MG Higgins

Cafe Chirp

2011-11-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

Twitter is . . . okay. After three months, it's not the huge time suck I thought it would be, nor is it the raucous, cliquish party I imagined in this post. A better analogy is going to a neighborhood coffee shop. I overhear conversations at other tables--some funny, some informative, many ignorable. Friends and acquaintances say hi and we chat about writing or what the kids/cats/dogs did today. Since I'm an introvert, most often I sit alone at my table, contentedly sipping my coffee and reading the newspaper (i.e., lurking). Then I leave and go about my day.

It's pretty relaxed. And funny . . . there are lots of comical people out there. And informative, of course. Here are a few agent tweets with querying advice:

Tina_Wexler Tina Wexler
Dear Queriers: No, I have never wondered what it'd be like to have six legs or to live in a snailshell. Stop asking me. #rhetoricalquestions

Tina_Wexler Tina Wexler
Dear queriers: I want a YA that's going to make me blush.

sztownsend81 Suzie Townsend

Ah, first person queries. Why?!??!

literaticat jennifer laughran

Probably not a great idea to spend your query telling me how quiet your manuscript is and how few people will want to read it. #salesmanship

Vickie_Motter Vickie Motter

Mind control is cheating and has already been thoroughly explored by Star Trek. Find another way to move your plot along #freeadvice

If you're not Twittering, I'm not trying to talk you into it. It is another way to procrastinate and it can be time sucky if you let it. But if you're afraid of Twitter, like I was, I'm here to tell you it's not scary. It's . . . um . . . fun. And doesn't take long to learn.

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Speaking of social media, my blog posts and Tweeting will be more sporadic through the end of the year. I probably won't be visiting your blog much, either. I have a new nonfiction assignment due in five weeks (science-techie this time) and I want to spend some time on my WIP. And it's the holidays, so . . . yeah. *sighs and stocks the pantry with French Roast and Motrin*

Happy writing!

I heart you, first draft

2011-11-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

How a first draft is like an infatuation:

I'm happiest when I'm with it.
I daydream about it when we're not together.
I feel jealous of time spent on anything else.
It's handsome, intelligent and witty.
When I catch glimpses of its flaws, I rationalize them.
What few problems it has, I know I can fix.
I feel giddy when I talk about it.
I'm wretched and pouty when we don't get along.
I want everyone else to love it as much as I do (and I assume they will).
I'm certain this is the one.
I imagine our future together: cover art, book signings, the series.

I'll know it's true love if my heart still races during the twelfth rewrite.

The plot thickens (into a tasty bernaise sauce)

2011-11-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

I've always been a pantser. Other than a basic plot idea I let my main character take charge and lead me around. It's an exciting way to write, since I never know what's going to happen next. Much like reading. The problem is I sometimes end up with unnecessary scenes, awkward tangents, wrong turns, dead ends, secondary characters that never should have been given life. It takes FOREVER to straighten it all out in rewrites.

Who's more powerful, me or my characters?

Me, I tell you!

To prove it, this time I've created an outline. Nothing fancy. No snow flaking or plot clocking, just a two-page synopsis that will help guide me when I feel stuck or when the MC decides to go swimming in the Arctic when we should be sailing down the Nile.

I'll let you know how it goes.

To those of you doing NaNo, I'm cheering you from the sidelines and hoping you're having fun with it. I'm piggy-backing on November's creative energy and doing my own version of NaNo--a goal of 1,000 words a day. Rah!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:25:00.000-07:00

I took this photo of Bandon thinking it would be cute. It turned out creepy.

Just sayin'

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I like to send myself back in time, when all books were made of paper and computers were basically big calculators. It helps put into perspective that I now have 89 books in my 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" x 1/4" iPod Touch. That many "real" books would fill four to five shelves of my bookcase. How is it possible to fit all of those books into such a tiny space?! And that's in addition to my music and calendar and notepad and important apps, like Doodle Jump and Angry Birds. Whatever your opinion of e-books, it's an amazing feat of technology.

I guess this is my late memorial to Steve Jobs. Thanks, dude.

MSWord? iWork? Scrivener? Help!

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

With an outdated processor and only a single gig of memory, my old MacBook was straining. So I bought a new MacBook Pro this weekend. I'm completely happy with my sleek silver laptop, but I'm also shocked and dismayed that the operating system (Lion) doesn't run my old Microsoft Word software! This means I either have to buy Microsoft's Office Mac 2011 or iWork, which comes with the computer for a 30-day trial.

Are any of you using iWork Pages or Office Mac 2011 Word? What do you think of them? (I've read some reviews that claim Word on Office Mac crashes a lot. Has this happened to you?)

Thinking about software has also got me considering Scrivener. I've heard great things about it. If you're using it, do you like it? Do you still need a word processing program if you use Scrivener?

Thanks for your suggestions. And if you don't have suggestions, your empathy is appreciated. (Computer issues make me nervous! I never feel like I have enough information.)

eTcetera Thursday

2011-10-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

Speaking of random generators. . .

I've had a few ideas rattling around for a new novel, but nothing solid. For the heck of it I went out to one of those random logline generators just to see if it sparked something. And you know what? It did! I got an idea for a secondary character and from that my brain kind-of snowballed (as brains tend to do) and I'm now 3,000 words into my new WIP.

Even if they don't spark an idea, they're great for procrastinating and a good laugh. These made me snort:

A baby, a meteorologist, and a personal fitness coachdiscover an ancient burial ground on the sidewalk.
A game programmer and nine fashion-conscious axemurderers resolve their differences.
Seven geeky-but-sexy museum curators wage war againsteach other at the beach.
A homeopath and a couple of flesh-eating steelworkersform a basketball team at a luxury resort.
A guardian angel and seven overweight painters getmarried.

* * *

On a more serious note, according to my tomato plant, summer is definitely over. *Sigh.*

I hope you're having a fruitful week!

WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE winner!

2011-10-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Gail Shepherd is the unequivocal winner of Tess Hilmo's WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE! Congratulations, Gail!

This was my first contest randomly choosing a commenter. I used a random integer generator which came up with the number 15. I counted down 15 comments and came to Gail Shepherd. Cool! Except, there was a glitch. I wasn't including Tess, the author, as an entrant, so should I count her comment? I wanted to be completely fair and didn't know what to do.

So I thought I'd choose the old-fashioned way--with cats. I printed out everyone's names and tossed them on the floor. Whichever slip of paper Obie and Bandon played with first would win Tess's lovely book.

B and O sniff through the 19 contestants.

Obie makes his selection.

I flip it over and have an existential moment.

Gail, you are so meant to have this book! Send your snail mail info to me at: melhig at yahoo dot com.

Thanks for entering, everyone! I wish you all could have won, but Tess's book is definitely worth purchasing.

eTcetera Thursday

2011-10-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Click here for a chance to win a copy of Tess Hilmo's WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE.
Contest runs through Friday, Oct 14.

* * *

Speaking of good books . . .

I'm a fan of James Dasher's The Maze Runner Trilogy and was thrilled when I learned that the third book in the series--THE DEATH CURE--would be released October 11.

I went out to Amazon, ready to purchase the Kindle Edition, when I noticed the price of the e-book was $10.99--a dollar more than the $9.99 I was used to paying. And the price of the Hardcover was $10.57.

Okay, I wasn't in that big a rush to read the book. And if I bought the hardcover it would be easier to share with DH, who's also a fan of the series. And then I could give it to our economically challenged library. No brainer--I bought the hardcover.

Book pricing is a very complicated process, as I learned from this indepth post by Nathan Bransford (from last May), and I don't want to complain. I support publishers and authors and I want everyone to make money and stay in business. But as Nathan said in his post about e-book versus physical book pricing:

. . . it creates a great deal of consumer confusion and angst. It doesn't make any intuitive sense for e-books to cost more than paper.

* * *

On a more sensical note, my little book for kids with a parent in jail was reviewed by Booklist! That was a pleasant surprise. (I copied the review in the "Nonfiction" tab above if you want to read it. And it's a lop eared bunny, not a dog!)

Enjoy the rest of your week!

WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE: Buy it! Win it! Read it!

2011-10-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

From the book flap:

When Ollie's daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into Binder, Arkansas, to lead a three-day revival, Ollie knows that this town will be like all the others her daddy drags them through.

Except, of course, this tiny town is very different. Ollie gets wrapped up in a murder mystery that compels the family to stay put for a while and figure out how to get an innocent woman out of jail.

First, a disclaimer--I won WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE from the author, Tess Hilmo. But if I didn't like it I wouldn't recommend it. And this middle-grade novel is wonderful--full of heart, loaded with page-turning suspense and mystery, richly drawn characters, evocative descriptions, such as:

It may have been only nine o'clock in the morning, but the summer sun was already high in the sky and sweating up the land. Fields of soft green barley laid themselves out across the earth in perfect rows--as if God had reached down and combed them just so.

I laughed. I winced. I cried.

I have a feeling there may be an award or two in this book's future. It's definitely among my favorite reads of the year.

So . . . buy it.

Or, better yet, win it from me!

I'm passing on the good karma by gifting my gently used copy of LOVE to a randomly chosen commenter. I just ask that you be a follower and that your mailing address be in the U.S.

Comment on this post by the end of Friday, Oct. 14, and I'll announce the winner on my Monday post.

(Tess, I hope you've got another book coming out soon. Please.)

Writerland

2011-10-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

This was a fleeting whim I buried at the end of a post maybe three people read. I'm bringing it to the forefront for frank discussion, because I think it's important. A writers' theme park. What do you think? My initial thoughts for rides:

Process Land
Butt-in-Chair House of Horror

Tween Land
Peck-on-Cheek Tunnel of Love

Social Media Land

Tweet or Feed the Kids Twirling Chairs

Nonfiction Land

Bibliography Bobsled

We'll need a YA Land and MG Land, of course. A Picture Book Land. Dystopia Land? All food kiosks will serve chocolate and coffee. I'll approach investors after I hear your suggestions.

The quantum physics of fiction?

2011-10-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

I had a series fiction assignment this past spring, a short novel in which the main character needed to be a teenager on an elite baseball team. I had to audition for the assignment, to assure the editor I could carry off the voice of a young male baseball player and get the action right. Luckily, I'm a big baseball fan and know the fundamentals of the game, or I wouldn't have attempted it. The editor was happy with my sample chapter and I got the job.

So I spent the next five weeks in the head of this young man--definitely the furthest from my reality of any character I'd written. He was 17, struggling through a hitting slump, trying to please his coach and teammates and major-league scouts. He also wanted to live up to his dad's high expectations. It surprised me that the manuscript wasn't harder to write. As soon as I got into it, I seemed to know this kid--his family, house, neighborhood, likes, dislikes, deepest desires, deepest fears--as if I was living in his body, seeing through his eyes.

But that's what we do as writers, isn't it? I'm sure you've felt this way, when you really connect with a character, as if you're in that person's mind, living them. So what is the process of imagination? With this book in particular, it didn't feel so much that I was creating Sammy and his world than observing his already-existing life.

Here's my quantum leap: If there are an infinite number of realities, as physicists suggest, maybe our fictional characters and their worlds are real. When we get an idea for a story, we "find"--using our imaginations--the person living that life, even if it's an elf herding unicorns on an intergalactic space-ranch. If realities are truly infinite, then everything exists. Everything.

I don't know. Just a thought.

eTcetera Thursday

2011-09-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Two years ago I contacted all of the mail-order companies sending us catalogs to stop wasting the paper. Either I didn't get through to Restoration Hardware or they keep sending anyway. In the mail a few days ago was a five-pound, novel-length catalog, including this:

They've got steampunk furniture! They don't call it steampunk, but that must be the inspiration. Wouldn't this be a cool office? If only I had an extra 10 thousand bucks--and the space to put it in.

* * * *

I'm feeling very abundant with bloggie love. I'd like to thank fellow Platform Campaigners Elizabeth Varadan and Michele Helene for the Versatile Blogger award.

And also from Michele, the Liebster Blog and One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you Michele!

These awards seem to have made the rounds and I'm afraid I'd just be passing them on to people who've already received them, so consider yourself ALL awarded. Seriously! If you would like one or all, email me and I'll give you the rules and instructions that go with each award.

Also, Beth Fred, another campaigner, tagged me! Thank you, Beth! In another post I'll be sharing a few random things about myself.

* * * *

If I haven't visited your blog lately, I apologize. I'll make up for my slacker ways after Oct. 10 when I turn in my current WFH project--a celebrity bio. Whee!

Happy writing!

Happy book birthday to Tess Hilmo!

2011-09-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Tess's middle-grade novel--WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE--is being released today and Tess is having an awesome book giveaway to celebrate. Check it out.

(Thank goodness the release date is finally here. I've been looking forward to reading Tess's book for months.)

Bloghop winners!

2011-09-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winners of the Who Started Your Dream bloghop!

(Email your prize-giver if she/he hasn't already been in touch with you.)

Blueeyedadri--a signed copy of "Across the Universe" by Beth Revis, from Robyn Campbell (robyn at robyncampbell dot com).
J.A. Bennet--a signed copy of "Supernaturally" by Kiersten White, from Ali Cross (ali at alicross dot com).
Mina Burrows--a copy of "Crash Into Me" by Albert Borris, from K.M. Walton (kmwalton1 at verison dot net).
Joanne Fritz--a coupon for "Fencing Reputation" by William L. Hahn, from Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot net).
Small Town Shelly Brown--ebook excerpt of "Chasing the Grimm Reaper," from Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot net).
Michael Di Gesu--ebook of "The Witches of Greenwitch," from Katharina Gerlach (katharina at katharinagerlach dot net).
Rusty Webb--30-page critique from Stephanie (lizziebennet45 at yahoo dot com).
Kim--25-page critique from Rachele Alpine (ralpine at aol dot com).
Tina Moss--20-page critique from MG Higgins (info at mghiggins dot com).
Alex J Cavanaugh--500-word intensive critique from Michele Helene (michelevhelene at gmail dot com).
Zoe--contact Katharina for a special prize! (katharina at katharinagerlach dot net)

Thanks to everyone who participated (we had 161 total comments)!

Now I'm off to nonfiction land and my second cup of coffee. Wouldn't that be cool if there was a writing theme park--you could ride the Bibliography Bobsled in Nonfictionland. A tunnel of love in Romanceland. The Butt In Chair horror house in Writing Processland. And all the food kiosks would serve chocolate.

Happy Monday!

eTcetera Thursday

2011-09-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is the last day of the Who Started Your Dream bloghop!
Click here for details and to leave a comment.
We'll be announcing the winners on Monday, September 26.

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I just won an e-book of Judy Croome's Dancing in the Shadows of Love from Bish Denham! Yay! Thanks, Bish and Judy. I can't wait to read it.

(Thanks as well to the wonderful bloggers who've given me blog awards recently. I'll thank you properly next Thursday.)

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My current writing project is taking up most of the 239 words in my head, so the rest of this post is visual. Here's a corner of my backyard in the height of summer bloom.

I like heather.

The photos of Hawaii I hung above my desk to relieve stress (but I forget to look at them).

One of those photos looks familiar. Hmm.

And our friend's new puppy, Snuffleupagus.

Can you imagine walking on your ears?

Have a great rest of your week, blogger peeps. See you Monday.

Stages of competence

2011-09-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

(If you're looking for the Who Started Your Dream bloghop, please click here.)

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In a post a few weeks ago I mentioned unconscious incompetence, which is from the Stages of Competence model I studied in a long-ago psych class. I love how this model can be applied to writing. The four stages are:

Unconscious incompetence
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious competence

This chart describes each stage and shows how you move from one level to the next as you gain more skill at whatever it is you're doing--or trying to do. (Start in the upper left box and follow the arrows.)

Here's an example of the stages using my own writing journey.

Unconscious Incompetence
I wrote my first novel thinking I was the next JK Rowling, that the concept was completely unique, and in a few short months I'd see my book in print. Writing a novel wasn't all that tough. You just had to get words on the page. Whee!

Conscious Incompetence
I'm not sure when or why I realized my writing was awful--maybe after I was well into my second novel and reread my first manuscript. What a horrible, sinking feeling! I sucked! I think this is where a lot of writers quit, or if they're still motivated to write, do something about getting more competent. I joined SCBWI, found a crit group, read more middle grade and YA novels, attended conferences, and studied books on writing. On a bad writing day I'm still here.

Conscious Competence
I believe I reached this stage as I was writing my fourth novel, and it's where I find myself more often now--writing with some skill, but having to think about what I'm doing.

Unconscious Competence
The analogy I like for this stage is driving a car with a stick shift. At some point, you don't think about clutching and shifting and pressing the gas pedal; you're just driving. With writing, you're just ... writing. The feeling is similar to the first stage, only now you know what you're doing. (The danger of this stage is that you can become complacent and not put enough energy into your craft.)

One reason I like this model is because it's not about talent, which I have no control over. It's about working at something until I get it right, which I can control. Or as Ursula K. LeGuin said about writing:

You sit down and you do it, and you do it, and you do it, until you have learned to do it.

Who Started Your Dream bloghop!

2011-09-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

As you're probably aware, I'm participating in Rachael Harrie's 3rd Platform Building Campaign. Cat Gerlach, a member of my MG/YA group (Yay Group 3!) came up with a clever idea for a blog hop based on what books we loved to read and which authors inspired us the most. Eleven of us are participating in the hop, which is actually more of a circle than a hop. A circle hop.

Cool prizes are up for grabs! Every commenter has a chance to win a book or a critique (including a 20-page crit by yours truly, critique partner of three published authors). And the more comments you leave (on different participating blogs, not on the same blog) the more you increase your chances of winning.

The hop starts today, September 15 and runs through Thursday, September 22.

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I have many favorite authors/books, and for different reasons, but I'm going to highlight one middle grade and one YA with two qualities in common--humor and heart. If an author can make me laugh through my tears throughout the book (not just at the end), that's genius, IMHO, and it's what I want to emulate as a writer. Sharon Creech's WALK TWO MOONS is one of my all-time favorites for this reason. I opened the book at random. Here's the beginning of Chapter 16, page 98:

Gram was released from the hospital the next morning mainly because she was so ornery. Gramps wanted her to stay another day, but Gram climbed out of bed and said, "Where's my underwear?"
"I guess this cantankerous woman is getting out of here," Gramps said.
I think fear had made us all a little cantankerous.

Funny, but tugs the heart. And in these few sentences you learn so much about the three main characters. Brilliant.

One of my favorite YA reads is DAIRY QUEEN by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Again, opening the book at random (also the beginning of a chapter) page 101:

Monday morning I decided that if I was going to spend my life as a cow, at least I'd be in good company. Besides, I like cows. Every time I changed the milking machine I'd rest my ear against the cow I was working on, listening to all that gurgling, and think to myself, This isn't so bad. And every time I'd convince myself a little bit more that it wasn't.

The first sentence makes me smile. By the end of the paragraph I'm feeling D.J.'s disappointment and inner conflict. Wonderful, subtle writing.

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So leave a comment and get hopping! When you're done here you can hop "forward" in the circle to Cat Gerlach's blog, or "backward" to Michele Helene's Wandering in Paris. That person will link you to the next blog on the list.

Life poo mini break

2011-09-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ack! I'm being bombarded with life poo! If you've ever played Angry Birds, I'm a pig, and not a pig wearing a helmet surrounded by a stone box. The only way I can handle the insanity is to unplug for a few days.

But I'll be back Thursday. Some Campaigners in my group are planning a blog hop with very cool giveaways. I'll be offering a 20-page critique and there will be additional crits and other prizes up for grabs. Come back then and check it out.

Since I'm in semi-query mode, this topic is of interest to me, and may be to you: agents who do and don't respond to queries. Janet Reid gives these reasons why she responds to every query (her post links to agents who explain their no-response strategy). Nathan Bransford also weighs in today.

While I understand the arguments on both sides, and rejecting hundreds of people every day must be the worst thing about being an agent, I would much rather get a "no" than hear nothing.

Have a great few days and I'll see you Thursday.

eTcetera Thursday

2011-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I let my container lettuce go to seed, just to see what would happen. I'm glad I did. The flowers are yellow and dainty--a nice addition to my deck garden.

Lettuce-going-to-seed writing metaphor

About three weeks ago I posted about my twittering reluctance. This past Tuesday my creative juices weren't flowing (e.g., bad writing day), but I wanted to do something writing-related. And Rachael Harrie's Platform-Building Campaign has stoked my social-networking consciousness, so . . . I tweeted.

Yes. I tweeted. I let my online-platform lettuce grow, just to see what would happen. (I'm not sprouting delicate yellow flowers, in case you were wondering.)

Twitter is actually pretty fun. Holy moly, lots of people are out there. And lots and lots of information. Overwhelming, but like with all online tools, I can turn it off when I want to. Thanks, Laura, for the quick hello, which made me feel immediately welcomed. And thanks to my other bloggie friends who said hi. You're great. I may have questions. (Like what's #WW?)

I'm at @MG_Higgins. Follow me and I'll follow you!

Flash fiction

I won't be participating in the Campaigners flash fiction challenge, but yay for those of you who've accepted the challenge! I've read quite a few and will be reading more today. You guys are talented!

All for now. Let your lettuce grow.

Fix the toaster or buy a new one?

2011-09-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time letting go of old manuscripts.

After typing the last page of my first middle-grade novel in 2003, I thought, Holy moly, I just wrote a novel! At least, it looked like a novel. It had all the basics: a beginning, middle and end. There was a hero and a villain. Even an emotional arc. Unfortunately, I was in the Unconscious Incompetent stage of learning--not skilled enough to know how lousy I was. And, oye, was it a lousy manuscript--awkward phrasing, no voice. But I wrote it with passion and joy, feeling inspired every time I sat down to write.

That first manuscript was a learning experience. I should have shoved it in the back of my virtual file cabinet and never looked at it again. But I've rewritten it a few times over the years--including giving the main character a funnier/edgier voice--and I may give the manuscript another go and perhaps even send it out eventually.

Here's what runs through my mind when I think of tossing instead fixing: By discarding my creative work, am I saying my original inspiration was wrong? Was the excitement that pushed me through page after page, day after day for months, misguided? It's like throwing out your first child because you were an incompetent parent and made too many mistakes; you'll get the next kid right. (Okay, maybe not quite like that, but you get my point.)

So that's one reason why I tend to revise and revise (and lay awake at 3:00 a.m. wondering if my philosophy is just an excuse to keep from starting something new).

Do you fix or toss? I'd really like to hear your perspective.

Synopsis-kitchen disorder

2011-09-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

So I was writing a synopsis yesterday when I suddenly found myself standing in front of the opened refrigerator. I didn't remember walking into the kitchen or opening the refrigerator door. It was spooky. After making toast and peanut butter and reading a bit of the newspaper, I went back to my synopsis. Twenty minutes later, I was standing at the stove making a cheese omelette! How did I get there?! I ate the omelette, did the Sudoku and crossword puzzle, blogged. An hour later, back at my synopsis, I wasn't working for more than thirty minutes when I came to consciousness in the kitchen, heating water for tea!!

Has this ever happened to you?

One agent's middle-grade advice

2011-08-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, I queried an agent with a middle-grade novel. She read the full manuscript, made some suggestions, and I revised based on her comments. She eventually passed, but she was encouraging and helpful and it was a good learning experience. Several months ago, I queried the same agent with a different middle-grade novel. In a nice personal rejection, she said:

"While I liked working with you and enjoy your writing voice, I'm afraid that [TITLE's] plotline seems a little quiet right now. I know editors are clamoring for new MG/tween (including contemporary), but all MG right now needs to have more of a hook to compete in the marketplace (for better or worse)."

I wouldn't normally blog about a rejection, and this is just one agent's take on things, but I think it's worth sharing. Editors are looking for MG/tween! That's good news after such a long focus on YA. And contemporary stories are okay, which is also a nice change after all the attention on action-adventure/fantasy/paranormal/magical-realism.

The not-so-positive news (for me, anyway) is that quiet stories are a hard sell. I pretty-much knew this, but it's still difficult to hear since I tend to write stories that are heavy on relationships and personal growth and not so heavy on plot.

My take-away from her email is--

I gotta have a hook!

. . . that quirky, fascinating, unpredictable, out-of-the-ordinary setting or plot or personality characteristic that makes my story stand out and grab an agent's, editor's, and ultimately a reader's attention. (Agent Holly Root and editors Martha Mihalick and Molly O'Neill have a great discussion on what they consider attention-grabbing, from WriteOnCon.)

So what do I do now? The problem could be my query letter. I'm going to tease out the already-existing hooky elements in the story and zero-in on them. Then I'll send it to a few more agents and see what happens. If it's the story itself, then I may need to shelve it indefinitely or wait until quiet is in vogue again.

And for my my next writing project I'm definitely going to make sure it has a strong hook from the beginning. (Like, duh. One of these I'm going to get the hang of this. :) )

eTcetera Thursday

2011-08-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Interview Followup
I'd like to leave Patricia Stockland's interview on book packaging up forever, but such is the nature of blogging. If you've reached this post and want to read Patricia's interview, it's here. I'm also linking to it on my WFH tips & links page.

Blogging Award
Thank you, C. Lee McKenzie, for the . . .

Lee is one of my dearest writing friends and crit buddies. I just had the opportunity to beta read her latest YA novel. It is soooo good.

Normally, I acknowledge awards but don't pass them on because I HATE CHOOSING. But I'm trying to stretch my introverted online self (see next eTcetera item), and have therefore decided to award five followers I appreciate (keeping in my that I appreciate ALL of you):

Cynthia Chapman Willis
Bish Denham
The Happy Whisk
Shelley Moore Thomas
Kris Asselin

The rules: In continuing the award, awardees will be. . .

*thanking the giver and linking back to the blogger who gave it to them.
*revealing their top 5 picks and letting them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
*copying and pasting the award on their blog.
*having faith that their followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
* . . . And most of all - having bloggity-blog fun.

Platform-Building Campaign
I admit it. I'm platform challenged. So I've joined . . .

Rachel Harrie's Platform Building Campaign.

According to Rachel, "the Campaign is a way to link those of us in the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Campaigners are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others' online platforms while at the same time building theirs."

Welcome fellow campaigners! I'm looking forward to getting to know you and doing whatever it is we do.

New Blog Alert
Finally, check out Kelly Pollark's new blog, Book Recs of the Rock and Famous. She's promoting literacy by revealing what celebrities are reading. Rock on!

Interview with Patricia Stockland, Red Line Editorial

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

After posting recently about my latest work-for-hire project, which I was assigned by the book-packaging company Red Line Editorial, it occurred to me that book packaging is a bit of a mystery to many people. (It was to me.) Patricia Stockland, Editorial Director at Red Line Editorial, graciously agreed to answer a few questions about book packaging, her company, and what she looks for in freelance writers. Patricia has been working in educational publishing for the past 12 years and holds an MA in Literature and a BA in English. Thank you, Patricia!

What do book packagers do?

PS: This really depends upon the individual packager, but most share the common denominator of helping publishers offset some of the internal production overflow. Essentially, book packagers take an assigned project, manage the editorial and/or production work, and produce edited manuscripts or print-ready files for a publisher. This often includes hiring and overseeing authors, editors, designers, production artists, and photo researchers or illustrators.

In addition to book packaging, Red Line acts as a creative house, which means that we help publishers with list development, series oversight and style continuity, and some marketing work. Not all book packagers do that, but I think it's safe to say that all book packagers offer additional editorial and production assistance to publishers.

Why do publishers hire book packagers?

PS: Publishers appreciate the flexibility that book packagers can offer, in that a publishing house doesn't have to "staff up" internally for one or two heavier seasons. If a publisher wants to do a larger list or a special project, they can move that work to a book packager and rest assured that the creative and production work will be handled professionally. The publisher doesn't have to bring on additional internal staff (and the associated costs) to take a risk on a project or longer title list. Also, many packagers have established freelance pools that the publisher doesn't have to maintain but can access easily through the point of a book packager.

Are book packagers more common than they used to be?

PS: It's hard to say, really. I think with the changes in the industry and the economy during the past three or four years, we're seeing more start-ups on this front. But the handful of established packagers has been around for a decade plus, and each has a pretty solid reputation for their own specialized areas. It's a challenging role to fill, so I don't think we see a large number of long-standing entities. Book packagers need to serve and please a multi-tiered clientele, and it isn't a great fit for everyone.

How many publishers do you work with? Can you name some of them?

PS: We maintain strict confidentiality contracts with all of our clients, but I think it's fair to say that we regularly work with many of the publishers in the educational market as well as some folks on the trade and textbook side of things and most of the large entities on the professional sports docket, in addition to the US Olympic Committee.

What types and genres of books does Red Line Editorial produce?

PS: We're fortunate to be able to cast a pretty wide net on the genres front. With that, most of the work we do is nonfiction (spanning the curriculum) for the K-12 audience, but we also produce fiction, picture books, graphic novels, adult nonfiction, poetry, online sports content, some self-publishing projects, textbook production, and ebook conversions of most things.

How many writers do you work with? What do you look for in writers you hire for Red Line Editorial?

PS: On the book side of things, we have a running list of about 200 authors. I can't say with exactness how many writers work with us on the sports content side, but we do have full national (and some international) coverage there. We really look for people who can work to spec (we don't currently represent authors as an agency would), who respect deadlines and know their own capacities, and who are polite professionals! Of course, good writing speaks for itself, and that's a baseline quality, but the other items really matter to us. Because a lot of the work we do is nonfiction, we really rely on our authors to be research pros, and we also look for authors who can work with editors during the revision process. A good sense of humor doesn't hurt either. From the edit side of the fence, we can often tell when someone has really enjoyed an assignment and been interested in the subject matter versus someone who's taken on a project because they had bandwidth but not necessarily any interest in the work itself. So a healthy curiosity is also a bonus!

Are you currently seeking freelance writers? What should a writer do who's interested in working for Red Line Editorial?

PS: We're always open to bringing qualified authors into our pool. Submissions should go through the address posted on our website. Including a short writing sample or two from a preferred genre is really helpful.

Anything else you'd like to say about Red Line Editorial or on the subject of book packaging?

PS: I think Red Line Editorial has developed a really great rapport with a number of freelancers over the years, and that speaks well for us as a company. But so much of what we're able to do well also goes back to authors who want to do well with this type of work. I think working with a book packager is an excellent way for authors to get their proverbial foot in the door with publishers. But many people have also made rewarding careers from this style of work too. So, I'd like to extend a thank you to the authors in our pool and encourage new folks to take a look at spec work. If you love researching and "writing assignments," this might just be the thing for you!

Friday bits

2011-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Be-there-or-be-square bit:
On Monday I'll be posting an interview with Patricia Stockland, Editorial Director at the book-packaging company Red Line Editorial. She'll be sharing some inside scoop on book packaging, her company, what she's looking for in freelance writers, and how to submit. Great info, if you're at all curious about book packaging and/or work-for-hire writing.

Last-of-the-season bits:
These are the very last of our blueberries. Summer is flying, the mornings are getting darker, and I greatly disapprove. I'd fling blueberries at whoever's in charge, if I knew who that is and if there were any berries left.

Weekend bit:
I'll be perusing the WriteOnCon events that I missed. The ones I saw during the week were sooooo good. Do you have any favorites to recommend? I loved Shelley's vlog and her suggestion of an idea book and her no-pressure techniques for starting a new novel. (And she's very funny.)

Have a great weekend!

Social media and the socially awkward

2011-08-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's okay, Obie. Bloggers don't bite.

I have a Twitter account. I've never tweeted. When I occasionally peer at Twitter conversations, I feel like a kid in her pajamas sitting at the top of the stairs watching the grownups partying in the living room. It looks like they're having fun, but I wouldn't feel comfortable joining them.

Okay, I'm exaggerating. A little. I'm an adult with some social skills. I may Twitter (and Facebook) eventually. But I'm the poster child of introversion who longs for the olden days when the only online social media was email. Remember email? Communicating with one person at a time. Conversations not exposed to the entire world. No expectations about content or audience or emails sent per day.

And now there's Google +. Do we really need another social-networking platform?

When I'm feeling pressured to have a greater online presence, I read the Shrinking Violets, especially their Introverts Bill of Rights. And this post on hyperconnectivity is eye opening. Of course, for every post/interview/article on why we should cut down on social media, there are ten saying we should do more of it. I take heart from the Violets, who in their hyperconnectivity post advise:

"... if you’re chasing the social media/blogging brass ring with a sense of panic nipping at your heels, then maybe you need to reassess.

Calms my panicky little heels.

I admire those of you who use media tools effortlessly. To you squeamish ones, here's a sympathetic (and delicate) high five.

Edit 8/16: This post may convince me to do more social networking.

Library e-books (no paper, lots of reading)

2011-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

As a kid, I probably received a handful of new books. Money wasn't plentiful, which meant careful decisions had to be made for Christmas and birthday gifts. The closest library was several miles away and I was dependent on a ride from parents with other priorities. So, yeah, the house wasn't full of books.

When it comes to books, technology is a wonderful thing. An amazing, incredible thing. I've just started borrowing e-books from the library. I found a link on my library's home page and downloaded the software to my computer and iTouch (always an adventure, but not too confusing). Then I perused the YA titles and made a few selections. Everything I wanted was already checked out(?!), so I put my name on waiting lists. One by one, the books have become available. This morning I got an email that THE DEAD AND THE GONE by Susan Beth Pfeffer was ready to check out. Which I did; it took about a minute to go to the site and download the book. Now it's on my iTouch for 14 days, after which it will be zapped away.

At this moment, I have two books checked out from the library: the one on my iTouch and I AM NUMBER FOUR in hard copy. I also have a couple of books on the iTouch I bought from Amazon. I love having reading options!

Have you tried e-borrowing yet?

Backyard drama

2011-08-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

The stuff on the deck? Snail guts. The marks on the steps? Raccoon tracks.

Lots of drama happens in the backyard at night, but I rarely see the evidence. In the eight years we've lived here, I've seen raccoons once, and a fox. I smell skunks almost every night, but I've never seen one. There's a gully two blocks from our house where neighbors claim a mountain lion roams. I've never seen it, but I'm sure the neighbors are right.

During the day the yard is a flitting paradise of butterflies and hummingbirds. But at night? I'd rather not think about it.

"Something Happened"--The bottom line

2011-08-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Something Happened"* is done! Yay! I submitted the manuscript and bibliography on Friday. I'm feeling nervous because I'm not sure I've given the editor exactly what she wants. I'm expecting edits.

Here are the final stats:

Time to complete: 7 weeks (I worked 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday)
Words: 22,744
Pages: 111
Footnotes: 297
References: 84
Reference books read cover to cover: 5

Was it worth it? You betcha. I woke up every morning excited to go to my "job." The hours and days flew by. I learned soooo much about a subject I knew practically nothing about. That said, I'm tired and need a break. It's stressful working under deadline and I'd like to spend some time on other projects. In a week or two I'll be ready for another assignment. (Are you listening, work-for-hire gods?)

Since most of you are fiction writers, I'm very grateful for your patience in sharing this nonfiction journey with me. You guys are great. But I need to warn you, I'm enjoying being a hack so this probably won't be my last work-for-hirism post.

Enjoy your week! What are you working on?

*This is the 6th (and final) part of a series on my 20k work-for-hire nonfiction WIP for teens on an American historical event, which, due to contract restraints, I've fictitiously named "Something Happened." I'll be posting Mondays on different aspects of wfh nonfiction at least through the project's August 1 due date.

Miscellaneous stuff

2011-07-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Wiener Weiner!
A few weeks ago I won Tess Hilmo's contest for her book WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE, among other great swag. It was my very first blog-contest win. Then, last week, wouldn't you know it, I won another contest--Danyelle Leafly's serial novel THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA sponsored by Christina Farley. Thank you Christina and Danyelle! (Isn't that strangely wonderful?)

Nice Things to Say
Capstone Managing Editor Gillia Olson had some nice things to say about the Life's Challenges series and my Jail book in particular on the Capstone Publishing blog.

Word Verification--We Don't Need It!
A while back, Angela at The Bookshelf Muse had this to say about word verification--basically, Blogger's spam catcher is so greatly improved that we don't need it anymore. I was doubtful. I don't like word verification and didn't use it on my blog for a long time, but then I was inundated with spam and felt I had to return to it. But I took Angela's advice because she is a helpful and sincere person and wouldn't steer us wrong. I'm happy to report that she was right. It's been a couple months now and I haven't had a single problem with spam. I still GET spam, but it goes into a nifty cache that I can peruse and delete at my leisure. It also catches "anonymous" comments and won't publish them until I take a look. It's great! So unless you have another reason for using word verification, you can stop using it. Really.

Have a wonderful miscellaneous day.

"Something Happened"--Cleanup

2011-07-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

"Something Happened"* is due next Monday! I've finished a rough draft, which means the chapters and back matter are completed. I've fixed problems like missing data and funky wording. I spent two days inserting footnotes, because I learned on another project that footnotes are tiny and way too easy to delete as I rewrite; putting sources and page numbers in parenthesis within the text is more manageable for me in the long run.

What this means is that I could turn in the manuscript today if I absolutely had to. I intend to turn it in early, hopefully Friday. Between now and then and I want to make the manuscript bright and shiny. Here's my plan:

Read more, and cite more, of the content expert's book, which is due back at the library on Tuesday and not renewable since it's an interlibrary loan. Here's my post on content experts if you're curious.

Replace secondary sources with primary sources. A primary source is the original book, letter, article, transcript, video, etc. where someone first wrote or said something.

Read through the manuscript online paying close attention to the narrative, including segues between chapters (even in nonfiction I love cliff-hanger chapter endings that make you want to turn the page), connections between subheadings, between paragraphs, etc. The flow needs to be logical yet interesting. Since the book is intended for high school students, reading level isn't too much of an issue; if it were meant for younger readers this is where I'd check for word usage.

If I have time, I'll do a random check of footnotes to make sure the page numbers I've cited are going to the right places.

On Thursday I'll print the manuscript and carefully read it for typos, punctuation errors, and general readability. The hard copy always magnifies errors. Fingers crossed there won't be too many and they won't take long to fix.

Hopefully all of this will be done by Friday afternoon. I'll email the ms and bibliography to the editor, then go see Harry Potter, my big reward.

*This is Part 5 of a continuing series on my 20k work-for-hire nonfiction WIP for teens on an American historical event, which, due to contract restraints, I've fictitiously named "Something Happened." I'll be posting Mondays on different aspects of wfh nonfiction at least through the project's August 1 due date.

You only have one first

2011-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Capstone Publishing alerted me that my author copies were being shipped. I followed the books online from Minnesota to California using the UPS tracking number. When I heard the UPS truck's distinctive rumble yesterday afternoon, I ran outside and grabbed the box before the guy reached our steps.

This is not my first novel, but these are my first published books.

And you know what? They're beautiful.

What feels even better than holding them and flipping through the gorgeous pages is knowing that they may help kids who are going through their parents' divorce or have a parent in prison. That's why the books were published and I'm proud I had the opportunity to participate. I'm feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzy over here.

You don't need to buy these books for my sake (this was a work-for-hire project), but please do if you know a child or parent who might be able to use them. (They're linked to Amazon on my "Nonfiction" page.)

Capstone's Life's Challenges series presents tough subjects realistically and offers ideas on how to cope, using best counseling practices. Kids can read them alone (they're written at a third-grade level) or go through them with an adult. The other books in the series are GOODBYE, JEEPERS (what to expect when your pet dies) and SAYING GOODBYE TO UNCLE JOE (what to expect when someone you love dies).

Thank you Jill and Gillia. :)

"Something Happened"--Back matter

2011-07-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering if back matter is the stuff in the back of a book that matters, it does matter, but in this case it means stuff. Think back stuff. Fiction sometimes has back matter, like acknowledgements, an about-the-author page, maybe sample pages of an upcoming book. Nonfiction back matter is a lot more involved.

For the back matter in "Something Happened"* I'm required to include a timeline of key dates (about 25), glossary of terms (about 20), synopsis of events, bibliography of at least 5 of my favorite sources, 3 to 5 further readings, 3 to 5 web links, 3 places for readers to visit, and a paragraph about myself. An index and source notes will also be part of the book's back matter, but I'm not responsible for these, other than for my footnotes which will be turned into source notes. All of these items are in addition to the 20k-word manuscript.

"Are you freakin' kidding me?" you may be thinking to yourself. "You're supposed to do all of this on top of your massive, completely researched and footnoted, five-sidebar-per-chapter manuscript?" Okay, maybe those are my innermost thoughts. But really, back matter isn't that big a deal. In fact, I rather enjoy it because it's a way to take a break from writing the manuscript and still feel like I'm accomplishing something. The only back matter I haven't yet drafted for "Something Happened" is the timeline, because it's tedious and I'm procrastinating. And I'm having a tough time with places to visit, because they aren't obvious.

I'm in the homestretch. Two weeks to go. My first rough draft will be finished in a few days, then I'll start filling in holes that need more research.

Happy Monday!

*This is Part 4 of a continuing series on my 20k work-for-hire nonfiction WIP for teens on an American historical event, which, due to contract restraints, I've fictitiously named "Something Happened." I'll be posting Mondays on different aspects of wfh nonfiction at least through the project's August 1 due date.

LOVE

2011-07-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

I've pretty much stopped entering blog contests because I never win and I don't like jumping through all the usual hoops. But I entered Tess Hilmo's contest to win a copy of her new middle-grade novel WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE and a bunch of other cool stuff. I really, really want to read her book. And there were no entry hoops. And . . . I won! Coolsville.

WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE just got a starred review in Kirkus.

"Hilmo creates a family, a town and a mystery that readers won't soon forget ... A story about the meaning of home, justice and love, beautifully told."

It doesn't get better than that. Big congrats to Tess. I'll be passing LOVE along after it arrives and I finish reading it. Possibly in a blog contest. (No gymnastics required.)

Okay, back to work. I'm writing the last two chapters of "Something Happened" and it's giving me fits. Fits, I tell you.

"Nothing Happened"

2011-07-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

We had house guests this weekend, and I didn't have time to write my next "Something Happened" post. Instead, I'm posting a few random pix from my blog files. Happy Monday!

"Something Happened"--Content Experts

2011-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was going to post about back matter today, but I'm not yet writing back matter for "Something Happened,"* and I'd rather post about it when I'm doing it. Hope this doesn't matter to you.

Instead . . . content experts. Or subject experts. These are the people publishers hire to make sure nonfiction writers have their facts straight and haven't twisted concepts out of shape and gotten too creative with their interpretation of research. Honestly, content experts intimidate me. I picture them a bit like this:

I hadn't heard of content experts before my first nonfiction project. So far, they've all been academics--university professors who write books and teach the subject I'm writing about. In other words, they're . . . experts. I don't know how publishers find them. I wonder if there's a big clearinghouse or something. I should ask.

Anyway, I wrote a manuscript on addiction last January and the first draft was accepted. I got paid and thought that was it. But a few months later, I was contacted by the editor. They'd gotten feedback from the content expert and had some questions for me. (By contract I'm required to do any additional work needed on the manuscript at any point before publication. This is fine by me, because mistakes reflect poorly on me as the writer.) The expert's and editor's points and questions were interesting, I did a day or so of additional research and writing, and it was a nice collaboration between the three of us. Not scary in the least.

For "Something Happened," the editor has hired a content expert from the beginning. Last week I got feedback on his (and the editor's) review of my outline, first chapter, and working bibliography. The changes weren't too drastic and I reworked the outline and turned in a second draft the same day. I like having expert feedback up front; it lets me know I'm going in the right direction. I do have a little, niggling worry, however. The events associated with "Something Happened" are controversial, and I can tell from the expert's comments and the 1,200-page (seriously) book he wrote that we're not quite in synch philosophically. But that just means my presentation needs to be very balanced, which it should be anyway.

So, yay for content/subject experts. And to quell my nerves I'm trying to picture them more like this:

Happy 4th!

*This is Part 3 of a continuing series on my 20k work-for-hire nonfiction WIP for teens on an American historical event, which, due to contract restraints, I've fictitiously named "Something Happened." I'll be posting Mondays on different aspects of wfh nonfiction at least through the project's August 1 due date.

"Something Happened"--Fun with research!

2011-06-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

Research! Yippee!

Yeah, I know. It's hard to make research sound exciting. Call me geeky, but I've always liked research. Summarizing and synthesizing existing information into something new is amazingly satisfying. And I learn incredible things, like the events and people involved in "Something Happened," my nonfiction WIP.*

The day I accepted the "Something Happened" assignment, I searched our local college, university, and public library online catalogs. The university had the best selection of books on the topic, so I scurried to campus and gathered what I needed. Because I was familiar with the basic historical facts of "Something Happened," but not the details, I selected one of the books and read it cover to cover. This gave me a feeling for not only the event itself, but for the setting, the people, the social atmosphere--the whole historical gestalt. It also gave me an idea for the opening chapter and outline, which were due in a week and a half.

Here's what my workspace looks like this morning:

The three books on my desk are my best general resources for the part of the book I'm focusing on right now. To me, "best" means they're thorough (good overview), written for the adult market, and by people with some academic standing or special expertise. They're also interesting, which is a big plus. Unfortunately, only one of the books meets another "best" resource requirement--recently published (hopefully within the past six years). One was published in 2001, but I'll let it pass because the author interviewed people involved in the event. And the third book is much older, but a primary source by one of the event's instigators.

I'm using all three books at the same time, which can be time consuming, but it also means there's less chance that my information will be biased. Plus, what one author skims over or leaves out, another may may spend more time on, so I feel like I'm getting a well-rounded picture of what happened.

Once I've written a basic first draft using my "best" resources, I'll start filling in holes and thin spots and creating sidebars and adding more depth with the books you see sitting on the table next to my desk. These are written about specific aspects of "Something Happened," as are the twenty or so e-books and numerous journal articles I've got bookmarked online.

Now, if this were my own project that I had a year to write, I'd be interviewing scholars and subject experts and people with some kind of personal involvement with the event. But "Something Happened" has such a tight deadline, this would be very difficult and it's not required.

As of this morning, I'm halfway through the first draft of Chapter 5, with six and-a-half chapters--and lost of back matter--to go. I'll talk about back matter next week (hopefully without a single reference to rear ends, butts, or "Does this manuscript make me look fat?").

Onward!

*This is Part 2 of a continuing series on my 20k work-for-hire nonfiction WIP for teens about an American historical event, which, due to contract restraints, I've fictitiously named "Something Happened." I'll be posting Mondays on different aspects of wfh nonfiction at least through the project's August 1 due date.

Doh! Don't do this!

2011-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I updated my blog design a couple months ago, I stopped sharing my profile because I'd created an "About Me" page and figured if there was anything people really wanted to know they could find it there. But when you stop sharing your profile, it's like you don't exist anymore. So if you clicked on my icon (say like if I commented on your post and you wanted to go to my blog from my icon), nothing would have come up; it would have looked like I didn't have a blog anymore. (Thank you Lee, for kindly informing me you thought I'd deleted my blog.)

I'm giving you this warning even though you're all bright and alert and never do silly things. Pass it on to your dim friends. And keep up the good work!

Bandon, the Blogger-mistake watch cat.

"Something Happened"--a WFH project begins

2011-06-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, hard to believe, but it was a year ago that Capstone Publishing emailed me, asking if I wanted to write a couple of nonfiction picture-books. I've just started my tenth work-for-hire manuscript, and while I'm not quite supporting myself as a writer, I'm at least able to tell people "I'm a writer" without the hiccup of hesitation I used to get.

One of the catches to WFH is that some of these projects are so big, and the deadlines so tight, that I essentially have to work on them full time--eight hours a day, five days a week--to get them done right and on time. It makes having even a regular part-time job tough, although I'm sure there are people out there doing it, bless their exhausted little hearts.

Because my writing life will be almost exclusively focused on nonfiction for the next six weeks, I thought I'd blog about my newest WFH journey, sharing a little inside scoop on what it's like to write one of these nonfiction manuscripts. I can't share many details about the project, due to contract limitations (many publishers don't like other publishers knowing what they're working on), but I will reveal that I was hired a week and a half ago by a book packager I've done a few other projects for, to write a 20,000-word manuscript (plus back matter) for teens on an American historical event. For blogging purposes, I'm calling the book "Something Happened."

The first chapter, outline, and working bibliography are all due today. First chapters in these books for older readers can be challenging, because they need to read like fiction, even ending with a cliffhanger, in order to draw the reader in. They need to set the scene and provide a little background information while still being engaging. In this case, I'm starting with a single incident involving three of the primary historical figures. It isn't the only incident that might be considered the "beginning," but in my opinion it's the most personal and the most interesting.

First chapters are fun to write, but also a little nerve wracking, since it may be the editor's first look at your writing. There's a lot of pressure to make a good first impression.

Oooh, new computer equipment

2011-06-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

My new monitor arrived yesterday, and I'm stoked! I'd promised myself I'd invest in a big screen with my next nonfiction gig. I like having two documents open at a time--my manuscript and whatever online book or article I'm researching. My old monitor was teeny tiny and I could only fit a few paragraphs of each document on the screen, squishing one on top of the other. As you can (barely) see in the photo, two full pages fit side by side on my new 24" screen. And it swivels!

I've got monitor love. I've got it bad.

If you're interested in the details, it's a ViewSonic VG2436wm-LED 1080p Full HD.

Any techie stuff on your wish list?

Monday to-do list

2011-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Get a professional photo taken for my website.
Finish website.
Figure out how to publish website.
Create ten (okay, one) backup post(s) so I don't go more than a week without blogging.
Average 700 words a day on my nonfiction WIP.
Lose the ten pounds I gained on vacation.
Remove toenail polish I applied before vacation.
Stop thinking about vacation.
Cut down on playing Angry Birds.
Turn compost bin every day.

What's on your to-do list?

The pause that refreshes

2011-06-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

These are my feet. These are my happy feet on vacation in Hawaii.

After ten days in paradise, my feet have since returned home but my mind is still snorkeling with this turtle somewhere off the Kona coast.

I swam with wild dolphins! This lifelong dream lived up to every expectation. Truly a magical experience. It would have looked like this if I'd remembered to bring the underwater camera.

Now spiritually and physically recharged, I'm ready to get back to writing (and laundry and cooking and mixing the compost).

I've got some catching up to do with you fine people, so I'm going to get to it.

Please enjoy this musical interlude

2011-04-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

With a deadline looming and stress mounting, I need to focus my creative energies on things other than posting to my blog. So I'm taking a brief, two to three week break while I live in the mind of a seventeen-year-old boy obsessed with sports. (It's not painful, but I am angst-ridden and my face is breaking out.)

I may stop by and read your blog when I need a break.

One of these days I'm going to post on a regular schedule. (HA!)

Oh, and while you're waiting, imagine I'm humming perky elevator music.

(The word of the month is angst.)

Friday Funny

2011-04-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

During a recent password audit by Microsoft and Google, it was found that one person was using the following password:

"MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento"

When asked why she had such a long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least eight characters long and include at least one capital.

Online angst, part II: responding to comments

2011-04-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

For my last post I experimented with responding to comments via email. I like email responses for a couple of reasons--they can be more personal, and I know the commenter is going to see it. I rarely go back to someone's post to read their response to my comment anymore--not because I don't care, but because I don't have the time. I used to click the "email follow-up comments" box, but if it was a really popular post, then my inbox would fill up with comments, and I often forgot what the original post was about.

There are downsides to emailed responses, two of which Tina Lauel Lee pointed out in her comments on my Tuesday post:

"I like having 'conversations' on blogs"

Me too! My blogging experience is much richer when a conversation develops, and that usually involves the post author providing input. (It also depends on the topic, of course. Some posts just don't lend themselves to conversation.) She also noted:

"Some places where the author doesn't respond to seem kind of dead to me and I am less willing to comment."

Yup. I agree.*

I haven't decided if I'm going to make a permanent switch to emailed responses. For this post I'll respond the old-fashioned way.

How do you respond to comments? What kind of responses do you like to receive?

*Edit: For those bloggers who focus on creative expression rather than a topic, this doesn't apply to you! They're completely different animals, IMO.

Online angst

2011-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

Zoochini is no more. I grieve, but rejoice in the new.

Thanks, guys, for all your advice (and empathy) on the techie issues. You saved me lots of time and Motrin.

As I worked on the design this weekend, I realized it wasn't just for technical reasons that I'd been putting this off. There's a ton of personal identity wrapped up in an online presence. Who will be reading my blog? What will people think about me when they see it?

Who am I?

Many of you have created or updated your blogs recently, so I'm guessing you've experienced similar angst. I didn't go through this when I designed my blog two years ago. Maybe because I knew one other person on Blogger.

Do you experience online-presence angst? And does anyone else think the flies and fish-bone Blogger backgrounds are extremely cool?!! I was so tempted.

(FYI, the background is a door in my house. I don't remember what I did to it in Photoshop. I click on things.)

Blogger v. website. Help!

2011-04-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in desperate need of a blog update (and/or website) and confused by all the options. I've noticed some of you have set up Blogger like a website with fancy buttons that link to separate pages. Can you help me?

How did you create your Blogger website thingies? Did you have someone design it for you? Did you create it yourself (like do your own *shudder* html)? Did you find a free layout? Where?
Why did you decide to use Blogger instead of a separate website?
For those of you using a separate website, why did you decide to go that route?

Thank you! When I get overwhelmed I freeze and do nothing. (You should see me at Nordstrom's. Funny but sad.)

Edit: So Bish cleared up the button/page mystery. (Duh.) But I'm still very curious about the pros and cons of using Blogger as a website versus a separate website. Your opinion?

Literary change of pace

2011-04-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

For a change of pace from my almost exclusive diet of YA and middle grade, I read a few adult literary novels every year. Since I'm not super familiar with these authors, I tend to go for the books that are popular and have good Amazon reviews. That may not be the wisest strategy, but I've found that sometimes popularity can equate to quality. That happened with THE HELP and THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN and now with CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese.

In a sentence, CUTTING FOR STONE is a family saga about responsibility and love, set primarily in mid-20th century Ethiopia, in a milieu of surgical medicine. I tend to devour YA, but I'm savoring this one slowly. It is rich, thick, full of details that, instead of making my head ache and spur me to skim, involve me further with the characters.

Highly recommended, especially if you need a (temporary) break from dystopia like I did.

Have you read any good literary novels lately? I'm looking to add a few more to my TBR pile.

Elizabeth Taylor's purse

2011-03-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was out of college and working as an executive assistant (secretary) at ABC Television's corporate offices in Los Angeles. The department I worked for organized special events, including meet-and-greets for affiliate station owners to hobnob with network stars, and fundraising events for top executives' favorite charities. One such charity fundraiser was an annual event that attracted gobs of stars. Dressed in my second-hand ball gown, my job as "talent herder" required me to gently but firmly lead slippery stars to the green room for media interviews. (My boss gave me the best order ever that night: "Don't let Sylvester Stallone out of your sight!")

Amid a flurry of flashing paparazzi cameras, into the lobby strolled Elizabeth Taylor. It was her first public appearance after a long stay at a weight-loss clinic. She. Was. Gorgeous. GORGEOUS. Dressed and made up to perfection. And it was my job to stay close so I could herd her to the green room at the appropriate time. I don't remember how or why it happened, but I ended up holding her purse for a few minutes.

I was holding Elizabeth Taylor's purse! It was still warm from her megastar hand, her personal possession containing her most personal possessions. Aware that this was likely a seminal moment in my young life, I took a good look at the bulging and rather heavy white-beaded evening bag, and noticed . . . it was dirty. Grimy. Beads were missing. Huh. A few thoughts ran through my mind:

1. Why had Elizabeth Taylor grabbed her old, ratty evening bag when she'd left the house, instead of a sparkly clean evening bag? Surely she owned more than one formal purse.

2. How in the world does an evening bag get grimy in the first place? How many special events would you have to attend? It was beyond my comprehension.

I handed her purse back and returned to stalking Sylvester Stallone. Since then I've felt this odd connection to Ms. Taylor. I was sad to hear of her passing.

Taxes and bad mojo

2011-03-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've never taken a tax deduction for a home office before, partly because I never had a fully dedicated space. The IRS is so picky about home offices. Last year I was looking at our enclosed porch and thought, Hey, my desk might fit in there. It's tight, but cozy. And sunny, since it's next to a southern window. Now I can honestly claim that only writing and writing-related activity occur in this 56.25 square-foot space (2.7 percent of the house).

Our house began as a two-room cabin built around 1875, and this was the front porch. (The wooden siding on the right is likely the cabin's original exterior, while the siding straight ahead is the exterior of the Victorian addition built in 1897.) In 1875, the structure would have been very isolated and probably surrounded by redwood forest. No one is certain of its original purpose, but educated guesses include logger's cookhouse, fur-trapper cabin, and outpost for Fort Humboldt, which is two miles due west. I hope it wasn't the fort outpost; some horrific things happened between the military and local native population.

On occasion I've felt some bad mojo around the property, although that could have many sources. Our home wasn't always as loved as it is now. Its background includes long periods of vacancy, being split into apartments by a slum lord, drug activity, and at least one suicide. Yet, I feel comfortable here. Its complex history suits me.

Still, if bad mojo were deductible, I'd claim it.

The post that never was

2011-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was searching through photos I've stored on Blogger and came across these three. They're grouped together and I know I'd planned on writing a post about . . . something. Wish I could remember. Would have been a great post.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Surges

2011-03-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Our house is located a hundred feet above sea level, so the tsunami sirens aren't nearby. But they were loud enough to wake me at 4 a.m. on Friday with an eerie wailing. I lay there a few minutes wondering what the sound meant. It wouldn't be a test, since those happen during the day. That meant it was a real warning. Probably a big earthquake somewhere in the Pacific.

I nervously got dressed and went to the computer. Sure enough, there'd been an 8.9 earthquake in Japan. Searching the confusing USGS website, my hand shaking on the mouse, I finally found a chart with estimated wave heights and arrival times. The first surge would hit at 7:30 a.m.

An 8.9. That was huge, huge, huge. What the people of Japan must be experiencing!

We turned on the radio and listened to the reports coming in from Japan and closer by. One school after another announced they'd close for the day. People called into the station describing the first surge: like a tide quickly going out, exposing rocks and old pier posts rarely seen, then coming in again, rising higher and higher, reaching parking lots, making rivers appear to run backwards. This occurred about every twenty minutes for most of the day.

Thankfully, there was little damage in our area. We personally were never in any danger. It was a bright, sunny day. Beautiful, really. And my birthday! But so strange. Eerie, creepy, like the sirens that first woke me. Similar to the coasts of Japan and Chile, we live near a subduction zone that will have a similar-sized "big one" when it decides to hit. And it's overdue.

Do you live in a place without natural disasters? Do you have an extra room?

Things you develop a taste for (or don't)

2011-03-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

Just saw this lead-in to an article on the Yahoo! home page:

President weighs in on vegemite: "It's horrible."

According to Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard, speaking to a class of American middle-graders, vegemite is a black, yeasty, salty byproduct of the beer-making process. To which President Obama responded, "So it's like a quasi vegetable byproduct paste that you smear on your toast. Sounds good, doesn't it?"

My apologies to any Ausie readers and vegemite lovers, but really. It is horrible. One of those foods you'd probably have to start eating at birth to actually develop a taste for. Like I developed a taste for beets and liver at a young age. I also ate a jumbo box of wooden matches--the tasty heads, not the sticks--when I was three and had to have my stomach pumped. There really is no accounting for taste.

Garbage in, garbage spin

2011-03-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

We bought a composter yesterday. Isn't it handsome? It tumbles. (I couldn't see myself turning over heavy compost with a pitch fork every day. This just needs an easy spin.)

According to the Owner's Manual, "good" compost is 75% carbon (dead leaves, hay, dryer lint(!), pine needles, etc.) and 25% nitrogen (lawn clippings, flowers, kitchen waste). This was a surprise. I'd been expecting to fill the entire barrel with grass and kitchen waste, as illustrated here in our new portable kitchen compost carrier with replaceable charcoal-filter lid:

Smells very bad with lid open.

Our fall leaves are long gone to recycling. Nice about the dryer lint, although the Owner's Manual says it's best if from "natural fibers." I'm not sure how natural our fibers are. I'd like to say 100%, but I'm probably wearing a little nylon, acrylic and spandex at this moment. Somehow, we'll make this work. Our plants will be happy and we'll keep this stuff out of the landfill.

I must say, I'm a little hesitant to throw in that first load of garbage. It will never, ever be clean again and have that lovely, brand-new composter smell. Any advice for a composting newbie?

Farewell to a friend

2011-02-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

It's the end of February and my writing projects are (mostly) done. I'm glad to return to blogging, but brokenhearted about the death yesterday of my friend and critique buddy, Lisa. She was a generous mentor, a nudger, a constant cheerleader. My writing is better because of her feedback and example. I will miss her severely.

For anyone so inclined, Lisa Schroeder has information posted on her blog for contributing to a college trust fund for Lisa's son.

My kingdom for a scratching post

2011-01-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

One of our cats (guess which one) thinks scratching posts are shaped like couches. He ignores the four actual "scratching posts" placed strategically around the house. Squirt-bottle training isn't working (because there's never a squirt bottle around when you need one). And he's not picking up on the excellent post-scratching modeled by his little brother.

Thinking he might prefer a post that's beefier and more couch-like, we bought this platform thingie on sale at Petco last weekend. We even attached a sturdier base so it doesn't fall over.

Does the cat look like he's scratching? Does he look remotely interested in scratching?

We've spent good money on a cat lounger.

Speaking of posts and lounging . . .

I realize I've just returned to blogging, and I apologize for this, but I'm afraid I must take a short blogging hiatus through the end of February. I've (stupidly) accepted another beefy (but not couch-shaped) nonfiction book assignment. I will not be lounging. I will not be writing posts or reading posts. I will be scratching away at my keyboard nonstop for the next several weeks, only stopping to eat, sleep, and scold the cat.

Take care, everyone. Please don't let anything exciting happen while I'm gone.

Blogging funk alert!

2011-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

I'm in a bit of a blogging funk. I know, not a good way to start the new year. I perused some of your blogs for inspiration. You guys are so creative. Which has left me inspired . . . to steal your posts! (Can I get away with that?)

At least I'm starting the year busy. I got an email from Capstone the Tuesday after Christmas offering me four more picture books. These are for the littlies (K-2) and covering four aspects of diversity: abilities, appearance, heritage, and families. I was excited to get started, but still in the midst of a teen book on addiction. Switching from the mind of a sixteen-year-old struggling with alcohol dependence to a six-year-old struggling to button her shirt. . . . Um, no.

So I worked my buns off last week, including over New Year's weekend (pausing to put away Christmas decorations *sniff* and catching glimpses of the Rose Parade *oooh*) and finished the first draft of the addiction book. Now I can switch gears without painful brain bruising.

A trip to the library and starting new research! Yay!

My single new year's resolution: to be alert and grab the bits of wonder that life continually throws in my direction. And maybe cut down on my blogging funks.

My interview with a princess!

2010-12-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

I tried to coax C. Lee McKenzie onto my blog today, but shedeclined. Oh, she was polite, but firm in saying she was really too busyfinishing up with the last of the holiday and preparing for a trip. I was sorryshe couldn’t free up some time, but she did find someone else to fill her spot,so today we have Carlie Edmund visiting us. Welcome, Carlie!

Carlie: I’m really excited about being here on your super blog,MG. Frankly, I’m kind of glad Lee’s busy. That keeps her out of my hair. Imean she's nice and everything, but she can be a bit bossy.

Me: Bossy?

Carlie: Yes. She keeps putting words into my mouth and decidingwhat I should or shouldn’t wear. It can be annoying. I mean, even my momdoesn’t do that anymore, not since I was five.

Me: But you are her main character, right?

Carlie: Oh, of course. But once she starts fiddling with themanuscript she just doesn’t seem to know when to stop. We’ve had a few“disagreements.”

Me: Tell me about Lee’s new book, The Princess of Las Pulgas.That’s an interesting title. What does las pulgas mean?

Carlie: The fleas. Isn’t that disgusting, though? I don’tunderstand how anyone would call a town that. I wanted it to be more romanticsounding, like, Las Posadas or Las Bonitas. But, noooo. She stuck with fleas!

Me: It is unusual. But you’re from Channing, right? And that’sin southern California.

Carlie: Yes. Channing’s a great beach town. We live right on theocean and . . . .

Me: Um . . . are you okay?

Carlie: *Blots her eyes and nods.* Sorry. It’s just that we’ll beleaving Channing soon. That’s Lee for you. She has Mom try to keep us where webelong, but then she changes all of that, and sells our house. I’m worriedabout changing schools in the middle of my junior year, especially since I’llhave to go to Las Pulgas High. Then there’s Keith--

Me: That’s your younger brother, right?

Carlie: Yes, and that’s something else Lee’s done. Keith wasalways, well a little brother and annoying, but she really made him act soweird after our dad died. She’s made it a hard few months for him . . . for allof us. Mom, especially. Quicken’s the only one Lee’s kept the same.

Me: Quicken?

Carlie: Sorry. That’s my cat. I call her my “Fur Person.” She’s asweetie. I don’t know what I’d do without her these days. Oh, and it really gotme steamed when Lee almost took her away. Actually, her editor made her changethat part. I love her editor.

Me: So can you tell us why you don’t want to go to Las Pulgas?

Carlie: It’s so different. And it’s ugly. I mean I saw theoutside of the school and there’s a chain link fence, graffiti on the outsidewalls and I’m not sure I’ll be safe there. The kids are so different. They lookdifferent and talk different than my Channing friends. I asked Lee if she could just make theplace more Channing-like, but she ignored me. Nothing unusual in that. *Shetwists her bracelet around her wrist nervously.*

Me: Was that bracelet a present?

Carlie: My mom and dad gave it to me when I turned sixteen. *Shesighs.* Sometimes I still hear my dad. You know, kind of telling me things likehe used to.

Me: It’s difficult losing a parent. Whatadvice would you give to teens like yourself?

Carlie: Wow! That’s tough. But I guess I’d say help your familyas much as you can. I’m not asgood at that as I want to be, but I keep trying. You know, I try to talk to mybrother like he’s human. *She smiles.* And I try to help Mom out by doing whatshe wants me to. It’s just so hard when everything’s not the way it should be.Does that make sense?

Me: Sure. And your advice is excellent.

Carlie: Tell Lee that, okay? She thinks she’s the only one whocan give advice when it comes to her books.

Me: I’ll be sure to tell her when I see her. Thanks, Carlie. Good luckat Las Pulgas High!

A mutual and magical gift

2010-12-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

A flowering maple and penstemon still bloom in our backyard despite several nights of below-freezing temperatures.

A hummingbird hangs out in our yard. He lives here during the winter, although I'm not sure why. I think San Diego or Baja would be worth the trip.

I love hummingbirds and I'm glad he's chosen our yard as one of his regular haunts. He feeds from the penstemon and maple. In my imagination the bird and the plants have made a magical pact to defy the weather and tenaciously survive for each other, a mutual gift.

I didn't notice the halo cloud in the upper left until I downloaded the photo. At least, I think it's a cloud. :)

Happy, magical holidays, everyone! I'll return in about a week.

Push her off the cliff.

2010-12-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

I posted recently about my newfound library love and that I've read a few gems. One of those sparkly books is THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams, a contemporary YA published in 2009. I read the first two sentences of flap blurb and decided to take it home:

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much.

A plot about a polygamist cult? Ooh, different.

What a well-written, gripping story. I rarely read a book in one sitting (sleep is a priority) but Ms. Williams keeps her characters in such peril that I had to find out what happens. Over and over again, she leads her MC to the cliff edge and then gives her a little shove in the back.

I'm such a wimp when it comes to putting my characters in jeopardy. Sure, they have personality flaws and emotional angst, but my cliff edges are more like street curbs. And when they get too close, I coo, "Sweetie, be careful!"

Are you a good cliff pusher? (If so, I'm jealous.)

Critter is up for auction!

2010-12-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

After traveling the world, my dear friend Critter is about to take his last journey. And it could be to you! He's being auctioned on e-bay, with all proceeds going to charity.

Click here to bid. Auction ends December 18.

Christy Evers has more details on her blog.

What a cutie.

Techie Thingamajig Thursday

2010-12-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

!!!Cool Word tool alert!!!

Did you know if you go to View and click on Document Map you get a window that shows all of your chapter titles and subheadings (as long as they're formatted as headings) and you can click on them to jump around your manuscript?

I found it by accident yesterday. This is going to save me so much time on big documents. Way cool!!

(If you already know about Document Map, please don't tell me because then I'll feel: 1) stupid, and 2) a little perturbed that you didn't inform me.)

The library, revisited

2010-12-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

If you've ever downloaded Kindle books from Amazon, you know how easy it is. "One click" they call it. They're not lying. The entire process, from finding the title I want to the book appearing on my device takes a minute. Instant gratification.

And Instant debit from my credit card.

At $9.99 a pop, those downloads add up. The weather's getting colder. Should I pay the gas bill or buy another e-book?

But there's a place where you can get books for FREE! The lovely people at this place let you BORROW their books and trust you'll return them! Incredible.

Yes, the drawbacks are numerous. I have to drive there, spend time finding the right book, and then drive home with it. Due to major cutbacks, there are very few current titles. Hardbound books are bulky and awkward. The pages can cut you. A big tome can break your toe if you drop it. But I'm finding the danger and inconvenience worth the savings.

And since I never know what I'm going to find on the "New Releases" shelf, it's always an adventure. I've read books I never would have purchased and some of them have been gems.

Libraries are cool. This is my library. It has a view of the bay. I wished I lived next door.

Read any good library books lately?

Snuggly Friday

2010-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

I'd heard that sibling cats spend more time with each other than with their people. That was true when we first brought Obie and Bandon home from the shelter--they were terrified of us and what must have seemed like an earth-swallowing, never-ending kennel. For a few days, our new kitties (velcroed to each other) lived in the six-inch space behind the washer and dryer.

They've since accepted us as cat substitutes and no longer need to be within sight of each other or risk a meltdown. But they have a special bond, and seeing them wrapped together, purring and content, is a lesson in opening my heart.

Have a wonderful, warm weekend.

WFH. Uh . . . what?

2010-11-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

WFH = write for hire, or work for hire. In other words, a publishing company has a project in mind, usually a series, usually nonfiction, and they find writers (or a book-packaging company finds the writers), who are then paid a flat fee for their work.

"But nonfiction is boring!" you whine. Yes, I thought so, too. When I sent my resume and writing samples to Capstone Publishing four years ago, it was on a whim. Fiction was everything. But now that I've completed a couple of manuscripts and have started another project due in January, I've changed my mind. WFH nonfiction is fun!

Here's why:

1. No marketing. I don't hold the copyright, so whether "my" book sells is up to the publisher. I'm actually prohibited by contract from doing any publicity. Fine by me.

2. Research. Not only do I enjoy learning stuff I didn't know, taking information from several different sources and synthesizing it into an understandable and interesting bit of prose, appropriate for a particular age group, is a gas. Really.

3. Collaborating. A work-for-hire book is a team effort.

4. Deadlines. They keep me focused.

5. Being paid to write. Self explanatory. And there's work out there! As far as I can tell, educational publishing is alive and kickin'. There are writers making a living doing this.

Intrigued? Fiona Bayrock, Vijaya Bodach and Molly Blaisdell are three writers with fabulous websites with work-for-hire and kid's nonfiction info and how-tos. And there's a work-for-hire area on the Verla Kay message boards (for registered members only).

Though I haven't been doing this for long, I think it's safe to say that items 1 through 4 need to excite you if you want to pursue WFH nonfiction. (I'm assuming most everyone's excited by 5.) Deadlines are tight and good research skills are a must. Plus, you have to be willing to get passionate about someone else's idea. Oh, and you need to have the time--doing this plus a full time job might not work. And it helps to have a subject niche. For me, that's counseling and psychology, but it could be anything you have an interest and some expertise in.

So I guess that leaves about one and a half of you. Oh well. I'm a new convert. Gotta spread the word.

Summer's over

2010-11-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

Yeah, you know that already. But it really hit me this weekend with the last farmer's market of the season. Now we're faced with five months of gloom and tomatoes from Chile.

I LOVE farmer's markets. It's such a win-win. We get fresh, local, mostly organic produce and small farmers get to support themselves doing what they love. At least, I hope they love their jobs. Having never been a farmer, I have a romantic view of the lifestyle: communing with nature, fresh air, dirt under my fingernails, the satisfaction of watching a seed grow to mature plant. I'm sure the reality is much more nerve-wracking: fickle weather, hungry bugs, fluctuating prices, dirt under my fingernails.

I wish all farmers a well-deserved, relaxing winter. Thank you for feeding me.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Kidlit Critterpalooza!

2010-11-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

By Angela Ackerman

For over a year now, CRITTER, the creation of artist Ian Sands, has been travelling the world, meeting many talented writers and authors and exploring where they live. At each stop he learns more and more about KIDLIT and the importance of literacy and creativity.

This journey was the brainchild of Christy Evers, who got her hands on Critter after an interactive art project of Ian’s, where 500 Critters were hidden all over her city for people to find.

Critter has visited PJ Hoover (and the Texas Sweethearts!) in Texas, Beth Revis in North Carolina, Christina Farley in Korea, New England with Nandini Bajpai, Illinois with Kelly Polark, MG Higgins in California, Rena Jones in Montana, Cynthia Leitich Smith in Texas, Bish Denham in the Virgin Islands, Jacqui Robbins in Michigan, Tina Ferraro in California, Cynthia Chapman Willis in New Jersey, Jill S. Alexander in Texas, Ellen Oh in Virginia and finally, Alberta Canada with Angela Ackerman.

Critter has been to college, rock concerts, national landmarks, a palace, attended his first SCBWI conference, walked among giant redwoods, and met the world famous artist, Robert Bateman. Now that his journey is coming to a close, it’s CRITTER’S hope that you will help him celebrate over at The Bookshelf Muse. His new hosts, together with old hosts, have teamed up to create the Kidlit-inspired event, Critterpalooza! and you’re invited!

There are many AMAZING prizes to be won, all in the spirit of helping Critter celebrate the wonderful creativity and support within our KIDLIT community, and to also raise awareness for his charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

If you would like to donate a few dollars to Critter’s charity, just click on the I Love St. Jude button. Children’s lives are saved every day thanks to the support of people like you!

On giving up and letting go

2010-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last June, I looked deeply into my writing soul. It was dark in there. A little creepy. The rejections had piled up. I felt uninspired. I asked myself a very serious question: What if I never wrote another word with the intention of being published? What if I simply . . . gave up?

My identity got the shakes.

For years, I'd been so focused on becoming an author, I couldn't imagine myself without that goal. And, of course, conventional wisdom says Don't give up. Keep writing, keep submitting, and it will happen. Except it wasn't happening and I was getting depressed. I asked myself another serious question:

If I died without ever having published a book, would I be satisfied with my life?

Well . . . yes. (This took a lot of reflecting. Painful at times.)

Was I a good person without ever having published a book?

Yes. (Again, quite a bit of self-reflection.)

So, shall we give up?

Yes. Yes! Yes! (Instantaneous answer at this point.)

I felt such relief. Sadness, too. A sense of failure. But mostly relief.

I pondered my decision for a couple of weeks, prodding, poking, making sure I felt comfortable with it. I did. It was right.

My last step was giving up publicly. I emailed my esteemed crit group about my decision. There, it was final.

Twelve hours later, the phone rang--an editor at a major publishing house. They'd had my resume and writing samples on file for almost four years. Was I interested in writing two nonfiction picture books for a new series?

I thought about it, called her back and said yes. The thing is, I thought about it. I could have said, "No thanks," and gone back to pasting tile squares onto our new laundry room floor and not felt much different about myself. I'm not kidding!

So, was getting a publishing offer 12 hours after giving up on my writing career a coincidence? Could be. Although I think letting go opened up a space previously filled by desperation. Plus, I'd never imagined myself writing nonfiction picture books. I think letting go of my rigid notion of what authorship had to look like opened up new possibilities, too.

What about you? Have you ever received something you wanted soon after you decided you didn't care anymore? Or gotten it, but in a different way?

Hi, is this seat taken?

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

How do you restart a blog when you haven't posted for 8 months? If you're me, tentatively. Apologetically.

If any of you wondered if I was okay, thank you for thinking of me. I was okay. Am okay. I just really, really needed a break. Apparently a long one.

This is a quickie, just to get back in the swing of things. Longer posts to come. There's some good stuff happening with Critter that I'll be involved in. For today, I present brothers Bandon and Obie who ripened during kitty season:

(I understand why a few people stopped following my inactive blog. But new followers following my inactive blog? What lovely, lovely people you are. Strange, but lovely. Thank you.)

Yes, I'm taking a break

2010-04-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Two weeks since I last posted! Yikes. Two weeks since I last visited anyone's blogs! Yikes yikes. I apologize.

My absence will continue through the end of the school year, which means mid May. I took on another teaching assignment and that was the proverbial straw-breaking-camel's-back. I've done practically zero writing lately and that's just not right. (I'm really trying to word this without whining.)

I think about y'all a lot and trust you're doing well. Here's a Spring bouquet for you from my front yard:

And a Friday funny--a snippet from an email sent by our athletic department to about 3,000 people a couple weeks ago:

Faculty--we ask that you please work with our baseball student athletes in the case of any work or class they may miss. We apologize for the incontinence and thank you for your understanding.

See you in a few weeks!

Friday funny and thank you

2010-04-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

DH took this photo in front of a local coffee shop the other day:

Thanks for your comments on small middle-grade stories. I feel greatly encouraged. I've got a rare writing day ahead of me and that's the manuscript I'll be working on. You guys are truly awesome and if you were here I'd buy you a bowl of wi-fi soup. (I hear it tastes like chicken.)

Have a great weekend! Hope you have something fun planned.

No market for small stories?

2010-03-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I received a rejection from an agent on a middle grade manuscript. This was after she'd made revision suggestions and I'd submitted a rewrite. In her email she wrote some encouraging comments about my writing, and then after describing what didn't work for her, she added, "In terms of current market trends, I’ve seen it become harder and harder to sell sweet middle grade without a high-concept or immediate hook."

I hadn't thought of my story as sweet middle grade, but based on this agent's definition, I suppose it is. It's definitely not high-concept, nor does it have an immediate hook. My problem is that I like sweet small stories, and the fact there doesn't seem to be a market for them saddens me.

One of my favorite sweet and small middle-grade books is MISSING MAY by Cynthia Rylant. It's about a girl coping after her aunt's death and it was the Newbery Medal winner in 1992. At only 89 pages and with a large type face, the book is very short, maybe 25,000 words. I often flip through its pages when I need an example of spare but elegant prose, or writing with incredible heart. In my mind, it's perfectly written.

I wonder if MISSING MAY would be published today.

Of course, I understand that tastes change and publishers won't stay in business without an audience to sell to. I just wish things were different.

So I can set my "sweet middle grade" aside and wait for a trend that may never return, or I can try to punch it up and give it more of a hook. Or I can make the additional edits the agent suggested and continue searching for an agent who may know a publisher out there still interested in small stories.

We're told at writing conferences and workshops to, "Write what you love. Don't follow trends." And yet there's a reality to this business that indicates otherwise. Your thoughts?

Priorities

2010-03-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm back! (That's not me in the photo, BTW.)

I said in my last post that I was unplugging because I had projects to finish. Unfortunately, those projects had nothing to do with my writing; they were all about work. The online class I was teaching ended and another began. (I thought teaching online would be simple. It's not . . . at all.) Plus, two weeks ago I started a new position as a job developer. So even though I was unplugged, I didn't spend a single minute on my own writing. Very frustrating.

I expect my time to loosen up, but if I don't visit your blog as often as usual, I apologize.

**I'm interrupting this post for a good-cause alert!**

Visit Lee McKenzie at the WriteGame! For every comment she receives on her current post, she's donating $1 to her local library. She's also giving away 2 signed copies of her novel, SLIDING ON THE EDGE!

Back to our regularly scheduled post...

So how do you prioritize?

I thought about priorities in the shower this morning. Work is a must, for obvious need-to-eat-and-keep-roof-over-head reasons. By evening, when I could be writing, I've been sitting at a computer all day and my brain is mushy and dumb. I just want to relax in my easy chair and read. So it sounds like reading is more important to me than writing, but it's not. Neither is blogging, even though I'm blogging right now instead of writing.

When you're super busy, where does writing fall on your priority list? Do you write even when your brain is mushy?

(I'm feeling a sense of deja vu, so I may have blogged about this before. I guess this topic is a priority!)

Critter is going to....

2010-03-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Critter is ready to continue his adventure!

Like . . . really ready.

This was such a tough decision. Alas, I can't cut him into pieces and send him everywhere, so Critter's 8th stop is:

Montana!

When Rena Jones mentioned that Critter might see Glacier National Park, that got me excited. And Critter's ears wiggled when he heard that Rena has written a picture book called LEMUR TROUPS AND CRITTER GROUPS.

Rena, please send your mailing address to: melhig at yahoo dot com, and Critter will be on his way.

Goodbye, Critter! We'll miss you!

Thanks, everyone, for following Critter's adventures in Northern California and leaving comments. Your opportunities to host Critter aren't over--he has 8 more places to visit.

On a personal note, I'll be observing unplugged week and trying to stay off the Internet to get caught up on lots and lots of unfinished projects. Have a great week and see you next Monday!

Critter needs a new home!

2010-03-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Would you like to host Critter?

Not only is he adorable, he's a charming house guest, bathes regularly, plays nicely with others and eats very little.

The only requirements are that you be willing to host a contest to find Critter's next destination and pay the postage to get him there. The rest is up to you. (You don't have to go as crazy with photos and sightseeing as I did. I was simply following my muse; she hadn't been out in a while.)

You will be the 8th out of 16 hosts--the significant half-way point.

Post a comment today and tomorrow telling me why you think you should be Critter's next stop. I'll choose over the weekend and post my decision on Monday.

He's got his suitcase out. I still don't know what he packs.

(It's my birthday today. Critter baked me a cake. What a sweetie.)

Really important stuff

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

I need Blogger help!

About a week ago, I was messing around with managing followers and my zoochini icon disappeared. I finally figured out how to get it back, but for any blog that I didn't start following this past week, I'm now showing up on your followers list as one of those anonymous gray people. I am not an anonymous gray person! I am a zoochini!

Do you know how I can get my zoochini icon to show up again on follower lists? I'm not expecting you to research for me, I'm hoping this may have happened to one of you and you have a simple solution. (Like I said, I've got my icon back, it just didn't retroactively replace the gray people on blogs I'd already joined.)

If you can help, my deepest gratitude. If you can't, my deepest gratitude for your techie empathy. (I really wish I knew what I did wrong so I won't do it again.)

------------------------------

There are some excellent contests going on right now:

A very cool first prize of a 40-page agent submission and critique is in the offing at Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins blog. (Ends March 14)

Elana Johnson is having a humongous signed book giveaway. (Ends March 14)

And Tricia O'Brien at Talespinning is offering a signed copy of MY LIFE WITH THE LINCOLNS by Gayle Brandeis. (Ends tonight.) While you're there, check out Tricia's fantastic interview with Gayle.

---------------------------

Remember, Critter will be looking for a new home tomorrow and Friday!!!!

Critter's final California adventure

2010-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

After the big big ocean and big big trees, Critter was ready for something a little more Critter-sized. We saw these fellas on the side of the road and he wanted to play.

After posing for this photo, Critter and his friends romped and wrestled and had just started playing hide-and-seek when I noticed Critter's hiding place.

"Run, Critter, run!" I yelled. Critter looked up and if a paper and foam-core art object could scream, he would have let out a belly whomper. The crazed lumberjack swung his huge axe, but Critter had already raced back to the car and slammed the door. We sped off, gravel spewing from the tires. It was several miles before Critter stopped panting and staring out the back window.

Well, all that fun activity sure burned up some calories. Time for lunch! We stopped at Los Bagels, a coffee shop established by a man with a Mexican mom and Jewish dad.

I think it's a cool place. So does local author Natasha Wing, whose picture book "Jalapeno Bagels" was inspired by the owner's story.

After a lunch of lemonade, soup and bagels, we headed home. Critter was ready for a nap and his afternoon game of Scrabble with Wammy.

"But Critter," I said, "there's one more place I think you'd really like to see." He shrugged his nonexistent shoulders, as in, You're driving. Do I really have a choice?

Ha! Silly Critter.

So we stopped at the Carson Mansion, the most photographed Victorian building in California (apparently).

Yes, Critter, even the houses are big.

--------------------------------------------------------

Dearest Critter has become like a member of the family, but, alas, it's almost time for him to find a new home. If you'd like to host Critter, come back this Thursday and Friday and let me know. I'll have more details posted then.

Critter's California adventure (part 3)

2010-03-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

I took Critter to work with me on Thursday. We left early (hooky!) on a hunt for ginormous trees.

We headed south on Highway 101, and half an hour later drove into Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It felt like we'd entered a living tunnel. The massive trees loomed around and over the car like wooden monoliths. Like giant's leg. Like we'd shrunk to the size of lilliputians. Critter stopped singing along with the radio. I did, too. There's something about redwood forests that makes you want to be quiet and respectful.

This is the first tree on the half-mile loop trail. They call it the Founder's Tree. The white dot on the trunk is Critter.

Here's Critter, closer up.

This is the same tree, looking into the canopy.

I told Critter that old-growth redwoods demand facts, because they're so awesomely unique. As we walked, I read from the trail-guide brochure:

This temperate rainforest has seven times the biomass (living and dead organic material) of that found in a tropical rainforest.
Redwoods are so immense that they live in three climatic zones at once.
Redwoods help create their own microclimate. A very large redwood can release up to 500 gallons of water into the air per day.
A tree near here was found to be over 2,200 years old, the oldest recorded redwood.
Redwood seeds are the size of a grain of rice and a single tree can produce 10 million seeds a year.

Wow. Critter seemed impressed, too. We came upon this downed tree and he just had to jump into the old roots (that's him, lower center). When he finished playing, I informed him (again from the lovely brochure) that it can take 400 years or longer for a fallen tree to become incorporated into the forest floor, and there are 4,000 species of plants and animals living in or on a downed log.

That must be why fallen trees look downright fuzzy with growth, like this:

This tree with the ferns was estimated at 1,600 years old when it fell in 1991. It was 362 feet tall, which is taller than Niagara Falls or a 30-story building. Redwood roots only grow a few feet down into the soil, but they can grow laterally a hundred feet or more.

After pondering this fascinating information, we walked quietly the rest of the way back to the car, absorbed in the beauty and timelessness of the forest.

A superb afternoon.

Can you find Critter?

Coming next: A little more sightseeing before it's time for Critter to find another destination for adventure!

Critter's California adventure (part 2)

2010-03-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

Critter arose Saturday morning, rested from his long flight and recovered from his chocolate-banana-slug tummy ache. We piled into the car and headed north on Highway 101. It was an unusually bright and sunny day for slimy coastal Northern California. A perfect day for exploring!

In no time at all, we crested the hill in McKinleyville and the blue Pacific stretched before us. Critter hopped onto the dashboard for a better look.

We stopped the car and ran down to the water. He wanted to jump in, but I yelled, "Critter! No! You're made of paper and foam core!" I picked him up and pressed a drop of the Pacific Ocean on the bottom of his foot. He shivered.

Back on the road, we were nearing Orick when we saw a heard of elk! We stepped out of the car quietly so we wouldn't disturb them. Critter thought the elk were big and strange and beautiful. (He seemed glad to be viewing them from a distance.)

Because of the horrible earthquake in Chile earlier that morning, the entire west coast was under a tsunami advisory. That meant we had to be home (and on high ground) by 1:30. So we turned back before reaching Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, home to the tallest trees in the world. Critter was disappointed, but we assured him we would not let him leave California before he'd seen so many redwood trees, that he, too, might say, "A tree is a tree. How many more do you have to look

at?"*

But we weren't done with the ocean yet! On the way home, we stopped at Patrick's Point State Park and Critter enjoyed the booming waves and beautiful water. We even saw a seal, but it was too shy to have its picture taken.

Driving out of the park, I asked Critter if this field looked familiar. He stared at me like I'd been smoking something Humboldt County is infamous for. I shook my head and explained that some of the film Jurassic Park was filmed here--the scene where a herd of dinosaurs stampedes.

Critter became very quiet and didn't say much the rest of the ride home. I'm not sure if he was tired or imagining dinosaurs.

Coming next: Redwood trees! Hopefully!

*Ronald Reagan, opposing the expansion of Redwood National Park in 1966.

Critter's here!

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, Critter arrived at our local airport Friday from Illinois, a bit jet lagged and missing the Polark family, but happy to be continuing his adventure. We loaded Critter and his suitcase(!) into our vehicle and drove him home. (I'm curious what he packed but I'm embarrassed to ask.)*

Wammy (my wooden articulating artist mannequin) met Critter at the door. . .

. . . and showed him around the house; they're best buds already. (I overheard them discussing inanimate-being world domination late into the night. It's a little troubling, but they don't have opposable thumbs--or actual brains--so I'm letting it pass.)

After settling him** into the guest room, we took Critter to Lost Coast Brewery for Nachos. (He wanted a sip of the Raspberry Brown ale but the bartender carded him. Ha! Silly young Critter.)

Then we got dessert at the local chocolate shop . . .

. . . where Critter decided on a chocolate banana slug. (Ew.)

It was a wonderful first day.

Coming next: Critter wades into the Pacific, sees funny tall cows with big horns, and avoids a tsunami!

You can learn more about Critter at Cristy's Creative Space.

*Okay, I did a little Photoshopping with the suitcase picture. But I assure you Critter was at the airport.

** Critter is sort of like a cow but I'm referring to him as a him.

Goosed

2010-02-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

Blogging a couple times a week, I should have a backlog of post ideas, yes? Uh ... no. I've only written two posts that I haven't published (and probably won't)--one is a too-negative rant on a recently read book and the other is a too-personal essay. Otherwise, my bin is empty.

I always think I've just posted then realize it's been almost a week and I feel a flutter of panic.

This morning I woke up with a great idea: Aleutian Geese, which I love. I'd grab my camera when I heard them flying over our house, make a video, maybe throw in a metaphor about how we writers encourage each other with raucous honks. But it's cloudy and rainy and where are the Aleutians when you need them?

So, in its place, here's a video I found on You Tube shot in my backyard. No, seriously, it's probably about ten miles from where I live. The geese are a problem for dairy farmers because they (the geese, not the farmers) eat valuable pasture grass. Enjoy.

Irony Awards

I love irony, so getting blog awards during my post on how I mistreat blog awards totally cracked me up.

Thank you, Lee McKenzie, for the Sunshine Award and Kim Kasch and Bish Denham for the "Creative Writer" Award.

These awards are now in my award black hole where rules are not followed. The blogger police sirens wail in the distance as I write this. I hope to continue posting from blogger prison. I'm sure I'll get some ideas there.

I'm curious, do you have a backlog of posts waiting to publish or are you a more spontaneous, seat-of-your pants poster?

Critter is coming! And other cool stuff.

2010-02-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to announce that I will soon be hosting Critter, a "street art" project by Ian Sands sponsored by C.R. Evers at Christy's Creative Space. (I hope I've explained that right.) Critter will be visiting me in Northern California via Texas (PJ Hooper), North Carolina (Beth Revis), Korea (Christina Farley), New England (Nandini), and most recently Illinois (Kelly Polark). I'll be his sixth stop. Yippee!

I'm sure I'll have a few butterflies when I pick Critter up at the airport; he's such a celebrity. Hopefully he won't be too jet-lagged and we can start our adventure right away. Stay tuned for photos. There will be redwoods trees, dramatic ocean vistas, and much, much more...

Other cool stuff

The blogging police should arrest me. I'm the black hole of blogging awards. I don't follow the rules, including passing them on. Sometimes it takes me forever to acknowledge awards (like now).

Within the past . . . oh . . . four months or so, Kelly Pollark has given me the Silver Lining Award and Abby Annis and Bish Denim honored me with the Honest Scrap Award. (I consider myself kind of scrappy so this one always tickles me. I love the arm-and-hammer sign.)

Anyway, thanks everyone and if I've forgotten any prize bestowers I sincerely apologize. I need a better memory-jogging system than post-it notes.

Hope you've got some cool stuff happening your life.

Do Dick and Jane know an azalea from a daisy?

2010-02-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

Ann Staniszewski's blog post today on description got me thinking about what teens or tweens know or notice about nature. I'm making this sentence up, but it's similar to a description in a recently read novel. (It's told in first person and the main character is a sixteen-year-old boy.):

Pink azaleas grew against a lattice under the spreading limbs of an ancient elm.

Descriptions like this pull me out of a story. If it's not established that a teen character (male or female) is a budding horticulturist or his/her mom or dad made him/her memorize all the plants in the yard, it's hard for me to believe a teen would know an azalea from a rhododendron. Or an elm from an oak. Or even what lattice is.

Maybe my main characters are particularly uninformed and unobservant. They notice thick bushes with tiny flowers and tall trees with paw-shaped leaves. How do you handle natural description from a teen's POV?

What are you reading?

2010-02-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

My TBR pile is at an all-time low and I'm looking for recommendations from you, my blogging friends.

So what book are you reading?

What's the last book you read that took your breath away? (Mine was IF I STAY by Gayle Forman.)

I'm especially interested in middle grade and YA, but adult is welcomed, too.

And, yes, I know you guys often make recommendations on your blogs; I've read many of your book suggestions as a result. I also tend to write titles on whatever scrap of paper is next to the computer and then lose it. Or the title ends up on the note with the plumber's name and gets filed under "home repair." You know what I mean.

(It's funny how panicked I feel at the thought of not having several books at the ready.)

Agility

2010-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the lack of cat fur on the floors and furniture and my black jacket. Likewise the absence of litter and puked-up fur balls. No scratched chairs, couches or rugs. My heart doesn't catch every time a car speeds by or brakes screech near our house. We're not listening for cat fights, wondering whether it's ours getting beaten up or doing the beating. No worries when it comes to leaving on vacations.

Yet we're thinking about getting another cat. Or cats. Kittens probably. What is it about pets? DH says the companionship and entertainment value outweigh the hassle. I agree. So we've scouted the local shelters but apparently it's not kitten season yet. (Of course when I heard this from the shelter worker I pictured kittens growing on corn stalks and tomato vines.)

I'm thinking I'd like my next cat(s) to do this:

Pictured is "Zoom," the reigning world champion fastest agility cat.

If you haven't heard about cat agility, here's a fascinating description from CBS news:

If you take the speed and thrill of dog agility, and remove the speed … and the thrill … and the dogs…

What you're left with is the seemingly impossible, yet increasingly popular sport of cat agility.

Competitions are popping up at cat shows around the country. Here's how it works: a contestant's time starts when their cat touches the first step on the stairs. Assuming that happens, the cat must then complete a series of obstacles … which, of course, it has no inherent desire to do.“Dogs, you can tell them what to do," said Doreann Nasin, who helped launch the sport back in 2003. "Cats you kind of have to persuade them to do things.”

Way too much work. We're more likely to end up with this type of agile cat:

Now we must wait for the cat vines to ripen.

(There are several writing metaphors hidden in this post. Extra points if you find them all.)

Camellias in January and 10,000 hours

2010-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

This camellia bush is planted in our side yard. We generally keep the blinds closed in that direction because besides the camellias there's also an unattractive and very unprivate view of our neighbor's house. It's always a pleasant surprise when I take out the trash and see this bush happily going about its business in the gales and freezes of late January when nothing should be growing, let alone flowering.

Speaking of tenacity. . . . On the spur of the moment I decided to take a course in short fiction this semester, since I know nothing about writing short stories and wish I did. Last week the instructor mentioned Malcolm Gladwell's book OUTLIERS. Apparently the author contends that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything. (I guess Gladwell did the research to prove it.)

So say I want to become an expert at novel writing (which I do) and I spend an average of one hour every day writing novels. It would take me 10,000 days or 27 years to become an expert. Increase that to 2 hours every day and my anticipated time to expert status would be about 13.5 years.

Seems pretty lengthy to me. I wrote my first novel eight years ago. No matter what my daily average is, I'd say I have a long way to go. And what counts in those 10,000 hours? Rewrites? Blogging? Poetry? Meaningful posts to message boards? Critiquing? Long and involved grocery lists with character development?

What are your thoughts on the 10,000-hour rule? Are you anywhere near it? Any flowers blooming?

Photos of my workspace

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

This post is Anita's fault. She said Feb 1 is Post a Photo of Your Workspace Day and I'm compelled to do whatever Anita Laydon Miller says. (Her name conveys authority, doesn't it? Like Susan B. Anthony or Sarah Jessica Parker.)

I've posted about this in the past, but I have two places where I work. The first is my analytical workstation. This is where I keep my scanner and shredder, update my query spreadsheet, file stuff, and work on the class I'm teaching. This is also where I usually blog. You'll notice a coffee cup, water thermos and bottle of sparkling water. Being caffeinated and hydrated are important. (That's a kitchen towel under the keyboard because the keyboard tray is made of glass and chilly on my wrists.)

The second workstation is where I do my creative writing. The room has a high, mentally stimulating ceiling and I think the Navajo rug behind the computer is imbued with magical imaginative powers. That's DH at the computer holding a calculator. He's working on our taxes. The kleenex is mine. I cry a lot when I write (just kidding; I blow my nose all the time). Wammy is on the bookshelf, waving. This is technically DH's computer but when he's not around it's mine, mine, all mine!

I hope you and your workspace are having a lovely Monday.

Yay Lisa!

2010-01-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

My crit buddy LK Madigan has won the William C. Morris Debut Award for her YA novel FLASH BURNOUT!

The award is sponsored by the American Library Association and according to the award website:

The William C. Morris YA Debut Award celebrates the achievement of a previously unpublished author, or authors, who have made a strong literary debut in writing for young adult readers. The work cited will illuminate the teen experience and enrich the lives of its readers through its excellence, demonstrated by:

Compelling, high quality writing and/or illustration
The integrity of the work as a whole
Its proven or potential appeal to a wide range of teen readers

I'd like to say it's all because of my brilliant critiquing, but most of my edit remarks were of the, "Wow. This is great. I have nothing to say," variety.

Her second novel, THE MERMAID'S MIRROR, will be published Fall 2010. And she's subbing her WIP to our group in a few weeks, so yippee for me.

(I interviewed Lisa here a few months ago on agent hunting if you haven't read it and would like to read her words of wisdom.)

Yay Lisa! Buy her book. It's that good. (And now it has a cool sticker on the cover.)

Dumb and smart writerly advice

2010-01-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

Dumb: Reading the natural-disaster novel LIFE AS WE KNEW IT when you've recently been through a natural disaster. Really scary. But good book. Otherwise I would have stopped reading when I first saw "asteroid," "moon," and "collision" used in the same paragraph.

Smart: Reading BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott. I've known about this book on writing for years and finally picked it up. Wow. For the three of you who haven't read it yet, it's hilarious and inspiring and full of good information. Like...

I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much. We do not think that she has a rich inner life or that God likes her or can even stand her.

Smart: Watching "Mad Men" on DVD. Brilliant acting and writing. Some of the best use of subtext ever.

Hope you're having a terrific week and doing only smart things. (Or doing dumb things well.)

Life Happens, Part 2

2010-01-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your kind words after my last post. I was truly touched by your concern. Seymour had his reverse birthday on Friday. The vet came to our house and euthanized him. It was terribly sad (I cried most of the day) and it was also a relief because he'd been so sick.

Then ... the next day, Saturday, we had a 6.5 earthquake. You may have heard about it. I was sitting at my desk composing an email and felt an earthquake start. I sat there waiting for it to peter out, but instead the house began shaking and shifting violently. You're supposed to crawl under something but I couldn't move. I hung onto my desk and rode it out, thinking for sure the house was coming off its foundation (which isn't a foundation but twig-like posts attached mostly BY GRAVITY to small cement piers buried a few inches in the ground). Those were thirty extremely long seconds.

After sitting on the back deck for about an hour calming ourselves down while listening to sirens and trying to get our windup radio to work (we gave up and used batteries), we ventured back inside. What a mess. The kitchen floor and counters were covered with broken glass and bottles and cans that flew off shelves and out of cupboards. Pictures fell off the walls. The bathroom floor around the toilet was soaked with water that had sloshed out of the toilet bowl. We cleaned up using the light from our flashlights because the electricity had gone out right after the quake started. We slept downstairs wearing our clothes and shoes in case a large large aftershock hit, which is statistically likely to happen for seven days. That means I'm sleeping in my shoes and clothes until Friday.

I think I'm still in shock. I'm having a hard time focusing. On the plus side, I'm not stressing about Seymour. We're incredibly grateful he didn't have to experience this trauma and that we didn't have to worry about him during or after.

There's a lesson in all of this. I hope I figure it out soon.

Life happens

2010-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm enveloped again in my minimal-blogging shroud.

My job situation has changed and I'm prepping to teach an online class Spring semester at the college where I was a counselor. I haven't done much instructing and I've never taught an online course. The learning curve is steeper than I thought it would be. And I'm tweaking the syllabus. Well, completely destroying it and starting over.

I'm still in query mode with my middle-grade novel. Had a request for a full this week (yay!) and I'm working on (struggling with) the synopsis.

And poor Seymour. The little guy has been failing and we thought he'd pass last night. He wasn't eating, was barely drinking, he'd walk a few paces and lie down. I was awake much of the night worrying about him, and worrying what I'd do when I got up in the morning and found him. When I did sleep, I had dreams of cats crying. In one, I heard a cat meow then the sound of metal clanging, like a pail. It startled me awake, and I thought, Is Seymour is telling me he just kicked the bucket? It made me laugh. I didn't know my cat could be funny.

So with great trepidation I headed downstairs at 6 a.m. and he met me in the hallway, crying for his breakfast. I picked him up and squeezed hard. I'm not sure how many more mornings we'll have together.

It's my anniversary today, too. We've decided to postpone it until Saturday. I think you can do that if you both agree.

I need a nap.

I hope you're all doing well and I'll visit you when I can!

Read to me. Please.

2010-01-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

Reading my work aloud is a great way to catch typos, awkward phrasing, rhythm, etc. I do it all the time. What's even better is having someone read to you--or so I've heard. The problem is, you need a volunteer and reading an entire manuscript is time consuming.

I asked Seymour. He napped on my manuscript. (I assume that's a no.) DH has other (better) things to do and I hate to ask.

Did you know there's a built-in voice-over program that comes with the Mac? (If you have a Mac and you're curious, you can toggle it off and on by clicking Command-F5.) But it doesn't read Microsoft Word documents, which means you have to copy and paste into Text Edit. Another downside is that its voices are ... well, robotic.

Wanting something more realistic and user-friendly, I searched online and found GhostReader. It costs $39.95 but you can download it free for a 15-day trial. That's what I'm doing now. The upside is, it's simple to use. It'll read Microsoft Word and you can start and stop wherever you want. The voice I used ("Heather") to read my 31,000-word middle-grade novel sounds a bit like a sultry Stephen Hawking, but she's much more lifelike than the built-in Mac voices. And there are different voices you can choose from, including a child's (which I found too high pitched and annoying for an entire manuscript).

Some words come out strange, like "Didn't" is "Deed-en-single-quote-t," and the pause at ellipsis is slow (although I've recently discovered you can speed up the reading tempo), and there's no way a computer program can cadence every phrase the way a real person would, but on the whole I found it useful. It's especially good for finding typos (for example I discovered a couple of plural words that should have been singular).

Have you ever used GhostReader or a similar voice-over program? I'm still trying to decide whether to buy it.

Veggie Pun non-contest

2010-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, the last Veggie Pun. Until I create more. I need time. Do you have any you're not using?

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not giving a print away because the drawing didn't turn out as I wanted it to.

The writing is small and hard to read, so let me translate: The badge on the left corn reads Hi, my name is Cob, the badge on the right, Hi, my name is Cornelia. Monsanto and Conagra are are printed on their respective bags. Think you know the title? Scroll down!

Cornvention.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wrapping it up

2009-12-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm down to my last Veggie Pun drawing. It was one of my first efforts and not my best, so I won't be giving a print away January 1. But I like the pun and will post it Friday with the title. I've really had fun with this little contest and will miss it. My closet is a bit emptier now--not enough room yet for that emergency earthquake kit, but it's getting there.

Because I'll be starting my reading list afresh in 2010, I'm posting my 2009 books read mainly so I'll have a record. (Friends and blogging buddies are linked.):

A Crooked Kind of Perfect, Linda Urban

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko

Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein

Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer

Candor, Pam Bachorz

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

Dani Noir, Nova Ren Suma

Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer

Everlost, Neal Shusterman

Extras, Scott Westerfeld

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly

Fire, Kristin Cashore

Fire in Fiction, Donald Maass

Flash Burnout, LK Madigan

Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan

Graceling, Kristin Cashore

Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman

Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick

Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness

Lament, Maggie Stiefvater

Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld

Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Trenton Stewart

Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, Trenton Stewart

Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Stewart

Nation, Terry Pratchett

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle, Nan Marino

Percy Jackson & the Last Olympian, Rick Riordan

Savvy, Ingrid Law

Sliding on the Edge, C.Lee McKenzie

Solving Zoe, Barbara Dee

Spectacular Now, Tim Tharp

Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan

Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher

Trouble with Kittens, Kes Gray

Umbrella Summer, Lisa Graff

Unwind, Neal Shusterman

What I Saw and How I Lied, Judy Blundell

When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead

White Sands, Red Menace, Ellen Klages

Wings, Aprilynne Pike

What a rich and wonderful reading year it's been. I enjoyed every book on this list. It's also been a rich and wonderful year for making new friends. I'm grateful for all of my followers, old and new, for every comment, for every bit of shared wisdom and camaraderie. I've gained so much from all of you.

Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve and I'll see you next year!

Layers and channels

2009-12-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

No, I didn't get a free fecal exam for Christmas, but I got the next best thing: Photoshop. I have gobs of project ideas running through my mind (well, two ideas, each involving manipulating photos in a humorous manner). I loaded the program yesterday, excited, ready to go, and....

Have any of you ever used Photoshop? Can you explain it to me? This is not an intuitive program. I consider myself fairly computer savvy and I don't get it. I was able to cut out a head and move it around the page, which was fun and rather satisfying, but that's as far as I got. And what's up with Layers and Channels? These are clearly important and powerful tools but--like the universe--beyond my understanding.

I don't actually expect you to tell me how Photoshop works. I need to get a book or take a class or something. Once I get the hang of this program I know I'm going to feel really good about myself.

I love how Lee McKenzie spent her Christmas. I'm all for less consumerism. Next year!

Did you get any Christmas or Hanukkah gifts that were surprising or that you don't fully understand?

May you get everything you wish for

2009-12-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays, everyone!

(Alert photo courtesy of angela.)

I been tagged, man

2009-12-17T19:45:00.000-08:00

C. Lee McKenzie has tagged me and I'm happy to pass it on. (This is the blogging version of multi-level marketing, right? H1N1?)

1) What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?

The last thing I wrote is a query letter which was/is such a horrible experience that I'm considering switching from novel writing to duck hunting. I'm not sure about the second question. Maybe some old check stubs.

2) Write poetry?
I would if I could.

3) Angsty poetry?
I can't so I shan't!

4) Favorite genre of writing?
Middle grade, contemporary and/or fantasy.

5) Most annoying character you've ever created?
In my first novel, I had a secondary character who was so irritatingly and stereotypically nerdy I found myself leaving him in situations where he was constantly getting wedgied or pantsed.

6) Best plot you've ever created?
Hard to choose. Probably one of the weird alien ones.

7) Coolest plot twist you've ever created?
I'm not a very plot-twisty kind of gal.

8) How often do you get writer's block?

Only once or twice when I wasn't trusting my intuition.

9) Write fan fiction?
I just learned what this is yesterday! And no, I don't write it.

10) Do you type or write by hand?
My hands have evolved and are now only capable of keyboarding.

11) Do you save everything you write?
God no.

12) Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
Um ... I don't think so.

13) What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
A story about a sort-of superhero. (The timing isn't right, but I'll eventually get back to dear old Charlie the Scarlet Sprinter.)

14) What's everyone else's favorite story you've written?
A girl who writes an extra-credit story that helps her cope with her angsty life.

15) Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
No.

16) What's your favorite setting for your characters?
They aren't my favorite settings, but my characters spend a lot of time in their bedrooms and school lunchrooms. Las Vegas is the setting for my most current novel, which is a lot more fun.

17) How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Three. (Two middle-grades and a YA.)

18) Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Oh, gosh, too many to count (in my mind).

19) What are your five favorite words?
As of this very moment: Snarky. Totally. Dude. Angst. Doofus. Dillweed. Elocution. Chocolate. Amaretto. Truffle. (Oops, I guess that's more than five.)

20) What character have you created that is most like yourself?
The stepmom in my most recent novel. (I just realized this the other day and it blew me away. Thank goodness she heroically redeems herself in the end.)

21) Where do you get your ideas for your characters?
I think my main characters are people I want to be or wish I was. Or they're straggly bits of my psyche.

22) Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Not night dreams, but day dreams definitely.

23) Do you favor happy endings?
Yes, although a little lingering uncertainty is fine.

24) Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes, too much so.

25) Does music help you write?
No. Unless it's to drown out the dog barking next door.

26) Quote something you've written. Whatever pops in your head.
"My clothes are free range."

Congratulations! You are now tagged:

Thinking big

2009-12-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

This is my fifteen-pound cat, Seymour, and his new litter tub.

During November, besides novel revising and my job and Thanksgiving, DH and I were dealing with a cat hygiene issue. As I mentioned in a past post, Seymour has diabetes, which is under control with insulin, but he pees a LOT. And he often does it standing up.

We tried using an extra-large litter tray with a trimmed shower curtain around three sides (you can just see the hooks above the tub where we used to hang it)--he peed over the side that wasn't covered by the curtain. He was doing it more and more. I was very frustrated!

While buying his cat food one day, we saw an igloo litter tray at the pet store. It was big. It had a top. Forty bucks, but if that meant we didn't have to clean cat urine off the floor, I was glad to spend the money. Alas, the igloo people should have hired Seymour as a quality control expert, because within a week he'd found every way a cat could possibly leak pee out of their fabulous product.

We decided we needed something huge--Seymour sized. We measured him from the bottom of his paws up to his tail, added a few inches for a layer of litter, a few more inches for extra protection. DH drove to the hardware store armed with his measuring tape and returned with ... the litter tub. Now Seymour can pee standing up. In any direction! Problem solved. I no longer want to strangle our poor cat.

Sometimes you have to think big.

Poking my head out again

2009-12-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Boy, when I said I was going to make a gradual return to blogging, I guess I wasn't kidding. At least I've been getting some work done. I finished a revision of a middle-grade novel (which is now resting and soon to be critiqued) and changed my mind about starting a NaNo project and instead revised a different middle-grade novel, which I sent to a handful of agents last week. (So I'm back in the agent hunt and obsessively checking email. Whee!)

There's part of me that feels guilty for not blogging more often, like I'm not holding up my end up of some social contract. I'm curious, if you've ever taken a break from blogging what was it like for you? If you haven't, would you? Have you thought about it?