Yesterday, Michelle and I went to the SCBWI meeting at the b.s. They meet on the last Saturday of each month, in the morning. This is the 3rd meeting we've attended, so I thought it's time to write a post about it.
SCBWI has a substantial regional chapter, with many local members. At the first meeting we attended, and yesterday, there were about a dozen writers. And last month, there were about 20 writers and illustrators - the store had to bring up extra folding chairs so everyone could have a seat. There are several levels of experience - some are beginners; some have been writing for years but are yet unpublished (like me); some have articles and stories published; some have their work pending at publishers; and some are authors of successful books, stories and articles. It's great to see so many writers who are committed to writing for children and teens. And I'm glad Michelle and I have a chance to be a part of it.
Some people pass on industry news, from SCBWI and about publishers, agents, and conferences they've attended. We discussed the upcoming June conference - it's expected to be the biggest one yet - 106 people are signed up, and there's a notable faculty roster of authors, illustrators, publishers, and agents. This is the 11th regional conference, (the fourth for Michelle and I) and everyone's looking forward to it.
Everyone has a chance to talk about their experience and the project(s) they're currently working on. People are also encouraged to share their work for critique. In the past few months, we've heard a novel-in-progress for middle-grade/young adult readers; several picture book stories and poems; and we've seen some story illustrations. Neither Michelle nor I feel comfortable reading any of our work yet (I don't feel too comfortable reading my work to my long-time friends at our WWG meetings yet) but maybe we will after we've been to more meetings, and after we've rewritten more advanced drafts of our work. At our first time there, we both just listened and took everything in - we didn't feel comfortable making any comments, since we were both new to the group. But we did join in the critique discussions yesterday. Although I think I would tend to give positive or encouraging comments - I don't feel that I have the experience or background in critiquing to say much right now. But it's been great to hear the different ideas, styles and levels of writing.
I'm glad that Michelle and I have been able to attend these meetings. I think it's great to be able to be a part of this community. And for me, it's another way to strengthen my commitment to my writing.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Slacker No More
I know I've been a slacker lately - it's been weeks since I've written a post. And I haven't done a lot of work on my book either. But I'm making a promise to myself to stop slacking off & start writing more.
I have been working on a sample query letter for "What Luck," to be critiqued at the SCBWI conference. I don't have a lot of experience with writing queries, although one of my journalism classes at NYU covered queries briefly. So, of course, I've been a perfectionist again, and have written & re-written the same query letter 6 times. But yesterday, I finally decided that it's OK. And I'm sending it out today.
The conference is less than 3 weeks away now. I'm a little anxious about the query & manuscript critiques, but I'm looking forward to them. Hopefully, I'll get some good professional feedback, that will help me build the momentum I need to finish this book.
But I know I need to have my own momentum, too. I need to write more of my book, and post more on this blog. That was my goal at the beginning of this year, and I want to keep it. So, as of now, I'm a slacker no more!
I have been working on a sample query letter for "What Luck," to be critiqued at the SCBWI conference. I don't have a lot of experience with writing queries, although one of my journalism classes at NYU covered queries briefly. So, of course, I've been a perfectionist again, and have written & re-written the same query letter 6 times. But yesterday, I finally decided that it's OK. And I'm sending it out today.
The conference is less than 3 weeks away now. I'm a little anxious about the query & manuscript critiques, but I'm looking forward to them. Hopefully, I'll get some good professional feedback, that will help me build the momentum I need to finish this book.
But I know I need to have my own momentum, too. I need to write more of my book, and post more on this blog. That was my goal at the beginning of this year, and I want to keep it. So, as of now, I'm a slacker no more!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Worry Stone, Worry Story
Today I finally decided my 15-page prologue for What Luck is good enough to send in for the manuscript critique at June's SCBWI conference. I rewrote it for the last time, and read the changes to Ian. He said it's good, but he warned me that if I keep rewriting it, I might kill it.
He's got a point. I'm such a perfectionist, and it can be a problem sometimes. I tend to write something and then keep working at it, over and over, polishing it like a worry stone. Except it's more like a worry story.
I've put aside writing projects in the past, because they weren't turning out as great as I wanted them to be. So I have a lot of great 40 - 60 page beginnings of novels, but nothing really finished, as of yet. But I promised myself that this book will be different - I've got to prove to myself that I actually can finish a book.
I need to keep in mind Anne Lamott's advice in Bird by Bird, her book on writing. She says it's OK to write a "shitty first draft," as long as you keep on writing, page by page. Because you will always revise it later. So I've got to resist the temptation to keep rewriting, and focus more on writing something new that moves the story forward, each time I sit down to write.
Besides, I know that at the conference critique session, I'll get advice and feedback that will give me direction for a productive rewrite - all books go through several drafts before they're ready for publication. But it would be better if I had more of the book finished, so I can apply the feedback to the whole story, rather than just this small, 15-page part of it.
The prologue is done now, and is in the mail, on its way to the conference. No looking back at it - not for awhile. I've got the rest of the story to think about.
So far, I've also written two drafts of half of the first chapter. So now the challenge is to keep on writing, until I've finished chapter one, and then the next chapter, and then the next, page by page, until it's done.
And stop worrying about being perfect.
He's got a point. I'm such a perfectionist, and it can be a problem sometimes. I tend to write something and then keep working at it, over and over, polishing it like a worry stone. Except it's more like a worry story.
I've put aside writing projects in the past, because they weren't turning out as great as I wanted them to be. So I have a lot of great 40 - 60 page beginnings of novels, but nothing really finished, as of yet. But I promised myself that this book will be different - I've got to prove to myself that I actually can finish a book.
I need to keep in mind Anne Lamott's advice in Bird by Bird, her book on writing. She says it's OK to write a "shitty first draft," as long as you keep on writing, page by page. Because you will always revise it later. So I've got to resist the temptation to keep rewriting, and focus more on writing something new that moves the story forward, each time I sit down to write.
Besides, I know that at the conference critique session, I'll get advice and feedback that will give me direction for a productive rewrite - all books go through several drafts before they're ready for publication. But it would be better if I had more of the book finished, so I can apply the feedback to the whole story, rather than just this small, 15-page part of it.
The prologue is done now, and is in the mail, on its way to the conference. No looking back at it - not for awhile. I've got the rest of the story to think about.
So far, I've also written two drafts of half of the first chapter. So now the challenge is to keep on writing, until I've finished chapter one, and then the next chapter, and then the next, page by page, until it's done.
And stop worrying about being perfect.
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