"Mischief Managed"

It's been a week since Harry Potter Night, and it seems like things are getting back to the usual - before the release of the biggest book in modern publishing history - state of being.
Friday night's "Midnight Magic" release party at the b.s. was stressful, but fun too. My co-worker Michelle and I worked at a station where we gave children, teens and some adults temporary lightning bolt tattoos, and then took Polaroid pictures of them with a Harry Potter cardboard figure sign. We met a lot of adorable kids and giddy teens, and many parents who were also Harry Potter fans. Some of my favorite kids and teens were featured in newspaper photos in Saturday's news article. Just before midnight, I was behind one of the cash registers, looking out at a near-capacity crowd that was in a frenzy as the local radio station d.j. did the countdown, and I felt like I was at the peak of a roller coaster, just before it makes the long, fast vertical drop. Midnight hit, amid a roar of cheers, squeals and laughter, and my fellow cashiers and I were swept up in the momentum of ringing everyone up as fast as we could. I've never rung up so many joyful people in my life! It was a nice thing to see. We sold every customer their copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in about 1 hour and 15 minutes (what a great team we are!) and then did our best to clean up the store (it looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster) until 3am. We were all exhausted, but the good thing is that we'll never have to go through that ever again!
I have mixed feelings about the hype surrounding Harry Potter. Throughout the night, some of my co-workers and I were saying to each other in amazement, "All this for one book!" And just knowing the magnitude of the event - bookstores all over the U.S., the U.K., and worldwide were having midnight release parties too - was astounding. I'm sure the massive sales figures for the weekend made everyone in publishing and book retailing extremely happy. Plus, the movie of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, had been released the week before to huge boxoffice sales. Add in sales of the soundtrack CD, and the computer/video game, plus the countless newspaper and magazine features, and the TV appearances of the movie's actors, and it's clear that the Harry Potter phenomenon ruled the month of July, and will become a big major event in cultural history.
All this for one book, one series - created by one writer.
The entertainment world loves its blockbusters. Publishing has its best-seller lists. Movies have their record-setting and -breaking opening weekends. Music has its gold and platinum records, and sellout concert tours. Television has its major hit shows. The entertainment and advertising industries are making millions and millions of dollars, and they're constantly looking for the "Next Big Thing."
Harry Potter is guaranteed to have continued success, for a long time. The sixth and seventh movies are projected for release in 2008 and 2010, and each year, new readers will become old enough to begin the series. The books and movies are true classics.
But what's next, after Harry Potter? The publishing and movie industries will surely be looking for stories that they can promote as post-Potter reading and viewing. They've already had some success: with Lemony Snickett's Unfortunate Events books - the first was made into a movie starring Jim Carrey. And Christopher Paolini's Eragon series is hugely popular - the movie of the first book was released last year, and there's a lot of anticipation for the upcoming third book. And Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has a big following - the movie of the first book stars Nicole Kidman and is coming out this fall. And there's no doubt that they will continue to search for more potential blockbusters to fill the gap left in the wake of Harry Potter. Because that's what drives the modern entertainment industry.
I hope that this search for the "Next Big Thing" will give many new writers and filmmakers a chance for success. And I hope that, instead of funnelling all their money and energy into one potential blockbuster project, the publishers and movie studios would spread their resources around to many new books and films, by unknown writers and filmmakers, and would give them all the opportunity to make their own mark on the entertainment world.
Because, it wasn't long ago that J.K. Rowling was an unknown, aspiring writer, too.
With that said, I must acknowledge that I am a Harry Potter fan, although not as fanatical as some readers and viewers are. But I did start reading Deathly Hallows as soon as I got home from working the release party. And I fell asleep reading it. I was grateful to be off the next day, so I could sleep late and recover from the long night, but also so I could keep reading. And I kept reading as much as I could, even though Ian and I went out with friends on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, and I worked from Sunday through Tuesday. I finished it on Tuesday night, and passed it along to Ian. And it was definitely worth the wait, and maybe even the hype. I admit that I couldn't put it down, and that I felt frustrated when I had to. I read it on breaks at work, before sleep, while eating - I was even brushing my teeth with one hand and holding the book up with the other each morning and night. I won't give away any spoilers - I'll just say that it was a satisfying end to the series. And I think J.K. Rowling is brilliant - I really admire her talents for plotting, characters, and creating a believable and imaginative world. I can only imagine how great it must be for the kids who started the series 10 years ago when they were around the same age as Harry and his friends - they literally got to grow up with Harry Potter. But as an adult and a writer, I completely enjoyed them. I want to re-read the whole series, (maybe before the next movie comes out) to see how she developed the story over time, and how she wove all the books together. There are echoes of all the previous books in Book 7. I've read articles that said she first thought of Harry Potter on a long train trip, and imagined the story in her head, because she didn't have paper or a pen. Then she spent five years making notes and outlines, developing characters and doing research - before she started writing the first book. All the planning and preparation, as well as her knowledge of history, literature and mythology, is evident throughout the whole series. It's an amazing accomplishment.
And last night, Ian and I finally got to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the drive-in. It was a very good, and entertaining movie. But it was also a bit frustrating - it's the shortest of all the movies, and a lot was left out. Or as Nick, the music manager of the b.s. (and a fanboy and comic book writer), dubbed it: "the Greatest Hits of Harry Potter Book 5." Director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenburg had a tough task, I'm sure - turning the 870-page book into a film that's about 2 1/4 hours. The result is fast-paced and does well at moving the story forward - it focuses on the students of Hogwarts banding together to learn to fight against two evils: the oppression of bureaucracy, and the return of the dark Lord Voldemort. The best part of the movie is the casting - it's spot-on, with some of the most acclaimed actors in Britain perfectly personifying their characters: Michael Gambon as Headmaster Dumbledore; Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall; Robbie Coltrane as the half-giant Hagrid; Gary Oldman as Harry's godfather Sirius Black; Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort; Helena Bonham Carter as the evil Bellatrix Lestrange; and Imelda Staunton, as the wicked bureaucrat who takes over the school. And the young stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry, of course), Emma Watson (Hermione), and Rupert Grint (Ron), are all getting better and better with each film. They prove they can carry the heart of the story, which is the bravery and strength of their characters, and their bonds of friendship. All of the actors embody their characters so well that it would be hard to read the books now and not see the actors. I'm really looking forward to the last two films - only one year, and then two more after that, to wait!
And now that Harry Potter's story is finished, the world will be waiting to see what J.K. Rowling does next. She stated in a USA Today interview that she's started two projects - one for children, and one for adults. I wouldn't want to be her - it must be hard to have so much anticipation and pressure and expectation surrounding writing. She said she knows nothing will match the popularity of Harry Potter, but she's sure to have success with any writing venture. And even if she never wrote another word, she has a place in literary history - of writing a wonderful story that brings generations of all kinds of readers worldwide together, and that has already become a classic.
And now that I'm finished - with working the Harry Potter night, and reading the book, and watching again all the DVDs of the previous movies, and seeing the new movie - I'd better start writing again myself. It was inevitable that the past few weeks have been filled with everything Harry Potter, and it was a great and entertaining diversion. But now I have to pull myself away from Harry's world, and go back into the world of my own book. As the Marauder's Map from Prisoner of Azkaban announces, "Mischief Managed."
And now, back to work.

Harry Potter Day

Well, the time has finally come - the release of the long-awaited Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will happen as tonight changes into tomorrow, at midnight. This is the seventh and last book of J.K. Rowling's universally popular series, so the anticipation is at a peak level.
Most bookstores in the U.S. and the U.K. are having big event release parties tonight, to entertain readers and fans prior to midnight, when the book will be officially on sale. Many stores will remain open well after hours, so every customer will be able to buy their copy (or, in some cases, copies). The event has been dubbed "Midnight Magic" at many stores, but more appropriate names could be "Midnight Madness," "Midnight Mania," and "Midnight Mayhem." I have worked the past release parties at the b.s., and I'll be working again tonight. So I can say from experience that it's like being on a runaway train (the Hogwart's Express?) - everyone gets caught up in the escalating excitement of the build-up to midnight. There are activities to entertain the kids, and the inevitable long line - I know most people will cheerfully talk with each other and speculate about the outcome of the series; many will drink cups and cups of coffee; and many parents will reassure their kids that no, it's not midnight yet but it will be soon. Then there's a "10 - 9 - 8" countdown (much like New Year's Eve) and then the store bursts into a frenzy of book-buying. My co-workers and I will rise to the challenge of unpacking books and selling them as fast as possible, and, I admit, it's always fun to see the joyful faces of the readers - especially the kids - as they finally get this treasure they've all been waiting for. Some kids start reading right away, as their parents lead them out of the store. And I know most readers will fall asleep with the book open next to them, only to return to it as soon as the wake up the next day.
I've done just that, with each previous book. I've come home exhausted, yet wired, and so I've read as much as I could before finally falling asleep. And then it's nearly impossible to put down. So I'm very grateful that I have tomorrow off!
And, with every Harry Potter release, I've thought the same thing -- all this for just one book? How amazing! The series is the biggest phenomenon in modern-day publishing, and it does deserve its place alongside other classic series like J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia.
As I writer, I've thought a lot about J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and their impact on readers and publishing. I'll write more about this as soon as I've recovered from working tonight, as long as I can tear myself away from reading.
And I promise - no spoilers!

Making Some Headway

I just finished yet another re-write of Chapter 1 of What Luck, and I finally feel pretty satisfied with it. Of course, I will probably re-write it again, depending on the feedback I get from Michelle, Lisa and Rich at our WWG meeting tonight.
At our last meeting, two weeks ago, I read my re-write of the first part of Chapter 1 to Michelle and Rich, and they thought it was good. Even though I said I think I need to work more on description and setting, so my scenes feel more grounded. I think I write my characters and their dialogue pretty well, but sometimes it seems like my characters are just talking heads floating around. I can see this when I re-write, so I make sure I add some details and actions, so the characters are better oriented within a scene.
Michelle and Rich both encouraged me to keep working on it as much as I can, and Rich said if I can keep up a steady pace, he thinks I could be finished in three months. I hope I can do that!
WWG is a great help - we meet every two weeks, and it gives me a great incentive to have something new to read each time. I never want to just read the same re-written scenes over and over, so I make sure I keep moving my writing forward. Somehow, that seems to be the way I work best. It's slow going, because I never seem to have enough time to just devote to writing, but I do feel like I'm making some headway.
I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's writing again tonight. It's always stimulating and inspiring - our WWG meetings are definitely a highlight of each month. I'll make sure to write about tonight in my next post.

A Kindred Writer

Yesterday's SCBWI meeting focused on the recent conference. Many of us had attended, and several had critiques. Each of us reported that the critiques were constructive and encouraging. I think a critique is an invaluable opportunity to get feedback and direction from a professional, and I appreciate the writers and editors who speak at the conference each year and also give their time and knowledge and experience to these evaluations.
I've had three different projects critiqued at three conferences, and have learned so much from each one. But the previous two critiques were for writing projects that I put aside, unfinished. I said I have a problem with finishing my projects, and I have too many manuscripts in various stages of development - the stories still in my head, waiting for me to finish writing them. I tend to rewrite chapters and passages over and over until I think they're good enough, but then it's hard to move on from there. But I'm determined to finish this book, so I can have a quality final draft to send out. The group leader, Val, said that most writers who have trouble finishing projects have fear - of either failure or success. I said that's something I'm trying to figure out and work out. And any advice, support and encouragement is appreciated.
Afterwards, Roxanne, a woman who's working on an imaginative YA fantasy novel, came over to me and said she knows just how I feel, because she, too, tends to rewrite a lot, and has had difficulty finishing her projects. She told me that when she was in college, she wrote the beginning of a Tolkienesque fantasy story, and then put it aside. Then, several years later, she was looking around for something new to read to her young son at bedtime, and came across her story. Each night, she read him a chapter, until she ran out of story. And he was so disappointed that there wasn't more - he wanted to know how it turned out!
I could relate to that - there are so many times when I've shared my writing with Ian, or with my WWG friends, and then left them hanging because I didn't finish anything! I told Roxanne it was great to know someone with a similar way of writing - I feel I'm not the only one out there anymore! We promised to encourage each other to keep working on our projects until they're finished. So thanks, Roxanne, for your inspiring words - and I hope you don't mind that I used your story in this post!
Michelle also told the group that she's going to make sure I keep working on What Luck, and that I keep moving forward with it, rather than stay in a cycle of rewriting. I appreciate her, as well as Rich and Lisa, and Ian, for their belief in me and support. Writing is definitely NOT a solitary endeavor. The more I have people pulling for me, the more I want to get to the finish line, to show them it was worth it. When I reach this milestone in my writing, it will be for all of them, as well as for myself.
And yesterday, Michelle and I sent out her manuscript for Blackboard to a contest for a first middle-grade novel. Congratulations, Michelle, on this accomplishment! I've got my fingers crossed for you -- good luck! And now I'm looking forward to the sequel!