I have a book-crush... ... ... OK, for my regular readers, I know it is really no surprise. But I have a book crush on Harry Potter. There! I said it. And I feel so much better getting it out in the open. *Sigh* I just love Harry. He's the true shining example of a hero's journey. He was not born a hero (that is debatable, really). He was made a hero. He disbelieved. He believed. He distrusted. He trusted. He faltered. He succeeded. He tried. He failed. He tried again. He feared. He was brave. He was everyone's best friend - well, at least in the reader's world. Maybe not so much among Slytherins or Death Eaters.
r societal fabric! To leave your mark and change the world. To create characters that the young and (not so) old want to read about and watch again and again. To create something that fans line up to see for ten years or more. To create the emotive connections between readers and characters so that when the characters in your head are "brought to life" on the silver screen, we viewers feel we know them, miss them, understand what is not said. *Sigh* Oh, to be JK Rowling.
As you all know I, at first, was a reluctant Harry reader. I went in kicking and screaming and dragging my feet and came out head over heals in love with the series, the characters, the world, and most of all with JK. Can I say, I know we are not supposed to have idols but JK - you are my idol!
I left the theater thinking, I want to do that. I want to be like JK. I want to write something that changes the minds of readers forever. I want to create something so vivid, so luring, that you can't look away and you crave more, more, more!
only read about a boy MC. So, in order to really be able to span across the markets, you need to have a boy MC. This is nothing new and earth shattering for those of us who have been busily pursing publication. We've always known this, perhaps. But I so solidly understood the full scope of it yesterday as I passed scads and scads of movie-goers lined up for the 7:00 show. They were young. They were teens. They were adults.... (BTW, Harry and the Half Blood broke all movie sale records from the midnight showing ALONE!!!!) *Sigh*
I decided I have a lot of work to do! Not only do I have to finish this draft, but I think I need to write, if not an entire version, perhaps key chapters from my other character's POV to beef up my boy element. Also, after I complete this draft, I need to begin thinking beyond this novel into my grander scope, broader arc of the series.
and had an idea, a simple concept, and I see how their perseverance paid off, how they used their talents to effect the world in a positive way, I marvel at such people and the good we can accomplish. I think, how, if we are capable of creating such beauty, such awe, such ingenuity, how then, can we not solve starvation, war, pollution? How can we capture the butterflies of love's first kiss and still not be able to live peacefully.
My turn...
Novel Title: OWE
Novel Draft: 1.6
Date: 7-13 -09
What I Accomplished Last Week:
Well, I posted my goals late (via email to fellow Summer Goals Writers) so I knew it was a lot to tackle in a short amount of time and so I am not surprised to admit that I did not reach my goal. I see now though, that my goal will remain my goal probably for many weeks, most likely the rest of July. I did read chapter 12 and saw it was laden with problems and so I began rewriting. I know, I know. I wasn't supposed to do that but it's better now and I feel better about that chapter. I noticed chapter 13 was far too long and so I divided it up into chapter 13 and my now chapter 14. I also really like my new chapter 13. This is where I stopped working due to a very busy and full weekend.
Downside:
Didn’t reach my goal. BLECH! It was really hard to flex my writing muscles after many months away from my novel. It was slow going at first to get in touch with my writing-self. I felt very low and overwhelmed like I will never, never, ever complete this novel. *whine* When life takes you away from your desired goal and you come back to it after months away, the task feels HUGE and unobtainable. I do feel better now and I know if I just keep at it, I will eventually, sooner or later (hopefully sooner) finish my novel. But it is so hard to get back on track after a long hiatus. It truly is like exercising. (Speaking of… yeah, I should begin doing that again too!) *Sigh*
Upside:
Once I did get in touch with the writer-part of myself, it felt very good. And even though I shouldn't have been writing new pages (according to last week's goal), it was good to be writing anyway. I feel chapters 12 and 13 are exciting and move the story forward. It felt so good to write again.
Goal for this week:
It was also common knowledge, in those days, that the Boomtown Rats wrote that song based on a real life tragedy. Today, when people think of school shootings, their minds jump to Columbine. And, truly, that was a horrible, horrific, unthinkable tragedy. But, sadly school shootings have been happening for many, many decades.
The Boomtown Rats did, in fact, write this song based on a 1979 tragedy that took place on a Monday morning, on January 29. The shooter, Brenda Ann Spencer, was 16-years old. She was given a gun as a present from her father. She lived across the street from an elementary school in San Diego, California and decided it would be "fun" to open fire and shoot the children, teachers, passersby, etc. like a shooting gallery. When she was later questioned she replied, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day." Spencer showed utterly no remorse and even said it was "fun." She killed two men and wounded eight children and a police officer. She currently sits in a California prison where her parole has been denied numerous times. She is up for parole again this year - 2009. At 46, she's practically lived her whole life in prison.
Why do I bring up this unspeakable event? Because, as artists, we hold a responsibility to tell about life and the world we live in, that one day will become history. We can use our gifts to tell about the trials, tribulations, or triumphs of life. The Boomtown Rats were plagued and haunted by Spencer's cold reasoning and it prompted them to write a song that I am positive, if you lived in the 70s (and were not a baby or a toddler) you remember it. They took life and made art.
Look around you. What if you were a child growing up today? What would you think about, worry about, be afraid of, or excited for? It is not the same world we grew up in and yet, somethings never change. Our job, as writers of children's literature, is to reach today's children. They live in a time when we've elected the first black President, whether you voted for him or not. I was born only 13 years after segregation ended! We live now in a time when our economy is frighteningly unstable. When I grew up, the United States had the strongest world economy. Times have changed, time has stood still, and we, the artists, the writers, must capture our time. Re-frame it, structure it, learn from it so we teach from it. We need to tell our story but reach today's children.
Will you be like the Boomtown Rats? Will you take life and turn it into art? What piece of today will you capture in your stories? What lesson do you hope to teach?
Thank you, Kathleen Conners, for inspiring today's posting. It is not one of her favorite songs, but look how thirty years later, we are still discussing the song and the story behind it.
I don't Like Mondays Lyrics
The silicon chip inside her head
Gets switched to overload
And nobody’s gonna go to school today
She’s gonna make them stay at home
And daddy doesn’t understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be show-ow-ow-ow-own?
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down
The Telex machine is kept so clean
And it types to a waiting world
And mother feels so shocked
Father’s world is rocked
And their thoughts turn to their own little girl
Sweet 16 ain’t that peachy keen
Now that ain’t so neat to admit defeat
They can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reasons do you need?
Oh Oh Oh Oh
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot
The whole day down, down, down,
shoot it all down
And all the playing's stopped in the playground now
She wants to play with the toys a while
And school's out early and soon we'll be learning
And the lesson today is how to die
And then the bullhorn crackles
And the captain tackles (With the problems of the how's and why's)
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to die, die?
Oh Oh Oh
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down
Emily Van Beek – Emily’s agency, Pippin, is a child focused literary agency. Celebrating their 11th birthday in April, they represent everything from PB to YA, writers to illustrators. They currently represent just under 50 writers and illustrators. They represent authors like Kate DiCamillo, D
oreen Cronin, David Small, and more. About half of these writers/illustrators began their careers at Pippin. And so Holly McGhee’s original vision for her company has come to fruition; Holly’s vision was one of longevity. For this reason, Pippin LOVES to represent artists who are just beginning their career and so does Emily.
When searching for a company’s name, Holly thought about books that meant the most to her as a child. Their mascot, Zeke Pippin, was gifted to them by William Steig, considered to be the grandfather of their agency. They are a small, but focused agency, dedicated to bringing the finest children’s book authors and illustrators to print today.
Part of the success of Pippin is due to a philosophy shared by all Pippin artists and authors.
Marietta B. Zacker – Marietta’s number one pet peeve is when people do not even try to pronounce her name. Mad(with a soft R roll)-ee-etta. She works for the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency in South Orange, NJ. They also only represent children’s authors and illustrators. Nancy Gallt founded her agency in 2000. They do not currently have a website. But Casey McCormick has great info and links about Marietta.
Jenni Ferrari-Adler – was founded by Sally Wofford-Girand. Brick House is located in NYC and is considered a “boutique” agency, representing mostly literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. Jenni specializes in representing fiction, food writing, and cookbooks, but recently experienced representing her first middle grade novel – an adventure set in the near future of a dystopic society where three friends unravel a mystery behind life-threatening migraines.
This experience has left, this once foody agent, hungry for more. Jenni is very interested in building her client profile and would love to represent more MG and YA authors.
A graduate from Oberlin College, she was the editor for Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant and has an MFA in fiction. She has also worked as a reader for the Paris Review.
They do not have a website but you can find out about them at here
Rachel Orr – is an agent for Prospect Agency in Brooklyn, NY. Emily Sullivan Kim is the founder. They currently have four agents, Emily Sullivan Kim, Rachel Orr, Becca Stumpf, and Vivian Chum. They represent everything from board books to adult literature, from writers to illustrators. Rachel launched their illustration department and currently reps eleven illustrators.
Jill Corcoran – The Herman Agency, located in NYC, was founded by Ronnie Ann Herman in 1999. They rep around 50 – 60 of the best children’s authors and illustrators.
Jill reps MG and YA and is looking to expand. She views herself as a talent scout and enjoys editing and helping your MS get to that next level.
Scott Treimel – began about 15/16 years ago with his whole career has be focused on children in one way or another. He was at Curtis Brown and Scholastic as an editor. Tired of hearing “NO!” all the time, he crossed over to United Artists, Home and Garden Magazine, and Warner Brothers where he founded their World Wide Publishing. He then worked as a consultant at Harper.
Then in 1995, he began his own agency where he represents everyone from teen authors to illustrators.
All the agents were very approachable and so easy to talk to. You'd be lucky to be rep'd by any one of them.
The following was a Q&A session brought to you by The 2009 SCBWI NJ June Conference Word of the Year
Dystopia n. Dystopic adj.
1. a world in chaos 2. disharmony 3. antonym of utopia 4. a current theme used a lot in today's children's MG and YA novels
The SCBWI NJ June Conference Agent Panel Discussion was sponsored by Vampires and Zombies and any combination of the two. (No vampires or zombies were hurt in the making of this panel discussion. Agents are Equal Opportunity Representatives.)
Q: What are the current trends in submission?
MZ: Vampires! They are done. Or zombies. They are done too. Or Vampire/Zombie mixes. Also done. Also, this is not necessarily a good thing, but I'm also seeing a lot of plot driven stories without character development; that can be done, too.
ST: Lots of “Dystopian” worlds. I don’t feel paranormal has peaked yet, but seeing a lot of that too. Historical fiction is low, can always use more of that. And please, no more stories about bullies, zombies, and yes, vampires!
Q: What do you want more of?
MZ: I want to see more depiction of what’s outside out world – true ethnicity, true representation of our populations. ALL kids need to be represented in books. More authentic ethnicity is needed.
JC: BUT don’t make ethnicity trite or cliché – Chinese New Year’s….
ST: Yes, DON’T make it about one black guy, one white guy, and one Spanish guy go on some adventure together.
MZ: Be true to yourself. Don’t write what you know like what Mr. Peck said (as in Richard Peck, our key note speaker). Look outside yourself.
EVB: Too many divorced or dead parents, or kids in new homes, unpacking boxes when suddenly, all of a sudden… no more of that!
Q: What about sexuality or books about gay teens?
ST: If you’re going to write about a gay MC, dig deep so it’s not just about being gay.
MZ: Gay shouldn’t be the issue. It should be authentic.
EVB: Even cursing, if not authentic, does not work.
JC: YAs do not need to have cursing and sex in order to appeal to the YA market.
Q: Can we re-submit something else after being turned down?
ST: It needs to be as good or better.
EVB: Rarely do you get a second chance so don’t waste a bullet. The world owes you nothing so put your best foot forward. Make sure you really put work in before coming back with an additional submission or re-write of the same MS.
MZ: Yes, and please don’t pretend that we don’t know you. Indicate that you had once submitted before and now you are submitting again. I don’t know why some writers think they can pretend like we don’t know you or won’t remember you. We will. So, just mention it in your query.
(NOTE TO SELF - keep excel spread sheet on who you send what to and what draft the MS was at the time because I would be one of these writers and it wouldn't be because I was pretending. It would be because I FORGOT!!!!)
Q: Do agents want lists of who saw the MS?
JC: Yes. The more we know, the better.
MZ: Trust! Trust us to give us all your information and that we’ll give it to the right editor. If that editor saw it already, we need to know that. And we need to know what draft they saw. Maybe they'd be open to seeing a re-write if they know you've done your revision with us.
ST: Don't forget, we are building your career, so I know this is more to the other question, but don’t just have one MS for us to show. If so-and-so saw this already, let us show them something different. And if everyone keeps telling you the same thing, maybe it’s time for you to re-evaluate your MS.
EVB – Know the agency's list of what they've represented. Know their flavors so you can find an agent that is the right match for you and your MS
ST: Yes, and don’t forget, we are each attuned, maybe, to different editors’ likes and dislikes, so the more you share with us, the better.
Q: If you have an agent who won’t rep one of your MS, is it OK to get a different agent for that MS?
A: (quite in unison) NO!
EVB and ST basically said the same thing: Unless you write children and adult, you would need two different agents for that.
ST: But don’t play the field. Like we said, we are trying to build your career. It could be that we feel that MS is substandard compared to your other MS and we wouldn’t want it to tarnish your reputation as a writer. Again, trust us. If you don't maybe you need a different agent.
Q: What do you love?
MZ: Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot at these things when we tell a room full of writers what we love. Then all of a sudden we are bombarded with MS only about that. Often times, I don’t know what I want until I read it. I want something good.
ST: I have favorites, but I don’t want to be defined by them.
JFA: I love MG dystopic novels with exceptional writing, and rich worlds, great characters. For YA, it’s all about the voice; funny, fresh. In general, I want characters you fall in love with and can't forget.
EVB: My motto is, if I can resist it, I will. So, give me something I can't resist.
RO: It’s like falling in love. Sometimes I read something that is so good, I have to stop because I'm so afraid it’s going to suddenly go bad or I just don't want it to end. I know I love something when I start quoting it to my husband.
Q: How much do you edit before you submit to editors?
RO: I tend to over edit. I do line edits, definitely. I can’t help it. I think because I was an editor first.
EVB: I also was an editor before. When launching we’ll put a lot of work into it to make sure it is just right. The Underneath took two years and eight revisions, but it was worth it.
JFA: I do a lot of editing, too. For me, it’s one of the pleasures of what I do and it’s exciting to see what the writer can come back with as a result. That is so exciting to see what they've come up with as a solution and how much better it is.
ST: Between writing and revising, I’d say revising is the most important. Many times I can articulate what it needs, but the writer just can’t deliver it. Revision is where a true writer shows his/her talent.
MZ: Use your critique groups to revise, revise, revise before sending it to an agent though.
JC: I love to edit. I think because I’m also a writer. When I take on a project, I look at it as if we are critique partners. I edit a lot.
Q: How should we submit to you?
JFA: I am actively searching so email me your query with the first page and visit our website for more information on submission standards.
JC: You can submit the first ten pages. I am looking for WRITERS. I read the pages before the synopsis
ST: Check out our websites for submission policies but when querying an agent, let them know you are an active SCBWI member and send them a polished MS. But also be sure to mention what you are also working on. Try to get an agent first.
Can you tell by looking at my desk what time of year it is??? It's NJ's annual SCBWI Conference time!!!! Well, it was this past weekend and my desk looks like it! The inside of my brain probably looks like this too, stuffed and messy with so much information!
I am going to begin a new type of journal to use as a resource in my writing. It will be called my Emotional Journal.
