Ara's Blog

January

2012-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Poor, neglected blog! I thought this month was going to be so focused on preparation for my upcoming trip to New York for the SCBWI conference, but it turned out a little (read: a lot) different than expected.

First off, one of my friends lost her battle with stomach cancer. A fast moving, debilitating, genetically linked cancer, her brother died of it in 2008, at the age of 37. Sandra was one month shy of her 40th birthday when she passed last Friday. Her memorial service was yesterday. A sad event, to be sure, but I'm so glad all the pain she endured is over.

Trivial in comparison though still time-consuming, stomach flu made a trip through our house last week. Not a fun way to spend the days, making Jello and rinsing throw-up bowls.

I'm back to work now, but I'm not sure how much blogging I'll get done between now and after I get home from New York, at the beginning of February. Hope January is going better for everyone out there! So far for us, it's been a cold, sad month, but I'm looking forward to happier times in the weeks ahead.

Biggest Hit of the Season

2011-12-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

All right--I know I swore at some point I'd never blog about cat stuff, but this thing is just too darn surprising not to share in case any of you have feline friends in the house. Anyway, hands down, the most loved Christmas gift this year? The Super Scratcher +, a cardboard box with sideways-cut cardboard inside that you sprinkle with catnip. We have three cats, and they're all fighting over this thing. One of them (our alpha cat) just sits on top of the thing, seemingly guarding it from the other two cats for hours at a time. As soon as she's in the litter box, eating, or in another room, though, the other two kitties take advantage of her absence, trying to sneak turns using it.

I know my kids like the Christmas presents we got them, and my dog's been carrying around his new toy squirrel nonstop, but the level of hysteria around this silly cardboard contraption (which is so basic, anyone could make one themselves using a sharp knife and a couple of old moving boxes) floors me. Any surprise holiday gift hits in your family this year?

Anyone Heard of This?

2011-12-14T20:35:00.000-08:00

Okay. I realize I'm often the last to know about these things, since I'm not afraid to admit how techtarded I am, but has anyone out there heard of Klout.com? While paranoidly checking page 2 of my own Google profile for anything untoward (like that one horrible short story that refuses to go 404 error and die), I ran across my Klout listing for the first time. Apparently, I am an influencer regarding dogs, books, and writing, in that order. But I'm only a "dabbler," so I guess I'm not that influential in the larger scope of things, so I should just get over it and stop Googling myself.

With that disclaimer in mind, however, my question is still, Really? I have a dog, a wonderful dog who's sitting right next to me as I type this, but I don't often (if ever) mention him. So how'd I rate as a dog-topic person before writing and books? I know it's silly to second-guess search engines and such, but I'm perplexed. Maybe it's the comments I make about other people's dogs? I have cats, too, but I guess they're a secret.

Party Time

2011-12-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

So last night, I went to a big party. One of at least five evites I'd received in the past couple weeks, I wrote down the day and time in my calendar, then moved on with life. Not sure if it was going to be a dressy affair or a casual night, I settled on wearing an understated black outfit with a pair of heels that are cute but not too uncomfortable--basically, my equivalent of what Sue Grafton fans will recognize as Kinsey's all-purpose black dress.

Before I even made it inside the building, I realized I should have read the evite more carefully. Event staff were busy inflating a bouncy-house-like cushion around a mechanical bull at the edge of the parking lot. The sidewalk leading the the front entrance was strewn with hay. A small army of barrel-shaped barbecues rimmed the buffet line, which was stacked with paper plates. And then I went inside.

Although in the presence of a totally warm and welcoming crowd, I no longer felt comfy in my all-purpose party outfit. The only one not wearing a cowboy hat and boots, I lamented the fact that I didn't even have a bandanna to wrap stage-coach-robber-style around my neck.

I wasn't the only one who didn't dress to the theme, however. Out of the approximately three hundred people at the party, I counted at least four others (hey, Gina! Steven! Mark! Chris!) who wore normal clothes. And the food was delicious! Next time, though, I'll scroll all the way down, taking time to read the whole evite.

Update: Found some video footage of the party.

TV Party

2011-11-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

To anyone out there who gets my Black Flag/Repo Man quasi-joke, you're my friend. And probably almost as old as me. Either that or you're way too good with your pop culture history. Drop me a line and we'll do People magazine crosswords together while snacking on vanilla Zingers, drinking Tapa Punch.

That said, I should note that I was pretty much raised by Mike and Carol Brady, Mom and Pops Racer, Spider-Man (in color!), and Gilligan and the Skipper (Hale represent!) before delving into the subject vexing me today: The new season of The Bachelor, starting January 2 (8/7 c).

As in, why in the heck did they choose Ben F. to be the next Bachelor, when Ryan from Newport Beach (or was he from Corona del Mar?) would have been infinitely more entertaining??? Not to be mean to Ben, since he looks like a nice enough guy, but let's face it: nice doesn't make for good TV. Yes, his mother and sister seem to have way too much influence on his life, but so what? Unless someone at ABC orders him to stand up to the women in his family or no paycheck, I don't see many fireworks in the forecast for the next season of The Bachelor.

Now, Ryan, on the other hand--there's some inherent conflict. He reads books about how to make your relationship great, yet he has to come on The Bachelorette in his early 30s to find a date since he hasn't yet been able to find that special someone, despite being a hot-looking, successful, self-made businessman. He's an environmentalist prone to waxing on about the efficiency of tankless water heaters, yet he sports no facial hair and has an overly neat haircut. He bugs the crap out of all the other guys on the show, yet we girls at home have no qualms with him, making us wonder, what gives? Do the guys know something that's not making it on camera?

In his final episode with Bachelorette Ashley, upon being dumped, Ryan asks her, "You don't want to meet my family?" To that, my daughter and I both yelled at the same time, "I want to meet your family!!!" As in, we've got to see the family that spawned this guy. Because is he too good to be true, too perfect to be straight, or is he on the verge of cracking into a media-exposure-hungry egotist like former Bachelorette contestant Jake? Or did ABC ask him and Ryan said no, since he couldn't afford to waste any more time away from his expanding solar business empire (and after being on The Bachelorette, now he gets plenty of chicks)?

I know it's all cheese and the entire concept is unbelievably contrived, but I can't help being curious. Maybe I'm the only one out there beside Irwin Handleman who cares, but still. Not until the show loses Chris Harrison, with his deadpan snarky comments between rose ceremonies, will I stop watching.

Writing Negative Reviews

2011-11-26T15:00:00.000-08:00

So I have question for everyone out there: When faced with unpleasant consumer experiences, do you write negative reviews online?

I hate doing it, but I also feel a sense of duty to warn others when something goes awry and management doesn't try to assuage my concerns and/or problems with a business. Anyway, you can probably guess what I just got done doing. It sucks, yeah, but I asked for help from the entity that let me down and was refused. Upon receiving that refusal, I wrote back to warn them I'd be making my disappointment public, then waited a day to make good on my promise (hoping they'd offer better customer service).

With books, I tend to keep my opinions to myself if I don't like a title, since taste is subjective, but I know others feel differently. That said, what's your policy on reviewing?

Defriended!!!

2011-11-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

Okay. I know I shouldn't let this bother me, since it's like, *whatever*. But still. Every time one of my friends from high school defriends me (because yes, this has happened before), it kind of feels like high school all over again. The silly thing is, I probably wouldn't have even noticed except I happened to remember this person's birthday was today, but when I went to post a happy b-day comment, their profile was no longer on my list. Wondering if it'd perhaps been taken down for professional reasons or something, I checked a mutual friend's profile, and there it was--still there, but no longer connected to mine!!!

Want to hear the even sillier part? I write edgy teen fiction. With edgy scenes that will probably appeal to quite a few people but that will make others hate me. So I really shouldn't care about stuff like this. I should consider this a warm-up for having my work scrutinized by strangers. Maybe a warm-up for having my work derided by people I know. Anyway, guess it's not enough just to remember angst--I get to experience it all over again, albeit in a smaller dose this time around.

In the cave for a few more days

2011-11-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Eye drops. Coffee. Slippers. Halloween candy. And let's face it--Desitin. Gross, yeah, but you writers out there spending serious time glued to your chairs know what I'm talking about. Anyway, the goal is to be done with the final final revision (ha!) by this Sunday night. My agent wants to send that rock-star editor I've been raving about (in the posts I deleted since I didn't want to sound like a loser who can't get things right the first time around) an exclusive next week. So game on!!! Back to the cave...

The Importance of Story Questions

2011-10-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I checked out an upper middle grade/lower YA novel from the library for my 10-year-old daughter. Although the premise was intriguing--as well as similar to other books she's read and enjoyed in the past--she didn't care for the book enough to get past page 5. Wondering what the problem was (since I thought the book sounded great), I read it.

Right away, I could tell it had the following problems:

1. Too sophisticated language and vocabulary, calling to adult sensibilities, not a middle grade voice.

2. Repeated distinctive catch phrases. If an author wants to say, for example, that someone's gaze "glinted with malevolence," s/he should only say it once. In the entire book. Not four times.

3. The adults probably played too large a role in the story.

Yet...I continued reading, although I couldn't stop asking myself, Why? since this book was clearly a clunker. And that's when I realized it had two essential things going for it:

1. Likable, funny characters, and, more importantly,

2. A hearty string of of story questions.

I kept thinking, But what's going to happen with X? How will the main character resolve her problem with Y? Will she get the boy in the end? And then I'd read another chapter.

Published by a Canadian imprint, I found myself wondering if this book would have flown had it been sent to a U.S. publisher. Maybe, maybe not. From her bio, I could see that the writer is plenty experienced (although not with MG/YA), so my guess is that the repetitious stuff was laziness on her part. The story questions and tight plot-point structure, expertise. Another mark of craft: she left no dangling threads. Each and every clue/mini-subplot was eventually picked up and developed to completion. Also, there was a sense of justice in the end, with antagonistic characters subtly getting what they deserved.

So what do you think? Are there books you've read to the end even though you know they're lacking on some front?

New York 2012

2011-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

I made my reservations and bought my airplane tickets, so it's official: I'm going to the winter SCBWI conference at the end of January. I'll be staying two subway stops away from Grand Central, where the conference is, but for $99 per night, the small commute in is totally worth it (Hotel Thirty-Thirty, just in case anyone out there's a bargain hunter like me).

I don't think I'll be doing the Friday intensive day (although if they're all with editors, it might be tempting), but I'm staying through Tuesday, so I can hang out with friends and see more of the city. Hope to see you there!

Caller ID

2011-09-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

So this is weird: I keep getting hang-ups on my cell phone from a restricted number. My home line already has anonymous call rejection to keep the telemarketers at bay, but this seems different. Whoever's calling me, they're making a point of hearing me say hello, then sighing and hanging up. Like yesterday, they called when I was at the gym but I didn't answer, so they called back later in the afternoon, apparently hell bent on hanging up on me.

Not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out. Whichever the case, I checked online, and it looks like Verizon charges a fee for anonymous call rejection. Thriftmonger that I am, I'm like, Nuh uh. Not another fee. Adding my kids' cell phone lines to the bill has been painful enough (especially when they don't charge their cell phones or allow them to go missing) without yet another random fee.

Anyway, for now, I'll field the calls. But what kind of obsessive writer would I be if I didn't have multiple theories at the ready regarding who said caller might be?

1. An ex-boyfriend. Ha! Yeah, right. If you've been reading along here, you'll know that no guy in his right mind would want a piece of this action. My life's way too much of a circus, more headache than excitement. Plus this theory assumes I haven't burned all bridges with my exes in a fit rationalized along the lines of going big or going home. Guess which one I've traditionally chosen? So it's kind of narcissistic to even consider this possibility.

2. Someone I've called the cops on. But how would they get my number? Guess it'd be easy enough with all the internet searches available, but still--how would they even know my name? Plus, if whatever they were doing was out of line enough that I felt compelled to call the cops on them, they've inherently got way more drama in their lives than needs to be added to by crank-calling one of their tattlers, so this just doesn't make sense. Chalk this theory up to paranoia.

3. A friend's kid or husband. Ew. Just ew. Although the calls have come during school hours, and I don't know anyone who lets their kid block their cell phone number. But still. Ew.

4. Someone I gave a card to at a writer's conference. To this one, all I have to say is, Why not say hi? I'm friendly enough. If I gave you a card, I'm not going to say, No way! I'm not answering, should you ask me a question. Sure, I might say no if you ask me to read your 500-page manuscript, but that's no reason to preemptively hang up on me.

Maybe I should put just my email address on my cards. I don't know. I have to print new ones for New York in January, so maybe this is the time to review what's on there. Or maybe giving out "business" cards is useless, since I already have an agent and any editor who wants me to contact them is going to give me their email address, not the other way around. So what do you think? Do you put your phone number(s) on your cards?

Power's Back On

2011-09-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

Did anyone even know San Diego was without power yesterday? I guess two high-voltage, high-transmission lines were cut, stranding San Diego Gas & Electric customers from southern Orange County to northern Baja California, then eastward out to Arizona without power. An unusually hot, humid week (that one week a year we wish we had air conditioning), hopefully no one had any serious health consequences out in the Imperial Valley, where it gets *really* hot.

Anyway, yeah, it sucks not having power, but I was surprised how well we got along without it. Our stove and water heater use natural gas, and we've clung to our land line telephone and even have one last old-school telephone in the house. Not the case for most of our friends and neighbors. Another thing we had that a lot of people didn't (surprisingly): a battery-powered radio. Maybe those of you in other sections of the country are like, Duh! But out here in Southern California, it's shocking how reliant the majority of our population is on grid-transmission electricity. It was such an event out here that all schools in San Diego county are closed today, even though the power went back on roundabout two in the morning.

What about where you live? Does this sound like crazy talk? Is the rest of the country better prepared for an emergency than we are? With the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 coming up this weekend, you can bet the conspiracy theories on our bizarre, massive power outage were flying fast and free. But what if something did happen? Would we be ready?

Why Am I Not Surprised?

2011-09-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

So my plans to write like a crazy woman starting last Tuesday? The crazy part, I've got down, but the writing, not so much. I keep hoping the time will come, but then it doesn't. Actually, I did seize a little bit of time last Thursday and Friday, but then I wound up mostly revising, not really getting into new material. Maybe because my life has been busy with new material. Like, did I mention my middle child started middle school? Each day brings a new surprise. I'll delete this post later, so his antics aren't forever memorialized, but here's a little taste of what's been going on:

Tuesday - He growls at several teachers, throws a crumpled piece of paper at another, then gets kicked out of class about 30 seconds into yet another class for making squawking noises.

Wednesday - Growls at fewer teachers but animal noises still abound. Teachers enforce seating charts to ensure he and his best friend have been separated in the classes they have together. Both now sit near "a bunch of nerds" or "a kid who doesn't speak any English."

Thursday - After school, he films his 12-year-old best friend DRIVING his mom's Expedition over a (no longer operable) toy car. When he gets home, he creates an alternate gmail address so he can get around our parental controls and post said video on YouTube.

Friday - Trying to impress his buddies, my son jumps into the custodian's golf-cart-esque vehicle and attempts to drive. He gets it in reverse but can't figure out how to put it back in drive before the custodian yells at him to get the hell off his cart.

Tuesday - Because of the holiday, my son was able to keep his library movies an extra day. However, he forgot to return them until after school, causing him to almost miss his bus home. Afraid the bus was about to leave, he jumps in the side door Emergency Exit, causing the bus driver (who's a very patient man) to yell at him about never opening those doors unless the bus has crashed or is in a similarly dire circumstance.

Ah, Wednesday. Do I dare ask, "What next?" At least I don't have as many errands to run today. I'm looking forward to sneaking in some writing.

First Day of Middle School

2011-08-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Today is my middle child's first day of middle school. Is he concerned? Nah, not really. Probably not nearly as much as he should be. I took a look at his teachers' websites, and he'll already have plenty of homework tonight. I'm glad he's not stressing, though, since I made my own experience transitioning from elementary to middle way worse than it should have been.

The night before I started middle school (which we called jr. high school back in the olden days), I couldn't sleep I was so nervous. Plagued by haunting, supposedly true stories of seventh graders being dumped head first into trash cans and nasty pranks involving ink bombs, I was terrified. And then there were those scary eighth graders. If fifth grade had been a breeze, I wouldn't have had any concerns about these kids who were a mere year older than us, but it wasn't.

Probably due to an unfortunate short haircut coupled with typical female pubescent weight gain, I wasn't the best looking child as a ten year old. Really, if I'd been a boy, there wouldn't have been a problem, since adults kept referring to me as "this nice young man," etc., at the time. Anyway, there was a group of about ten sixth grade boys who teased me relentlessly that year. Sixth grade was a huge relief, since they'd all graduated to Oak Crest, our local jr. high. But when it was my turn to go to Oak Crest, I knew they were all there, waiting to make fun of me again.

Luckily, I grew my hair out in sixth grade. And I started watching how much food I stuffed into my mouth. At 5'2" and 105 pounds, a size 5 going into seventh grade, I now realize I shouldn't have been so paranoid about what others would think of my size. And guess what? At the bus stop, where many of those horrible, teasing boys shared my same stop, they didn't say a word to me. But then, it was probably my hair that threw them--I've always been a bit of a hair chameleon, looking like a completely different person whenever I change it.

So I made it through the bus ride, the first major jr. high hurdle. But what if I couldn't remember my locker combinations? What if someone still threw me into a trash can? What if a pack of gang girls jumped me in the bathroom? What if I was late to all my classes because I couldn't find them?

All that stress, when what I really should have been thinking about was to remember to bring a pencil. Sure, I had notebooks, but nothing to write in them with. And who better to point this out than my scary first period Honors Pre-Algebra teacher, a booming hulk of a guy who had an affinity for calling his students "boob" when he thought we were acting stupid. I think the first thing he said to us that morning was something like, "All right. Which of you boobs forgot to bring a pencil?" And then I had to raise my hand. At least four other kids raised their hands, which made me feel better, since we were supposed to be the "smart" kids and all.

The rest of the day, I dealt with one little horrorshow at a time. That funky, 1950s era school smell (asbestos?). The boy who couldn't stop saying, "Poop in a basket!" then giggling like Beavis and Butt-Head. Having to make a song I kept chanting in my head all day to remember both my locker combinations, so much so that when my friends said hi to me, I almost blurted out, "24-40-34!" or "34-36-2!"

So, yeah. I got through it, and I know my son will, too. I just hope the principal (and the assistant principal, and his learning center teacher) don't wind up calling me today. Already.

Book Club Discussion: SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-08-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, the fonts might be goofed up, since I copied and pasted from the Word document I just created and, as you know, I'm kind of techtarded, but I'm leading a (grown-up) book club discussion on Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson this afternoon. Nothing like getting stuff together at the last minute, but I've had way too much coffee, so here's a list of what I'm pulling together for our discussion packet:

First off...

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR

SPEAK BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

1. Did you enjoying reading Speak? If so, were you surprised that you enjoyed it, since it’s a novel for teens?

2. With its cliques and various social strata, did Melinda’s high school remind you of your high school? Do you think it’s similar to your kids’ high school?

3. Based on your own experiences or the experiences of people you knew in high school, did you find Melinda’s story believable?

4. Do you think her story could have happened at your kids’ high school today? If so, considering the pervasiveness of social media in today’s youth culture, do you think Melinda’s experiences would have been different, for better or worse?

5. Based on the author’s foreshadowing did you guess what had happened to Melinda at the party before it was finally revealed?

6. What did you think of the way the various teachers treated Melinda (e.g., Mr. Neck vs. her art teacher)?

7. What did you think about Melinda’s parents? Should they have reacted differently to the various warning signs of clinical depression and post-traumatic stress she displayed throughout the story, or were they justified in being clueless, since Melinda was intentionally trying to keep them in the dark about her situation?

8. Many English teachers include Speak in their curriculum. How do you feel about this—glad, nervous, or completely against it?

9. Have you ever reread the classics you were assigned as a high school student? If so, were they better or worse than you remember them?

10. Do you think high school English classes should study more books starring and intended for teens, or should these books for teens be left for recreational reading? Alternatively, do you think a teen would be more excited to complete assigned reading if more books like Speak were on their list instead of, say, Great Expectations, The Scarlett Letter, and Anna Karenina?

Second in the packet, this Wall Street Journal article by Meghan Cox Gurdon. Love it or hate it, it's a definite discussion sparker. Even though it made the rounds in the YA writing community ad nauseam, believe it or not, most of the reading public across America is blissfully unaware of its presence.

Third in the packet, Sherman Alexie's WSJ blog response to Ms. C-G's above-mentioned ire-inducing article. Anyone who's seen Alexie speak knows she was poking a sleeping bear at her own risk by mentioning him in her piece. (Cue The Simpsons' Nelson's voice: HA-HA!)

Fourth and finally in the packet, I'm including a YA reading list including other selected titles by LHA (Twisted, Wintergirls, Prom), as well as the following:

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Paper Towns by John Green

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I'm probably forgetting to mention a bunch of awesome books, but if they read these, they'll be onto a wealth of literary treasure in the YA marketplace. Anyway, hope this guide is helpful to the folks out there in cyberspace searching for Speak book club discussion questions, since all I could come up with were a bunch of lesson plans written by teachers for their teenage students, and Speak merits attention by a crossover audience.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

2011-08-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

All right. I'm back from the SCBWI summer conference in Los Angeles. As usual, I had a blast catching up with friends and meeting new ones. This time, thanks to the Monday intensive format, I also got to meet a couple editors, which was fabulous. I took lots of notes during the sessions I attended, but during the sessions in which I didn't learn as much as I would have liked, I found myself wishing I'd opted for craft workshops instead of business-focused topics. Anyway, guess I'll have to go fishing on Google for someone else's notes.

Speaking of notes, there's a good chance I'll do a piece for my friends who run the Adventures in Children's Publishing blog. Not sure which session I'll cover, but probably either Libba Bray's characterization workshop or Laurie Halse Anderson's session on reclaiming lost time. Both were amazing. However, guess which session was hands down, the most scintillating session I attended this year's conference? Since only about twenty people showed up besides me, I'll just go ahead an tell you--CONTRACT BASICS, by attorney Jan Constantine.

Before you start thinking I missed my calling, and that yeah, I should have gone to law school after all, let me just say that contracts can be way more interesting than you'd think! Especially if they're going to tie you up with options clauses, rid you of your copyrights, and seize opportunities in international markets. I won't go into details (since I don't want to get the legalese wrong), but basically, just know that there are a few carefully worded phrases you might want to look out for, especially if you're completely giddy at being offered a contract to publish your work. Jan's advice: join the Authors Guild. If you've been offered a contract, you're eligible for membership. At $90 per year, it's a bargain--especially since membership includes having your contract reviewed by their counsel (something that would cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to do if you went out on your own to hire a literary attorney).

So that's it! Next year, I'll probably go to more sessions on craft. Also, although I adored the folks at my afternoon roundtable, I might try to go to two editor/author-led intensive workshops, since I enjoyed Nancy Conescu's morning session so much (which, I might add, she collectively read over 500 pages of attendees' work preparing for, so a big round of applause goes to Nancy!). I just hope next year's theme for the Saturday night gala is as good as this year's pajama party. Hard to beat being encouraged to go out in public in your PJs!

So excited!!!

2011-07-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

When I first saw my name on the list (as Ara Jane Burkland), I thought, Hey. There's someone with a name like mine. Then I realized it was me, since I've never seen my middle name used online and my last name's spelling is tricky. Anyway, the pre-rewrite version of FIND ME (my manuscript out on submission with editors right now), called LIE TO ME, may not have won the SCBWI work-in-progress grant for a contemporary novel, but I got a letter of merit! Thank you, SCBWI!!!

Agent Awesome: Kerry Sparks of Levine Greenberg Literary Agency

2011-06-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Okay. I probably shouldn't do this, but only for selfish reasons. Like if I talk about how amazing my agent is, she's going to be flooded with work, tying up her schedule. But you know what? I like her on a personal as well as a professional level, so if more work equals more commission for her in the long run, I'll be thrilled to hear about her new apartment or her next fabulous vacation, so I'm not holding back.

Anyway, we all have ideas about the roles literary agents are supposed to play in our professional lives as writers. Those ideas, however, sometimes turn out to be overly idealistic. Things we thought were no-brainers actually turn out to be stretches. Other clients take priority over us. Our visions regarding timelines don't line up. Over and over again, I hear people anonymously lamenting their agents' faults online. Which is why I know how blessed I am to have my agent. That said, here's a list of things I find cool about Kerry, which is basically my entire interaction with her:

1. When I first queried her after the conference we met at, she got back to me within a few days, confirming receipt and assuring me she'd read my sample pages.

2. A few weeks later, she wrote back saying she'd read my sample pages and wanted to see the full manuscript.

3. Within about ten days, she'd read the whole manuscript (!!!). Although she liked my work, she listed a few notes that needed attention. We scheduled a phone call to discuss same.

4. The next day, we spoke on the phone. Her notes were amazingly detailed and specific. She offered me representation on the understanding that I would implement her suggestions in a revision (which actually turned out to be more like a rewrite, with about seventy-five percent of the manuscript completely changed). The coolest thing: her notes were spot on, things I had suspected an editor might ask for but were so all-encompassing that I didn't dare make the changes without affirmation that it might be the right direction.

5. After our phone conversation (maybe an hour later, probably less), I received a written recap of Kerry's notes via email.

6. The next day, as promised, she emailed me a two-page (in a small font), single-spaced list of more detailed notes (!!!).

7. Three business days later, I received my contract via snail mail. Because this wasn't my first contract, I immediately spotted how technically professional said contract was. Almost surely drawn up by a literary attorney, and not just counsel specializing in general contracts, provisions were spelled out for writing grants, contest prize monies, etc. In case of termination, specific timelines were specified in the unexpected instance of a post-agreement sale (e.g., if a sale resulted from a submission the agent made ______ months after agreement termination, agency would not be subject to commission, while if sale resulted prior to time specified, agency would be entitled to commission). All I could think was, If they're this good with agency agreements, when they sell a manuscript, there won't be any of the career-limiting contract SNAFUs some of my friends have experienced.

8. While I revised, Kerry helped me come up with a new title for my manuscript, since I'd inadvertently picked one that has a TV show (I'd never heard of) associated with it. And I love it!!!

9. When I finished the rewrite and sent it to Kerry, even though she'd just gotten back from vacation and was no doubt swamped with work, she read it in less than two weeks!

10. A couple days later, she sent my manuscript out on submission to a carefully thought-out list of editors, some of whom she'd already verbally pitched the manuscript to over lunch.

Because my work's still very recently on submission, I can't share the rest of the details, but I will say that Kerry's doing a fabulous job of keeping me apprised. Her professionalism is unparalleled. Which leads me to my final point. You won't find her all over the social media, I suspect, for one reason: she's busy doing her work.

Why Do I Have to Make My Bed?

2011-04-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! My friend Wade's first picture book just came out, and I just received my copy in the mail from Amazon. It's called Why Do I Have to Make My Bed?, subtitled A History of Messy Rooms. Even if Wade wasn't my friend, I would have picked up his book when I saw it on the shelf based on title alone.

Even better, upon reading the book, Wade doesn't disappoint. The story is clever, humorous, and fun, sneaking a history lesson into its pages that adds to the reader's fascination. I recently saw Why Do I Have to Make My Bed featured in the book section at our local Gepetto's toy store, but it's also available at all the major retailers.

Congratulations, Wade!

Friday Favorites: Writing Books

2011-01-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

Okay. I blew it yesterday in coming up with a craft topic. It just seems like so many of them have been covered all over the Internet, adding mine to the mix would be like spitting in the ocean and expecting the sea level to rise.

Anyway, I know I've written about writing books in the past, but in the spirit of combining today and yesterday's topics, here are my three favorites:

1. On Writing by Stephen King.
2. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass.
3. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

In my opinion, those are the definitive resources every writer should have on his/her shelf, read and reread in the above order.

Another book I've been getting a lot of use out of lately (even though I don't write chick lit these days) is Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel. Cathy Yardley, a friend of mine, is a plotting genius and a fabulous teacher of craft. For inspiration, check out her new writing blog, rockyourwriting.com.

What are some of your very favorite books on writing?

Creating the Destination Blog

2010-11-29T17:30:00.000-08:00

With so many writing-related blogs on the web, I've been thinking about what draws my attention to certain sites over and over again. As in, what makes certain blogs reliably fun to visit and others viewed only by chance? I mean, sure, we can keep our content fresh, trade comments with our fellow bloggers, link our blogs to our friends' blogs, and hope and pray industry professionals will drop by for a visit, but sometimes all that's not enough. So what, exactly, is it that grows follower numbers and attracts exponential attention?

After studying the success of friends and admired professionals, I've come to the conclusion that there's more than one way to grow blog popularity. That said, here are what I like to think of as the five types of destination blogs in the writing world:

1. The Published Writer Who Gives It Away for Free on a Regular Basis. Just being published isn't enough to make your blog a destination. Content must change. If you've sold as many books as, say, John Green, your market presence alone will bring traffic. However, John doesn't stop there. With his brother Hank's help, he's created a regularly scheduled series of video blogs (vlogs) that's led to an almost cult-like following (see Nerdfightaria).

2. The Industry Professional. These are the blogs put up by the movers and shakers in the industry. Sometimes they're quasi-anonymous, sometimes they're joint ventures contributed to by various members of an agency. Whichever the case, we writers are drawn to them for their wisdom and industry insight.

3. The Community Resource. These blogs serve the greater writing community. My favorite example of this category is the Adventures in Children's Publishing blog. Every week, blog geniuses Martina and Marissa offer up an assortment of writing advice, author interviews, inspirational success stories, conference reports, categorized lists of the best writing-related blog posts of the week, and news of new titles on the market, which includes book giveaways. With all the quality content, it's no wonder their followers keep coming back!

4. The Niche Hangout. These blogs inform and entertain readers, writers, and fans of a certain genre. For example, writer Catherine Karp has a love for vampire culture, so she started a blog called Suburban Vampire that draws attention from all over the world.

5. The Interactive Hotspot. These blogs consistently solicit reader participation. Examples include writer Suzanne Casamento's blog entitled Question of the Day. Regular visitors keep coming back because Suzanne's blog feels like one big party.

So what about you? What are your favorite types of blogs to visit?

why searching for an agent is kind of like the high-school dating scene

2010-08-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

1. Way Too Much Lusting from Afar--Okay, maybe *lusting* is too strong a word, but if you've seen how badly agents get swarmed at a writer's conference, you might agree that months, maybe years of unrequited lust has been going on at some sentient, albeit intellectual level. Basically, agents (and editors, but that's another whole level of hysteria best saved for another post) are the rock stars of the writing world, and we writers are their groupies. Which leads to...

2. Awkward Conversation--Maybe it's just me (or the situation--see above), but when I finally get a chance to talk to agents in person, I don't know what to say. Instead of swiftly pitching my elevator line, I accidentally use phrases like "um, yeah" and "dude" while discussing the merits of local taco joints and coconut martinis. Or--even worse, if the crush is really bad--I just totally clam up altogether. Oy. Like I said--high school all over again.

3. Getting Naked Together Too Soon--Yeah, my metaphors are twisted, but it's true! As writers, we often show the most coveted agents our manuscripts before they're ready for real-world consumption, leading to...

4. Subsequent Groveling--Like, I know I threw up in your hair and wrecked your dad's car, but pleeeeeeeease give me another chance!!! Sometimes agents do give us another chance, but there's also the very scary (and very real) possibility of getting blown off. I mean, hey--it's not like there's a shortage of writers out there.

5. Going Steady with the Wrong Person--Even if we make it through all the gut-wrenching hurdles (query letters, partial requests, full requests, phone call appointments) and finally receive an offer of representation, it's possible to choose someone who doesn't wind up being our soulmate. In a multiple-offer situation, maybe one agent sells herself better than another. Or maybe Agent B is more humble and modest than Agent A, but in our inexperience and naivete, we don't know any better and make an unfortunate decision. Maybe Agent A isn't a bad person--in fact, you like them a lot on a personal level--but you'd rather just be friends. Leading to...

6. Psyche-Destroying Breakups--Let's face it: breaking up sucks, no matter how much you know it has to be done. Confidence falters, you're scared to jump back into the dating scene, and it's easier to stay home watching The Bachelorette than put on a little black dress and get your butt to the party. Because now you're back at square one: Lusting from Afar.

SCBWI 2010 Summer Conference

2010-08-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

There were soooooo many great sessions at this year's 2010 SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, but my friend Martina Boone asked me to write about a couple of my favorites for her Adventures in Children's Publishing blog. The first entry is on author Deborah Halverson, author of HONK IF YOU HATE ME, BIG MOUTH, and the upcoming WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES.

Tomorrow, my post covering editor Claudia Gabel's session entitled Think Like a Packager should be up at Martina and Marissa's blog.

Another favorite session this year was given by Chris Eboch, on what she learned writing for the Nancy Drew series. Halfway through her workshop, I realized Chris was the author of one of my daughter's favorite books, The Ghost on the Stairs, which now has a sequel (sold out at the conference bookstore).

It never ceases to amaze me how the summer SCBWI conference is full of awesome from the its opening to closing keynotes, and this year was no exception. The last workshop I attended was co-taught by Michael Bourret, agent at Dystel & Goderich, and Jill S. Alexander, author of THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY. They spoke on what happens AFTER a manuscript is purchased by a publisher, taking time to cover such nuggets as what to do when people ask or expect you to give them free books (tell them the library has copies, since ARCs are expensive to produce, so your publisher will be forced to limit the number they distribute), the optimal size of school visit audiences (NOT the whole school at once, say in an auditorium--better to do a series of individual English class visits), and what happens if you happen to have the same name as someone who writes hardcore erotica and your profiles wind up linked on Amazon (call your agent; he or she will take care of it).

I wish I had time to write more about the conference, but it's one of those days when I need to rush all the kitties to their boarding houses, since I'll be offline for the rest of the week. Other posts about Chris, Michael, and Jill's talks can be found on the SCBWI conference blogs.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! : )

back from new york

2010-02-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

Whew! What a weekend! How to sum it up? How about an extended remix version of a past-tense, second person ode to Ecclesiates 3?

There was a time for everything,
a season for every activity at SCBWI New York.
A time to check in at registration and a time to celebrate who you got as a table leader at the intensive.
A time to read your own stuff and a time to listen to the pages of others.
A time to give constructive criticism and a time to receive it while taking lots of notes.
A time to discern which comments were overly subjective and a time to make changes after hearing something twice.
A time to network and a time to give the professionals some space.
A time to hole up in your hotel room making sure a manuscript is perfect and a time to press SEND, fulfilling a request.
A time to buy a metro card and a time to get turned around when you exit the subway station.
A time to dine at a deli serving eight-inch-tall sandwiches that won't let you order a half and a time to ask for a box.
A time to walk around the city seeing the sights in nineteen-degree weather and a time to purchase a fuzzy hat.
A time to buy cupcakes even though you're already full and a time to eat one, then feel overstuffed and sick but still satisfied.
A time to check the sign on the side of the train and a time to get off, before the train starts heading the wrong direction.
A time to check the ferry schedule and a time to cut your losses and figure you'll see the Statue of Liberty up closer next time.
A time for coffee and a time for that second cupcake.
A time to hug your friends and a time to rush to the airport after that last incredible keynote.

are we all just stereotypes?

2009-11-15T22:48:00.000-08:00

So I went to a writing workshop over the weekend. Great session, but I noticed something: even though I'd never previously met my fellow classmates, I felt like I'd seen most of them around before. And then I wondered, Are they all thinking the same thing about me? Do I fall into a category of people who tend to take writing classes? On further introspection, I realized, Well, yeah. I guess I probably do! I'm not telling which category, since it doesn't matter, because one thing I've learned from all those classes? Every "type" is inclusive, housing a range of talent. No way to know, until you hear a sample of their work, whose writing has the most potential.

Anyway, please, no one get mad, since this is meant to be all in fun, but here are what I like to think of as the Writing Class Archetypes:

1. The Crazy Lady--If you don't pick her out right away by her random, seemingly self-inflicted haircut, you'll know her when she speaks up, often, in an extremely loud voice. The things she says will meander off topic, and she'll try to monopolize class time with her voice, often trying to hijack the instructor's lesson with her own agenda.

2. The Perfectionist--Always on time to class, her hair is perfect, her outfit is spotless, and her body is probably just this side of anorexic. She often has a journalism background and takes extremely detailed notes.

3. The Disillusioned Attorney--Male or female, this person sometimes shows up to class in a suit, but even if s/he had time to go home and change before class, you'll know them by their conservative hairstyle, expensive shoes, and quality watch. Their work samples tend to feature characters who are attorneys, as well.

4. The Ingenue--This girl is only sixteen or seventeen. She may still have pimples, but she's been writing full-length novels since she was twelve. The rest of the class is secretly jealous. No one talks to her at break.

5. The Bored Housewife--With a diamond on her finger and a luxury SUV in the parking lot, this woman usually sits in the front row. Pretty quickly, the rest of the class gets fed up with her always being the one who volunteers to go first or answer the instructor's questions.

6. Eager Gay Guy--Handsome, eloquent, and well-dressed, he's the life of the party and the teacher's pet. The rest of the class either wants to sit next to him and be his best friend or ignore him because he's getting too much attention.

7. Jr. Career Girl--She's single, still in her 20s, climbing the corporate ladder, taking a writing class to broaden her horizons/enrich herself. Her stories include lots of sex but she often skips class. Unless she has a crush on one of her classmates.

8. Elder States(wo)man--Every class seems to have at least one senior citizen. Friendly folks who'll chat with you in line for coffee on break, they're usually intent on writing a memoir.

9. Looks the Part--Both sexes wear black-frame glasses, quasi-bohemian clothing, a messenger bag, and a deliberate haircut/color. Males of the species may sport a soul patch, while females tend to have their noses pierced.

10. The Outdoorsman--From his full beard down to his Teva sandals, all this guy's clothes were probably purchased at REI or A16. He might have a slight sunburn since he just got back from a Sierra trek. Between classes, he goes rock climbing and hang gliding. Nature is featured so prominently in his stories, it's pretty much a character.

11. The Beautiful Overweight Girl with Gorgeous Long Hair--Quiet and sweet, she usually sits in the back of the room. Tends to write fantasy.

12. Transient Artist in Residence--For this person, writing is only the latest in a long string of artistic endeavors. At some point in the quarter, s/he will probably pass out flyers for their latest watercolor exhibit or their band's next show. Instead of having a novel/story/article completed (even if it's a prerequisite for the class), this person will "have one in their head," which is why they felt the need to take the course.

And then there are the people who defy categorization, or who straddle more than one stereotype. But like I said--it doesn't matter which category we fall into, since ultimately, it all comes down to the pages.

past vs. present tense

2009-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

I think I stress over this way too much. Of course, could be a make or break issue in terms of editorial taste, hence the stress.

Benefits of past tense:

1. Friendliness in feel, whereas present can seem aloof.

2. Closeness to narrator. For some reason, stories told in past seem more intimate. Present tense can make a story sound detached.

3. Tradition... [cue song from Fiddler on the Roof]. Tradition!

Benefits of present tense:

1. Immediacy of story--no one knows how things are going to turn out because it hasn't yet happened.

2. Detachment from painful material. Like, are the emotions too raw? Too hurtful to deal with? Present can be an emotional filter of sorts.

3. Seriousness of tone. Some people think serious subjects should only be dealt with in a more literary voice. Present tense is not "airy" or "light."

Still haven't completely made up my mind. I was writing the new story in present, but I'm thinking about switching over since the theme's so edgy. Yes, this kind of contradicts what I've argued above, but the main character does something in the story a lot of people will find unsympathetic, so I want to make her as close and likable to the reader as possible. That way, maybe the reader won't be too quick to judge her actions.

warning: if you don't like lists...

2008-04-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

...then ignore this post.

Once upon a blog, I said I'd eventually post a list of all the writing books I've read/referenced in my quest to craft and sell. Even though I've been writing in earnest since 2001 (and sporadically before that), I'm kind of embarrassed by the sheer number of books here. Anyway, here it is.

For technical issues:
- THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE, 14th ed. (now you know roundabout what year I stopped working in publishing)
- WORDS INTO TYPE, 3rd ed. (just because, even though I'm more of a Chicago girl)

For sales info.:
- 2002 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS, Rachel Vater, Ed.
- 2002-2003 WRITER'S GUIDE TO BOOK EDITORS, PUBLISHERS AND LITERARY AGENTS, Jeff Herman
- 2004 NOVEL & SHORT STORY WRITER'S MARKET, Anne Bowling, Ed.
- 2006 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS, Kathryn Brogan, Ed.
- WRITER'S AND ILLUSTRATOR'S GUIDE TO CHILDREN'S BOOK PUBLISHERS AND AGENTS, 2nd ed., Ellen R. Shapiro

For craft, inspriation, and general advice:
- SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS, Browne & King (absolutely essential to any writer's library)
- DYNAMIC CHARACTERS, Nancy Kress
- WRITING FOR CHILDREN & TEENAGERS, 3rd ed., Lee Wyndham/Arnold Madison (not as good as Nancy Lamb's book, below)
- THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO CRAFTING STORIES FOR CHILDREN, Nancy Lamb
- HOW TO WRITE & SELL YOUR FIRST NOVEL, Oscar Collier/Frances Spatz Leighton
- HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL, James Frey
- THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND A PUBLISHED BOOK: 20 STEPS TO SUCCESS, Susan Page (this one wasn't so helpful to me, but maybe that's because I've worked in the industry)
- THE CAREER NOVELIST, Donald Maass
- STEIN ON WRITING, Sol Stein (dry but solid advice)
- A WRITER'S BOOK OF DAYS, Judy Reeves (if you're in the mood to procrastinate)
- THE FIRST FIVE PAGES, Noah Lukeman
- WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, Donald Maass (amazing advice here)
- THE PLOT THICKENS, Noah Lukeman
- WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK, Donald Maass (a butt-kicker of a writing book with more solid advice)
- THE 2006 SCBWI PUBLICATIONS GUIDE TO WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING FOR CHILDREN (nuts & bolts)
- THE FOREST FOR THE TREES, Betsy Lerner (if you've never worked in publishing, read this one--editors are nice people, really!)
- THE 38 MOST COMMON FICTION WRITING MISTAKES (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM), Jack Bickham (I liked this book a lot--great advice)
- THE WRITER'S DIGEST HANDBOOK OF SHORT STORY WRITING, VOL. II, Jean Fredette, Ed. (for my short story phase)
- WRITING THE SHORT STORY IN GENERAL AND IN PARTICULAR, Rust Hills (ditto above)
- THE NOVEL WRITER'S TOOLKIT, Bob Mayer
- ELEMENTS OF FICTION WRITING: BEGINNINGS, MIDDLES & ENDS, Nancy Kress (solid advice about the nuts & bolts of writing)
- SCENE AND STRUCTURE, Jack Bickham (I can't find this one, so the title might be wrong, but all of Jack Bickham's writing books are great)
- 78 REASONS WHY YOUR BOOK MAY NEVER BE PUBLISHED & 14 REASONS WHY IT JUST MIGHT, Pat Walsh (solid insights)
- ON WRITING, Stephen King (amazing and inspriational)
- SOME WRITERS DESERVE TO STARVE: 31 BRUTAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, Elaura Niles (not helpful, but again, maybe because I've worked in publishing, so none of her revelations were news to me)
- BIRD BY BIRD, Anne Lamott (every writer should have this book)
- WRITING FICTION: A GUIDE TO NARRATIVE CRAFT, 6th ed., Janet Burroway (the definitive writing textbook--solid but dry)
- THE ARTIST'S WAY, Julia Cameron (the cure to writer's block)
- THE ENNEAGRAM, Helen Palmer (for characterization)
- THE VERY BEST BABY NAME BOOK, Bruce Lansky (again, for character development)

Whew! Hope this helps!