How to use this Page

While at the SCBWI Winter Conference in NYC, my roommate Liza Parfomak started talking about all the research she had done in the short time she had been focusing on children’s books.  I said, “Why don’t you write up something for my blog,” and Liza agreed.  I met Liza last year at our NJSCBWI Summer Conference in June.  Again another example how one thing leads to another.  Liza reads my blog and e-mailed to ask if I knew anyone who could share a room in New York and I offered to share my room with her.  She went to dinner on Saturday night with the group I had put together and she was so happy that she joined us, because she made a number of new friends at dinner.  Here is a picture of Liza with Henry Winkler.  Looks like Henry enjoyed Liza’s hugs.  Anyway, Liza is out there trying to learn as much as she can and giving her a chance to make things happen.

Here is Liza on doing her homework:

Research by Liza Parfomak

Writing is an art.  It is inspiration.   It comes with homework.

My story is that I am an almost PhD, who found she didn’t know the first thing about writing.   What a terrible discovery!  Seriously, all those years of school and you would think I could just whip something up and everyone would melt into goo.  I can thank the NJ SCBWI for this knowledge.

I showed up to my first ever NJ SCBWI with two stories.  I signed up for a number of critiques.  My stories were great, after all. Why shy away from feedback?  I scored a critique with a really good editor named Krista Marino.  I knew what type of book she liked and I thought she would be a good fit for my manuscript.  I was right, because when she was done with her pencil, there wasn’t a white spot of paper available on that manuscript.  I felt sorry for her; she really got the short end of the stick with all the labor she put into pointing out where I went wrong.   The critique was just part of the package for attending the conference, but she did a REALLY good job critiquing my stories.

I understood almost immediately that I held gold in my hands…and an assignment.      

[Kathy:  Sorry to jump in here, but this is something many authors don't see right away.  They walk into a critique and expect the editor or agent to love what they wrote.  If the editor/agent is not interested in what they read and don't want to buy it, then you need them to pick it apart.  You don't have to agree with everything they say, but you do want them to say it.  So no tears, keep your composure, and pull as much as you can out of the critiquer.  The feedback will help you revise your manuscript - just be willing to revise.  I know people who have been writing for many years, who fight the revision process.

Come prepared to your one-on-one critique with all of your nagging questions.  Get them answered.  Sometimes editors/agents will say, "So tell me about the book.  How did you come up with this idea."  This might be a legitimate question, but fifteen minutes go fast and authors could talk for hours about their book. You don't have the luxury, answer quickly and redirect the editor or agent back to what they thought when they read your manuscript.  Find out what they think you need to do to improve your book.  

I don't want to hear, "Well, she didn't tell me very much" or "I don't know what she was talking about," after your critique.  It is your job to question and find out what the editor/agent means.  If you feel they are not giving you enough, it is your job to drag all out of them   So be prepared going in to your critique to get the answers you need