanks for the comments you've left on that blog post, so many from the USA. Exciting! Keep an eye on the Mass Lobby Facebook page, run by Barbara Band (@bcb567 on Twitter) to get the latest updates on the campaign.
Now it's back to work, I have DEADLINES GALORE. Oliver and the Seawigs is due very soon, as are a whole picture book full of pencil roughs for Scholastic. Eek! (Sarah, step away from the computer...)
This round of A Round of Words in 80 Days runs from October 1st to December 19th. Here are my goals for this round, all involving YA manuscripts. Abbreviations are used for the titles. My updates are in red.
A) Revise and edit TWILAMPH, a manuscript I've been working on for several ROW80 rounds, and send it back to my agent. I'm done with this goal!
B) Edit EK, which I started late last year, and get it to beta readers. This is in the hands of beta readers. Done.
C) Revise VD, a draft I worked on during the summer. I'd like to go through one or two rounds of revisions with it. Since last week I took the first chapter of VD to my crit group. Also, I revised 4 out of 26 chapters.
Since I posted on Sunday for the Baby Faces Blogfest, reaching three posts for this week, I'm going to skip my Friday post and be back Monday for AlexFest. See you then.
31 Comments on A ROW80 Update, last added: 12/12/2012
I've been getting down my writing goals for the new year. You're an inspiration, too, because you're so good at making your goals and sticking to them!
YAY! Go, you, for finishing up your revision and sending it back to your agent!! And great that you have another one out to your betas. And then more revisions on yet another one--you are definitely a multi-tasker! Do you ever have trouble changing gears? :o)
It was probably the chocolate - but I did pray some heartfelt stuff for you at around 1:00 a.m. That Old Guy upstairs has a great ear for listening. ;)
I care. Oh, I care. I care. You know I care.
How wonderful!