I came up with both "show, don't tell" and "kill your babies". But that was back before rehab.

You may credit
Fauna DeBare

Oh, I need the author of the chasing your character up a tree & tossing rocks quote. (Probably should be a hyphen in there somewhere!)

I'm going to give a talk on writing at my son's old elementary school, and I want to talk about conflict and problems and goals with HUGE obstacles. Remember when we were young and wanted to write and we had these GREAT beginnings and these INCREDIBLE, EXCITING endings.

And in the middle was...um, sometimes, a lot of fluff?

We needed more trees and rocks, and I want to tell the kids about this.

If I don't have the original author, I'll just have to attribute the quote to you, Eve!

"...an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."

I love the quote. But who is that Dr. Stephen?

Amy :)

Thank you, Karen Lee!

Becky- Not sure who said it first, but Jay uses it a lot, so maybe it was him!

Amy- Dr. Stephen is waayyy more famous in these parts than that poser, Dr. Phil. Some of his best quotes:

"I wouldn't trade my wife for a good one."

"Why save for tomorrow what you can spend today?"

"You only get one ride on this merry-go-round, so when in doubt, buy the Ferrari."

Oh, that guy's got a million of 'em. He's a genius, I tell you!

Eve

That Dr. Stephen should get his own tv show. Or, would he say to my suggestion: "It's not worth it."? Lamy

Okay - I gotta ask....Who is this Dr. Stephen??!!

Sorry, Katie...Amy (my sister) and I have obviously gone off topic with our comments!

We're sort of making fun of Dr. Stephen (who happens to be my husband) who has a lot of silly quotes he likes to throw around. Mind you, he's been a part of our family for 15 years, so we have alot of inside jokes making fun of him. In a good way. Sort of. He doesn't mind, believe me. If he had his own blog, he'd make fun of me too!

Sorry for the confusion. He really is a for-real doctor, though.

Eve

oh! Hilarious! I was picturing some kind of Dr. Philish type writing guru that I was totally unaware of...ha!

Hi Eve!
Okay, "your story's DNA is in the first sentence" is kinda freaking me out...
I've heard about how the first chapter is the last chapter in disguise, and how the first and last chapters should "shake hands" but the ENTIRE story's DNA in that first sentence? How much of a run-on do I get to write?
We don't even get a paragraph?
Yikes!
And all I can think about is the Snoopy (from Peanuts) comic strips where he's sitting atop his doghouse at his typewriter, playing with the first sentence from "A Wrinkle In Time,"...

It was a dark and stormy night.

I'm listening to Madeline L'Engle read it aloud as an audio book right now...

And I'm not convinced the DNA's all there... maybe I need more evidence? (I still have a CD and a half to go...)

Wow - I've gone CSI...
Anyway,
Thanks for sharing these!
Namaste,
Lee

my house looks like creature land too--my son would love that pinball machine. =)

*heidi

The next time we all go out of town for a writing conference, that Spider-Man pinball is coming with us!

- Jay

I have similar structures. Mostly made of Star Wars figures.

This book has been on my shelf for years, and I've still not read it, I'm rather ashamed to say. The book itself does not invite me to pick it up, but you just did. I think I'll read it with you.

I used to feel this way about the writings of Ernest Hemingway, specifically A Moveable Feast, but as an English major, I couldn't escape him in college. My oldest was reading The Old Man and the Sea in English this year. Snoozefest.

Each chapter in A Moveable Feast reads like scenes in an old movie. Punctuation is sparse. The sentences are long and hard to read out loud.

I have found that if I slow my eyes down and really absorb each sentence, not just skim, looking for hook/plot/action, but immerse myself in the setting, I can not only get through it, but actually enjoy it.

In this fast-moving society, we humans need our entertainment to be fast-moving as well. The written word is competing with television, iPods, internet, video games, etc. You can get your entertainment quickly from a television. Reading uses your imagination. Perhaps imagination gets stunted by television images?

We've been taught to write tightly, compactly and get to it. Gone are the lazy descriptions of scenery. Gone is the detailed setup. Gone is the subtle irony.

Keep at JT or at least get the Cliff Notes, so you know the gist of the story.

Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Now, there's a good one to sink your teeth into.

What a great comment, CW. As a non-writer, but an avid reader, I find myself wondering why everything has to have a "hook" or non-stop action. I, for one, still enjoy a well-told story without all the bells and whistles. And, since I've been working in my son's school library, I've been branching out and reading more children's books. So, I sampled Sarah, Plain and Tall a few weeks ago and even though it doesn't really have any of the characteristics the editors are pitching in your conferences, I really enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, I like bells and whistles sometimes, too, but one cannot survive on dessert alone (except, maybe Eve - well, that and mochas). Lamy

I agree with CW about "we humans needing our entertainment to be fast moving" and Jay knows I could write a whole 'nother post on my feelings for Johnny Tremain!

I won't tell the entire story here, but JT has been a looong running family joke forever. I almost dropped out of the 5th grade because I truly could not get through the required two chapters a night. It was so painful that our entire 5th grade class staged a protest!

Thanks for opening old wounds, Jay.
Good times.

xo
Eve

I don't think bells and whistles are required. But when you're trying to get children excited about reading historical fiction, and one particular book is proven to turn so many children off to historical fiction, don't use it.

2/3 of the Disco Mermaids can't be all wrong! (And Robin hasn't even read the book.)

There are so many books out there, it just amazes me that J.T. became a staple. It'd be like a math teacher teaching a process which works for some students but turns so many more off to math entirely, when there's a perfectly good second process out there. But since that's how that teacher learned it, that's how you're gonna learn it.

I'm just thinkin' of the children...

- Jay

Unless its absolutely required for school, I tell my 10 year old that life is too short to read books that you don't like, even if everyone says that it's great.

My son had to read JT, and he hated every minute of it. I actually had posted for advice on the blue board several years ago because it was a horrible experience for him.

You-all hated it?
so strange.
I loved Johnny T. Loved, loved, loved it. And this was before the Disney movie came out. hmmm maybe that's the problem. I was reading it in the 1950s and wanting more historical fiction adventures after I finished that one.

It's possible that I read it in Junior High or High school, which is a whole different ball of wax from being required to read a Newbery book in fourth or fifth grade like kids in the 1990s and 2000s have to do.

On the other hand (okay, I'm a Gemini), now that so many elementary school kids are reading the huge Harry Potter books, maybe Johnny T. isn't such a hardship for them any more.

-wendieO

There WAS a movie! I wasn't wrong. I know I had to read the book, too, but I think they showed us the movie in class, and I couldn't get away. Ick. Double-ick.

Sorry, Jay, not joining you in the read. And you can't get me to go back and re-read the Louis Braille biography either, about how he got blinded as a child. Triple-ick.

This is making me want to pull out my old copy of RIFLES FOR WATIE!

Not really.

-Robin

I finally made myself read JT when I was a teacher (and was about to inflict this upon my students). Once I got past the beginning, I did okay...but the whole melting hand stuff was so depressing -- I don't know if I could make myself read it again. So kudos to you!!

My third grader and I read it aloud together and really enjoyed it. I really didn't want to read it, but the cover (probably the newest version of so, so many reprints) grabbed my son's attention.

It's a good read, but you're right—that first page would have been tarred and feathered (how's that for old fashioned?) at the recent mentor day I attended.

Gotta count me a "For It!"

I totally LOVED this book when I was in elementary school. I must have read it at least five times. I read it again a few years ago as an adult. I did enjoy it again but was surprised that I would have liked it as a kid. Especially given the density of the language and I didn't remember so much about the social studies stuff. It was all about the ruined hand and the "family/ apprentice" dynamics for me as a kid. Also, I think I really liked how Johnny was flawed and complex, more by his choices and character, than his hand, and yet was still a hero.

SPOILER ALERT: Talent forever denied, augh! What great drama for a kid! And then...they cut the scar tissue!!!

As for whether it's a good read for today's kids...I don't know. There are other historical fiction titles that are non-starters for me...take Island of the Blue Dolphin...please. But The Cay was and is still pretty good.

As a former school teacher, I'm all for grabbing the kids' interests but the real point of using historical fiction is the social studies aspect...so what other tween/teen novel covers the forces leading to the Revolutionary War, those specific movers and shakers, the famous early events, and the period details (ya know, all the stuff that's on the social studies state testing) while still delivering a strong narrator story...and does it with today's writing style?

I hear ya, Anonymous. I did a quick search and couldn't find any one book that matched all of that criteria. (Hint, hint to all you authors searching for a gap to fill!)

That said, I still don't think it needs to be an either/or situation. You can have required reading and teach history, but if you combine them in such a way that it gives so many children a bad taste for both, then it just ain't worth it. Reading and history or both so insanely important, I think everything should be done to encourage those interests (especially at that young of an age) in the highest number of students.

And I think it can still be done without pandering to the lowest common denominator.

- Jay

I LOVED Johnny Tremain when I was a kid. Maybe it's because I was living in England and having kids sing "Bye Bye Miss American Pie" to me all the time, so any novel where the British got their comeuppance was bound to hit the spot.

Also, I had a crush on Rab.

That book has been sitting in my room for at least, um, fifteen years, say, and I don't know why I've never managed to read it.

And I loved The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ!! That book I've read many times!!

Wow, reading through the first half of the comments, I thought I must be from another planet or something, because JT was the first assigned book that I actually enjoyed in school. I remember actually thinking "this doesn't suck!"

I think the number one problem with assigned reading is that they are assigned to too low of grades, and the kids can't appreciate them. And believe me, I was reading adult books when I was under 10 and all that jazz -- I had complete comprehension of the words. But the ability to appreciate them? For many of them, no. But going back as a reluctant adult and reading some of the books I remembered passionately hating (any Charles Dickens or Around the World in 80 Days), I don't see what it was that I hated so much about them. I mean, I wouldn't pick them up to read them every day, but it wasn't the boring, age-inappropriate slog I was going through before. And a lot of these classics we read in school were intended for adult audiences in their day, not children.

So teachers: quit ruining the classics for kids and assign them to older grades who read faster.

Hey, did Eve go to "Movin' Out"? I loved that show. Seriously!

Glad the teleconference was a great success. That sounds cool.

And, uh, is that a real joke? How about: stays up all night telling everyone that he does not believe in dog. Sorry.

Lies awake all night wondering if there is a Dog. (He's an agnostic, not an athiest, Laura.:))

Q: What does the dyslexic student do when he forgets to do his assignment?

A: He tells the teacher that God ate his homework.

Woohoo, Tim! And thanks for the follow-up joke. Now I have TWO jokes I can tell!

Laura, it sounds like we'll have to have Eve call you the next time Movin' Out is showing!

And Linda, I totally love Bruce's Chet Gecko books, too. You should hear about his new series...sounds great!

Robin

" I finally found out what my Special Purpose is for!"

I love me some Jerk.

"I'm leaving. I'm leaving And I'm not taking anything. Except this paddle. I'm leaving and I'm not taking anything except this paddle. And this remote control. I'm leaving and I'm not taking anything except this paddle and this remote control. And this phone. I'm leaving and I'm not taking anything except this paddle, this remote control, and this phone. And this chair."

My Jerk favorites in no particular order:

"Die, you random son of a bitch."

"I was born a poor black child."

and

"The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!"

Come to think of it, it's kind of amazing how often the opportunity to use these quotes comes up in my daily life.

I agree that lines from The Jerk easily come up in every day conversation.

Except I think Jay and Eve get a little tired of me always saying, "You can have anything between the thimble and the box of matches..."

:-)

Robin

And they are great for getting that dumbfounded look from my teenagers who don't know any quotes that don't come from Robot Chicken, South Park, or Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

And no, I refuse to turn my kids on to the Jerk. My wife and I have to have something that is just for us, don't we!?!

I love that joke! He stays up all night, wondering if there is a dog! Tim's was pretty funny, too.

I'm picking out a thermos for you. . .

and put an umbrella in my next drink because that is soooo classy (maybe "classy" with a capital "K")

Lamy

"Waiter...there are SNAILS on her plate!"

"...and no ordinary thermos will do. It's the very best thermos you can buy, with stripes and vinyl, and a cup built right in!" ...sing it with me now.

"One dollar, AND SEVEN CENTS!"

Oh, I could go on and on. Love The Jerk. Love it!

Yes, I went to Movin' Out solo. Looked like a complete fool jumping around in my seat singing every word to every song. I'm a Billy Joel freak. Thanks for 'outting' me Ro!

There was an especially moving, um, bizarre bondage scene where "Captain Jack" played in the background. The elderly couple next to me had to be wheeled out on stretchers after that one!

And that joke is pure GENIUS. Funny part is that I AM a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac...no joke!

Funny, Ro-Mo. Very funny.

xoxo
Eve

I saw Bruce a few years ago, and he was THE inspiration behind my mystery series. A friend of mine has been paired up with him as a mentor for a YEAR! I am soooo jealous. And, wish I'd known about that call!

P.S. Eve, don't feel bad ... going to stuff by yourself is a sign of a healthy self image. (Sometimes I prefer it cuz you don't have to worry about whether the people you're with like the show or not ... you can just relax and enjoy!)

Was it this joke?

A burglar was cruising through a posh suburb looking for a house to target. At one house he saw a truck unloading a big screen television, stereo, and video outfit. All the gear had to cost thousands of dollars. He made a mental note and went on his way.

The next day he was back in the same neighborhood. When he drove past the house with all the goodies, he saw an elderly couple loading suitcases into the
trunk of their car. He could hardly wait...

That night, without a moon in the
sky and a heavy fog, he drove up to the house. He rang the doorbell and when no one answered, broke the lock on the kitchen door and went in.

It was pitch black inside as he made his way through the kitchen, then the dining room and into the den where he expected to find the things he wanted to steal.

Suddenly a voice says, "I see you and Jesus sees you."

The burglar freezes in his tracks.

"I see you and Jesus sees you," the voice says again.

The burglar takes out his flashlight and shines it in the direction of the voice. There's a parrot in a cage.

The parrot looks at him and says, "I see you and Jesus sees you."

The burglar laughes. "Just a dumb bird," he says. So he closes the drapes and turns on a lamp and that's when he sees a big, mean-looking Doberman Pinscher sitting next to the parrot cage.

The parrot says, "Sic him, Jesus!"

Hey, EA! You're right...that WAS the joke! I think maybe you're an even better joke-teller than Bruce Hale!
Keep 'em coming! ;-)

Robin

Go for it, Jay! I'd love it if I bumped into the author of a book I was carrying around in the bookstore. And being the nice guy that you are, you'll make a good impression, which will lead the customer to tell all his/her friends to buy your book. Provided you do no jumping, of course. Well, unless the customer jumps first. In that case, I suppose a few hops would be apropos.

Maybe you should have a Sharpie ready.

And because you are so naturally charming, you could softly say, "I'm the author of the book you are holding, would you like me to sign it?

And because you are so smooth, you could also say, "An autographed book makes a great gift, would you like two?"

As long as I didn't see him peeking over bookshelves, ducking around corners, hiding behind magazine covers, lingering at the coffee counter, then yeah, I'd love to be approached. ;) I'd even ASK him to sign the book. And if he offered first, I'd be thrilled1

gail

My wonderful husband gave me a wonderful gift...
YOUR book!!!!!!!

I finished it last night.... I didn't put it down, well except once to take a sip of tea... but otherwise I didn't put it down! BRAVO!!!
I love the premise, and the characters, and the whole darn thing!
Sadly, my copy is unsigned. : (
I would love to have an author introduce himself and sign my book! If only the author was in New York!

Hi, Jay. I think your distribution must be picking up. I finally found your book (two copies on the shelf) in Borders (one of their San Diego stores) for the first time this last weekend. Why did I pick it up? Because I'd seen you on the blue boards and I loved your sequined suit at the SCBWI party (you dance pretty well, too, by the way). So that got me to pick it up: when I started reading it in the store, though, I knew I had to buy it. Great story! Awesome writing! And on a personal note, I was stoked to see in the acknowledgments that your agent's Laura R., since my agent's one of her cronies. Anyway, I can't wait to see what you put out next. Good job!

Okay, so I read this and giggled at the visual of you looking like Waldo in the "Where's Waldo" series...

"Can you find the author in the bookstore children?"

Seriously though, there is nothing better than a signed copy of a book! I would totally welcome you and your "stalking" for a personalized copy anyday. I am sure anyone would be flattered...so stop being shy and get out the pen!

~Aimes

As for the Goonies showing tomorrow night...I AM JEALOUS!

I would so love to see SLOTH on the big screen swinging across the water screaming "Heeeeeeeey Youuuuuuu Guuuuuuuuuys!!!"

Have fun and eat a Baby Ruth for me! :)

If I were you, I'd have a handler (ie: Robin or Eve) casually mention to the book-holder that the author just happens to be standing over by the YA section casually thumbing through the competition. The handler might then suggest that the author would be happy to sign their copy, at which point the author smiles and whips out their sharpie.

Looks casual, yet planned to the nth degree.

I'd be thrilled to have an author whose book I happened to be holding approach me. And it would be a great story for the reader to tell their friends which means they'll be talking about your book to their friends and their friends friends and their friends friends friends, um, you get the picture.

Hey Jay -

As a guilty member of the "I wrote that Now Can I Sign It For You" Bookstore Stalking Club I can only say: good on the not jumping up and down part - but hey, as long as you don't follow them all the way home - it seems like a great idea to me!

heheh

Sounds like you need to approach the bookstore managers about doing some signings.

Okay, okay, okay! I'll get over my chicken-self and say something to the next person I see carrying my book.

But if they freak out on me and call me a stalker, I'm gonna do another post and all of you are gonna apologize to me. Deal?

- Jay

I'd LOVE it if you stalked me in the bookstore! I love meeting authors. Let me know when you'll be in Vancouver and I'll conveniently go book-shopping! (It's not here yet, btw. ARGH.)

I would SO love to be addressed by an author in a store.

The Goonies is one of the best movies ever.

P.S. Your novel is highlighted as "The Cross-over Book of the Month" at Kepler's in Menlo Park!! It has it's OWN SHELF!!

*heidi

Of course I'd want to meet the author of a book I'd picked up! I think I'd be really upset if I found out I could have met the author but he was too chicken to speak to me. What a wasted opportunity for both of us!

Would you believe I pre-ordered your book and it only just arrived today??? Guess what I'm doing tonight? :)

My only advice is to wait until AFTER they've bought the book to approach them. (Hiding behind the security posts and jumping out at them when they go to leave is a great idea.)

That way, even if you freak them out and they throw the book at your head and run, you've already got the royalty, baby.

Too funny Jay!

I have actually thought about this, wondering what it would be like to have a book on the shelf.

I've already thought, I should make sure I am dressed nicely, good hair day/ make-up.

Pen or sharpie available, and sit right on the floor waiting, waiting, waiting.

THEN...POUNCE! Just get real close, next to the person. Look at them while they are reading.

SMILE!

Look again! Wait for them to say, "Can I help you?"

Where you then reply, "Well now that you ask, I would love to sign your book and pretend I am the author, what do you say?"

I haven't even sold a book yet, but that's what I'm going do. I'm ready with a plan.

Now back to waiting, waiting, waiting, and ready for the POUNCE!

Brenda

I would love being approached by the author!! I cant tell you how many times I am reading a book on the subway and fantasize about looking up and seeing the person who's picture is on the jacket. (Yes, I'm that big a dork!!)

I totally agree with the approach. If you happened to be in a store that you have already signed the books, you could alway offer to personalize.

I know my boys and I would love it!

I would love to have an author approach me! Like others have said, it makes for a great story, and lots of folks don't get the opportunity to have signed copies!

Yay! another crazy NaNoWriMo-er!

I am updating my progress on my blog so feel free to drop in on my NaNoWriMo-er party.

www.heleneboudreau.com

It really isn't a shameless plug (honest), I'm just so happy there are other housework-avoiding, shower-forgoing, cooking-ignoring crazies like me who have taken the challenge.

(I really should bathe today though...)

I'm swimming in the NaNo soup, too. I'm behind right now and am floundering more than last year, but I'm not giving up.

Yep, I'm another NaNo "crazy." Good luck on your project, Eve.

Hey Eve,
Glad to hear you'll be in Big Sur. I'll see you there...that is if my 20 pages pass the scrutiny of the admission policy.
Good luck with the novel writing in a month thing--utter craziness!

Yay for you and the NaNo! I'm not doing it this year because the timing is wrong - I'm revising my YA so I can get it to Agent Erin by next Friday and if I try to start the next thing right now my head is going to explode. If I'm dead, there will be nobody to clean up the mess.

I'm missing Big Sur this year (next year?!?), but I am going to register for Asilomar in February. Monterey anyone???

I wanted to do it this year, too, but the timing is wrong. I think my family would have me committed if I took on something like that right now.

I did it last year, though and had tons of fun. Well, it was fun for the first two weeks. The rest is a blur.

Ahem...*raises hand* crazy here.

I'm a few thousand words in already; my goal is to write roughly 2000 words a day (which is basically one chapter a day). This is my first NaNo and I'm having lotsa fun with it!

Wow! So happy to be in such good company! The message boards are hilarious. I could read them all day...but then of course I would't have time to crank out 2000 words a day.

Candace- is that really what we're talking 'bout here? 2K words a day?? Guess I forgot to do the math. I did about, uh, 10 words yesterday. Good? I'd better step it up, quick!

Would love to hear about everybody's progress. You can always email me at
[email protected]
if you're feeling stressed. I'm a good listener. On email, anyway!

Good luck fellow NNWM-ers!!

Eve

There's a FaceBook page, too. Another time waster.

Oh! and an application to add a word counter thingie to your FaceBook profile.

I'm shooting for 1,600 a day (50,000/30)--a huge struggle for me. I've never written anything longer than 30,000 words and THAT took me 2 years. erp!

Good luck, everyone!!!

I'm going to Big Sur too.
And using that deadline to
write like crazy a
few things I'd let flounder.

topangamaria

This is my third consecutive NaNo, and as of Sunday night, 7:10 EST, I am 15,544 words in. If I'm lucky, I can continue to plug more words than 1667 a day and finish early; I have two papers for graduate courses due right after Thanksgiving and finding time for both is a challenge!

BTW - visit my LJ (sleekwriter.livejournal.com) for an exciting post about 13 Reasons Why!

Lol, well, if you wanna be real technical about it, it comes out to somewhere around 1,667 per day + some fraction of a day. But I'm anticipating those days where an extra two hours of sleep, or a day at the mall sounds better, so if I skip a day I won’t be too behind. A good way to keep up your word count: Challenge someone to a word war. Set a time limit, see who can write the most. My friend and I did a 5 min one the other day and it was fun! Eve, keep going you just need 49,990 more! :D

How's Nano going Eve?

Do we get an update? :-)

Cheers,

h

heh. Well I, for one, cannot wait to read these books. How come only these editors get to see??

:D

This is so trite, but the right editor is out there SOMEWHERE!

I'm having the exact same problem placing my work. Lots of yes- maybe-um-no type of responses. Two of my books got through the editorial board just to be nixed by sales and marketing. Two others got through acquisitions, but got canned because of competing titles. (recently, still hurts, *ouch*)

It's a cruel, cruel world.

But, please don't stop now! I've been licking my wounds by just writing something else. And I'm sure that one day the world will realize that it needs more dudes and nitwits! They just don't know it yet...

Perhaps you need to eat some spinach and start a new book!

Go, Robin, Go!

Honestly, I've never heard of anyone getting so many amazingly positive rejection letters. You're just a little too brilliant and funny for your own good, Robin.

- Jay

P.S. Admit it, these types of rejections are frustratingly cool, aren't they?

You're just building your own box that other people will be clamoring to get into someday.

A shout-out to all the gals who have to buy Gap ultra-talls online! Whoot!

These out of the box books are the ones that make a huge impression once they do find a home, though. Hang in there!

You're not just writing, you're building the box. That's gonna take a bit more time.

Keep writing until you fill that box. Then you'll have created a whole new genre!

Helene's right.

Hey, Cyn..we should shop together online some time!
And yes, Jay, this is frustratingly cool. Kinda like dental surgery...painful but better for you in the end.

I only mention dental surgery because my son had to have his tooth extracted today. And as he was coming to from the anesthesia, he looked at me and said, "Mama, where's Harry Potter?"

I can only hope that someday some loopy child high on pain meds will ask for my main character.

Thanks for all the out-of-the-box support everyone!

;-) Robin

Out of the box is a GOOD thing.

There was that line in a high school movie a few years ago.....it went something like this...
"Why are you trying so hard to fit in when it's clear you're meant to stand out?"

That's YOU. You will stand out b/c you are original and brilliant and different than anyone else.

Why be a regular potato chip when you could be the kind with cracked black pepper?

Robin,

DO YOUR THING!

Okay, humans have been telling stories for a long time, and there's some argument over whether or not there are any completely NEW stories to be told - but there are new WAYS of telling stories all the time - that's where all the talk about writers needing to find their VOICE comes in - how can you tell a story in a way that could ONLY be told by YOU.
It's the thing that makes a story really stand out, and how many editors have we all heard go on and on about what they're really looking for is a unique voice?

It sounds like you've found your VOICE - celebrate that, and know that you WILL find a publishing home for it...

Oh, and keep writing!
Namaste,
Lee

Oh, those dumb publishers! I want to read your middle school book. It sounds like so much fun. How could they not publish hilarious? I love hilarious. Please keep on plugging away.

I think they should consider marketing it to middle schoolers!

3 cheers for the online tall girls!!!! Gap and JJill!

>>I think they should consider marketing it to middle schoolers!

OMG, Laura! That totally and completely cracked me up. Can't stop giggling...

Robin

I love hilarious, Robin, and so do kids!!! I wish publishers loved hilarious. I don't get it.

I have a different little mid-grade making the rounds now, too. It's frustrating to hear no after no.

Keep on keeping on, girl. I do believe it's going to happen for you!

Robin -- it sounds like Jennifer Holm's book -- middle school is worse than meatloaf, published by New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2007.

Why don't you contact her to find out who her editor was for that book and submit your stuff there?

-wendieO

My son is looking for this book! I just showed him Jennifer Holms' MIDDLEGRADE IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF (a nifty book) and he asked why no one did that kind of thing for guys?

Maybe we should create a land of the misfit books, like on that Rudolf special.

I used to have a crush on Herbie.

This is all just fodder for those inspiring speeches you'll be giving once you're published, when schools and author event organizers will be scrambling to book you. Go, Robin!

Humor is the most desired and yet the hardest to write and the hardest to sell. What is with that?

topangamaria

Stay out of the box! It gets boring in there, and stuffy.

have you considered submitting to a graphic novel publishing house like the place that published THE PLAIN JANES?

perhaps you are inventing a brand new genre and you don't even know it!

best of luck--

*heidi

Robin, will you let J.B. read your ms's when we come for Thanksgiving? I think he would LOVE them. Lamy

OF COURSE J.B. CAN READ THEM! I'd love for him to. And I can't wait to meet him.
See you soon! Woohoo!

Robin

I know what you mean. I have been giving teacher workshops and school residency programs for over 10 years and I always get nervous before, can't sleep well, wish I was sleeping well because I think sleep would be great to have when I am nervous. Then, when I stand up to start, it is all gone. I love it. It is what I do. It feels natural. And I wonder why I have to go through that, every time!
~~Laura
the clay lady

I can relate. My first public speaking gig was with my daughter's first grade class, and I was up all night, literally. In fact, there have been several times before a speaking gig where I fell asleep after 4 am.

It gets better though. Kinda. The Michael Jackson thing, I can relate. I used to say I wanted to take my craft where Michael took his -- to the top. I have a long way to go, and considering where Michael ended up...

It makes me feel a little better knowing that you two don't get much sleep either.

But I'm sorry you had to suffer to make me feel better.

- Jay

Love that title!

Sorry I missed this particular dream coming true! And we all know you can dance!

Jay -

What a great post! I'm so glad you got to dance on stage in front of 200 people. It'll be good practice for when you're on Dancing with the Stars in a few seasons. And, though the anticipation can be agonizing before giving a speech, I think it's there and will continue to be there because you care so much - which is a good thing.

Lamy

Sounds brilliant!

And I heard feedback from friends who were there, by the way, that you were brilliant.

(Just your talk's title alone is awesome!)

Dude,
wish I'd seen the dance. Congrats on battling your butterflies and winning - and hey, the joy of being silly on a stage in front of 200 people is that it lets them relax, too. Speakers that are obviously terrified are kinda hard to watch - you're so afraid for them. So crack a joke, be silly, do a little dance - and let everyone relax and have a good time. After all, you're speaking to an audience that WANTS you to succeed!
Hope to be at the next concert!
Namsaste,
Lee

Jay...moonwalking to Billie Jean? Is there no end to your talents?? Wish I could have been there!

If only he'd been wearing the pimptastic spangle suit! Will Jay be sharing some of his comments with those of us in the unwashed blogosphere? (Showering is overrated, no?)

I heart Emily Jiang, btw. She rocks.

Cool beans guys! Sounds like it was tons of fun!

Totally wish I could have been there just for that!

Not to take credit for Jay's dancing, but . . . last weekend I drove him to the beach to see Julia DeVillers who was in L.A. from Ohio to see Sabrina Bryan who was in Hollywood to be on Dancing With the Stars. So, there is a definite inspiration there, no?

For anyone who was there to witness my Billie Jean interpretation, please note that I willingly give full credit to Lisa Yee!

- Jay

First it sounds like you had lotsa fun! I have just finished reading the book and I wanted to leave a comment while it’s still fresh in my head and the emotions still hovering. It’s amazing. I don’t really know how to express it, but every word of that book was so heartfelt and emoti
onal. It was hard to put down.
ations on the map…it was almost like I was actually listening to it. The story was told with honesty and such an open voice. It feels so real.

Sorry that comment got screwed up. The past part was supposed to say: Reading Hannah’s story and going with Clay while he visited the locations on the map…it was almost like I was actually listening to it. The story was told with honesty and such an open voice. It feels so real.

Aah, sorry I missed the dancing! I will now forever be curious how it "tied in"!!

Me too Laini! What did the dance have to do with the 12 year journey? Come on, tell us Jay....please!

Can't wait, DM's!!

Really excited to see the "sumpin' special" from Jay.

Does it involve fishnet tights, high heels or a boustier?

xoxo
Eve

I thought you said the boustier was only for special friends.

Oh, right. Not for the public eye. Especially now that he's all published and stuff. We'll have to keep his wardrobe in check from now on.

Wish you were coming down for this, CynJay. We miss you! :)

Eve

Have fun and please - please...pictures!!

alan

What about Robin's bathing suit? BTW, Better Off Dead. Hope you had fun and that Jay got to sign LOTS of books! Lamy

Great photos! The teen advisory panel is correct about Deadline, btw - I reviewed it at my LiveJournal blog today. It's really great.

Looking forward to getting 13 Reasons.

So lovely to hang out with you!

YOU were name dropped by Lisa Yee the other day. How cool is that?

My head is about to explode just looking at that picture! Fun and fame ... and you deserve it, Jay!

Eve - my friend Sarah Frances and I are reading Syd Field's book as we speak! I just started it and am hoping for great advice!

We are, however, in the process of revising an actual screenplay - so, I am interested in what he says.

Glad you are through with yours - I am jealous!

I'm with you on the "bigger isn't always better" thing, and not just because I wouldn't fit in with the crowd at the clothing optional pool! I'm remembering some of the books that struck me most over the past few years and they are certainly about big ideas, but done in a simple and stripped-down way (Astrid and Veronica and Lying Awake come to mind, as does the movie Good Night and Good Luck). Good luck with the newest version - I love it so far. Lamy

I was in a cafe in Newport Beach a few weeks ago, and every single woman in there but me was blonde, super skinny and large-boobed. I actually felt kind of special relatively.

Good luck with your revised novel!

And who says Las Vegas isn't educational?! I'm sure the trimming just makes your book tighter...oh, wait, there's another Vegas metaphor in there somewhere!

Good luck--hope your agent loves the revisions!

Becky

Thanks Becky, Debbie, Katie and Amy!

Seriously, who knew sitting around a naked-people pool in Vegas would be the key to my success?? Vegas, Baby!!

For anybody who writes for teens or middle graders...screenwriting books/classes are the bomb! I wish I had known this secret years ago...probably would have saved me a lot of time and saved editors a lot of headaches and paper for rejection letters. Just sayin'.

Eve

"[T]he trimming just makes your book tighter." Now THAT's funny (when you think of the Vegass analogy to be made)! Lamy

Sorry, not analogy, but metaphor.

Eve,
what I love is that you were so focused on your writing that you didn't even NOTICE the naked people around you... for a while.
I love those moments writing when everything else just falls away and time kinda stops...
I just need to figure out how to get it to start up again in such a wacky setting!
Oh, and yeah, one of the things I love about YA books is that you generally don't have to slog through 2 -3 page descriptions of buildings or sunsets and such.
I think you're right-on with the parallels with screenwriting. I find that I think about that a lot as I write (focusing on dialog and action to move things forward.)
Best of luck with the manuscript!
Namaste,
Lee

I'm a big fan of David LaRochelle's. Met him at a conference last year. Not only is he an absolutely, positively hilarious writer, he's a genuinely nice guy.

And Jay, a world of congrats. Can't wait to read 13 Reasons Why. What a triumph!

Lots more successes, I'm sure, are in all of your futures.

Regards,
Donna

I love that book!

Hi Robin,

I love APN, too!

I've said it before... I don't know how you juggle a job (stressful one at that), a child, a husband, and manage to crank out more writing than I ever could! You're my hero.

I'm back in the saddle too, big time...getting a seriously sore, flat butt in the process.

Let's promise to take a break and do a girls' day and/or night out this week, K?

xoxo
Eve

Talk about inspiration, Robin! You've just made my day, in fact my entire weekend, with your kind words about ABSOLUTELY!

I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to the years when I was struggling with this novel and was thoroughly convinced that I could never pull off writing a book for teenagers. I would tell myself, "Yes, David, someday you will actually finish this book, it will get published, and the Disco Mermaids will enjoy it!" Maybe then the struggle wouldn't have been so tough.

Good luck getting back in the saddle, and I look forward to writing my positive reactions to your book when it is published in the near future.

David LaRochelle
www.davidlarochelle.net

P.S. And how very exciting that I can go to my corner independent bookstore and order Jay's book now! I'm going to write myself a reminder note right now to order the book in the morning! Big, big congratulations, Jay!

Oh aren't you sooo right! my writing buddy Sarah Frances and I just left our regional conference and our heads are exploding with all of the new things we need to do. And I too, have so much laundry I don't know where to start?! yikes!!!

AND.....while at the conference, I won the super fantastic door prize!! which was free website design or marketing plan etc.....so now I need to think about writing even more and then that makes me nervous and crazy.....yada, yada, yada

SO - I can relate. great post and very timely :o)

p.s. I sold Jay's book to a teen and his mom in a BN in Alabama while at the conference and there were only 3 left in the store - so it seems to be literally flying off the shelves!

Ach, it's so funny that I would read this as I am here (procrastinating no less) lamenting my utter LACK of self-discipline! I continually get distracted by other projects and writing always seems to be the most painful of any craft I do.

And the laundy? Let's not even go there....

I'm happy to make your day, David! Seriously, your book is SO well done, it surprises me you ever struggled at all. It seems so natural! Can't wait to read what comes next.

And Katie and Heather, I'm glad I'm not the only one too busy and distracted to get the writing done!

Eve, yes, we must do a girls' day/night out. Soon! Soon!
-Robin

On the flip side, when the suck monster is pulling me down and I'm having trouble getting into the groove, I read a book that I DON'T think is particularly well done. If I can hold an actual book that got published by a real company and think "Someone actually said 'yes' to this," it always makes me feel like less of a loser.

Does that make me a bad person?

I picked up my copy last weekend, just after reading your blog.

On my books release dates, my feelings have always been weird. Like someones dropped a quarter into a pond, and no one but me heard the splash.

Happy for your enthusiam. And congratz again.

Hi Jay!
Just wanted to stop by and say congratulations and that I'm thrilled to finally have the book in stores. All of my booksellers are big fans and think 13 Reasons is one of the best books of the year. I agree!
Best Wishes,
Holly
your mid-Atlantic Penguin rep

wow--they did a great job with your site! congrats on the official debut. =)

*heidi

It's the Day of Jay!

Thanks to you, and your stinkin' site, I've just eaten up over 1/2 hour of prime writing time. But, I also feel like I just had a great Denny's breakfast with the three of you late one Thursday night - so it was worth it. So very cool.

And of course I called the number - didn't need a dare to do that!

It was on the shelf at my local B&N last night - one copy left (btw) and faced under new releases. But there was a teen there, so I didn't want to interrupt. I'm looking forward to picking it up soon!

Jay,

Read it. Awesome. The book is showing up in my school, too. Students are always leaving books on the desk outside my classroom, by mistake, as they organize the stuff from their lockers. Today, the lost book wasn't a text book, or the required reading of the month. It was 13 Reasons!

Don't worry, I'll find the owner. My daughter spotted a copy in her school, too. Being read. I'm so excited for you. It is great to see them popping up everywhere.

:)Kristen

Congrats, Jay!

It was great fun working on your cover and glad it turned it out pretty darn nice [if I do say so myself].

The writing is not half bad, either! ; P

Woo hoo, go you!

-- Christian Fuenfhausen

Holy cow I just called Hannah's cell phone from the 13RW website. . . freaked me out!

-- Christian

Mucho Congrats Jay! Sweet reward for lots of hard work and patience.

My copy shipped from Amazon a couple of days ago . . . impatiently waiting for its arrival and hoping like heck it gets here before NaNoWriMo begins . . . I don't want to wait until December to start reading it! :)

Hey, Jay!

Many happy congrats-- hope your day has been seriously thrilling! We really ought to think up some really cool tradition to celebrate each other's Big Day. Like we all honk our horns in unison at high noon or everyone call a bookstore at 10am on The Day and ask for the book-- it's such a huge achievement. It really needs to be heralded!

Congrats to Robin and Eve, your midwives and sidekicks in all this. Nice work, girls!

Can't wait to check out the new web.

~(:-])
Mary Hershey

Happy launch day, Jay! Hannah and Clay will make a huge splash, I'm sure of it. The site is very cool.
Holly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY T.R.W.!!!

Congrats Jay. This has been a long time coming, and couldn't have happened to a more deserving, talented author.

Glad to have been a part of it, and see your idea develop from concept to reality. Congratulations!

EK

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone.

After a rather ordinary time at work (Don was right!), the day ended beautifully. I took Robin and her family, Eve, my wife, and my parents out to a nice dinner. And after dessert, several of us made our way to a bookstore so I could sign the three copies of my book that they had in stock.

And now...it's all up to the teens.

- Jay

Congratulations, Jay!!

I'll be looking out for it here in The Great White North.

(and thanks for the T-shirt)

:-)

Hélène

CONGRATULATIONS, Jay!!!! I'm thrilled for you. I'll be on the prowl at my local bookstore and will pounce as soon as I see your baby.

Enjoy your moment!

Congratulations, Jay!!!!

I picked it up today, Jay!

Check my blog yesterday. :)

I'm jealous of all you people who have mobility! I'm WILL find a way to a bookstore to get this book!

I did call the # though.

Congrats Jay! Your book seems to be getting a ton of positive reviews.

Hey Jay.

I'm Archangel and just wanted to come by and tell you what a great book you've got. I recently self-published my first book and I'm hoping to finish my first novel soon.

I got ahold of an advanced reader's copy of your book and I was blown away by your vision of these characters. You did an awesome job and had me all the way to the very last page. Even after I told myself I was just going to read to a certain part and stop, I just couldn't put it down. I'm glad I didn't. Great Job.

Please stop by my blog sometime and read some of my own works. I would love to get your opinion.

www.archangelsmind.blogspot.com

I got nothin', except: DITTO!
Lamy

I sure hope one of you sells a book real quick, cuz I can't wait to do one of these for you. You know I've got more than enough to tease you with!

It's been fun sharing this journey with you both. You've made it so much sweeter.

Your not-quite-balding-more-like-thinning, not-quite-girly-more-like-sensitive friend,
Jay

Awwwww, very sweet.

And here's to the premie, may the novel grow up big and strong and a bestseller!

It's a boy! And a girl!

Good one, Lisa! Let's hope the book grows up to be a bestseller AND still comes home before curfew.

And CynJay, that was...perfect.

Thanks you guys!

-Robin

Boo! Not yet available in Canada (Vancouver). I may have to sneak across the border and get it - I went through this with Laini's book, too! Argh!

I knew from the moment I saw the sonogram (ARC) that Jay's little one would grow up and do great things. It's not just storks who make special deliveries...penguins do, too.

WHOOHOO! I saw 2 copies in Borders today in Denver. I sent you a photo from my phone, Jay!

Of course, now there is only the one copy because I stole the other one. But I faced t hat last copy out on the top shelf, so it's probably gone by now!

Jay, your time has come. I think back to 1998 (was it that long ago? or longer) that we sat across the table at our first Children's Writer's workshop. Roz was the facilitator then. Me now. But I knew you had the magic--even though you read picture books, which by the way you are brilliant at, too, and middle grade, also fab. Your characters had voice and heart and made us care about them from the first page. You were in your early 20's then but you understood a child's heart and mind and now you've reach out to touch kid's across the country with your words, and your heart. To say I am proud is an understatement. I am crying with joy!

Cynthia Linn Bates

I got my signed postcard!!! Woooooo! I've read every word 3 times at least. I'm looking forward to the actual book.

Cheers!

P.S. To those who scoff at the comparison between childbirth and bookbirth, remember that the creation of a book is way less fun than the creation of a child, and the gestation period for a book is way longer than 9 months.

I'm off to get my copy!

Whoooooo! Congratulations! I'm a gonna look for it at my local bookstore as soon as I can escape my kids!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You mermaids always crack me up!

ME TOO!! I want to buy that book!!! is the audio out?? I want to hear the book!!!!!

~~Laura
the clay lady

The book doesn't officially come out till the 18th, but it's already been spotted here and there (including right here).

The audio doesn't come out till the 23rd (officially, anyway).

- Jay

I pre-ordered mine . . . now I just have to wait for Amazon to deliver it to my door! Can't wait - congrats, Jay! :)

Yay! How exciting!

Er, the bookisout part, that is.

Hey! Where's my autographed post card, hmmmm?

I was holding the postcards so they'd arrive on the 18th. But since the release date wasn't strict, neither was I.

They went out this mornin'.

(Did you actually think I'd forget ya, Dot? C'mon now!)

- Jay

Yay!

I was talking up your book at the Rutgers One-on-One conference today, Jay. Not that I had to talk much ... everyone seemed to be well aware of its impending release!

Whooo Hooo!

OOO I can't wait until mine gets here, either! (I sure hope the international shipping on this one is quick . . .)

Oh man, and here I am stuck at at college! I'll have to find a friend willing to drive me to Borders to get a copy.

Jay: Congratulations! I've just started the book and it is so fantastic. This is one of the most original ways to tell a story I've seen in a long time. I'm on cassette 3 side A and can't wait to see what's next. Great job!

3:A includes some of my favorite "tiny but significant" moments between characters.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the book.

- Jay

(And thanks for the plug, Linda!)

I'm glad I was the one who got to purchase your returned copy, Jay. Because now it has your fingerprints all over it, which may be worth a lot someday!! (Well, that and all of those embarrassing photos we took of you.)

I'm loving the book-- it's even better the 5th time you read it. :-)

My son is still confused as to why YOUR picture is on the back flap, but it's MY book. That just makes no sense to him. And then when you tell him that his Daddy took that picture of Jay that is in MY book, he looks like his head might explode. So cute!

Congrats, my friend. We love you!
Robin

Cannot believe I missed this momentous occasion...all because I had to go to Vegas and drink Mojitos and play BlackJack with Celine Dion at the swim-up bar. Dang! I mean, I had to go to Vegas and lock myself in my hotel room to work on revisions that are due, um, last week.

The second part is the real truth. Really. I swear. We'll have to go back to B&N and do it all again this Thursday, which is the REAL release date. No fair doing this stuff without me!

We're so proud of our little boy!

xoxo
Eve

Congratulations, Jay. Must be a great feeling. Can't wait to read it.

Congrats, Jay! Yippeee!

I can't wait to get mine in the mail too!!

I laughed so hard the first couple times I read this post -- now it just makes me cry (in a good way, of course. It's not like I'm seething with jealousy or anything ;-) ). I'm so happy for you Jay! It must be some incredible book!

You nutcases!

HUUUUUUUUUUUGE congrats, Jay!
-Laini

Jay, I got my postcard in the mail today ... love it! Thank you!!

Freakin' hilarious!! This post is a Disco Mermaid classic!

Mega-congrats Jay!!!!!!!!!!

Way-cool, dude! I am so excited for you!
Love hearing about the process - (and as a facial hair wearer - I agree it's all about the whiskers!)

alan

I sent Lee, the owner of World of Books in my town over to see you. I told him that I'd get my copy from him if he checked you out.

Hey! You didn't come over to jump on our trampoline. I knew I was feeling empty...

OH MY GOD!!!! This is for real, isn't it? You're going to be soooooo famous. Let me know if you're going to come to Florida for a book-signing. Congrats (again!). Lamy

I met a couple people from World of Books, CynJay...and I've got the bookmark to prove it!

I'll be doing a signing in Menlo Park at the end of November, so save me a spot on that trampoline.

- Jay

very exciting, jay! thanks for sharing the pics! =)

*heidi

MENLO PARK:

are you going to kepler's, jay?

i'll come see you! also planning on going to the event at s.f. books inc.

*heidi (again)

I am so happy for you! I almost jumped up and cheered but then I stopped because I didn't want to frighten all these Starbucks customers. I just clapped and smiled until my cheeks hurt.

Kepler's it is!

And that was probably a good idea to stifle yourself, Rachel. Starbucks customers can be a little jittery.

- Jay

And so it begins ... enjoy what is sure to be a long, fun ride, Jay!!!

That is so cool! Hooray! I'm going to the dinner thing a week from Saturday and can't wait to get hold of your book!

Ya baby...bask in the glow! xxoo

So cool, Jay! Congratulations! I hope every second of the signing was wonderful.

Best wishes,
Sarah

Awesome, Jay! So glad you had a good time! And that IS quite a lineup! When I met Michael Hoeye at SCBWI a few years ago he had no facial hair and cherry-popsicle-red hair, still standing straight up. Maybe that was my inspiration for MY hair. Who knows? Awesome on the audio too! Woo hoo! What a month! Woo hoo!

Wow, Jay! That's really exciting. Congratulations.

CONGRATULATIONS, Jay!!!!

-Ruta

Robin, that made me laugh until I cried the first time I played it. And it gets funnier and funnier the more you watch it. Even thinking about it elicits snorts of glee.

I am sorry to hear about Lucy, even if she was Satan's spawn for most of her days.

I am so sorry about Lucy. I guess during her eulogy you can always say you were thankful she didn't give you Cat-Scratch-Fever. Here's to a painless passing. Lamy

Geez, even just watching those cats fight is making my nose run.

- Jay

As I recall...Lucy and I got along famously. Maybe her kitty-dementia had already settled in by then.

Glad to introduce the merboy to YouTube. I'm garnering a huge list to show him the next time I visit ;)

Yes, Cynthia, you were the one female she seemed to bond with. Maybe because of your fancy Cat Whispering techniques...like petting.

And yes, we must do more future YouTube surfing. I am now totally addicted!

Hm...our cat (which I got for my husband) dislikes my husband but adores me. However, the only one who gets the scratches and bites is also me...perhaps Lucy's spirit will live on in Bonzai? (Though if so, I hope he begins to love my husband....)

Semoiring might seem less intimidating to many because perhaps it seems easier and/or less work than writing a purely fictional story. Personally, I think semoiring requires much more work because you have to constantly distance oneself. "You are not your character." I can't remember who said what I consider one of my writing mantras: "Don't write what you know. Write want you WANT to know."

Jay - An arrow through my brain and heart! The book I am working on falls hopefully on the semoir side of emotional reality - but I can't say enough from the "writer's POV" how important it is for me to be writing this book. I truly hope I am retaining emotional truth for Milo (my main character) while allowing my demons to fight it out over the spoils - because both are necessary for the process.

There's a larger discussion I guess about what kids want to read and what books become "chosen" for them...but we can chat that next time!

Great insight and wisdom my friend -

Great post, Jay. I've often heard it said that award-winning books (the Newbery Award, in particular) appeal more to adults than to the audience for whom they were written. This is certainly NOT true for many, many Newbery winners, so I hope no one throws any rotten vegetables my way! But I've found this to be true in several cases with my upper elementary school students--books that I think are so well written aren't always a hit with the 9 and up crowd.

Although I won't mention any examples of those kinds of books, one that I feel DOES appeal to both adults and kids alike is Cindy Lord's RULES.

Absolutely, Emily...I think it's the "distancing oneself" that trips many people up.

Alan, pluck out those arrows, dude. Just distance yourself, be honest, and you're good to go!

It's so funny, Natalie, because Rules is the one book we all agree accomplishes this difficult feat perfectly. But, Cynthia Lord isn't writing about her own childhood, so maybe that's why she was so willing to grasp the genuine emotions. So read Rules for the rules!

- Jay

Very thoughtful, thought-provoking post, Jay. Well done.

Interesting insights, Jay. :)

I have to admit, the mg book I've been writing began as a semoir. It was so much fun to walk down memory lane. But then, it also became boring. Now, there are many things inspired by childhood experiences, however highly embellished to the point of fiction.

I was at the NY SCBWI conference last winter where the legendary Susan Cooper was a keynoter (her first time speaking to an audience of writers!), and the core of her presentation was to write what we know not on an event-specific or superficial level, but on an emotional level. (Digging through notebooks to find exact quote...):

"'Write what you know well' doesn't mean what you think. Write about the deep things. Not recent experience, but the deep part of the mind. The compost heap - shadowy matters, things we see as we look back. Patterns emerge. Your real ideas will come out of the deep hauntings, will fly out of the sky like a hawk unexpected."

She was amazing. Had everyone in the audience spellbound and searching for those deep hauntings. It was worth my thousand bucks just to hear her speak.

I don't write about what I know (who knows what that is), but I do have to write about WHERE I know.

My novels have to be set in places where I've been, even though I fictionalize the settings. There are so many places I'd like to set stories, but unless I hang out there first I can't do it.

Hey again, Jay,

You're right about RULES--Cindy didn't write about her own childhood, but the idea for the story stemmed, in part, from her own children's situations. Same with BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. But with both of these books, I think it's a case of real-life events inspiring vs. taking over a plot.

Wow, great discussion! I agree with Natalie that RULES was an exceptional book because it was very kid friendly as well as a good read for adults. Even though it wasn't her own childhood experience, the fact that she was able to separate herself so much from her own children was amazing.
I think Ellen Hopkins accomplished that in CRANK also.
And Jay, I'm glad you mentioned the part about writers saying "But that's what really happened." I know I've been guilty of saying that. But real life doesn't always follow good plot line points and rarely happens in exciting three-act parts. Life is scattered and weird. (Well, mine is anyway.)
Nicely done. ;-)

Robin

I'm not finished thinking about this one yet, so I hate to see it get buried.

Can we talk about the practicalities of writing *for* children instead of writing about our recollected childhoods?

And how about a list of books, like RULES and CRANK, that we feel succeed.

You didn't add to the ratings unless you actually have a Nielsen meter. Don't worry about it.

Okay Eve - I am laughing because when this show first came out, my mother - of all people, told me to watch it! (She LOVES survivor) Anyway, I never had the time I guess.... but now I think I may have to tune into it for a few minutes (but only a few!) to see the crazyness!!! And the "kermit" man......ha!

So, I promise not to watch it for more than a few- and I don't have a Nielson meter, but you have peaked my curiousity. However, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU! We live in crazy times.

UPDATE: I called mom and told her to read your post and that she might want to reconsider the show. And she said, "well....I did get a little worried about it last night when the kids stayed up 'til 4 a.m. in the saloon getting literally sugary drunk and weird doing rootbeer shots!"

This show gets freakier and freakier....I can't wait to see it!!

I'm with you. Save the children! How DID this ever get on the air. I refuse to watch it. I even find the commercials disturbing. I know it's been compared to "Lord of the Flies".
But there is a difference. One is fiction the other is reality. (Or maybe it isn't reality and they've conned us all.)

Yeah, Gail, that's the point that my mom brought up...it can't be "reality" because that would be, well, illegal. She said the kids are probably hooked up with their parents in some swanky hotel rooms, lounging in the pool until "action" time where they head to the set and shoot the scenes.

Katie, I also love Survivor. And now, sick as it is, I'm hooked on KN! I'm a total freak. Mainly I'm watching to see if anything they're pulling is truly illegal. They say they're completely unsupervised, but the camera crew is always around, and the Kermit-man (He doesn't look like KTF, he just has that cheesy-Kermit-y pageant show host voice...can't describe it, you just have to hear it.) is always around as well. So, maybe it's not reality after all.

Still, it's weird.

Didn't James Frey get persecuted for calling his fiction "reality"?? Hmm...

Eve
(P.S. Um, yeah. The 4am rootbeer shot contest...who lets their kids do that?? Oiy Vey!)

What Gail and Eve said.

I don't have TV, but I caught a bit of this on a recent trip to town and I thought it looked like summer camp until some kid won $20K. Talk about pressure. Holy kangaroos!

Um ... it's my son's favourite show (he's 11) and he wants to be on it if they ever do it again.

So far, I haven't seen anything shocking enough for me to dislike the show. The kids didn't have to watch the chicken murders and they don't have to stay.

Do I think 8 is a bit young? yeah, I do, but wow, most of those kids just keep impressing me.

Why try out for a "reality" tv show to win money when you can send your kid to do it instead? And, Eve, why shouldn't the kids know exactly where their chicken mcnuggets come from? Aside from the unreality/irony of having camera crews around all the time, plus Kermit-guy, maybe this show will help people realize that kids don't need to be over-programmed and over-stimulated with staged activities and computer games, etc. You know, back to simpler times and all. I'm just sayin'. Lamy

You make good points, Jen, Linda, and Lamy. Except for the McNugget comment. That's just wrong! (I can say that to her, she's my sister.)

Okay, I watched again this week, and although there is nothing completely "shocking" going on, I guess it's the whole Corn-Children/LOTF feel that creeps me out. (Remember, I'm a teacher, I know how scary unattended children can be.)

Now, that said, I'm pretty impressed with the degree of maturity, resourcefulness, and compassion some of the kids show. Also, it is cool that, in general, when you leave kids alone (without TV, video games, DVD's, etc) they find plenty to do.

One last thing...I'm all about giving kids as much responsibility and age-appropriate independence as they can handle. They tend to be able to solve their own problems and work things out with others on their own without parents/teachers hovering.

However, I guess it was Jimmy (from Episode 1) who said it best, while sobbing uncontrollably with his dirty, snotty nose running..."I'm 8-years-old, only in 3rd grade. I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this stuff!"

Last week on VH1's "Best Week Ever" (BEST show ever, BTW) some comedian said, "Nothing warms my heart more than a broken spirit!"

Eve

I'm a bit embarrased to say I've watched all 3 episodes.

Did these parents never watch the 7 up series? And see how it impacted the participants? And that's some documentary few people watch. I seriously wonder at the impact on these kids' lives, particularly those who are portrayed in such a negative manner.

Plus, the structure imposed by adults negates any "kid" nation element of the show.

Yet, still I watch.

Interesting photo, Robin! (Was it taken after you'd ingested a few shots of Schnapps?)

I hear you about the synopsis, and what a great analogy with the art...my synopses always seem to turn out like a Jackson Pollock painting, and seem to make just as much sense. Maybe I'll try the Schnapps next time...

I'm doing the exact same thing--writing a synopsis for my middle grade novel for my agent. BUT, not only did it need to include a synopsis, but also a bio, comparision to other books in the genre, curriculum considerations and marketing ideas. All in 2 pages!

Nearly killed me, it did! (No Schnapps, but there was a lot of Diet Coke involved)

Good luck with yours!

I'm doing the synopsis, too, but not yet for MY agent, just for any agent who wants it that MIGHT want my book, too.

It is a PAIN! Luckily, I got to delay some of the agony by sending it off to my critique group, who will make me happy today by shredding it to pieces & putting it back together in some semblance of coherency...I hope!

Good luck!

The snake picture is very cool--I actually like them, although maybe not QUITE as much as your adorable son!

For me, it's the synopsis that's easy. Writing the book is hard. If I could make a living writing book synopsis' I'd be rich.

If I made a living writing books, I couldn't make my car payment. Of course, I haven't made it yet anyway.

Funny, Don. I totally agree with you on the synopsis thing. I kind of like that part; writing it makes me feel like I actually have a whole story somewhere in there. So, Robin, send it on over and I'll hook you up with a synopsis...call me the Synopsis Whisperer!

And, OMG, GF! I thought you were kidding about going to the Annual Snake and Reptile-Palooza thing. You're tougher than me, for sure. It's making me hurl just to look at the pic!

xoxo
Evie

Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?

And I don't understand why they ask for synopses. Ack. I've never read one that was fun to read.

It's weird how people have definite opinions on the synopsis writing thing...either love it or hate it.

And Eve, you are great at writing synopses. I'll send mine your way so you can cut, cut, cut!! (A whole page, please.)

And Becky, good luck with getting the agent!

-R

Robin,

Thanks for the good wishes. It's out "there" right now.

Man, it's hard to type with your fingers crossed!

Very cool idea, Jay. And Sheridan is a beautiful place...

It is beautiful. Even though I only lived there for six months, it still feels like a second home.

And the sense of community there is amazing!

- Jay

I just finished 13 Reasons Why and absolutely loved it. It's my favorite book of the year and I'll be recommended it to all my friends. The plot was riveting, yet thought-provoking (and, let me tell you, you don't get a lot of that). It made me reevaluate my relationships with friends and casual acquaintances. Really, I could go on for days about it... :-)

I'm still stuck on the fact that your parents built an exact replica of your old bedroom in their new house. Maybe it's just me, but right after my senior year in high school, my mother moved to a two bedroom, got rid of everything that was mine, and I had to sleep on the sofabed when I came home for the holidays.

No old pile of momentos, no old bedspreads, no cute notes to sift through. My childhood memories have been distilled down into one small Rubbermaid box that has some old yearbooks and a teddy bear that I made in fourth grade.

Maybe I did have a traumatic childhood, but didn't realize it. Or maybe your mom and dad just love you more ;)

Eve, I'm right there with you. I, too, loved childhood and for the most part, high school. (I've also avoided a lot of typically grown-up decisions.)

Do you ever wonder if this is a disadvantage to your writing? So many YA and MG books are based on serious problems, traumas, and angst. Happy books with well-adjusted MCs seem pretty uncommon. So what do you write about?

CJ, I think my parents are just as nostalgic as I am for the "good old days" so maybe they're hoping that if they keep my room the same, one day I'll come back and stay there forever. We have a very tight-knit family, obviously. I'm lucky, I know.

It's funny, Jen. I get asked that question A LOT. My MCs seem to always be happy, well-adjusted teens who have never had problems until page one of my books. Then I throw them into a strange situation that they have to navigate while trying to stay happy and well-adjusted. It seems to work for me!

BTW, Jen, your website and blog are so impressive! I'm envious of your world travels. :)

Eve

Dude, your "new" bedroom is not exactly the same as the old one. First, the bed is across from the window instead of under it. Second, Mom got new pillows to plump (though they look the same!). And, finally, there are pictures of your nephew in this bedroom. O.k., since those were the only differences I found, maybe it is a little weird. Hey, why didn't they make a replica of my bedroom? They even gave away my furniture. Lamy

Wow, Eve, sounds like a blessed highschool experience! You know MY highschool (F.V.) and I didn't love it. It wasn't golden, but it wasn't traumatic either. Maybe the murky dullness of my memories of those years are part of the reason I don't write mainstream/contemp. fiction -- I can barely remember my OWN high school years, let alone imagine what it's like now! Or, I just don't got there much in my imagination. I don't know. Interesting thought. For me, the magic years were middle school and upper elementary, when we lived overseas. I do toy with the idea of fictionalizing those years, but not too seriously. Maybe some day.

I also think it's awesome you still have a kid room at home. My parents moved so much over the years that is long past. I think I would love it though, if such a room existed!

Oh, and [long comment!] I've blogged before about happy childhoods and how so many writers keep them a kind of shameful secret, like writers are supposed to be forged by misery. I took a writing workshop with Anne Lamott and when she asked the class to raise their hands if they had a happy childhood, I was the ONLY one that did!!!

I loved high school too. I loved the fact that the only goal most of the time was to have fun. And boy did we have FUN!

High school sucked.

Maybe it was because I grew an inch every minute and couldn't buy enough pants to keep up with my quickly lenthening legs, and I couldn't date anyone in my grade because the only guy taller than me was Hottie McHottie Eddie Moore and he was only dating adorable, petite girls who wore pants that actually fit. The jerk. Not that I'm bitter.

(Excuse me while I go burn my yearbook.)

-Robin

Ha! Robin, you kill me.

Yay, Lisa S. for admitting to loving high school too!

And, Laini, we've discussed this before, but what is up with American teenagers having negative adolescent experiences? Maybe kids are nicer to each other in other countries. I think we're the only country with a serious bully/clique problem. Don't quote me on that. Just my observation.

Eve

I went out to dinner with some writers about 2 months ago (at the LA conference) and one of them said that she has a voice that she writes from that is her favorite age from when she was a kid. We went around the table and gave our age that we create from. Not one person had a moment of hesitation in answering- not one. Mine is age 6.

Hi Eve. I loved seeing you a few weeks back at the local conference. You looked like a teen standing in the classroom and so did Robin. How do you two do it? I loved what Steph said about the age of our inner child. Somedays I'm 3, somedays I'm 12, somedays I'm that awkward miserable age of 15,sporting that oopsy haircut with those one-inch bangs. But guess what, I'm never, not ever, my chronicle age. My mom can't figure out how I just never grow up. Maybe that's why she's still trying to raise me. Of course she's 87 and I'm 60.
I hope all our inner kids never grow up. Sorry Mom's everywhere.

Cynthia Bates

See you tomorrow at Val's workshop.

Hi Eve,

What an interesting discussion this has sparked! I've been thinking about your question about American teens vs. teens from other countries. Here in Italy, kids don't have lunch at school--they get out of school at 1:00 each day (including Saturdays), so they have lunch at home. And their parents are home, as well, since all the shops close for lunch. I've noticed that there aren't many babysitters here and no child care centers...well, there are, they're called "grandparents," ;-)so kids don't come home to an empty house. Not having the whole school cafeteria scene cuts down on a lot of angst, imo...there's no "cool crowd" lunch table, no one sits alone, etc. And if you come home from school upset about something, there'll be someone home who will likely notice.

Also, there's a real emphasis in the U.S. on teens being "well-rounded," especially to get into college--it's not enough to have good grades, you have to volunteer to help puppies with cancer, be president of the chess club and play the tuba. Italian teens don't have afterschool clubs--they do have sports activities, but they're city-wide (it would sort of be like signing up for soccer at the local YMCA instead of at your high school). So there's another big missing chunk of clique-potential...no high school football games, no cheerleaders, etc.

And if you can believe it, Italian teens don't even have a prom...instead, they usually have a class dinner at the end of the year where they invite their teachers!

One last point (sorry this is such a long post!)...the schools that kids attend isn't necessarily the ones that are closest to home. When teens enter high school, they choose a school according to what they want to study (Math and Science, Languages, etc.), so although you might know some people from your middle school, everyone pretty much starts fresh with a whole new crowd one they hit high school.

I'm not saying that Italian kids are never bullied, and I certainly see cliques hanging out on their motorscooters outside of coffee shops, but it's a whole different experience from what American teens experience. That said, I have to say that I did like high school, and can't imagine it without the football games, cafeteria, etc.

Thanks for bringing this topic up!

Hi Cynthia and Stephanie! Generally, I'm 14 most of the time. I think my development was arrested there because I loved that age so much. Once I began driving, working, etc, adult responsibilities seemed to creep up too quickly.

And, Natalie...wow! Such great information. It's so fascinating that Italian schools don't revolve around sports and social activities the way ours do. In my high school (and college) sports were so important that great athletes could get away with murder (okay, not murder, but close!) because they were considered so important to the identity of the school.

Then, of course, most cliques spawn from sports, clubs, student government, etc. Then the whole pressure to be "well-rounded" complicates the angst and adds to competition among teens. I don't know what it is, but the teens I know from other countries (Europe mainly) don't seem to go through the same "too cool" phase that American teens do. Maybe the Italians have it all figured out!

Eve

Now, in regards to the game Operation, for some reason I always went for the Wrenched Funny Bone first. Seems kind of prophetic...

Greg

I'm impressed and flattered, Eve, that you got all the way to my *other* blog. And I'll be impressed if you find this comment--ha! Unless you have Blogger set to send you emails when someone comments.

Jay,

That was a beautiful post.

Thank YOU for sharing your journey with us. Here's hoping the best is yet to come.

Donna

In On Writing, Stephen King has a touching passage about dedications to spouses in first books! Sounds like JoanMarie deserves every bit of hers!

What exciting times, Jay!

Time flies when you are having fun! Savor the moments! Also, thanks for the inspiration.

YAY!
I can't wait to go buy your book! Thanks for keeping us (virtually) part of the journey,

Namaste,

Lee

Jay,
Eve and I love being your personal cheering squad and we'll continue to do that until you say stop.
(Even though these little cheerleading outfits you make us wear are getting kinda itchy.)

-Robin

Looking forward to hearing the 10-minute version of your journey next month at CLU.

Greg

Ooohhh, I'm guessing you've started a virtual stampede over at e-Bay! Like those crazy moms trying to grab the last Tickle Me Elmo off the shelves all those years ago!

Jay! I had the biggest smile reading your post. I was in your workshop "Creating A Buzz" a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to tell you that you were great and totally entertaining. You better get over your nerves because you're a great speaker!

Nerves? Nah...that was all part of my act, Rachel.

Okay, so I really did have to sing Eye of the Tiger before I entered the room. But at least I didn't have to picture everyone in their underwear. Cuz remember those two guys in the front row?

That would've freaked me out for sure!

- Jay

Jay, you have some fabulous women in your life! Three & a half weeks -- so soon! So exciting! Can't wait to see what this year holds for you, Jay. And so funny you already found a hardcover on ebay. How'd that happen??

P.S. I just wrote my bizarre word verification word down in one of my notebooks as a potential villain name some day. Ha ha. Thanks for that!

That was lovely! And congratulations!

eBay?!

It's like Sotheby's...but less snooty.

- Jay

I just received the new razorbill catalog and Thirteen Reasons Why has a lovely two page spread. Congratulations!
- a Massachusetts librarian

I pre-ordered my copy on Amazon about a month ago! I can't WAIT to read it.

And as always, when you write about Joan-Marie I get all farklempt.

Congratulations to the winners! Woo hoo!

Hah! These are great. A big YAY for the winners.

Although I have to admit, I was rooting for Cynjay's "the whole thing was just a dream. She's fine." to win because it made me laugh the loudest.

Man, I've lost two contests this week. I'm on a real roll . . .

Kimberly Lynn

P. S.

Congrats to you winners! I really liked the sharp objects and thirteen suspects entries too.

Funny stuff!

Those are very funny. I especially like #3! Thirteen Suspects!

Very funny!! Good luck with the launch!!!

Hey! I can say 'been there AND got the t-shirt'.

Fun!

Congrats to all the other winners yadda-yadda-yadda.

:-)

Holy moly, I never win anything! Thanks, guys!

And congrats to the other winners and to everyone one who entered, I really thought yadda yadda....

Hee hee! Good ones. Congrats.

Apples to oranges - hah! Love that one.