Plotting and Scheming

Note to Self: Loosen Up

2012-02-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

That's what I've been telling myself lately, again and again (and again). It's kind of ridiculous because I've done this before. Why hasn't my brain absorbed it yet?

First drafts aren't supposed to be pretty. I know this. I've written about it in past posts. Yet I have to remind myself every time I work through a new first draft.

It helps me to think about Anne Lamott's words in BIRD BY BIRD and to truly view my draft as the sh**ty first draft. It helps me to remember that I need to get all the clay on the wheel before I can shape it.

How about you? Do you have to remind yourself to loosen up? Or is there something else you have to remind yourself to do?

* * *

This is Thistle reminding me that he needs his ears rubbed. He often sleeps on a doggy bed behind me when I write, but when I've been working too long (in his opinion) . . .

Look at those eyes, at that face. And he's sooo sweet. Do you see why I love him so much?

This and That

2012-02-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I like to do a post that's a mix of news and other interesting items I want to share. Today is one of those days! Are you ready?

*Stephanie Thornton signed with agent Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency. Congratulations, Stephanie!! You can read her happy news here!

*Publishers Weekly had an article about Barnes & Noble's recent announcement: B&N won't be stocking Amazon-published titles. Another PW article by Marc Schultz soon followed, saying, "This has all happened before."

*The Intern posted an eye-opening e-mail from an editorial assistant, cautioning unagented writers. It echoes a super informative post by Editorial Ass that I linked to a while back.

*Susan Fields pointed out a new site that's worth visiting. It's called Cupid's Literary Connection, and it's a blog "where an undercover cupid brings writers and agents together to form magical literary connections."

*The Intern had another post you won't want to miss, Dinner with Literary Agents. It's excellent, really.

*Looking for a blog that's filled with warmth, positivity, and creativity? Faith Pray's blog is one of the coziest corners of the Internet! Faith is a writer, an artist, and an amazing parent. I was lucky to get to meet her in person last year! She's a sweetheart! If you have not yet discovered her blog, go check it out!

How about you? Do you have anything you'd like to share? Tell me, tell me, tell me!

MAY B. by Caroline Starr Rose

2012-01-28T16:48:00.001-08:00

So who has already read MAY B. by bloggy friend Caroline Starr Rose? I read it last week, and I loved it!

MAY B. is Caroline's debut! It's a middle grade novel, and it was released January 10, 2012, by Schwartz & Wade, an imprint of Random House. Here's a book description I snatched from IndieBound:

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return.
Something's happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead--just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by fifteen long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

The protagonist is a great example of a sympathetic, courageous character. I really enjoyed reading May's story. I'm so happy for Caroline, and I look forward to her next book!

The SCBWI Winter Conference is under way in New York City, the land of delicious street vendor hot dogs. And oh, yeah--the heart of publishing. Rather than ramble about how much I love New York or post a picture of myself hugging a HarperCollins pillar (which some might mistakenly think screams immaturity since we all know how sophisticated I am), I'll just wish bucket loads of learning and inspiration to those who are attending this year's conference. Luckily, the rest of us can follow the events at the official SCBWI conference blog.

How is everything in your corner of the blogosphere?

Progress?

2012-01-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

Did all of you see Nathan Bransford's 2011 e-book poll last November? Since 2007, he's been taking informal polls on where his readers stand regarding e-books. While he has a disclaimer stating it isn't scientific and it's for entertainment purposes only, I still find it super interesting. Check it out and peek at the bar graphs for each year. I've voted multiple years, and not always the same way. It took me a while to get excited about e-readers, but eventually I wanted one. My family gave me a Nook, and I love it. Love it, love it, love it!

That said, I see a negative side to all this technology at our fingertips. Now that I can check e-mail from my phone, I find I do it even when I'm not expecting anything important. I can, therefore I do.

I remember fondly the days when kids drew posters for reports instead of doing PowerPoint presentations. That said, I want my kids up on the latest and greatest technologies for work and play. I want them to stay comfortable and confident in today's world as well as tomorrow's. But I also see missed opportunities where imagination could have been exercised, small motor skills could have been practiced, and human interaction could have been experienced.

While I embrace the e-book, my laptop, the Internet (Blogging! Book research! E-mail! So much great stuff!), and the Starbucks locator on my cell, I sometimes wonder if today's kids are getting the raw end of the deal. I wonder what we're doing to our attention spans, our inner quiet, and sometimes even our creativity. Are we moving forward or backward?

* * *

Ann Droyd's GOODNIGHT IPAD: A PARODY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION is pretty dang clever. Have you read it?

I won't be posting next weekend because my family has tons of stuff on the calendar, but I'll be back the following weekend. Happy writing to all of you!

In Love and Manuscripts

2012-01-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, bloggy friends! Is everyone's 2012 off to a good start? I hope so!

At the very end of 2011, I went snowshoeing with my family, and--WHAM! A new book idea hit me! I'm thrilled to have a new love again!

(Please note: objects in puffy, red coats are smaller than they appear.)

Right after I thought of my "novel novel" idea, I could feel two or three of the characters and the voice. That's when I know I'm on the right path, that I'm focusing on the right story. You know how it is when lines of dialogue and story pieces start materializing, and you can't wait to get the ideas and words on paper? It's that story crush period when the beauty of the idea is so bright and it's all so new that you can't yet see the imperfections and plot holes. You know they're there, though, because nothing is perfect--yet the love of the story will make you stick around and work things out.

I think we have chemistry with certain stories. If we're writers, the chemistry will help us find our voices and ignite us with a passion to get the words on the page. I'm not saying it's easy; it's work. But something makes that story alive in us.

In the same vein, while agents and editors sort through oodles of submissions, only certain manuscripts have a special spark and make them fall in love. The same goes for all of us as readers. One person might love a story while that same story falls flat for someone else. It's like chemistry in relationships: just because he's cute and your best friend thinks he's right for you, it totally doesn' t mean he's zing-worthy.

Oh! Now I feel like sharing a video featuring the mad scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz of Phineas and Ferb, a super clever TV show I adore. Click here if you'd like to watch it. The clip shows villains in love, singing and dancing--evil people with their own weird chemistry.

Much different from Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his gal, here's a pic of my dad and mom, two amazing people with kind hearts and beautiful chemistry!

I guess in love and manuscripts, the right chemistry is required.

Sweet News

2011-12-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

SCBWI Western Washington has an annual cookie competition, and this year's event took place Tuesday night. I baked some cookies and won first runner-up! And there were prizes! I won an Olympics-style cookie ribbon and a gift card to a bookstore!

The grand prize went to uber-baker Chadwick Gillenwater. Lida Enche won "Most Creative" for her Sidewalk Crack Cookies. Check out her blog to see how amazing her cookies were. Seriously, go now. I'll wait.

Weren't they amazing?! I brought one home so I could show my family! Such beautiful cookies!

I baked Chocolate Dipped Toffee Bits Cookies.

You can find the recipe here. I would like to note that while I'm aware the apostrophe in Heath Bits 'o Brickle Toffee Bits is in the wrong place, I am not responsible for the gross misuse of punctuation. Tee-hee!

The cookie fun was just one part of our meeting. During the mini-session, Liz Mills interviewed a few librarians who work in schools or with teens. My favorite parts were when they spoke about what they would like to see more of and when they gave hints for author visits.

Authors Heather Davis and Liz Gallagher did a presentation, "How to Start a Fire: Inspiration Now, Inspiration Later," during our main session. I loved it! It was so helpful for where I am right now, rewriting one book and playing with a shiny, new idea for another. What made their talk extra special, in my opinion, was the fact that they work differently from one another; it exemplified how there isn't one "right" way.

At the meeting, Joni Sensel and Laurie Thompson officially passed the co-regional advisor torch to Jaime Temairik and Kimberly Baker. All four of these ladies are incredible, and I am sooo thankful for all they do.

Enjoy the holidays! I'll see you all in 2012!

What's Hot at Eagle Harbor Book Company

2011-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season of gifties, and a book is the perfect gift, yes? As writers and/or illustrators, I'm sure you agree. Think of the message you could be sending by giving someone special in your life a book! Some examples:
1. I'm thinking of you.
2. You're my friend.
3. I don't care if all the other mothers are allowing their children's brains to rot by letting them have endless screen time. I want more for you. Here's something really special! (Though a wee bit of Call of Duty: MW3 never hurt anyone. Not that I'm addicted. *ahem*)

I once again asked Victoria the bookseller to share the names of YA and children's titles that have been selling well at Eagle Harbor Book Company, a fabulous indie here in Western Washington. She went through the stats and told me the top fifteen YA and children's titles from last week.

Are you ready? Here's the list!

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

INHERITANCE by Christopher Paolini

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6: CABIN FEVER by Jeff Kinney

WILDWOOD by Colin Meloy, illustrations by Carson Ellis (Fun to note: Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis are married, and Colin Meloy is the singer and songwriter for the band the Decemberists.)

THE LEGO IDEAS BOOK - DK Publishing

ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Mark Fearing

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (with DVD) illustrated by Jan Brett

OTIS AND THE TORNADO by Loren Long

THE INVENTION OF HUGE CABRET by Brian Selznick

SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

GRANDFATHER TWILIGHT by Barbara Berger

SHIP BREAKER by Paolo Bacigalupi

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

WONDERSTRUCK by Brian Selznick

Victoria told me YA is always strong this time of year, which I thought was interesting. Also, Christopher Paolini recently participated in a WEST SOUND READS! event, and Victoria said the bookstore is still feeling the Paolini Effect. The Guinness Book of World Records is another book that's doing very well. It's usually bought by kids and for kids, but it's not on this list because it isn't specifically a kids' book.

I'd like to thank Victoria for taking the time for this. I personally think someone should create a Victoria the Bookseller action figure that smiles, makes people feel welcome, and jumps tall stacks of books in a single bound. :)

Are you planning on giving any books as gifts this month? What books do you have on your wish list? What are you reading now?

Winner of AUDITION

2011-12-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

As always, I did the drawing for my book giveaway old school, putting slips of paper with the names of the entries in a bowl. My daughter drew the winner for us.

Congratulations, Rebecca (RivkaBelle)! Please email me with your address so I can get your copy of AUDITION in the mail right away! Thanks to everyone who entered my contest. I wish I had a book for each of you.

Since AUDITION is a verse novel, I thought I'd link to a poem I posted the month I started blogging. It's quite steamy. Tee-hee!

So! Poetry! How many of you write it?

Interview: Author Stasia Ward Kehoe (and a Book Giveaway!)

2011-11-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to share an interview with my friend Stasia, one of the first people I met through SCBWI Western Washington. As I told Stasia, I feel like I'm one of her debut novel's adoring aunties. Between sessions at the 2010 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York, Stasia and I exchanged the first five pages of our manuscripts and read them standing next to a shiny, black piano. Her writing completely impressed me. Her words were gorgeous and poignant, and--written in verse--amazingly concise. Soon after that, she asked if I would be a beta reader. I read her full and knew her manuscript deserved to be a book. I wrote about it here. When AUDITION came out and I saw the opening lines printed on the pages of a real book, it brought me back to that piano in New York City. It was truly a moving experience. Stasia's success should inspire us all; it exemplifies how talent and hard work pay off.

* * *

Stasia grew up dancing and performing on stages from New Hampshire to Washington, D.C. She now writes books for young adults and choreographs the occasional musical. She is represented by Catherine Drayton of InkWell Management.

AUDITION
(Viking/Penguin, October 13, 2011)

Here's the blurb:

It all started with the audition . . .

When Sara is offered a scholarship with the prestigious Jersey Ballet, there's no way she can turn down the opportunity of a lifetime. But to take it, she must leave her family and friends for a strange city. Suddenly, she's thrust into a life of endless ballet class and rehearsal, of juggling schoolwork with hours in the studio, of constantly being critiqued, corrected, and judged.

Overwhelmed and lonely, Sara connects with Remington, a brilliant up-and-coming choreographer. Though he's too old for her, sparking scandal at the studio, Sara is thrilled to become Rem's muse. But as the secrets pile up and Rem's innovative dances start to attract wider attention, Sara wonders whose dreams she's making come true.

Debut author Stasia Ward Kehoe spins an intense and romantic page-turner about the deeply flawed yet irresistible world of ballet.

Dawn: How did you decide to write AUDITION in verse? It was such a brilliant idea!

Stasia: I didn't decide to write AUDITION in verse so much as find my way to the form. The novel started as a monologue for a playwriting class. I wrote about a young dancer getting dressed for an audition. I felt connected to the character, so I started trying to feature her in a prose novel. It was all right, but I felt the novel didn't have the spark I really wanted. Then, I found myself in a verse novel writing workshop with Ellen Hopkins and I was on my way.

Dawn: What are a few ways your performing arts skills enhance your writing? I'm not referring to the subject matter and authenticating details of AUDITION, but I'm asking in a more general sense.

Stasia: First of all, I consider myself a craftsperson, not an artist. Just like in dance, I believe you need to flex the writing muscle pretty much every day to get to where you want to be. As a verse novelist, I find myself paying attention to the cadence and forms of the poetry. I think very structurally, very choreographically. I think that comes from my dance background. And for me, stories definitely begin with character. I say their "lines" out loud, try to feel what they feel, do a bit of "method acting" to get at their motivations.

Dawn: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Stasia: Be as honest as you can in your writing. Never shy away from what you believe your characters need to say or do. Then, when you feel you're as close to the bone as you can get . . . go closer. If your writing doesn't make you shiver or cry, you cannot expect your reader to do so. Even if you're writing light, funny, or surreal, it has to also feel true.

Also, while it's great to take advice, guidance, and feedback, the best story you can write is the one that only you can tell. That's the cool, crazy, amazing thing about being a writer. So, even when you're making editorial changes, be certain that you are also holding on to your own story, your characters. That way, you don't run the risk of diluting things as your work evolves from desktop manuscript to published work (you CAN get there!).

Dawn: Thank you for taking the time for this interview, Stasia! I wish you continued success!

Places you can find Stasia on the Internet:
http://www.stasiawardkehoe.com/
Writer on the Side
A Year of Auditions
Stages on Pages
The Bookanistas

* * *

Now it's time for the giveaway! I have a copy of AUDITION to send to one lucky follower. To enter the contest, all you have to do is:

1. leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, December 2, 2011
2. be a follower of this blog
3. have a mailing address in the U.S. or Canada (Sorry I have to set limits. I wish I could include everyone!)

Each person can enter only once.

Good luck, and thank you for following my blog! :)

We Are Our Own Protagonists

2011-11-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

Each person is the protagonist in his or her own life. This is true whether someone is a writer, an architect, a fast food restaurant employee, a doctor, a student, a dancer, or a funeral director. And while I'm stating the obvious, each life has oodles of stories that can be told about it. The first day of school might be a picture book story. The same is true for the second grade spelling bee--even if you lose because you overthink an answer and wind up sobbing, and the happy ending comes when your mom buys you a trophy to let you know you're always a winner in her eyes.

(Thanks, Mom!)

If you dissect one person's life, think of the stories that may be told. If I were to imagine my current aspiring author-self as the protagonist in a book or film, the big tear-jerking moment at the end would be the agent call that lets me know about my first book deal. (The part of the agent has yet to be cast, but those who qualify may audition.) Another story could cover the next books (!), my time in rehab for Frappuccino addiction (I hope not!), how I handle being a New York Times bestselling author (Dream big, bloggy friends!), or how I die an old woman hunched over the keyboard, unpublished but working until the very end to change that (genre: horror).

Let's focus on the story about the journey from "aspiring author" to "author." It is a journey. At the beginning, we have no idea how little we know. The map in our hands, we soon realize, has folds that stick together, hiding miles of terrain. Also, the section marked as hilly is actually a ginormous mountain range dotted with lava pits (failure), soul-sucking spiders (self-doubt), and little pygmy goats that distract us with their cuteness (everything in life that might be easier to obtain). But aren't journey stories with lava pits, soul-sucking spiders, and pygmy goats the most rewarding in the end? (Note to self: add lava pits, soul-sucking spiders, and pygmy goats to work-in-progress.)

Don't get me wrong: as much as I like conflict in stories, I don't want it in my real life. I want to be published as soon as I possibly can. If I could have debuted yesterday, I would have. But with hindsight, I'm glad I didn't debut, say, five years ago. While I felt ready and craved a book deal a bajillion times more than I thirsted for any caffeinated drink with a green straw, I've learned so much since then. I've grown as a writer and as a person. I'm now farther along on my journey, and I'm more prepared.

As the protagonist in my own life, I can't wait for the climax! I am on the edge of my seat! But really, I can wait. I have to. Besides, you shouldn't rush a good story.

Question: if you could peek at the end of the current book you're starring in to learn the date of the next big moment in your writing journey, would you?

*Note: next week I'll post an interview with author Stasia Ward Kehoe! I will be giving away a copy of AUDITION, her debut YA novel!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Random Bits

2011-11-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

*Last Saturday I attended a Field's End seminar led by author James Thayer. It was a Character Development Intensive. Since I'm really examining the bones of my story and tweaking each of my characters, the timing was ideal.

*My husband made a yummy pumpkin side dish that evening.

Jim often cooks on Saturday or Sunday nights, and his meals are usually the best ones of the week! He served the pumpkin with Alaskan cod and green beans. Mmm...

My husband is a constant source of strength and love, and I adore him!

Jim :)

*The monthly meeting for SCBWI Western Washington was Tuesday night, and we watched the documentary LIBRARY OF THE EARLY MIND. Director and co-producer Edward J. Delaney was our guest, and he answered questions after the film.

LIBRARY OF THE EARLY MIND trailer:

It was a super interesting film--and a fun night! If you didn't catch it at any of the screenings, you can check it out when it becomes available on DVD!

*Have you seen the list of the best books of 2011 that Publishers Weekly put together? You can find it here.

*My buddy Molly Hall sent me a link to a beautiful post at Laini Taylor's blog. Molly said it sang to her heart, and I'm betting it will sing to yours as well.

How was your week? Have you read any posts lately that left you extra inspired?

Fresh Eyes

2011-11-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

I sometimes have trouble putting a project away, though I'm fully aware that the fresh eyes that come from doing so can be priceless. I'm now working on a manuscript I set aside for over a year, and I can see it clearer. Also, some of the feedback I received at consultations is resonating in a new way.

About half of what I've written over the past nine years has been young adult, the other half middle grade. My dream career would allow me to write both--and to do so brilliantly since, you know, we're talking dreams. :)

The project I'm working on was originally written as a young adult novel, but it should have been middle grade. I see that now. It's exciting to dig into it again with a more objective eye and another year of writing under my belt.

How about you? Have you ever jumped back into a project after setting it aside for a year? If so, how did it turn out?

I feel like a song this week!

(Could OneRepublic's lead singer Ryan Tedder be any cuter? No, no he couldn't.)

Cool Things I've Seen in the Last Two Weeks

2011-10-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

1. This bulletin board was hanging in the children's section of a local library.

I don't know how well you can see it, but written across the top are the words "The best book I read this summer was . . ." Look at all that writing! I love it!

While I was there, a little boy added THE SON OF NEPTU NE. It was adorable to watch!

2. My husband and I were at the grocery store selecting a movie, and we spotted ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS!

This was exciting because it's a movie based on a book by my writing mentor of six years, Sheila Roberts! It was made into a movie last year for the Lifetime Movie Network, but I didn't expect to see it on the shelf at Safeway. Go, Sheila!

3. I received an e-mail from Janet Johnson telling me I won a copy of THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker! Yay! Thank you, Janet! :)

4. I walked downstairs and found the world's longest dog!

Okay, now I'm messing around. I just wanted to have more than three cool things on my list. That's Thistle's head and Pepper's . . . um . . . hindquarters. They're demonstrating one of the many ways they share their new blanket.

What cool things have you seen lately, bloggy friends? Tell me, tell me, tell me!

Interview: Author George Shannon

2011-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Ever since I met George Shannon, I've enjoyed his playful spirit, admired his work, and respected him as a human being. Before long he shifted from someone up on a pedestal to a good friend who celebrates my tiny victories with me, the great guy who got me a silly hat on a past birthday. But holy cow. Today I've been rereading his books and his blog entries while thinking about his career so I could brainstorm questions for his interview, and . . . I'm blown away by his wisdom and experience. I'm humbled.

And I'm honored to share my interview with George.

Books and libraries have always been George's second home. He loved pretending in grade school, but it wasn't till the seventh grade that he knew he wanted to make books. His first submission to a publisher and the resulting rejection letter was at age sixteen. Eleven more years of school, college, writing, reading, working as a librarian, writing, and more writing brought his first book contract for LIZARD'S SONG. Since then he has written many, many stories and thirty of them have been published as picture books. He has also written books for adults that explore folktales and writing. George's favorite book is always the one he's currently writing because the process is always more fun than looking back at books already done. When he's not working on his own stories, George helps students with their own writing both here and abroad. George's books include DANCE AWAY, STORIES TO SOLVE, TOMORROW'S ALPHABET, TIPPY-TOE CHICK GO, WHITE IS FOR BLUEBERRY, THE SECRET CHICKEN CLUB, and RABBIT'S GIFT that received both the Washington State Book Award and the Worzalla/Burr Award. In 2008 George received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association.

Dawn: What authors have most influenced you?

George: There seem to be two stages of influence on most writers' lives. Many years ago I prepared a presentation on fictional children who love to write in children's novels. One of the common elements was that these fictional young writers were all inspired by adults in their lives who loved words and loved sharing stories and poems aloud. That is certainly the case for me. However, once I began to focus on writing and children's books, I was influenced, or at least encouraged by several authors. Who?

*Arnold Lobel for his gentle humor regarding human foibles.
*M.B. Goffstein for her echoing distillation.
*Eudora Welty for her essays about writing.
*Anonymous: the hundreds of thousand of storytellers in the oral tradition throughout the world.

After that, it is not so much who inspired me, but rather what particular books made me eager to equal their quality.

Dawn: What drew you to picture books?

George: I have no pithy answer to this. I simply love the blend of word and image. I love the distillation. I love that they are read aloud which means a sharing between adult and child.

WHITE IS FOR BLUEBERRY by George Shannon
Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2005.

Dawn: Picture books require an author to write a fully developed story in very few words. Also, a picture book author has to leave room for an illustrator. It sounds like a super tricky puzzle! Will you tell us about your process?

George: It is a very slippery puzzle. Since I write but do not illustrate, I need to write half of something that actually feels complete. But it has become a puzzle I love. Over the years it has become a type of second language. I believe one of the most important things a picture book writer can do to help both his manuscript and mental health is to let go of thinking he knows what the pictures should be. Let go. If we writers truly knew, we'd already be drawing them. How to let go? Most importantly, focus on what you do with words, sounds, rhythm and pace. A well written picture book text IS the story's soundtrack and that will inform the illustrator.

Dawn: I've heard you emphasize rhythm in writing for children. Will you elaborate on why you feel it's important to pay attention to rhythm while crafting a picture book?

George: I believe attending to pace, sound and rhythm is vital to all writing. But it is especially important in picture books because picture books are read aloud. Picture books are sound and inflection. Children may read novels, but they HEAR picture books. It only makes sense that we, as writers, do our best to not only make our manuscripts alive with sound, but also write in a way that guides the adult reading to a child.

TIPPY-TOE CHICK, GO! by George Shannon
Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2003.

Dawn: Since adults often read picture books aloud to children, do you ever consider your adult audience?

George: I would actually say that picture books are almost always read by adults to a listening child or group of children. I don't really consider the adult reader in terms of keeping them entertained. But if I've done a good job of keeping the child engaged, it's likely the adult will be equally involved. This might well be one of the reasons I dislike namby-pamby cavity-inducing picture books. Such books may temporarily catch the child's attention, but they don't really give any substance to the child or adult reader.

Dawn: Why do you encourage writers to read folktales?

George: Folktales are one of the common denominators of all peoples, all cultures. As humans, we need to shape and tell stories over and over again. When something is innate, it seems foolish to ignore it. Folktales began long before print and book reviewers. However, there were certainly critics--everyone in the audience. If the teller didn't keep them engaged they could and would walk away. If you truly only write for yourself then why bother with publishing? If you write to connect with others, then most certainly keep those "others" in mind.

WISE ACRES by George Shannon
Illustrated by Deborah Zemke. Handprint Books, 2004.

Dawn: What do you like best about being an author?

George: Writing. The puzzle of writing. The challenge and occasional success of bringing a story to life.

Dawn: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

George: Write. Read. Write. Read any and everything. Write. Read at least thirty picture books for every one you start to write. Write. Read your writing aloud. Revise. Honor your writing, but do NOT protect it. Do all you can to make sure your writing can stand on its own.

RABBIT'S GIFT by George Shannon
Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Harcourt, 2007.

* * *

If you would like to check out a video of George working with kids and being interviewed about writing and kids, click here.

Thanks again to George Shannon for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing. For other stops on the tour, please check out www.provatoevents.com.

Do You Do This?

2011-10-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

While my main character lives in a house I dreamed up, her boyfriend's house is my brother Jeff's. Well, kind of. I modified it for my story. For example, the house in my book has a pool that looks a heck of a lot like the backyard swimming pool I had as a kid.

I visited family on Maui last week, and I stayed at Jeff's house. It was fun walking in and comparing it to what I'd put on the page.

Here I am with Jeff at his house. He's the one on the left. Tee-hee!

A few of the other real-life places where my characters have lived are the house I grew up in, two high school friends' houses, and my grandparents' apartment.

I assume most writers do this. Do you? Where do your characters live?

I would like to note that my amazing and beautiful friend Molly Hall is moving to the East Coast this month.

Molly and I at the Heart and Soul Celebration, 2010 SCBWI Summer Conference

So many of us here in Western Washington will miss her, but we have phones, e-mail, and conferences to bring us together! I'm actually very excited for her!

If you see this, Molly, know I'm thinking of you and sending you my love. Our Third Excellent Adventure is less than a year away! Can't wait! xo

What's Hot at Eagle Harbor Book Company

2011-10-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember my post about Eagle Harbor Book Company, one of my favorite independent bookstores. Here is their website. They are located on Bainbridge Island, a beautiful spot that's a short ferry hop from Seattle.

* * *

Interested in hearing which children's books were selling well here in Western Washington, I spoke with a bookseller from Eagle Harbor Book Company. (Hi, Victoria!) She was super helpful, and she provided me with the list of children's books they sold the most of last week. Guess what! Two Friends-o-the-Blog made the list!

THE SNIFFLES FOR BEAR by Bonny Becker

EVERY THING ON IT by Shel Silverstein

MOCKINGJAY (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

GOLIATH by Scott Westerfeld (Ooh! See my last post!)

BIG NATE ON A ROLL by Lincoln Peirce

POWER OF SIX (Lorien Legacies #2) by Pittacus Lore

BUMBLE-ARDY by Mauice Sendak

THE STORY OF FERDINAND by Munro Leaf

GOOD NIGHT, GOOD KNIGHT by Shelley Moore Thomas (Yay, Shelley!)

RABBIT'S GIFT by George Shannon (Yay, George!)

INFINITY (Chronicles of Nick #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

Eagle Harbor Book Company sells all sorts of books--not just children's--though the children's sections are my faves. They also host super cool readings. Two upcoming West Sound Reads events:

*Maggie Stiefvater will be reading from THE SCORPIO RACES on Monday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at the North Kitsap Community Auditorium in Poulsbo, Washington.

*Christopher Paolini will be at the Commons at Bainbridge High School on Monday, November 28, at 7:00 p.m. He'll be reading from INHERITANCE.

In the comments, feel free to plug an independent bookstore you love! Also, what are you reading now? I'm finally reading THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett.

Note: I won't be posting next weekend, but I will the following weekend.

Such a Great Book!

2011-09-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I started teaching a Creative Writing course to a group of middle school kids. It's pretty exciting for me because I haven't taught in years, and this class is all about writing! Plus kids have such great energy! As they learn, I want them to stay fired up about writing. I know I'll learn from this experience as well.

This week or next, I plan to touch on similes and metaphors. I had that in the back of my mind as I was doing my own pleasure reading last night. When I'm really focused on something in my own writing, reading helps me learn and process my thoughts, seeing how someone else tackled setting, dialogue, first pages--whatever I'm zeroed in on at the time. Well, last night I couldn't help notice some excellent examples of similes I can share with my students. The book I'm reading: LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfeld.

LEVIATHAN (Simon Pulse, October 2009)

For those of you who don't know about it, LEVIATHAN is the first book in the Leviathan Series. The third book of the trilogy, GOLIATH, became available September 20th. My son read LEVIATHAN when it just came out, and it has been on my to-be-read list ever since. Oh, my gosh, bloggy friends! Why did I wait so long? I haven't finished the book yet, but I'm flying through it. It's a total page-turner, and I recommend it.

Here's the blurb:

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way . . . taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

I haven't read much steampunk, but it is so fun! Scott Westerfeld's super creative story and Keith Thompson's unique illustrations are fabulous together. The characters in LEVIATHAN pulled me right into Westerfeld's richly detailed world. I can't wait to find out what will happen next! The book has loads of action, amazing creatures, and compelling characters. And did I mention the wonderful similes? :)

Click here to see the trailer.

Have you read LEVIATHAN or anything else by Scott Westerfeld? Do you like steampunk? Do you have any words of wisdom for teaching Creative Writing to middle schoolers?

Random Bits

2011-09-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

*SCBWI Western Washington had our first professional series meeting of the season. Our featured speaker was Victoria Rock, Founding Children's Book Publisher and Editor-At-Large at Chronicle Books. Ms. Rock gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how an editor and publisher decide to publish a book. She pointed out that it isn't just about a story in all its wonderfulness, but also what is on shelves now. She said we need to be aware of what makes our books different and special. Each of us needs to ask, "What makes my book stand out?"

*Janet Reid, Jill Corcoran, Rachelle Gardner, and Nathan Bransford shared their opinions on the "no response means no" approach to queries. One of the questions Mr. Bransford asked at the end of his post was, "Do you check an agent's response policy before deciding to query?"

My answer: No. I pay attention to response policies, but they don't affect whether or not I'll query an agent. How about you?

*While the economy continues to look green around the gills, some retailers say children's books are doing swimmingly--or at least pretty well. You can read a PW article about it here.

*Nothing to do with books or writing, but Pepper (left) and Thistle (second to left) ran into two fellow Whippets a couple weeks ago. Friends make everything better. :)

Happy writing!

Near Seattle? A Free Writers' Event!

2011-09-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Check this out! Martin Literary Management, a local literary agency, is going to host a free writers' event on September 25th!

(For a cleaner view of the flier, click over to the agency website.)

Setting

2011-09-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

My son and I took a short trip to San Diego last January. We were visiting my brother Erik and his family. It was a coming home of sorts, since I grew up in L.A. County and went to school in San Diego. I love California and Washington, but they're quite different from one another.

One morning when I woke up at my brother's house, I made note of all the things that told me I was back in Southern California before I even got out of bed. The first things I noticed were the sounds. Before I opened my eyes, I heard the birds of my childhood. Listening, I imagined the bedroom I grew up in, and I could recall the feeling of waking up at age eleven, sixteen, or just about any other age between five and eighteen. Putting myself back in time, I could imagine other sounds I'd heard from my bedroom, like the trickle of water from the backyard pool and the stirrings of my parents after bedtime. Then I pictured my dorm room and remembered how it felt to be nineteen. In my mind, I could hear the church bells that rang on campus. Opening my eyes, I saw the sunlight pushing through the cracks of the blinds and lighting the room even though it was still early. The room was warm. In January! Something else that brought me back, kicking up more memories.

Waking up in Washington on a January morning is different. I often wake to the drizzle of rain or, if it's a quiet rain, I hear water falling from the rain gutter. The room is dark and, even with the heat on, there's a chill in the air.

I pick up on different scents in each place. Obviously, right? Plant life varies from region to region, and seasons, tides, and other factors can also come into play. When I first moved to Washington, I noticed a new smell in my hair whenever I had been outside. I remember trying to identify it. Was it from the trees? The moist earth? The damp air? It wasn't unpleasant, just new.

None of these details are terribly exciting, but I think they're worth noting. I love it when a book I'm reading does setting well. I want to see where a character is--and feel it, smell it, hear it. This is also what I hope to create. Through our characters, we can tie emotions to the things they notice, bringing our settings to life.

Setting can affect mood. Rain can make a scary scene creepier or a romantic scene cozier. A sun that is high in the sky can be something to play under or something to escape.

Setting can be overlooked or neglected, and I'm striving to use it to strengthen my scenes. On the flip side, I'm aware it can be overdone, or the details can come at the wrong time and slow the pace of the story. Sometimes the setting of a book can be written so well it feels like a character in itself.

I'm barely scratching the surface on setting in this post, merely noting thoughts and observations I made about two places I call home. Of course we all hope to always grow in our writing; this is an area where I'd like to push myself. For excellent writing tips on setting (and so much more), check out THE FIRE IN FICTION by literary agent Donald Maass.

What books do you think have great settings? I'll start by naming the books in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Totally amazing, right? I also love the setting in Carrie Ryan's THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH.

* * *

Just for fun. . . Here's a picture of my brother Erik and me. He came to visit a few weeks ago, and it was so great to see him!

What I Read This Summer :)

2011-09-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the kids are back in school, I can feel summer drawing to a close--even though we finally have gorgeous weather! Remember those "What I Did Last Summer" essays so many of us had to write in elementary school? They're the inspiration behind today's post.

It would be too difficult to name just one title as the best book I read all summer, but one of the books I truly enjoyed was TEXAS GOTHIC by Rosemary Clement-Moore.

Here's the blurb:

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

It was such a fun book! Without giving anything away, here are some of the things that pulled me in:
*I loved the voice.
*I cared about Amy Goodnight right away.
*It's a funny book! One scene made me laugh out loud!
*The romance!
*I love it when books with a paranormal or fantastical bent are successfully set in the real world.
*It has a great opening, and I was hooked immediately. I found an excerpt at the Random House site, and you can check out the first pages if you'd like.

Now it's your turn! What was one of your favorite summer reads?

More Great News for Jennifer Mann (and Sunshine in the Seattle Area!)

2011-08-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

I recently mentioned Jennifer Mann's exciting news about illustrating TURKEY TOT (Holiday House), a picture book written by George Shannon. Now Jen has more news: she sold a picture book that she has both written and illustrated! You can read about it here. She is super talented, and I love her work!

My critique group has three members: Jen, the amazing Margaret Nevinski, and me. We will have some serious celebrating going on at our next meeting!

Congratulations, Jen! We are so proud of you!

* * *

In other news: it's summer! Okay, so you already knew that. It's just that it didn't start feeling like summer around here until about two or three weeks ago. A strange, bright orb can now be seen in the Seattle sky, and it warms us. How crazy is that?!

My dogs, shameless sun worshipers, lo-o-ove this weather. Now when we hold up their leashes, they don't bury their faces in the couch cushions or pretend they don't see us.

Still, the nice weather feels odd this weekend, knowing what people are going through with Irene. To those of you on the East Coast, I'm sending warm thoughts and good wishes your way.

Molly and Dawn's Second Excellent Adventure (continued)

2011-08-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today I'll wrap up the 2011 SCBWI Summer Conference. Let's start with the book giveaway, shall we?

My friend Debra is the official Plotting and Scheming Blog Drawing Quality Control Manager, and we thought we would take pictures of ourselves doing the drawing. The thing was, we were about to go for a run. . . There are enough scary things on the Internet without adding me and Debra in spandex, so we decided to skip the photo session. Instead, here's a picture of Norton Juster signing THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH.

The autographed copy of THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH goes to. . .

JESS!

Congratulations, Jess! Please e-mail me with your address, and I'll get your book in the mail right away!

* * *

Now for the rest of my conference pics!

A group of us had dinner together the night we arrived in L.A.

Left to right: Deb Lund, Stasia Kehoe, Molly Hall, Sara Easterly, Nuria Coe, me, and Sara Nickerson.

Since Molly Hall, my partner in crime, is such a huge fan of John Green, let's call this photo "An Abundance of Writers Named Molly."

Molly Hall and Molly Blaisdell

I had a nice time chatting with Molly, Molly, and Deb at Friday night's cocktail party and book sale.

Saturday night was the 40 Winks Anniversary Poolside Gala. Attendees--dressed for bedtime--gathered to mingle, eat, drink, and dance the night away.

The pajamas Molly and I chose were comfy, dance-worthy, and Seussy.

I had loads of fun with Deb and Stasia.

Here I am with Stasia. . .

and one of my critique partners, Jennifer Mann.

8:30 seemed a wee bit early when it was time to start things the next morning. A few agents protested by wearing bathrobes to the agent panel (they were kidding, of course). I didn't take a photo, but you can see one here.

I sat at the 2011 Golden Kite Awards Luncheon with a new friend, Patrick Flores-Scott.

We were served extra special desserts in honor of SCBWI's 40th anniversary.

I bought a book by Gary Paulsen, and he autographed it for my son.

That night I met bloggy friend Medeia Sharif in person for the very first time! She is so sweet!

Here are Medeia and Angelina Hansen.

(Angelina and I are in the same region, but we never met until the 2010 SCBWI New York conference. Isn't that funny?)

There were intensives for writers and illustrators on the last day. Molly and I met for lunch and good-byes, hoping to return in 2012.

Molly and Dawn's Second Excellent Adventure + a Book Giveaway!

2011-08-14T19:09:00.001-07:00

I've been home almost a week, and I'm still processing all the great information that came my way at the 2011 SCBWI Summer Conference. I'm excited to share highlights, though I highly recommend checking out the official SCBWI Conference Blog. SCBWI Team Blog covers a conference as nobody else can.

The conference was amazing. 1,342 kid lit lovin' people gathered in Los Angeles, and Molly Hall and I were thrilled to be among them.

Molly Hall (left) and I (right)

SCBWI celebrated its 40th anniversary in style. Here are some of the many moments that spoke to me:

*Bruce Coville gave the first keynote, Ripples in the Pond: Why What We Do Matters...and Matters...and Continues to Matter. His talk was moving and filled with great advice. One tip: "Take your writing seriously. But also take yourself seriously as a business person." He said to learn how to read contracts and royalty statements, to learn to negotiate. He said to provide for your retirement and insure yourself. A tip that spoke to my obsessive-compulsive self was to take a vacation. He said, "Sometimes the best way to get back into the work is to get away from the work." He pointed out that this holds true for particular manuscripts. "Obsession can be tiring." Sometimes you just have to "take a vacation from the book." He was filled with heart, charm, and wisdom, and I'll be keeping my notes from his talk handy.

*Blogging came up more than once. One agent said, "A good book is what matters, not your blog." Common sense, I know, but I have read and heard so many people (myself included) apologetically taking blog breaks so they can focus on their books. That quote should be everyone's "Get out of jail free" card--or "Get out of blog-guilt free" card.

*I am such a fan of Libba Bray...I wish she lived next door to me, and I could warm my hands by her intelligence and wit every time my writing fibers felt chilled by self-doubt, failure, or ugly first drafts. But alas, she would probably wonder what the deal was with the neighbor lady lurking in her yard, and she might mistake me as a stalker, so things are probably better this way.

Libba Bray's keynote, Writing It All Wrong, A Survival Manual, was awesome. She said, "Embrace the suck." She later said, "'Perfect' wants to vote you off the island, but 'Better' wants to make an alliance...If you think, 'I have to make this book perfect,' you're setting yourself up for failure." She is super smart, hilarious, and a brilliant writer. (I should probably note that Molly and I discovered we were in the same SCBWI region when Molly won the "My-Followers-Rock-So-Someone's-Winning-an-Autographed-Copy-of-a-Book-that-Won-the-Printz" contest. I asked Molly to e-mail me with her address so I could send her GOING BOVINE, and I was like, "Really? You live that close?" Now we're buddies, having excellent adventures. And to think Libba Bray brought us together! Tee-hee.)

*Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver rocked the room when they gave their talk, Writing with Humor and Heart. Together, they wrote the Hank Zipzer series.

They are now collaborating on the Ghost Buddy series (Scholastic). Henry said to think of the voice of the ghost as the Fonz and the boy who finds the ghost in his closet as Richie.

While speaking about humor in writing, Henry said, "Emotional truth jumps into the eye and mind of the reader. If you write the truth, someone will say, 'How did you know me?'"

Lin added, "If you want to write with humor, go to your deepest emotional part and stay until it's funny. When something is sad and funny, it's the deepest kind of funny."

*David Small shared the trailer of STITCHES: A MEMOIR during his keynote. He had an unloving mother, and he found healing in the making of STITCHES. He finished his talk with a funny slide show that showed his indie love, and he even danced to the music. I hope he posts the slide show on YouTube, though watching him dance freely on the stage, knowing what he's been through, may have been the very best part.

*Judy Blume was our surprise guest! Can you imagine? And she's incredible. As Lin Oliver interviewed her, I couldn't believe who was sitting beside her: Judy. Blume. I mean, didn't we all grow up reading her?!

She said she's a terrible first draft writer. She's a reviser. (Let me tell you, music to my ears.)

Plot isn't how a story comes to her. "I never really understand the creative process." She said she's the least analytical person her son knows. She doesn't sit there, analyzing it. Something percolates--an idea. She gets ideas while doing something active.

Rather than summing up Laurie Halse Anderson's magnificent keynote, I'm going to send you to the beautiful write-up by SCBWI Team Blog. Read it. You'll be glad you did.

This is getting rather long, so I'll end here and share my conference photos next week. The thing is, I still have a book to give away. An amazing book that's autographed. Are you ready for it?

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster!

Holey schmoley, right? THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, people! It first came out fifty years ago!

It's easy to enter to win! All you have to do is:
1. leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011
2. be a follower of this blog
3. have a mailing address in the U.S. or Canada. (Sorry I have to set limits. I wish I could include everyone.)

Each person can enter only once. I'll update if I realize I forgot something.

I'll announce the winner next week when I share the conference pics.

Happy writing! :)

L.A. Bound

2011-07-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Who else is going to the SCBWI Summer Conference? Can you believe it's been a full year since the last one? Dang, the past twelve months have flown by!

In 2010, Molly Hall and I shared "Molly and Dawn's Excellent Adventure," a series of posts about our experiences at our first L.A. conference. What will we do this year? "Molly and Dawn's Second Excellent Adventure." (Ooh, see how creative we were with the title?!)

It will be so fun! If you can make it to the conference, flag us down and say hi! If you can't make the trek to L.A. this year, we'll share our view of it at our joint blog party-palooza! We'll each have conference highlights and a book giveaway! Of course, nobody covers a conference like SCBWI Team Blog.

In the meantime...I'm so excited about the conference. Plus I've had too much caffeine. What to do?

I know! Let's dance!

Today's theme music is brought to you by Starbucks!

Party on!

Note: I won't be posting next weekend, but I will the following week!

On Writing for Teens: A Tip

2011-07-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm contemplating my next project. I need a "new baby" to give my heart to, to learn from, to grow with. Something unique. I'm looking for an idea that will challenge and entertain me, a story kids will love and not find predictable.

That's a tall order. Kids are smart.

Example:
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I went on an afternoon date to the bakery. My daughter texted him. Their conversation went something like this:

daughter: Will you bring us cookies?

husband: Have you cleaned the rabbit cage yet?

daughter: No.

husband: Send me a picture of a clean rabbit cage. Then I'll buy you cookies.

She sent this:

My tip: do not dumb anything down. Kids. Are. Smart.

P.S. - They got the cookies and the cage was clean by the time we got home. Win-win. :)

Coming Soon: TURKEY TOT

2011-07-23T14:29:00.001-07:00

One of my critique partners, Jennifer Mann, is a super talented writer and illustrator. She has been selected as the illustrator for TURKEY TOT (Holiday House), a picture book written by the much loved George Shannon.

It will be a beautiful book! When TURKEY TOT becomes available, I'll give away an autographed copy--signed by the author and the illustrator! In the meantime, I'll just say congratulations to Jen and George!

Interview with a Manuscript

2011-07-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Plotting and Scheming: Look at you, all printed out! This is a very exciting day for you, I'm sure.

manuscript: Yeah, it's good to be here.

Plotting and Scheming: So are you going to tell us your name?

manuscript: Not yet. Even though Dawn has a blog where she talks on and on about her writing life, she is pretty private about her work. She's weird that way.

Plotting and Scheming: Has Dawn started querying agents with you?

manuscript: No, though I have met a couple at manuscript consultations. They were like really cool yoga instructors, trying to help me become my very best--you know, suggesting where I could trim fat, where I needed strengthening. Once we start querying, I'll need to smile with my first five pages, wink with my first ten, and show a little thigh with my first fifty. I must be in prime shape for that!

Plotting and Scheming: You're looking pretty good from here. You know, stacked.

manuscript: *blushing* Honestly, nineteen pages aren't with me at the moment. Dawn and her critique group are still fine-tuning my ending. Yet here I am--most of me--in black and white. Dawn wanted to print me out because she says it's easier to see my flaws on paper at this stage. Kind of unfair, though. She used cheap paper--not what she'd send to agents who ask for hard copies. Also, she tried a cheaper ink, and it really does nothing for me. Our normal ink makes my i's pop.

Plotting and Scheming: Let's talk fears. Do you have any?

manuscript: Of course I do! Not what you might expect, though. I mean, in paper form I'm vulnerable to coffee stains and rain, and nobody likes ugly wrinkles. And don't even get me started on paper shredders--they give me the willies. But I don't have to worry about any of those things because Dawn's husband is really good about making sure I'm backed up electronically. My fear...

Plotting and Scheming: Go ahead. You can tell us.

manuscript: I fear "the drawer." I've heard of life after drawer, but it's all too scary to imagine--like ghost stories. I'm a virgin manuscript; I've never seen the inside of an agent's inbox and I don't yet know the taste of rejection. I have big plans for myself! I want an A-list agent to laugh and cry in all the right places, to be excited about me, to fall in love with me. I want him or her to see me for all I am and all I can be, to hope to submit me to all the right houses. I want my own Facebook page! I WANT TO BE A BOOK!

Plotting and Scheming: I think that says it all.

Best of luck to everyone who is stepping into the query waters. Dream big!

BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. Giveaway - We Have a Winner!

2011-07-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

As some of you may remember, I do my drawings old school, picking names out of a bowl. Because nothing is too good for you people, I usually hire a Blog Drawing Quality Control Officer. Okay, I don't actually hire her--the B.D.Q.C.O. is my fabulous friend Debra--but she makes everything extra fun and official-like.

Today's drawing, as you know, is for BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. by Medeia Sharif.

(Flux, July 2011)

Here are action shots of the drawing:

First Debra mixes the slips of paper in the bowl o' names.

Then she draws one!

Ta-da!

CONGRATULATIONS!

What? You can't read that? It says PAUL GRECI!

Congrats, Paul! The book will be available July 8th. Please e-mail me with your mailing address, and I'll get a copy in the mail for you by July 9th.

Medeia, thank you again for taking the time for an interview! You are so nice, and I wish you the best!

Interview: Author Medeia Sharif (and a Book Giveaway!)

2011-06-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

Debut author Medeia Sharif is a serious reader. Her reading goal for 2011 is 150 books. By early June, she already reached 100! She has a great blog with lots of book recommendations and book giveaways, and I always enjoy stopping by and reading her posts. I'm honored to have Medeia at my blog, and I'm excited to share her interview with you.

More info about Medeia:
Medeia Sharif is a Kurdish-American author who was born in New York City. She presently calls Miami Beach her home. She received her master's in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. In addition to being an author, Medeia is a school teacher. She became a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer in college. Her persistence paid off in 2008 when she attained agent representation, and in 2009 when she got her first book deal.

BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER.
(Flux, July 2011)

* * *

Dawn: Tell us about BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER.

Medeia: Fifteen-year-old Almira Abdul is fasting for Ramadan for the first time ever, but the month does not move smoothly at all. She has her first major crush, treads on her best friend's toes, butts heads with a new archenemy, and has a strict old-world grandfather who drives her crazy. There's a disparity between what she desires and how she was raised, but she wants to be an all-American girl.

Dawn: What inspired the story?

Medeia: Almira inspired me. The main character popped into my head and I wanted to write her story.

Dawn: You work full-time as a teacher, you're a novelist, and you read more books than anyone I can think of. How do you do it? What does a typical writing day look like?

Medeia: I've been asked that before, and I don't know how to describe a typical day. I have no set sleeping pattern. Sometimes I sleep at night like most people do, and other times I fall asleep in the afternoon to wake up at midnight. I prefer to write early in the morning or late at night, so I try to accommodate my writing preferences. As for the reading I do, I don't do most of it at home. Some books I read for work. And it would come as a surprise how much reading one can do at the laundromat, in waiting rooms, on plane rides, and other places. I read many books on my phone. Those apps have quadrupled my reading.

Dawn: What grade or grades do you teach?

Medeia: I'm certified to teach 6 to 12, and I've taught all those grades. Right now I'm in a high school setting.

Dawn: How did your students react when they learned about your book deal?

Medeia: I do my best to keep my day job separate from my writing life. I don't want to advertise at my workplace, and sometimes people ask too many questions when they find out I write. Honestly, I never announced my deal to my students. My students found out about my writing when they Googled me. Some of them asked me what Flux was and if I was famous (I told them "sort of"). Also, some of them wanted an autographed copy.

Dawn: How much do you outline before you start writing your first draft?

Medeia: I've outlined for many years, but with the past few wips my outlines have become even more detailed. Getting stuck at a new plot point while drafting is an uncomfortable feeling, but an outline provides direction.

Dawn: What author has most influenced you?

Medeia: I have to go with V.C. Andrews. I became hooked on her serial novels in middle school, which led me toward a path of bookwormhood and writing.

Dawn: Do you have any advice for unagented, unpublished writers?

Medeia: Be persistent and never stop writing. If a manuscript doesn't work out and has been rejected at a gazillion places, work on the next one (BRE isn't the first novel I've written). Also, don't write in a bubble, typing all those manuscripts without input from the outside world. I've only been participating in critique groups and conferences in the past few years, and I wish I had discovered these resources earlier.

Dawn: Thank you so much, Medeia! It's super interesting to learn more about you. I love your advice--very inspiring! I hope to meet you in person at the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A.! In the meantime, I can't wait to read BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER.

To learn more about Medeia:
http://www.medeiasharif.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/sharifwrites
http://sharifwrites.tumblr.com/

* * *

Now for the giveaway! BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. will be available July 8th, and I'll send a copy to the winner A.S.A.P. Hot off the press, bloggy friends!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is:
1. leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 1st, 2011
2. be a follower of this blog
3. have a mailing address in the U.S. (Sorry about that, international bloggy friends. I wish I could include everyone.)

Each person can enter only once. I think that's it as far as the rules go. I'll update if I realize I forgot something.

Good luck! :)

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

My parents are my heroes. Hard working, generous, optimistic, fun to be around--they're amazing. They raised my brothers and me with kindness, humor, and respect. Because of them, I've felt loved every day of my life.

Today, Father's Day, I'd like you to meet my dad, Richard Simon.

Here we are together in 2006.

My dad taught me to swim when I was small, to duck waves taller than my head, and to snorkel. I remember holding hands with him in a kiddie pool, comparing my tiny knees and feet to his large ones. While he's only a few inches taller than me now, he'll always be a giant in my heart.

Since my mom, a nurse, stayed home with us, she was the one in the trenches with the day-to-day kid stuff. That made my dad like a celebrity. Birthdays were a big deal because he would take the birthday child to a movie or on some other special outing, and--best part--nobody else was allowed to come! One year I picked Bambi for my birthday trip, and we cried together. I still remember walking to the car after the movie, both of us wiping away tears.

When I turned eleven, he took me horseback riding. I loved all things horses, and I thought he was like a cowboy when he was on a horse. This was around the time I got into the Black Stallion books by Walter Farley.

My dad was super over-protective. Example: he interviewed my first date. Seriously. I wasn't happy about it. At all. I was fifteen at the time. I remember how awkward it was when the poor kid came to pick me up. The date fell on the same night my dad, a doctor, was having some friends over to play cards. My pediatrician was there. Yes, it was a night to remember.

My dad is hilarious, and he was considered cool by my high school friends. He's still cool. He was in the waiting room at the hospital when my daughter, his first grandchild, was born. He and my mom brought my husband and me a ten-pound box of chocolates, and they marveled at our daughter, who weighed less than the candy. Now he has six grandchildren, and each one loves him.

My dad is a great man, and he has always believed in me and my dreams. I can talk with him about anything. We can even laugh about my first date.

* * *

Happy Father's Day to my dad, my husband, and all the other dads out there!

PNWA Literary Contest + a few links

2011-06-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a finalist in the 2011 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest! I'm super excited. I entered the young adult novel I plan to begin querying agents with this summer. Contest winners will be announced in August. Congrats to the other finalists, including--your friend and mine--Mr. Paul Greci! (Yay, Paul!)

Links to Make You Thinks
*PW had an interesting article with children's book news from BEA 2011. Ooh, so many great books, bloggy friends! Lots to look forward to!

*Have you heard about Unbridled's 25 books for 25 cents? While it only runs from June 9th - June 11th, you can show your indie love anytime by purchasing your e-books from an independent bookstore.

*There's been a lively debate about YA this week that began with a Wall Street Journal article. Read about it here in the PW article "Are Teen Novels Dark and Depraved--or Saving Lives?"

That's it from me this week! In the comments, how about if you share what you're currently reading? That's always fun!

Tackling the Synopsis

2011-05-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

"You want me to sum up my novel in how many words? Oh, that's a good one!"

Even though I wrote about synopses back when I was working on another manuscript, I feel like talking about them again. Why? I was tweaking mine this week, a writer buddy was working on hers, and now I have synopses on the brain.

The idea of writing a synopsis used to make my blood run cold, but I feel more confident with them nowadays. I'll tell you what helps me, and I'd appreciate hearing your tips as well! (Note: Although synopses can be various lengths, I'm most accustomed to a double-spaced, one-page synopsis. This is what I have seen asked for most often with young adult and middle grade manuscripts. Modify the tips to fit your own synopsis length.)

My tips:
1. View the synopsis as a puzzle or a challenge. Boiling a novel down to one page sounds super intimidating. It's no easy task! The thing is, when I look at it like it's a puzzle, there's a piece of me that thinks it's kind of fun! Seriously. Maybe not trip to Hawaii fun or Broadway musical fun, but more along the lines of working on a crossword or jigsaw puzzle.

2. Imagine yourself sitting by a campfire and telling someone what your story is about. I mentioned this point last time, and it's the tip that helps me the most! It keeps me from getting stuck on the setup, explaining too many secondary characters, or losing myself in details. It also helps me with voice. Think of it this way: If you were to tell a story to a child, you wouldn't recite the events like bullet points. You would tell a story.

3. Limit yourself. (This could go under #2, but I think it deserves its own space.) If you try and hit too many points on your single page, your synopsis will read like a laundry list; nobody will care about your protagonist because it's difficult to invest your heart in a list. Think of flap copy and how the limited information makes you want to read the book!

4. Think in drafts. My first swing at the synopsis is never one page. I keep it brief, but I allow myself to get the story out without sweating word count. Once the bones of my story are laid out in a nice-ish summary, I edit. I search for more interesting ways to say things. I also try to think of the most concise way to write each sentence since every word is taking up valuable space. That said, I try not to let word economy kill my voice.

I write my synopsis several times. Writing a draft early on helps me see if the outline of my story is big enough. I keep old versions so I'm not timid about cutting lines or trying a new approach. I think I have fifteen drafts of the synopsis of my WIP; most have only minor tweaks between them, but some are very different.

5. Write in the present tense.

6. Tell the whole story, even the ending. Unlike the summary on the flap jacket or the back of the book, the synopsis needs to tell the entire story ("entire" meaning a summary of the beginning, middle, and ending--not every plot point).

7. Bring your synopsis to critique group. Critique partners' fresh eyes are invaluable. In fact, I think it's an awesome idea for critique partners to try and write each other's synopses. Not only is this an excellent writing exercise, but it can be very helpful! Critique partners are familiar with one another's stories, but they also have more distance from a story than its author. I sometimes think it's easier to take a shot at a critique partner's synopsis because the distance can give clarity when coming up with the parts of a story that deserve to be mentioned.

So that's my advice!

Since I hugely admire Nathan Bransford (plus his favorite color is orange = great taste), I just checked out what he had to say about synopses. Of course, a good general rule is anything he says trumps what I say. :)

What are your thoughts? Do you have tips to share?

Learning from the Pros

2011-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I recently heard two great speakers, and each one shared nuggets of wisdom I can apply to my own writing.

Laura McGee Kvasnosky spoke at the May SCBWI Western Washington professional series meeting. Ms. Kvasnosky, who is an author and an illustrator, shared artists' techniques that can be super helpful in structuring a novel. She pointed out that when a novelist does it right, the reader quits noticing the printed words. She said when an author has a clear image in his or her mind, he or she can transfer the image better into the reader's head. One of my incredibly talented critique partners, Margaret Nevinski, blogged about the evening here. I met Ms. Kvasnosky after her presentation, and she is so sweet! Plus she plays a mean ukulele!

This is a pic of my critique group from that same night.

left to right: me, Margaret Nevinski, Jennifer Mann

This week I went to a Field's End Roundtable, and the speaker, Jennie Shortridge, really impressed me. Ms. Shortridge is the author of four bestselling novels. The title of her talk: "The Art of Arc: Getting Those Flabby Middles in Shape." What I loved most was she gave us several concrete steps to help us firm up our novels.

Jennie Shortridge
(photo credit: David Hiller)

One tip: use clear, brief transitions. Her example was, "Two hours later, she was sitting at the bar. Her dad walked in." In writing, we can skip the mundane parts and get to what's interesting. She said, "When you peel away the crap, you reveal the good stuff."

Another piece of advice was to put limits on the story. She said a ticking clock is one way to put limits because it puts urgency in a story. "Something needs to happen or else." She also suggested shortening a story's time frame. I agree! I did this between drafts and my WIP is much tighter.

Ms. Shortridge had so many great suggestions! If you ever have the chance to hear her speak, do so!

Happy writing!

Spring Cleaning

2011-05-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

My revision is keeping me hopping. This week I've been focusing on the chapters in the middle of my book. I've also been having a wrestling match with chapter 1, but it's too soon to say who's winning. One of the things I plan to do next week is tweak my ending. Thus, other than the beginning, middle, and ending, everything is under control. Ahem.

Actually, things are going quite well. I'm fired up about this manuscript! While I haven't been doing much spring cleaning in my house, my manuscript pages are looking prettier. Regarding Chapter 1, I just need to take a step back before I can assess it.

(Do you see why I never pursued illustrating?)

I took some photos to share spring in the Pacific Northwest. It was sunny outside when the idea came to me, but clouds rolled in before I snapped the first picture. All the better, I suppose, for a realistic depiction of our corner of the world. I love spring here, with its fluctuating weather.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

This and That

2011-04-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

This may be a bit premature, but...
Once I finally land my first book deal, will I be morally obligated to include the fine people at Starbucks in my acknowledgments section? I'd hate to think what my word count might look like if Starbucks, the masters of tasty caffeinated beverages, never invaded our planet. Too. Frightening. To. Ponder.

How many of you saw The Voice this week?
It's a new TV show where people sing their hearts out, trying to get the show's coaches to sit up and take notice. The coaches are looking to "discover and develop" new voices. Oh-my-gosh-doesn't-this-totally-remind-you-of-the-agent-quest-bloggy-friends? I've heard industry professionals compare American Idol to the query process. The Voice fits the analogy as well.

Listen to this part: If more than one of the coaches (Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, and Christina Aguilera) select a singer, the singer suddenly has the power. Then the coaches must compete. Think multiple offers, people. Yowza.

One of the things that make it extra fun to watch? Each coach can't see a performer until he or she is ready to offer a spot on his or her team--or when the song ends, and it's too late to make an offer. This prevents coaches from judging singers by anything but their voices. Pretty cool. In summary: I'm hooked, I'm intrigued, and I'll stay tuned to see if the rest of the season measures up to the sample chapter. Tee-hee.

Those of you with Kindles will soon be able to check out library books with your e-readers.
This was in PW on April 20th.

I have a Nook, but I still haven't used it to borrow a library e-book. I love my Nook, though. I'm currently reading WICKED LOVELY on it.

What random things would you like to share, bloggy friends o' mine?

Happy writing!

SCBWI - Western Washington's Conference 2011

2011-04-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I attended SCBWI - Western Washington's 20th Annual Writing & Illustrating for Children Conference. It was fabulous. One attendee told me she thought the sessions, panels, and keynotes provided the perfect mix of craft, business, and inspiration, and I totally agreed. We have an amazing Advisory Committee, and the faculty was first-rate.

The SCBWI-WWA blog is the place to go to get the full scoop, but I'd love to share some highlights, too!

I really enjoyed the keynote by Deborah Wiles. She said story comes from three places: what you know and remember, what you feel, and what you can imagine. She said if a story is lacking, it's probably missing one of these things.

I was super eager to hear Emily Jenkins speak. She writes for people of all ages, but it was her young adult work, books she writes under the name E. Lockhart, that put her on my radar. My daughter introduced me to her books years ago, and I love them! I've read THE BOYFRIEND LIST, FLY ON THE WALL, and THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS. While I think THE BOYFRIEND LIST is my favorite so far, a writer at the conference told me she loved DRAMARAMA. I bought it and asked Ms. Jenkins to autograph it for my daughter.

Here I am with Emily Jenkins/E. Lockhart.

She encouraged us to be stylists--even in third person omniscient. Angelina Hansen did a great job summing up Emily Jenkins's keynote, so take a peek!

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Dan Sant at spoke about his journey in his talk, "Getting to Point B." Watch this to get a feel for Mr. Santat and his incredible work.

Holly Black gave our final keynote. She had all sorts of interesting and helpful things to say about plot. One of my favorites: talking out loud about a story. She said talking out loud engages a different part of her brain. It allows her to take a step back from her work and try out crazy ideas. She said talking feels less committed, less isolated.

And those were just the keynotes! The breakout sessions were awesome, too!

Now for more photos!

Emilie Bishop and I

Emilie and I met a few years ago at her very first SCBWI conference. She is such a sweetie! I always love catching up with her at meetings and conferences.

The rest of my pics require some explanation. We had a dance party this year, and the theme was 2011 Dance Odyssey. We were invited to wear silver or a futuristic costume. I had neither, so I did the logical thing: I asked my teen daughter to help me make a duct tape dress!

It was hilarious. We made it a few days before the conference. Actually, she made it. I just stood still or rotated whenever she told me to. We taped a couple shirts together for length, cut the top the way we wanted it, then taped. Scissors were snipping by my neck and tape was coming very close to our heads as we peeled long strips off the roll. My daughter's quote: "I feel one of us is going to end up stabbed or bald by the end of the night." Thank goodness she was wrong! My husband, by the way, was thrilled. I spent very little money and he ended up with extra duct tape in the house!

Molly Hall and I

Jennifer Mann and I
Jennifer is one of my uber talented critique partners!

Tina Hoggatt and Molly Hall
Molly, Tina, and Brenda Winter Hansen (not pictured) made up the Dance Committee. They planned a very successful event! Everyone seemed to have a blast!

How about you? I went fangirl over E. Lockhart. What author or illustrator would you love to hear speak?

Reaching for the Stars

2011-04-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

My son needed a few photos for school this week, two baby pictures and one current one. I wanted him to help me choose, so we pulled out albums and flipped through pages that showed him in his early years.

Even after the photos were selected, I kept oohing and aahing, gushing over pictures. I called my daughter into the room, too. I caught the two of them rolling their eyes at each other and they acted as though leaving the room was an escape from my sappy clutches, but the photos served as a reminder. Time passes quickly. Not that I needed the reminder...

Sometimes the thought of how fast time passes makes me feel guilty about the amount of time I spend writing. My kids understand, though, and they encourage me.

When my son was in third or fourth grade, he started checking the acknowledgments sections of books he enjoyed to find out who the authors' agents were. I never asked him to do this, but he did. You know what? I've heard about some great agents from him! Pretty cool, especially since I didn't know anything about literary agents until I was already an adult.

My daughter was in fifth or sixth grade when she told me I inspired her. She said seeing me never give up on my dream inspired her to never give up on hers. Wow. Priceless.

My kids have grown up with writing. I write at home, and they try not to interrupt. They give me ideas, and I bounce stuff off them. They're happy for me when I get to attend conferences or have other learning opportunities, and they're willing to juggle their schedules to make these things happen. They're right here with me every step of the way.

Children grow fast, which is all at once beautiful, miraculous, and sad to me. While I reach for the stars to chase my dreams, I don't have to keep my eyes on the sky. I can look right in front of me and see my kids who lift me higher than any other dream ever will.

I won't be posting next week because I'll be at the SCBWI Western Washington conference, but I'll be back the following week. Happy writing, everyone!

WIP Update

2011-04-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

I'm super close to finishing the current draft of my WIP. I'll definitely be wrapping it up this week! Woo-hoo! My next draft should go much quicker because of the amount of manuscript surgery I've already completed.

I've decided to change the title. I've already bounced my newest idea off critique partners, but I'm still test driving it. I liked the first title I came up with, but I wasn't sold on it. The second one, refreshingly different from the first, wasn't quite right, either. Now I'm on the third title, and I think it's "the one." We shall see.

I'm fully aware titles get changed, and I'm fine with that. Still, I want to have a title I'm proud of when it's time to query agents. I think a good title can:
*give a positive first impression
*hint at or tell the topic and/or theme
*share a bit of the book's flavor
*fit the age group of the book's intended audience
*reflect the genre
*be one more place to show our creativity

No pressure, right? Hee-hee.

Off topic, but I'll end with a photo I took Friday of my wingman, Thistle. He's often right there, behind my chair, when I'm writing. In fact, he's there now.

Instead of pulling Gs, my wingman pulls Zs. Zzzzz...

How are your projects coming? How important do you think it is to have a good working title?

First Drafts and Revisions

2011-03-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

First drafts can be a blast. There's something freeing about the blank page, like setting out on the open road in a convertible, hair whipping in the wind as we take in the new discoveries that pop up around every corner. It's a rush.

Of course, the opposite can also be true. Even with a road map, we can blow a tire, waste time because of a detour, or wind up in a scary part of town.

Part of the joy of a first draft is knowing it can be for our eyes only. Nobody is judging us. If, however, our inner editor parks her rear end on a shoulder, it can be slow going. The blank page might look like a mountain--a really big mountain with an alligator-filled moat encircling it, and oh, did I mention the writer-eating witch who lives on the top? In other words, the blank page can be intimidating.

Then there are revisions. When we're revising, the clay is already on the wheel, ready to be shaped. It requires a different type of energy. Gone are the days of running wild. During revisions, we assess, rewrite scenes, move things around, fill in gaps, and tighten, tighten, tighten. Darlings are killed, and characters who aren't pulling their weight are run out of town.

Revisions require us to keep our stories--start to finish--in our heads. If we change something in chapter two, we have to comb it through the rest of the book, tracking any related changes that may splinter from it. We do major construction, tearing things down and building new things in their places, all while making sure we don't mess up the wiring. Then, at last, we do the feather dusting, the fine edits.

Are either first drafts or revisions easy? No way. But how rewarding would it be if they were?

What's your favorite part, the first draft or revisions? Or do you have a favorite? My answer would vary, depending on the day, but I think I'd usually pick revisions.

Writing Tip

2011-03-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

At one of my critique group meetings in February, Sheila Roberts reminded us that action scenes are not where we should add lush details. On description, she said, "Once the action gets going, lose the seasonings 'cause they're eating the dish."

I love that.

Do you have any writing tips you want to share? Maybe we can build a list with lots of helpful tips!

The Mysterious Writing Interruption: Dog Gamers?

2011-03-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

I was trying to find just the right words for a chapter ending. It was Thursday morning, the kids were at school, Jim was at work, and my brain was wrapped up in the last paragraph of chapter 21.

Ping. Someone turned on the Xbox. I ignored it for a minute. Then the barking started.

I went into the other room. Suspect #1, Thistle, stood by the TV and faced Suspect #2, Pepper. Pepper was lying on the left couch cushion, staring down Thistle. Thistle looked innocent and Pepper flashed me a guilty expression.

Something to keep in mind: Thistle always looks innocent, and Pepper seems forever guilty. If Pepper has an accident, she hides under the kitchen table and shakes. If Thistle does something he's not supposed to (like stealing sourdough bread from a child), Pepper hides under the kitchen table and shakes. If I scream, "You can do it, Colin," to Colin Firth when he's on TV just before they announce the winner of Best Actor at the Academy Awards, Pepper hides under the table and shakes. See the pattern?

I said, "What are you guys doing?"

Thistle looked from me to Pepper. I was pretty sure he wanted me to see that Pepper was lying on his very favorite couch cushion--the one on the left--because in Thistle's mind, this is the WORST CRIME EVER. This explained the barking.

After glancing at me, Pepper barked at Thistle to let him know she wasn't about to give up the spot.

Something else to keep in mind: whenever there's a disagreement between the dogs, Pepper is the one who started it. If he's "helping me write" in the den, snoozing by my chair, she might stroll in and chew his face--just for fun. If he's playing with his sock monkey, she'll steal it. Maybe there's a reason she always feels guilty...

I looked at Exhibit A, the Xbox. It was open. Inside was Exhibit B, Call of Duty. I turned back to the dogs. Neither one cared about Exhibit A or Exhibit B. Neither one knew how to turn on the TV, which would have been required for them to play Xbox. Neither one had opposable thumbs, which meant even I could have probably beat them at Call of Duty.

Conclusions:
1. This case would never be solved.
2. I wasn't very good at training dogs.

I turned off the Xbox, went back to the den, and had a super productive writing day, no thanks to my dogs. They stayed in the family room and worked out the couch issue, no thanks to me.

Background information: We have witnessed each dog turn on and/or off the Xbox. This behavior started just after Christmas. They use their noses. We think they smell the kids' fingers on the on/off button. Another reason they might do it, according to my family, is they think turning it on will bring the family to the couch; maybe they're trying to get the pack together. Just as turning it on will bring the family together on the couch, that may be why they turn it off. As you know, the couch cushion on the left is very special, and some things can only be shared so much.

Thistle (Suspect #1) and Pepper (Suspect #2)

Winner of THE FOREST FOR THE TREES: AN EDITOR'S ADVICE TO WRITERS

2011-03-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

We have a winner! I did my drawing old school, pulling a name from a bowl. Actually, I asked my husband to draw the name so I could take a picture and bring the drama to you, bloggy friends o' mine. Yes, nothing is too good for you people.

Here's Jim, picking a name...

The winner is: STEPHANIE THORNTON!

Congrats, Stephanie! E-mail me with your address, and I'll get the book out right away!

THANK YOU to all who entered. I wish I had a book for everyone. You guys rock.

On a separate note, it has been a long time since my buddy Debra has made an appearance at my blog. (There's a photo of us sledding on this post.) While Debra is not pursuing a writing career, she understands the writers' journey through years of listening, encouraging, cheering, and just being there.

She and I went out last night to celebrate her birthday, and we had a blast!

Happy birthday, Debra! I love ya!

In the comments, tell me about someone who supports you on your journey.

The Cover of Stasia Ward Kehoe's AUDITION

2011-03-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

Last year, I wrote a post about a manuscript I'd read for a friend that truly inspired me as a writer. I later posted when that manuscript sold, and I told you the name of the manuscript was AUDITION and the author was Stasia Ward Kehoe.

Now AUDITION has a cover! Wee-haw!

(AUDITION coming from Viking in October 2011)

Isn't it beautiful? Here's the blurb:

Once you've been chosen, what step should you take?

Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer. Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

Congrats, Stasia! So exciting! I can't wait until it's out and I can hold a copy in my hands!

* * *

Reminder: my THE FOREST FOR THE TREES giveaway ends Friday, March 4, at 11:59 p.m. PST. If you'd like to enter between now and then, check out the last post!

200 Followers! Blog Party and a Giveaway!

2011-02-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

Let's face it: bloggy friends are a huge part of what makes blogging so fun. We read about each other's writing journeys, share tips, and cheer each other on. Blogging has made me feel connected to the writing community on a much grander scale. So thank you! To celebrate having 200 followers, I'm giving away a copy of Betsy Lerner's THE FOREST FOR THE TREES: AN EDITOR'S ADVICE TO WRITERS.

Betsy Lerner is a writer who worked as an editor for 15 years before becoming an agent. She is currently a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency. All these roles (author, editor, and agent) have given her a huge amount of insight--not only into the industry, but also into writers.

Half of the book offers advice to help jump-start writers who may be getting stuck for various reasons. The other half shows publishing from the other side of the desk--the editor's seat--tying in her experiences as a writer and an agent. I've just started reading the second half (of my copy--not the one I'm giving away), and I look forward to hearing what Ms. Lerner has to say about the entire process.

Now let's get to the contest! To enter, all you have to do is:
a. leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, March 4th
b. be a follower of this blog
c. have a mailing address in the U.S. or Canada (sorry I have to set limits--I wish I didn't)

Each person can enter only once. I think that's it as far as the rules go. I'll update if I realize I forgot something.

What to comment on? Tell me if you've read the book, share the title of your favorite writing book(s), let me know how your writing is going, or just say hi! This is a blog party, people. Pass me an hors d'oeuvre and try not to spill on the carpet!

Again, thank you! Happy writing!

Blog Awards

2011-02-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

I've been sitting on some blog awards from really nice bloggers, and it's time I pass them to others.

Thank you, Hema, for this one.

Hema and I "met" through last year's Mark McVeigh Skype chat. While we haven't met in person, I feel like we have! Hema is very thoughtful, and I always enjoy visiting her blog.

"The Versatile Blogger Award" is from Amy Sonnichsen.

My beautiful friend Molly Hall introduced us at the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. last year, and I'm so glad she did. Amy is so much fun, and she can out-dance me any day--even when she's pregnant.

Catherine Ensley gave me the "Stylish Blogger Award."

Thanks, Catherine! Catherine is a children's librarian and a writer. She and I hope to meet at this year's SCBWI WWA conference.

Medeia Sharif allowed her award recipients to select one of four awards. I picked this one, the "I am One Citrusy Blogger Award."

Isn't it cute and all retro? I figured it could simultaneously jazz up my sidebar and help me prevent scurvy. Hee!

Thank you, Medeia! Medeia reads books at super human speed, and she has a great blog. She'll debut this summer with her novel BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. It's being published by Flux. Medeia, I hope to see you at a conference in the near future!

I'm supposed to tell seven things about myself. Hmm, let's see...

1. I had over six inches cut off my hair a couple weeks ago.

2. I love playing Xbox 360 (or as you hip people might call it, X360) games with my husband and kids even though I'm the worst player in the family. I'm getting better, though! I haven't given up, family members o' mine! Mwa-ha-ha! (Trust me. They aren't scared.)

3. My daughter and I are addicted to MAD MEN, though we're seasons behind everyone else. Please don't tell me anything! No spoilers! I want to be surprised!

4. I'm slow when it comes to passing blog awards. Obviously.

5. I love Thai food.

6. My husband bought me new work shoes in November.

Soccer players need cleats, ballerinas need tutus, swimmers need Speedos, and I need slippers. Okay, need is a big word; let's just say I want slippers when I'm writing at home.

7. Some friends and I heard Jonathan Evison speak last week, and he was super interesting--and funny. Now I want to read WEST OF HERE.

(left to right: me, Margaret Trent, Jonathan Evison, Martha Schoemaker)

I'm going to copy the lovely Medeia and say everyone who commented on my last post gets an award. Well, everyone who commented but didn't pass me one of the above awards. Otherwise it might start to feel like award volleyball. You choose which award you want! So congratulations to TerryLynnJohnson, Lydia Sharp, Stasia, Terri Tiffany, Laura Pauling, Susan R. Mills, Margaret Nevinski, Susan Fields, WritingNut, Suma Subramaniam, Robert Guthrie, Paul Greci, and Sharon K. Mayhew! If you choose "The Versatile Blogger Award" or the "Stylish Blogger Award," you're supposed to list seven things about yourself. Of course, no blog police will come and arrest you if you choose to not list seven things. I'm just saying.

Two more things!
1. Children's book editor and writer Nina Hess is blogging! She's super smart and a sweetie, so check out her blog!
2. I'm so happy to now have 200 followers, thanks to you fabulous people who have clicked the follow button! I'll do something special for you with my next post!

Congratulations, Elsa!

2011-02-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

Elsa Watson has a new book coming out in May 2012. It's called DOG DAYS.

Here's the Publishers Weekly blurb:

Elsa Watson's DOG DAYS, pitched as a Freaky Friday story with a canine twist in which a small town cafe owner is struck by lightning and switches bodies with the lost dog following her, then must struggle with her new canine instincts to overcome her fear of dogs and learn how to live and love with the carefree perspective of a dog, to Kristin Sevick at Tor, in a two-book deal, for publication in Spring 2012, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (World English).

photo of Elsa and her dog, Lucky, by Susan Wiggs

* * *

When I read Elsa's first book, MAID MARIAN, I'd never met her. I'd read a newspaper article about her that said she was a local writer, and it gave a description of her book. Intrigued by the premise, I bought the book and loved it.

I eventually got to know Elsa through Field's End and mutual friends. She is such a sweet person! I feel fortunate to have her as a buddy. She's super intelligent, kind-hearted, and--did you guess?--a dog lover.

For those of you who are also dog lovers, here's how Elsa pictures Zoe.

Zoe, by the way, is a white German sheperd. Isn't she a beauty?

Congratulations, Elsa! I'm so excited for you!

Let's Talk about Writing Groups!

2011-02-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Field's End, a local writers' community I love, had a super interesting Writers' Roundtable in December. The title: "Starting, Finding, or Caring for a Writing Group." The speakers were Margaret Nevinski, Margaret Trent, and Paul Hanson. All three are members of the Field's End Team, and together they have oodles of experience with various types of writing groups. Also, Margaret Nevinski is one of my critique group members!

left to right: Margaret Nevinski, Paul Hanson, and Margaret Trent

Even though the event fell on December 21st, four days before Christmas, the room was packed. The speakers had prepared a fabulous list of questions to consider, and they shared their expertise on writing groups as each question was addressed during their talk.

Some of the questions:

*How often will the group meet?
*Will manuscripts be exchanged at the meeting or ahead of time?
*Will there be time for socializing?
*Will there be a moderator?
*Does everyone have to write in the same genre?
*What about skill level?
*Will drop-ins be allowed or is a commitment required?

A couple of the answers they shared:

Paul's group, the Speculative Fiction Writing Cooperative, is unique in many aspects. Meetings take place at Eagle Harbor Book Co., the incredible independent bookstore where Paul is the manager. Also, it's not a closed group (I'll define a "closed group" as a group with a set membership); newcomers and drop-ins are welcome. Paul acts as a moderator. He said they talk at the beginning, and it is very much a support group for writers.

Both Margarets felt skill level was important. Margaret Nevinski said if a writer is way more advanced than the others in the group, frustration and resentment can build for that writer. She said frustration could build on the other end as well, if a writer feels like more of a beginner than everyone else.

Questions they listed about goals:

*Do we need them and what will they be?
*Will the group spend all their time discussing members' writing?
*Will we do writing exercises?
*Is their a collective publishing goal?
*Is it a support group?
*Will we invite guest speakers?
*Will we allow time to discuss publishing, marketing, and professional considerations?

They also talked about online groups, rules for critiquing, problems, and when to leave a group (when to disband or when a writer should leave one).

A couple questions regarding rules for critiquing:

*Orally or in writing?
*How to give feedback?

They followed up with what to do with the feedback and how to keep the group on track.

It was a wonderful evening.

How about you? Do you have any writing group advice? Mine would be to join or start a group, and discuss expectations in advance. I understand some writers do best without a critique group, but not me. My critique groups have been vital to my growth as a writer, and they've strengthened me on this journey.

Conference Chitchat

2011-01-27T23:46:00.001-08:00

The SCBWI Winter Conference is this weekend, and many of you are in (or en route to) New York City right now, waiting for it to start. I can't go this year, but I know those who do will have a blast. If you're one of this year's lucky attendees, I hope you learn a ton from the creative minds around you, meet lots of new people, and return home filled with inspiration. Also, will someone buy a hot dog from a street vendor in my honor?

I know! Let's take an itsy-bitsy trip down memory lane and gaze at the hot dog stand where I bought my last New York City hot dog.

Beautiful, isn't it? Is anyone else choked up?

OH, NEW YORK CITY VENDOR DOGS, WHY MUST YOU TASTE SO GOOD? I don't really want to know what you're made of, but WHY MUST YOU TAUNT ME WITH THE MEMORY OF YOUR INVITING AROMA AND DELICIOUS FLAVOR?

Ahem. Please give me a moment to pull myself together.

Okay, thanks.

Speaking of great conferences, I'd like to plug the one put on by my regional SCBWI. SCBWI Western Washington is currently registering people for our annual conference. This will be our 20th anniversary event, and it will take place in Redmond, Washington, April 16th and 17th. There will be keynotes by Holly Black, E. Lockhart, Dan Santat, and Deborah Wiles. We will also get to hear from an impressive group of agents, editors, and other faculty members. Our amazing advisory committee has a couple extras planned too. There will be a kidlit drink night the evening before the conference and a dance on Saturday night.

Woo-hoo! I'm already registered.

Do you plan to attend any conferences or workshops in 2011?

Seven Writing Hints from my Dogs

2011-01-20T21:26:00.001-08:00

1. Don't wait for your muse. Get your butt in the chair.

2. It's ideal if someone has your back. Find a critique partner.

3. Tighten your manuscript. Make every word count.

4. Keep your eyes open. Research agents, read books in your genre, and stay informed.

5. Don't get distracted. Focus, focus, focus!

6. Look closely at submission guidelines.

7. After you've done your very best, relax. Only so much is within your control.

Winner of MAD LOVE

2011-01-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

The autographed copy of MAD LOVE by Suzanne Selfors goes to

Hema!

Congratulations, Hema! Please e-mail me with your mailing address, and I'll get that book out to you right away!

Interview: Author Suzanne Selfors (and a Book Giveaway!)

2011-01-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Today I have an interview with the talented Suzanne Selfors. She writes middle-grade and young adult novels, and she has a wonderful writing voice I truly admire. While she's a local author and friend, the praise I give her is well-deserved. She's been compared to Roald Dahl more than once, and her books are unique and super fun to read. MAD LOVE, which came out January 4th, is her newest book to hit the shelves, though SMELLS LIKE TREASURE, a middle-grade, will be out later this year.

Here's the blurb for MAD LOVE:

Writing her own love story could drive a girl INSANE!

As the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life for sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous should be pretty good. But ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness, Alice has been forced to maintain a brave front--lying to her new crush, Tony; answering fan letters; forging her mother's signature; telling the publisher that all is well. Now time is running out, and so is their money. The next book is overdue and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs to deliver a new novel for her mother--and she needs to come up with one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange guy claiming to be Cupid, who insists that Alice must write about his tragic romance with Psyche--the greatest love story of all time. Only, Alice doesn't believe in Cupid...

* * *

Dawn: TO CATCH A MERMAID, your first published book, came out in the fall of 2007. Your sixth book, MAD LOVE, is now in bookstores. That's an impressive amount of books in such a short time! Can you tell us about your writing schedule? What does a typical writing day look like?

Suzanne: I wish I had a typical day but I don't. And I'm finding lately that I'm having trouble focusing. It may be that I'm a bit burned-out. My writing pace has been manic.

What I prefer to do is to write in the morning. To leave the house once the kids have caught the bus, and to sit in a coffeehouse. That's where I do most of my writing. I like the white noise. I can write for about 2 or 3 hours and then I hit a wall. I'm constantly processing my stories. I do a lot of revision in my head while I walk the dog. My story is always with me.

Dawn: When you were starting your career, what did you find to be the biggest challenge?

Suzanne: Figuring out where I fit. I started writing adult novels and they weren't that good. I still had a lot to learn about the craft so the novels were heavy with historical detail and long. But I had to go through that process because ultimately, having the adult novels fail led me to rethink everything. Writing for kids is the perfect fit for me.

Dawn: How much do you outline before you start writing your first draft?

Suzanne: I don't outline. It never works for me. I jump off into the void. Story, take me where you will.

Dawn: What do you like best about being an author?

Suzanne: Hearing from and meeting readers. Teens especially. I get letters and emails every single day. It's an honor to entertain. It's thrilling, really.

Dawn: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Suzanne: I have lots of advice. But for time's sake, here's one piece - write your first novel for yourself. Make it something that you love. Don't worry about the market. The first novel is truly your baby and it belongs to no one else.

Thank you, Suzanne, for the interview! I wish you continued success!

* * *

Now for the giveaway! One person will receive a free autographed copy of MAD LOVE! I've already read it (not your copy, of course--that's brand spankin' new), and I loved it. It's hilarious, fun, and charming. To view the book trailer, click here. To enter the contest, all you have to do is:
a. leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12th
b. be a follower of this blog
c. have a mailing address in the U.S. (sorry, international bloggy friends).

Each person can enter only once. I think that's it as far as the rules go. I'll update if I realize I forgot something.

Have a great writing week, everyone!