Tears or Glitter?
April 25th, 2010 by Sara
This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux) speak at the LA Times Festival of Books. She was one of those wonderful authors whose real-world presence is exactly the same as her writing presence. She speaks with the same quiet, humorous confidence that comes across in her books.
During the question and answer segment, a boy got up and asked her, “Why do your books always have sad endings?” Then he listed off the melancholy endings of book after book.
“Well, when you put it like that…” Kate laughed with the audience, looking a little sheepish. Then she took a minute to really think about the question. She went on to explain that she didn’t mean to write sad endings, but that life is full of the sad as well as the beautiful, and she tries to write what is in life.
This was a big difference from Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) who also talked about the sadness of life in her dynamic speech. But Meg Cabot’s answer to this uncomfortable truth about life, and especially childhood, is to write ‘pretty things.’ She said she wants strong girls and glitter and prettiness as an escape from what might be the bleakness of real life.
I
found these differing answers to the same truth fascinating. And cleary, judging by the popularity of both their books, both are needed in our world, often by the same readers. Sometimes I want to read a world that has beauty and sadness that reflects our own, but whose stories often make more sense than the seeming randomness of our own lives. But other times, I want to escape, with glitter or dirigibles or princesses, to a world totally unrecognizable from mine.
What struck me the most in these two talks was that both writers, so different in their styles, their presentations, their books, knew why they wrote what they wrote. They were compelled by their subjects and it was this compulsion that led to the confidence in their speaking and in their writing.
Perhaps that is something it takes years to develop. Not just the courage to get your words down on the page or to stand up in front of readers, but a certainty in what you choose to write. Perhaps it is this, more than tears or glitter, that invites us into these authors’ stories. That, word-by-word, builds their worlds around us. And it’s this confidence that makes us want to stay.
Posted in Authors, I heart this book, Nifty happenings, Writing
April 26th, 2010 at 10:51 am
A nice, thoughtful look at two successful children’s authors and some of the reasons for their popularity. Somebody was really taking what she heard to heart! Thanks for sharing, Sara.
April 26th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Thank you for your thoughts. I had to miss both of those speakers, so this is invaluable!
April 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Great post and a great day at the Festival of Books! Also interesting was knowing why they loved to read. Meg said she read as a child to escape some heaviness at home.
And Kate, as a sickly child, also read to escape.
So knowing why you write what you write has a strong connection to why you read what you read as a kid.
Pretty cool stuff. ; )
April 26th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Suzanne, that is totally true. I’ve heard so many people say that they write the books they would have loved to have read as a child, but couldn’t find. I take comfort in knowing that a lot more stories are out there for kids to read now. I also like the idea that being certain in what you write is the same as being certain in what you read. And also knowing that both of those can surprise you:)
April 27th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Wow. This post lines up a lot with my thinking lately. Thanks, Sara!
Kevlar
November 20th, 2009 by SaraIn the TV show Castle, the amazing Nathan Fillion plays a mystery writer, Rick Castle, who works with the police to solve crimes. Believable? No. Amusing? Yes.
Anyway, Rick Castle occasionally wears a bullet proof vest, but instead of ‘POLICE,’ his says ‘WRITER.’ My friend, and brilliant writer, Alexandra Amor recently asked me, “What writer couldn’t use one of those?”
Her question got me thinking about the public and private nature of writing stories. One day we see something, maybe a dog wearing goggles and riding around in a basket on a motorcycle. And we think, who buys their dog goggles?
Or we eavesdrop on a strange couple at a restaurant and hear the woman say to the man, “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me all day!” and you wonder, what else has he said to her? And poof! A story is born.
Then we go to our computers and start typing away, creating a whole world out of that one little question. This process is done in a state of delusion. The delusions that we can make people see the same thing we do. Because even if we write in a coffee shop, surrounded by people, we’re alone in our imaginations, trying to translate what’s in our heads onto paper.
So, in our vacuum, we scribble, tweak, and rearrange until everything’s as perfect as we can get it. Then we send our story out into the world. If we’re unlucky, it comes back to us, not quite right for the person we sent it to. And that hurts.
And if we’re lucky? Hundreds of people read it. Thousands. If we’re really really lucky? Hundreds of thousands. Millions even. Then we’re in real trouble.
Cause then our story, our rough translation of the masterpiece we envisioned, has to stand on its own. We have to rely on our string of words to weave worlds and speak the truth. Some people will love it and some people will hate it. And a few special people will see exactly what we saw. And for them the story will be magic and it will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
And through all of this, we, the writer, have to watch from the sidelines. All of the risk and none of the control. No wonder we need Kevlar.
Posted in Authors, Revision, Writing
November 20th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
SCBWI summer conference, let’s wear bullet proof WRITER vests! (In the theme color of course!) Think it could double as a life vest if we fell in the pool after too many theme-colored cocktails?
BTW, I was there, wasn’t I? When the woman said, “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me all day?” It didn’t end up in my story, but that would be so neat if it had. ;)
November 20th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
You were definitely there, Edith:) I was excited to finally be able to use it! Unfortunately, I lost the picture I took of the dog with goggles, but I bet you can use your imagination.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I watch Castle on ABC religiously! I’m crossing my fingers that Santa brings me season 1 on DVD for Christmas; since I had to teach a class in the evenings last semester, I missed quite a bit of season 1.
It is a scary thought, having all those readers dissect the work. As you said, some will love it and some will hate it.
I think both emotions are good! That’s why my biggest fear is being the kind of writer whose work is received so lukewarm that it doesn’t incite any strong emotions. That would truly be scary! I wouldn’t need a vest at all–and where’s the fun in that?!
November 21st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Stephanie, I totally agree with you! The no response, no vest scenario would be the worst. I feel better now, cause you’re right, there wouldn’t be any fun in that. I can see why you like Castle, you guys have the same sense of adventure:) Thanks for the new point of view:)
Lost Art? Really?
August 19th, 2009 by SaraOk… a friend of mine posted this article, The Lost Art of Reading, on my Facebook page yesterday. You can pretty much guess what it’s about. The author proposes that, in this culture of constant buzzing, finding the quiet mental space to commune with a book is becoming increasingly rare.
My question then is, Why are teenagers, the ones who are most inundated with this scattered stimulation, reading more than ever?
I should admit a bias right here. Despite my love of the sinisiter ‘what -ifing’ of science-fiction, I have little tolerance for people who say, “X is ruining the world.” In my lifetime already, Sesame Street, video games, and, most dangerously, ‘certain’ books have all been accused of bringing civilization to an end as we know it.
But I will concede a point to the author. It is, of course, important to find time and space in your life for reading. And his end conclusion is undeniable, this can be difficult. I’m just not sure that equals technology ruining books.
I’ve been encountering this feeling a lot recently. Another article I read recently bemoaned lost childhood. Children, it says, aren’t given the freedom and space to imagine, be alone, have adventures. I agree that this is often true, but only with a for certain section of the population. In my neighborhood, kids are still tearing around on bikes, playing clapping rhythm games (really), and buying ice cream from the guy with the cart. And this is not main street, small town USA. This is a street of old (and I don’t mean antique or classic) apartments in LA directly behind a strip mall. A place where we have the unique combination of flashing police lights and yard sales.
Am I still on point? I think I am. Every generation is different and every other generation foretells the fall of civilization based on these differences. Has Facebook and blogging and texting changed our world? I answer with an emphatic YES. But has this led to reading become a lost art? I don’t think so.
I will offer another illustration of this attitude. At the risk of offending a great author and those who are fans of his, I will mention a speech I recently heard by Richard Peck. Now Richard Peck is a incredible writer and speaker. I remember in junior high reading Are You In The House Alone while I was babysitting. Big mistake. I was scared out of my mind and yet I couldn’t put the book down.
And Richard Peck’s talk held the same riveting quality. During his stunning speech at the SCBWI Summer Conference, I both laughed and cried and I’m not exaggerating. More than that, I took away a meaningful understanding of why we write for children that I will keep with me for a very long time.
But I was also unnerved. In his charismatic speaking style he railed against the vacuum of MySpace (a paraphrase) and a world in which teenagers text at the dinner table. It wasn’t Richard Peck saying this that made me uneasy, it was the audience’s reaction. I watched a room full of people who are speaking to, and often for, the younger generation get caught up in this panning of technology. I find it dangerous that the very people who profess to give voice to the pain and experiences of childhood were also deriding the very tools that generation holds dear.
Are there crappy, stupid things about MySpace or blogging or Twitter? Yes. But there is also a chance for teenagers and kids to reach out and connect in a way they never could before. A way for someone who doesn’t fit into their small town to know that there is a larger world out there. People like them. There is a way for high schoolers to feel empowered, speaking in voices that the Gatekeepers can’t silence.
The opportunities for this technology are exciting and endless, and yes, scary. But they are worth exploring, understanding, and giving credence. These are the tools of our readers and it is making them active participants in this world in a whole new way. And this will be good and bad and most of all, it will be fascinating.
Posted in Authors, Books, Conference, SCBWI
August 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hi Sara! Caught this from a link through Facebook. Great post! I like the point that these technological advances are giving teens an opportunity to connect, whether that’s with their favorite authors or with other teens sharing their experiences across the world.
Technology is just necessary now, and I find it funny that some adults bemoan such sites. In some ways, it’s a delightful twist: teens telling the adults to “eat their broccoli” when it comes to these changes.
A place where we have the unique combination of flashing police lights and yard sales. Ahhh, I *heart* L.A. for this very reason. In what other city is the “ghetto bird” (helicopter) hovering day and night? Only in L.A. :D
August 19th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Nice irony:) “Eat your broccoli.” I like that. I did end up wondering while I was writing this post if the ‘buzzing’ of technology is heard much louder by older generations. Perhaps it is more distracting to them because they aren’t used to it and haven’t found creative uses for it.
But by the time I got to the end of that thought, it just felt like making excuses. And just adding to the already broad generalities being made by these articles.
And I love LA for the same reasons. The contradictions and the bizarreness of the place makes it heaven for a writer.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
This is such an important issue you’ve eloquently addressed – how access to technology and social networking empowers children – and makes them more informed as well. Kids used to spend hours on the phone – now they text at the dinner table. Whether it’s TV, video games, or the Internet competing for attention – there’s still time for reading.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
i think it’s funny how adults are always so concerned about kids doing ‘the right things’ like making sure that they have time for reading, not texting at the table, and the like. how often do you see adults that talk on their cellphones in the restaurant while their dinner date sits there looking bored? or businessmen and women who miss important events because of work? who never stop and enjoy a sunny day, much less read a book, because they’re too disctracted by meetings, phone calls, and their blackberries?
it seems to be a lot of “do what i say, don’t do what i do” going on, and i think that adults don’t give kids enough credit. if anything, kids are more likely than their grownup counterparts to make an escape from the daily routine and distractions of technology to find some peace and quiet when they realize that they need it.
i’m sure adults recognize what they’re doing and they want to keep their kids from adopting the same habits of not knowing when to make time for themselves, but they shouldn’t pull out the straw man of technology to try and make their case. technology is a tool, not a harbinger of the end of civilization.
besides, i’m sure that parents of the past hated it when their children were always getting telegrams instead of taking time to write a simple letter. and don’t get me started! it’s as if they never learned the english language!
AM COMING TO BOSTON STOP CARRIAGE ARRIVES TOMRW 9AM STOP TELL S I MISS HER STOP LOVE B FULL STOP
August 19th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Great post, Sara. Poo-pooing social networking sites is just silly. Someday somebody is going to create a rich and engaging narrative experience using the very same technology. And then people will wonder how we ever got along without it.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Damon fwd’ed me that same article a couple days ago. Ironically, I couldn’t bring myself to read it.
This post is awesome.
I just went and read the article, btw (to see what I had missed). It seems to me the author is complaining about something he just happened to connect to technology and tweeting, etc. (and that he noticed while in the act of reading) but that in fact we all suffer from. It’s called Growing Older. I was complaining about lack of focus years ago (before twitter or even texting existed) and Irvin’s advice to me was to read (and specifically to read something difficult–-not children’s books which I was devouring every day. For this I chose Ursula LeGuin’s The Dispossessed). I wasn’t looking for blame in lifestyle/environmental/technological/cultural shifts. The mind has to stay in shape.
Also, props to Tony for the telegram analogy. I love that.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I do love the telegram analogy too:)
And you’re right, it’s not just the ‘kids these days’ thing. It’s more that it irks me that technology is often the reflex scapegoat. Video games=violence. Technology=ruining books. I’m not saying that there is an absolute yes or no to these ‘correlations,’ just that there are much deeper issues in our society that lead to our behaviors. It’s always easier to blame video games than it is to tackle gun rights or poverty or kids who feel abandoned by society.
SCBWI Conference ‘09
August 13th, 2009 by Sara
Another SCBWI Summer Conference come and gone! This year, I won’t bother to summarize what happened, since that’s already done so beautifully by the SCBWI ‘Team Blog.’ 
Thanks you guys!
Instead, I’ll give an illustrated version of a few moments that really struck me. I’ve stolen most of the beautiful pictures and illustrations from other talented people, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Karyn Raz, Edith Cohn, Marie Miranda Cruz, Lee Wind, and the SCBWI Live Blog, so click on the pictures to check out their own versions of the events!
Holly Black: I pretty much wanted to copy down everything that came out of her mouth. For example, “All writing is in conversation with what has come before it.” She gave a talk about plot, citing her own struggles with it. Evidently when she started writing she didn’t know how to move the plot forward, so she had “lots of scenes with elves sitting around drinking coffee, experiencing ennui.”
She also did a break-out session about career, talking about practical and terrifying things such as when to quit your job (the ’safe’ answer is once you can live off your royalties), taxes (about 33%), and choosing which author’s career you’d like to have (she wanted Neil Gaiman’s, which I think is a fantastic choice). It was an incredibly concrete talk that made me really ponder career goals and attitudes. And here’s the best line from it.
Audience Member (speaking about benefits): “It’s in our publisher’s best interest for us to be alive.”
Holly Black: “Actually that’s not true.”
So now we know why it’s so hard for writers to get health care!
Karen Cushman advised us all that when it comes to our inner voices, it’s important to “separate the writer from the editor, the editor from the critic, and dump the critic.”
David Wiesner showed us how the shape of UFO’s and the movie The Shining, both inspired the picture book Tuesday. He also literally illustrated how ideas can try for years and years to express themselves through different projects, before they finally manifest.
Sherman Alexie inspired us all with his charismatic speech and eloquently reminded us about the nature of writing as well as its purpose. “You’re alone. You are doing this alone. But remember someone else is out there alone.”
And then, after so many insightful and inspiring words, we got to what the conference is all about. Boooogying at the Blue Moon Ball!
Posted in Authors, Conference, Illustration, Nifty happenings, SCBWI
August 13th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I’m also a little miffed that my ‘pseudonym jokes’ didn’t win the joke contest. Here’s a few examples of my brilliance, just so I don’t have to suffer alone.
Charlotte’s Web by Hammon Rye
Mary Poppins by Wendy Day
Little Women by Minnie Skirts
I know, right?
August 13th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
i know, we worked so hard on those titles!
*The House on Pooh Corner,
by Porto Poddie
*Harold and the Purple Crayon,
by Violet Walls
and much, much more! thanks folks, we’ll be here all week. try the veal!
August 13th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Yeah, “Violet Walls” is an awesome one! It’s so fun to see what the conference highlights were for different people -especially my friends! So much good stuff packed into those 4 days! Thanks for sharing all this, Namaste and a Hug,
Lee
August 14th, 2009 at 11:04 am
This is a wonderful wrap-up–you picked great moments, some of my favorites, as well.
Laurie
Collect Them All!
August 5th, 2009 by SaraSo… as I may have casually mentioned… THE SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE IS COMING! For me, this means checking out great stacks of books from the library, doing my homework on editors, and hitting the thrift store for clothes that say, ‘I’m professional, yet artsy, and you should give me a heap of money.’ I’ve never found quite the right outfit, but you should see the ‘publish me’ boots I got for this year.
I also made new business cards. And by ‘made,’ I mean my brilliant artist of a husband designed them but I’m gonna take all the credit. 
They’re inspired by my book, The Harbinger, and the classic Rider-Waite Tarot card art. Warning: Colors may not be as bright as in real life.
For a week, I stalked our mail carrier, hoping they’d arrive. When they finally did, I was blown away. I’m can’t wait to swap them around this weekend. Hey kids, collect them all!
Posted in Authors, Books, Conference, Nifty happenings, SCBWI
August 6th, 2009 at 11:14 am
So. Jaw-droppingly. Awesome.
Can’t wait to get a “mint” first edition!!!
Hugs,
Lee
August 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I’m totally still working on that “artsy yet professional, so hand over the cash” vibe…and still cramming in some conference reading! look forward to seeing the cards and their maker in person.
-Karyn
August 6th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Oh my gosh, these are gorgeous and I want one. Bring an extra to the conference for me!
August 6th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I will bring many, many cards and pour them amongst the attendees like champagne from the bottle. Um… papery champagne?
August 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
wow…. just gorgeous :) Wish I was closer so I could snag one! have an amazingly good time at the conference… and bag you a dragon!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Wow. These are INCREDIBLE. I know you know this… but your husband is amazing. I’m super jealous that you get to go this year. I’ll be thinking of you and it this whole weekend.
Good luck with everything!!
August 8th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Forsooth the husband is an awesome and talented artist! But my daughter-in-law is so thusly gifted that he cannot help but be Inspired!
August 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
(also): Dad and I are anxiously awaiting our business cards. (how many can we have?) I have some educator-friends who will be interested, and several will be needed for family. We know you have been greatly busy. There is an Etienne reunion on September 13th, and it would be oh-so-fun to have a few to hand out. Love,
Mom
August 12th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Sara your cards are gorgeous! Your husband IS a genius. Well done both of you! Love A.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Your business cards are the best ever! Such a talented duo, you two!
Comic-Con 2009
July 30th, 2009 by Sara
Mid-July always feels like christmas to me. That is, if Santa was a Trekkie who loved kids’ books. July means Comic-Con and right on its heels comes the SCBWI Summer Conference.
I can’t imagine any two events more saturated with great minds, creative talent, and genuine inspiration. So it was with a huge grin on my face that I walked out onto the expo floor on Wednesday night. And Comic-Con did not disappoint.
There’s an infinite number of ways to amuse yourself at Comic-Con, a point that my friend and fantastic artist Andy Mitchell literally illustrates here.
One of my favorite ‘distractions’ of the long weekend was Quick Draw! It’s a battle of speed and humor pitting 3 artists against each other. This year, it was Sergio Aragones from Mad Magazine, Scott Shaw from Hanna-Barbera, and Floyd Norman from Disney.
Displayed on giant projectors, their hands raced to draw a cross between a armadillo and a dung beetle, or to get a member of the audience to guess a secret word, or to illustrate scenarios. Here’s Sergio Aragones’s answer to “Tragedy strikes Donald Duck.” 
I also got a chance to hear Holly Black, author of Tithe and The Spiderwick Chronicles talk about outlining a novel and “the process of ingreatening it.” She confessed that her original outlines often consist of “insert genius idea here” or “evil is defeated.” It’s lovely to know that fascinating stories can still materialize out of humble beginnings.
She also spoke about how lazy her characters are. Holly Black lamented that, while other writers talk about their characters dictating the story to them, her characters spend the whole book trying to get out of being the protagonist. She quipped that they don’t want to go on a quest, they just wanna go home. Again, I found these confessions from such a great writer very reassuring.
I had other shining moments this weekend. Hearing Ray Bradbury talk about the moon landing, Eoin Colfer and Mary Pearson sharing their author experiences, and literally running into Seth Green. But what struck me most is that Comic-Con is a giant party of people that all love the same things. All kinds of artists gather together to show each other how they make their art and how much that art is appreciated. It’s a place where you can shake your hero’s hand and snap a picture.
Where you can meet the stars that make your favorite characters leap off the screen. Or imagine what it would be like to be them.
Where the guy who made the homage t-shirt is thanked by the guy on the t-shirt. Here it doesn’t matter if you’re an artist, a collector, a writer, a reader, an actor, or a fan. Because at Comic-Con, everyone is part of the same great story.
Posted in Authors, Books, Illustration, Nifty happenings, SCBWI, Writing
July 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Gotta get myself there next year. Still dreaming of that Indian food we had last year. Some people go for the comics, me, it’s yum, yum in my tum san diego food.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
YAY! I love ComicCon! Haven’t been since 2007 but perhaps next year, ROAD TRIP!!!
Great recap!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I will admit that I had some tasty dessert at Yog-art. Coconut+ Mochi+ chocolate frozen goodness = Nomnomnom
July 30th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
When do we get to see a photo of you in the wolf suit? I will not rest until I see it!
July 31st, 2009 at 7:11 am
That picture will have to wait a week or two… it has one more appearance to make first:) Then there will be pictures galore!
August 1st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Oooo. Sounds like so much fun and great inspirstion! I am so jealous of all yout conference experiences this summer. Can’t wait to hear about them – live! ; )
August 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
That was supposed to be inspiration -I’m clearly going blind.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
That’s gotta be as cute as Anya in the bunny suit!! I want to see! Now!!
Summer (conference) Reading
July 22nd, 2009 by Sara
When I was a kid, my library, like many others, had a summer reading program. Every book I read racked up points towards stickers or McDonalds french fries or, my most coveted prize of all, the knotted pencil. How did they even do that??
It was the highlight of my summer and I always read a ton of Newberys cause they were worth more points. It’s also how I discovered one of my favorite all-time books, Journey Outside by Mary Q. Steele, which, tragically, pretty much no one else has ever heard of. Luckily, I read it enough times for all of you.
Sigh. Those were the days.
Well, there’s no prizes for this list, but if you’re going to the SCBWI Summer Conference or you just want a good summer read, these books might come in handy. 
These are some of my favorite books written by authors coming to this year’s conference. It’s YA biased and I’m only including books I’ve read, so some great ones are probably left out. I apologize in advance!
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey -Awesomely dark fantasy, compellingly told in both first and third person.
King Dork by Frank Portman -Best made-up band names in the history of the world.
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman -Cause medieval humor is the wackiest!
Tithe by Holly Black- Creepy fairies and teen angst…what better combination is there?
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie – You will literally laugh and cry at the same time.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park -Exquisitely written, need I say more?
Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee – It’s funny cause it’s true. Millicent’s humor is totally authentic.
And lets not forget picture books! A couple of my favorite illustrator/authors are going to be speaking at the conference this year.
Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino – I can’t say enough good things about this simple, perfect father/son story.
Tuesday by David Wiesner – Flying frogs. Let me just be clear about this. Flying. Frogs.
Whether you’re a writer or a reader, summer is a time for sitting on the porch, munching on an Otter Pop, and falling into a book. And each one of these is a perfect place to spend your summer vacation.
Posted in Authors, Books, Conference, I heart this book, Illustration, Nifty happenings, Picture books, SCBWI
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Woo hoo! I’ve read all these awesome books, too! These are (some of) my favorites, too!!
To this I would add that the chapter book/young middle grade According to Humphrey series is outstanding.
But what’s this about a Newbery no one’s heard of?? Now I’ve got to track that down!
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for the recommendation! Anyone else have books we should add to the list?
And I totally have a copy of Journey Outside that you can borrow and the story really holds up over time.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Excellent suggestions. I’ve been meaning to get to King Dork for a while, and now I have to look into Journey Outside.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Totally into Skin Hunger now. Stopped for five seconds to check my email, but I am glued!! Thanks for lending. U the best friend eva!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I’m so glad! I just saw Holly Black speak today and she was really great. I can’t wait to hear her whole talk at the conference.
Field Trip!
July 15th, 2009 by Sara
There’s nothing like a field trip to break out of the routine and make some trouble. Today, a group of illustrator/writer friends of mine packed our lunches, got on the bus, and descended upon the best kids’ book store in LA. And by “the bus,” I mean our gumless, bully-free cars. And by “packed our lunches” I mean pancakes at John O’Groats. Sometimes I love being a grown-up!
Children’s Book World is a wonderful, well-stocked bookstore full of staff who love books and want to help you fall in love with them too. They’ll work hard to find a perfect book-match for you. Or if you want to have a good book debate, they’re the right people: smart, funny, and with definite opinions. It’s a joy to go there and see what’s new, what the staff likes, and what people are reading.
Last year when I read 1000 picture books in 100 days, the folks at Children’s Book World were lifesavers, creating delicious piles of books for me to read while I sat on their comfy couch. By the time I got halfway through the pile, they had already replenished it with a never ending stack of perfect books. As you can see, the tradition has continued.
It was also wonderful to have illustrator friends Ken Min and Karyn Raz there to share their favorite artists and new picture books. There is nothing like savoring picture books in the company of picture book creators.
And I had a kids book first. With my friend, Wilson Swain, there in the bookstore, I bought The Castaway Pirates, a great pop-up picture book that he illustrated. Then, there in the store, he autographed it for me. Today was definitely a day for reveling in creative successes, wonderful stories, and talented friends.
Posted in Authors, Books, Illustration, Nifty happenings, Picture books, The Great Picture Book Read
July 16th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Looks like fun! Next time do invite your cuddly friend, Edith!! She promises to keep her gum in her mouth and out of your car.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I’m totally truckin’… just don’t let the Pigeon drive. Vroom. Vroom.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
The next time I am visiting you in LA, I would love to have CBW on our itinerary.. I’ll bring the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you bring the kool-aid. lyb
The Bells! The Bells!
September 22nd, 2008 by SaraI just got back from the SCBWI Working Writers Retreat, a particularly cruel event where they entice you with tables of inexpensive YA books and promises of wine and chocolate, then run you ragged with constant critique groups, editor talks, and yoga. Children’s writing is a harsh world and those of you that don’t know this should get out while you can!
Let me set the scene. Down in the valley, there lies a land called the “Holy Spirit Retreat Center.” This placid setting of zen-like landscaping is just a set-up to expose those of us with hard-to-control impulses. For starters, there’s a giant bell that makes a delicious gonging noise right there in the courtyard. Anyone could’ve just walked up and rung it! What kind of world do we live in that has bells just lying around to tempt all?
Then there was a circular patch of grass that had a sidewalk circling around it… but there was also a slightly worn footpath short-cutting straight through the middle. Every time you walked in that direction you had to make the decision. Go around the ‘right’ way? Or cut across the grass? I wanted to give into temptation, but I was sure there were cameras that the nuns were monitoring.
I haven’t even mentioned the duck pond with its rock-throwing possibilities or the constant access to coffee or the giant basket of little candy bars that I wanted to steal all the Butterfingers out of. I think I’ll stop now… I might cry.
But there was one bright spot in this torturous retreat. Julie Williams, an phenomenal wordsmith, writer, and artist, did a session called “Words and Images, Images and Words.” She spoke and demonstrated ways to generate ideas when we need a little help with our writing. One of the simple, but wonderful, exercises she did with us used a series of four writing prompts.
We each started with a random image that had been handed to us. Mine was a magazine picture of several pieces of blue fabric draping down, like the folds of a woman’s dress. We did a continuous free-write for 2 minutes about the picture. Then we got a piece of fabric to add to the mix, mine was a piece of lace. 2 more minutes of writing. Then a button was added (an old, small, white one). An finally a word (jack).
Each item made the ’speed’ story we were writing grow richer and richer. And my prompts led me into the world of my next book complete with textured, opening scenes. I was astounded by the truth of something I thought I already knew. Physical objects can ground fiction in a way that nothing else can. They breathe life and energy and exactness into your writing.
Of course, I wanted to keep my writing prompts. As I was sneakily slipping them into my bag, convinced that they would be taken away from us, just as we got inspired, I heard Julie say, “You can keep your objects to remind you of what you’ve written today.” I sighed. I was guilt-free. Maybe I’d go outside and ring that bell after all.
Posted in Authors, Nifty happenings, Revision, SCBWI, Writing
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
Hey Sara – What a great description of the retreat. Love the pictures on your blog, too. Especially the one of you through the tree. Very enchanting.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
“for whom the bells toll, it tolls for thee”– john donne
“every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings”– zuzu bailey (“it’s a wonderful life”)
September 29th, 2008 at 7:19 am
The retreat sounds so amazing! I feel like I was there for a second.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
did you RING the bell? I hope so. If not, you’ll have to go back again next year. Bells are for ringin’, by golly, and you’ve got the right to ring ‘em!
sounds like an amazing experience!
Namaste and a hug,
Lee
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 am
How much do I love the idea of giant bells being left around for anyone to ring! And Alvina Ling once blogged about those footpaths that just appear in courtyards and parks. She heard they were called “desire lines.” (Does that mean one *should* give in? Not sure, but I like the idea that our desires find visible expression.)
Best of all, though, is your describing this writing exercise. I’m so inspired, in my heart, I’m ringing the bell. :D
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 am
Desire lines! That is brilliant and so amazingly perfect. I’m sure Alvina will NEVER notice if I blatantly steal from her sometime, I mean, editors don’t read much, do they??
Not, not, not a box!
August 26th, 2008 by Sara
*First off, apologies to Antoinette Portis and her modern classic picture book, Not a Box for leaning on her wonderful pictures and themes. Go buy Not a Box! *
A box is a cozy place to be. It’s dark and quiet, with plenty of corners to curl up in. You can touch the walls around you and make certain they are there. You can make up all kinds of stories in your box in complete safety.
The box can be very important for stories just starting out life. The kind that will be vaporized under the hot sun. But if you stay in the box, that’s all they’ll ever be. Never sizzling, incredible, best-selling novels. Just stories.
Right now, I’m working hard on revising my young adult novel. I’m digging deeper to find my character’s voice. I’m pushing harder to make the world a scarier and more rewarding place for my characters. And it’s working. But when I’m try to get those characters from Point A to Point B, I’m still relying on my box.
I just keep doing it over and over. Moving my pawns around efficiently, but without regards to what builds tension or plays better for the reader. I’m just making making my story happen and working around my obstacles the easiest way possible. And easy does not make a good read.
So, I’ve started to keep a few things in mind, hoping that these tricks will help me cut some holes in my box so I can see my way out of it. One of these tricks I learned in Julie Strauss-Gabel’s revision class at the SCBWI summer conference (Thanks Julie and the class for your excellent advice!) and it was a big Aha! moment for me. Obstacles can be solutions.
Often, when I come up against a plot point that doesn’t make sense, I’ll ignore it… hoping maybe the readers won’t notice. An example: My main character, Faye climbs up to a roof to escape. A security guard is standing nearby, so she has to be quiet. Later, a roof tile breaks free and smashes on the ground. Problem: Why doesn’t the security guard react?
I came up with all kinds of rationale for this in my mind. Was he rocking out to his favorite Britney Spears song? Were the clouds so interesting that he got distracted? Did a venomous scorpion sting him, plunging him into a coma? Come on, these are very realistic scenarios! But for some reason my readers weren’t buying it.
Solution: The scene actually works better with the security guard noticing. It gives Faye someone to interact with. It builds tension. And it grounds the scene in reality. And voila! The obstacle is the solution.
I guess in the same way, the box is the solution. If you get yourself out of it, flip it over, and stand on top, you can reach higher or use it to go farther than you have before. Then it’s not, not, not a box! Vroom! Vroom!
Posted in Authors, Books, Conference, Revision, SCBWI, Writing
August 26th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I remember this picture book. Great entry! BTW, are you still on vacation? I miss you!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Awesome epiphany, Sara!
I love that you’re making such progress, and you’re so good at sharing the clarity you’re achieving!
Hurray for obstacles that are their own solutions!
Hurray for Faye!
Hurray for Sara!
Lee
September 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
A fantastic look into one problem and solution. I will think hard on this, myself.
Thanks, Sara!! :D
