I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY:

Juices flow best without barriers. It’s true. Writers can get so focused on goals, limits, and restrictions that they can’t even write.

This horrible affliction is called: "Writer’s block" and it's an actual affliction that saps self-confidence from the best storytellers.

Setting goals is great. But don’t be so concerned about staying within borders – after all, walls are meant to keep things inside.

So, writing about something you know nothing about might be the surefire path to publication.

We all have things we’ve wondered about. Some people pay thousands of dollars to enroll in classes, later in life, just to learn more about these subjects. Why not offer this information to readers, in an article?

Editors are always looking for interesting stories. So step outside the box and take a chance.

Think back. Remember the exhilaration of jumping off the ledge into the deep-end. Writing should give you the same thrill. When you write about something you know nothing about, you’re taking that daring dive into the writing waters. So, just tell the story and you might get lucky and end up getting your feet wet in the wonderful world of publishing.

THAT FOUR-LETTER WORD

Rules are meant to be followed – right?

WRONG! (Or at least "not always".) Now, I'm not saying to write a 300,000 word manuscript and then send it willy-nilly all around to every agent, editor and publisher in the world. And if you want to read one agent's spin on following the rules, click here.

We’ve all heard, “Write what you know” and “Become an Expert in Your Field.”

Maybe I’m just a wannabe rebel—or imagining myself following in the footsteps of James Dean, Brando and Elvis. But one thing all these men had in common was stepping outside the box, breaking the mold and making their own way (okay three things they had in common, but it really all boils down to one thing). We all have to make our own way, direct our own path, and travel our own road to publication.

These icons (Elvis, Brando and Dean) weren’t satisfied when others set limits for them. And, they weren’t willing to accept random restrictions.

And, I see some things, like dieting: putting up boundaries isn’t always the best approach; especially when it comes to the printed page. Sometimes it’s better to eat that chocolate-dipped cherry, or indulge in that jelly-filled donut. Because it's difficult to live in denial. Resentment grows--like a wicked weed, and people begin to feel deprived—or atleast I feel deprived, and then I end up binging.

Oh, wait I was talking about writing, not food..., or was I?

I say: write about whatever it is that interests you – if it whets your creative whistle, we'll want to read it.

When we follow all the rules, writing becomes a four-letter word: W.O.R.K. And writers should think writing is fun.

If writing isn’t fun, for me, I won’t want to do it, late at night, when most sane people are fast asleep, while visions of sugarplums (there’s the food again) dance in their heads.

Life should be full of flavor and writers should follow their own rules to make writing [a]muse[ing].

Call for Submission - Stories for Children

I received this Call for Submissions from Stories for Children and thought I'd pass it along to all my writing cyber-buddies:

Stories for Children is currently in need of Nonfiction for all age groups for December and January issues.

Please check out the Holiday and Event Calendar for ideas. But keep in mind that submissions not related to the Calendar are also welcome. It gives us the opportunity to place them in other issues should December and January fill up quickly!

Check the website for submission guidelines as they are updated on a regular basis.

Everyone here at Stories for Children appreciates your continued support of our magazine.

Warmly,

Wendy Dickson

Nonfiction Editor - Stories for Children Magazine

Submissions Editor for: Nonfiction, Recipes, Puzzles, Games and Crafts

Website: www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.org

Kidlitosphere Blogging Conference - Portland, OR

I went to the blogging conference at the Sheraton Hotel at the airport in Portland, Oregon, on Friday night. It wasn't far for me to go, about 10 minutes from my home. It was a perfect night for us to meet at the hotel and head downtown to Powell's Books. We mulled around chatting and checking out the books. Maureen Kearney was here from California, she's a children's librarian. Visit her at Confessions of a Bibliovore. Alma Alexander rode with us to Powell's. Then everyone was going to go on over to The Deschutes Brew Pub for dinner and a drink. Tomorrow the actual conference begins. I can hardly wait. Jone MacCulloch and Laina Taylor (author of Faeries of Dreamdark) put this entire conference together. Laini's husband, Jim Di Bartolo, was there too. He did the cover art for her book.

THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY

DUCK ?

Everybody has seen ducks fly by overhead, in the familiar "V" formation.

QUESTION: Why is one line always longer than the other???

ANSWER: On tomorrow's blog.

_________________________________________________
Commonly confused words - thanks to John Potter:

"Lie (to rest)
Lay (to place)

Sit (to rest)
Set (to place)

Commonly confused adjectives and adverbs:

Almost (adv. – nearly)
Most (adj. – greatest in amount)

Farther (adv. – actual distance)
Further (adv. – additionally)

Fewer (adj. – refers to numbers (you can count the item))
Less (adj. – refers to amounts or quantities (you cannot count the item))

Good (adj. – desirable)
Well (adv. – satisfactorily)
(adj. – health) as my English teacher says, you can’t feel badly because we don’t feel goodly."
_________________________________________________________________________________

And for all my writing friends, who don't write for the young adult or children's market, check out these links:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/
http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=start&webtag=ws-books
http://romancedivas.com/main.html
See http://www.bksp.org/upload/index.php

Voice for a Writer

Voice can be a difficult concept to explain. Essentially it is when people speak in a unique and distinctive way.

Everyone has their own mannerisms, attitudes, and body language. These are the attributes that make human beings different from one another.

In the Charlie Brown comic Peanuts, Linus always carried around his blanket, sucked his thumb and had his own unique ways of expressing himself. Some people call these things "tags" and they are an extension of voice.

Nathan Bransford said it well: "The other thing I'm noticing about dialogue is that it is most effective when it is very clear it is the voice of a very particular character or characters saying the words, rather than words that could be said by anyone. Everyone has their own way of speaking in real life, but with dialogue on the page it seems even more important to counter expectations, to avoid cliches, and to make it sound original." You can read his entire post here.

Even if characters are using the exact same words, no two people would ever say anything in precisely the same way.

Watch this short clip to see exactly what I mean.



I hope this helps explain voice. If you have any comments or suggestions to add, please click on the comments section and add your thoughts about voice.

Query Letter Help from Book Ends

Book Ends gives some helpful hints about queries. Read it here.

Self-Editing Help - and other useful links

Here's a great post from Kelly Mortimer with a lot of helpful writing information. You can read the entire post here.

And if you want to find topics to write about, here is a list of 7 ways to track trends. Thanks to Writer's Digest. Check it out here.

Here's another useful link to read: Face-to-Face with an Agent, from Writer's Digest. Read it here.

Here's one more great post, which gives a list of agents accepting queries from children's literature writers, which was current as of March of '08. Check it out here

Contest: Win a Mentorship Program for One Lucky Winner

Mortimer Literary Agency Announces its Yearly Mentorship Program. I received this information via Kelly Mortimer's newsletter:

"And awaaay we go! I'm ready to tell y'all about my mentorship program, started because I'm mental. I wanna help writers. I can't help everyone, but I can help ONE. It could be you.

You'll get more details later, but here's the overview.

I'll choose a writer and starting with chapter one of their finished manuscript, help them transform the work with the end goal being a contract for representation and the sale of the manuscript.
*

The mentorship program isn't meant for those with one foot in the door, but for someone with a great idea or voice, that ain't getting' pubbed until they learn all the fun rules we have.
*

The program is open to the first 100 applicants who satisfy the requirements TO THE LETTER. If ya can't follow simple directions, ya need more help than I can give.
*

I have a lot of friends, and I wanna keep it that way. I'll be judging blind. Your application will go to someone else, contest style. The only info I'll receive will be the genre and word count. Sooo, you haveta send something unrecognizable to me. Something you haven't submitted before.
*

You'll need to send the app form, one page of your manuscript (250-words computer program count, 250 words in Courier New font, or 300 words in Times New Roman font), and a one-page essay on why you should win the mentorship. If ya give me any clues to who ya are, you're outta there!
*

I'll be accepting the submissions from October 1-31, 2008. If ya send your app in a minute before, you're outta there!
*

The actual program will start in the second week of January."

That's a direct quote

28 Agents that Want Your Work - thanks to WD

If you're looking for an agent to represent your work, Writers Digest's Chuck Sambuchino did a great article about 28 agencies that are looking for you. You can read the entire article here

Scroll down to the 10 tips: it lists the actual agencies and what they are specifically looking for.

GOOD LUCK!

Commitment to the Craft - Part 4

Gloria Steinem had the foresight to say, “I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.”

But, I say, “Marriage and a career – that’s nothing, try adding kids into the equation.”

And any mother, who works and writes, has to be pretty amazing.

Pru, Piper, and Phoebe can’t even compete with most modern-day Moms.

And, unfortunately, Dads are rarely divine. So what’s a writing woman to do, to find the time to devote to her craft?

Here is my number one hint:

1) Get a laptop computer.

I have written more words with my laptop in one year than I ever wrote with a desktop computer. It’s simple. I take it with me - everywhere: outside, on vacations, out to the front room so I can go “watch” t.v. with the family, while I write.

This one device has made ALL the difference for me. You can look at a few options that start out at about $499.00 here.

Commitment to the Craft - Part 3

JOIN A CRITIQUE GROUP

Critique Partners (also known as “CPs”) are, like Martha always says, a good thing.

You might think joining a group is just another commitment that will eventually take time away from your writing, but the truth is these CPs can help hold you accountable, without uttering a single word.

And, when you have a set time and place to meet, to go over your writing with others who are counting on your participation, it can help motivate you to keep that pen to the paper.

It’s easy to put things off when there is no “date” to keep. But standing someone up, takes guts. Most of us don’t want to let people down, and being a member of a group helps hold you "committed" to your writing plan.

Jackson Pearce did a really fun vlog about critiques. You can read about her here. And just click on the arrow to play it.

Enjoy! Thanks to Jackson Pearce.

Commitment to the Craft - Part 2

WANNA BE A WRITER - IT’S SIMPLE - AS MURDER

Wanna be a writer?
Sure.
It’s easy.
What do I have to do?
Nuthin much.

Really?

Yep, it’s insanely simple. All you hafta do is commit murder.

You’re insane - asking me to kill.

That’s right, all it takes is one simple act. If you want a career in writing, all ya hafta do is be willing ta commit murder.

Killing off characters? Is that what you’re talking about?

Nope, not at all, I’m not talking about killing off some weak character. This is gonna be much more difficult than that. Remember nuthin worth having is easy. This is gonna take guts. What I’m talking about, here, is setting priorities.

What?

You said you wanna be a writer.

Yeah, of course, but….

No buts ‘bout it. If you wanna be a writer, it’s simple. Write.

It’s not that easy.

What’s holding you back? What’s keeping you away from your keyboard right now?

Sit down and make a list (and if you’re honest with yourself) you’ll most likely see a pattern take shape. It’s something everyone does: we all waste time. Writers just need to remember: even the minutes matter. ‘Cause those ticks on the clock, they turn into hours and hours can be frittered away into days, weeks, even years. And where does all this time go? It’s spent on frivolous entertainment that has nothing to do with writing.

Think ‘bout it. How many hours per month do you spend watching television?

We all need to break dangerous addictions. Wean yourself off the daily regimen.

Remember, there’s a reason it’s been labeled the “boob tube”, “dummy box” and “opiate of the masses”.

Even if you say it’s only the late night news you watch, that’s still a half hour every day. Think about all the pages you could put together and print in three hours.

I didn’t realize how much time I was wasting sitting on the couch, propped up in front of that screen until I quit that bad habit: “cold turkey”. After dinner, instead of going into our “media room”, which is what the kids call our front room, I’ve decided to spend more time with my new-found friend: my laptop. Okay, if we’re being totally honest, really I lie down on the bed to relax before I start tapping away at the keys sitting in front of me.

Sometimes I don’t get much from my muse but, believe me, I’m putting more words on the page than I would have written if I’d been sitting out in the front room watching the latest sitcoms, shows or serials and someday I might even get those pages published. At least there’s more chance of seeing my name on a byline or my words in print if I’m spending my evenings writing than if I’m watching shows someone else wrote.

So, if you say ya wanna be a writer, then WRITE!

All ya hafta do is kill your T.V.!!!

Commitment to the Craft - 4 part post

Do you ever feel like one of those people in a movie who’s being drawn and quartered - I mean someone who’s being pulled in four directions at the same time?

In 1960, Mom was raising 9 kids and running her own beauty business but, looking back, the truly amazing thing is that we always wore clean clothes to school and came home to find a warm dinner on the table.

I can’t even begin to compete with her.

There’s only one possible explanation: Mom must have been using some sort of magic. I just don’t know why she never shared her secret or, more importantly, any of her spells.

I know I’m supposed to be the lucky one; today we’re all living the easy life, in a world of high technology where everything is right at our fingertips. But as I travel down this crowded information highway, using my cell phone, fax and mapquest, somehow I’m still lost. And I can’t even seem to figure out what I’m looking for.

It’s that elusive, simple, four-letter word that keeps avoiding me: time.

Maybe it’s because being a Mom is one occupation where none of the usual rules apply. What other job offers no training or has you on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no time-off or vacations? You aren’t even guaranteed an 8-hour sleep break. And there’s no financial incentive to compel you into this chaotic career choice. You can’t even expect a paycheck, commission or bonus at the end of the month. Yet educated people actually choose this occupation and, when they finally are initiated into the sisterhood, they happily celebrate the onslaught of morning sickness, nightly trips to the toilet and elastic waistbands, with a party – commonly known as a shower. And this is the only shower that you’ll share, with a bunch of other women. What could be worse?

Everyone gets to sit around and guess your ballooning weight, while you sit and smile.

Parenting is like playing in the stock market – it’s all about patience and long term investment.

With such a simple game and only one rule, it should be easy - right?

Wrong!

Then, if you try to add an additional goal, like writing to the mix – well, watch out. You’re in for a heap of a helping of the hurries.

Just this Saturday morning, I got up at six – on a Saturday – took the dogs for a walk (look how they’ve grown).



Then I went to my writer’s group (which I could have skipped but here's the commitment to the craft part), I'm planning to go berry picking, make some homemade jam and write. Well, somewhere something has to give – right – not necessarily so. I’m committed to my craft – or maybe I should simply be committed.
Over the next week, I’ll give tips, hints and maybe a little crazy advice on how to “Just Do It”.

If you have any helpful hints, please post them in the comments section.

And, just remember, no parent is perfect so play this game like a little league game and, when reality pitches a problem across your home plate, swing your sense of humor - that way, you may not hit a homerun but at least you’ll never strike out.





(My critique group: Pam, Ila, Jen, Kerry, Kristin, and me)

Random House Young Adult Novel Contest

October 1st is the first day entries will be accepted. It's coming quickly and I thought I'd warn you all, the ending date is the end of December - but those are busy months - with the holidays wedged in there. They have a middle grade writing contest, which accepts submissions in the summer but "YA" or young adult acceptances are almost here. So get ready now and submit early. You can read all the rules and information here b

Simon and Schuster goes Gotham

There is so much talk about kids not reading, reading less, and/or reading shorter books that I thought this article was really interesting, read it here. I found it out from Kelly Mortimer's newsletter, she's not my agent, but she seems to be an amazing woman. You can read about her here. I can't wait to see her handbags, check out her soon-to-be site here.

Gender and Reading

Reading and gender - do they go hand in hand or what?

Read an interesting post by Adina Kahn at Dystel & Goderich here