I just read a book that made me laugh. That made me cry. That made me email fellow readers and tell them that I was glad I got a copy of the book before someone inevitably slaps a big ole medal on the cover. And I have full confidence in saying this, despite its January [...]
Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
Clothing Choices
Posted in Publishing, Thinking out Loud, Writing on January 17, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Would a MS Sound Any Sweeter By Another Name?
Posted in Publishing, Writing on June 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Unequivocally, yes. Recently I spoke with the publisher at a small trade house. I brought up that “s”-word, which would be funny considering she’s a religious sister – if it were that “s”-word. But it was not. It was Slush. I, a writer, called those pre-published, unsolicited MSes, etc., slush. Because that was what I’d [...]
Banned Book Week 2010 Preview
Posted in Cheering, Publishing, Writing on September 23, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
One of my fondest memories as a teen volunteer at the West Regional Library in Plantation, Florida, was spending half of my shift on display. In the front check-out lobby, the librarians had erected a tiny makeshift room for a teenager. Very few mothers would have allowed the strewn popcorn, empty soda can, and ratty [...]
The Mockingjay Speaks
Posted in Cheering, Writing, tagged Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins on August 31, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Suzanne Collins spoke at the Wellesley, MA Free Library tonight. She had no commentary and took no questions. But the 100+ or so children and young adults did not care. They arrived in force. I saw at least two “District 12″ T-shirts; my friend saw a “Down with the Capitol” shirt. Fandom for books (or [...]
Word Jumble
Posted in Thinking out Loud, Writing on August 25, 2010 | 3 Comments »
I have much to say but feel nothing will come out today save for an incoherent mess. I was up until 1:30 a.m. reading the hotly anticipated Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, you see. (Not a) Spoiler Alert - How do you all feel about spoilers? What level of spoilery? Do you just want to refrain [...]
When Writing Drinks Lucy’s Lemonade
Posted in Revising, Writing on July 17, 2010 | 2 Comments »
This past week, performing a psychoanalysis on my writing has taken its nickels and laid them on the counter. At a writing critique group, a lovely woman paid for M., my picturebook main character, to see Lucy. She essentially gave me the outline for a revision centered on fulfilling M’s needs and which symbols best [...]
Pote-Purry
Posted in Revising, Thinking out Loud, Works in Progress, Writing on July 3, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Last night I stopped looking at cute cat pictures and actually wrote. Me and words: reunited, and it feels so good! Accomplished: – Revision of my MbM picture book. I shoe-horned in a subplot, and like Cinderella’s glass slipper, it was a perfect fit once everything settled. – Envisioned two brief scenes and came up [...]
The Doctor Will See You Now
Posted in Writing on June 8, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Last year I imagined the next profession in the creative world: writing therapists. Such a qualified professional would hear your writing block woes and counsel you to overcome your neuroses so you can get back to your writerly schizophrenia (hearing voices in your head and writing them down), multiple personality disorder (they’re not imaginary friends; [...]
Matter of Consent
Posted in Thinking out Loud, Writing on May 30, 2010 | 1 Comment »
When writing mainly young adult fiction, I come to the moment in plotting where I consider giving my characters typical teenage firsts: pimple, period, um, accident, kiss, that other first. Generally the characters I write find themselves both wanting the it-takes-two firsts. At the very least mentally, if not outwardly expressive of the desire. Yet [...]
“Name” is an Anagram for “Mean”
Posted in Writing on May 28, 2010 | 1 Comment »
This week I had the pleasure of attending BEA 2010 and reading Matched by Ally Condie. Check out the review via the “Well Read” link. The heroine of the awesome “perfect dystopia” YA novel is Cassia. Wait a second. The past couple of years have brought us awesome dystopia/speculative YA novel heroines. Named Katsa (Graceling) [...]
