But what really thrilled me about this year’s conference was how many people were talking excitedly about the changing medium of books. E-books, cross-platform storytelling, and the future of publishing was on everyone’s minds and here’s what I took away from the discussions.

Technology is evolving in a direction that will allow us to tell stories in ways we haven’t even begun to imagine. Websites and enhanced ebooks allow us, as writers and illustrators, to stretch outside the boundaries of pictures and pages. A story can be expanded by creating maps, back stories, and world-building on a website. Characters can exist alongside kids on myspace and facebook and twitter and all the newest interwebs. Author interviews and other innovations can make ebooks a valuable and interesting way to read.

More than that… these things are cheap compared to printed and bound books, and much more in the author’s control. And while fewer gatekeepers might mean lower quality, it also means experimentation, creativity, and (not to sound overdramatic) revolution!

In Jon Scieszka’s talk about telling stories across multiple media formats, he showed numbers for how much time kids spend consuming media. While some people were shocked at the high numbers, I realized that I, myself, usually spent more than the average kid on computers, video games, and listening to music. And that doesn’t upset me. As Jon Scieszka (the former Ambassador for Children’s Literature, no less) said, our job is not to stop kids from using technology, but to teach them how to filter it. How to be media literate.

This summer, for the first time in the writing world, I heard more excitement than fear. More creativity than condemnation. And that set my brain whirling and my heart racing. This is an amazing time to be a writer. For the first time in hundreds of years, books are changing. And we’re the ones writing the story.

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.

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!

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!

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.

If you haven’t read the Spring 2009 issue of Kite Tales… hop to it. Especially page 24 (and 23).   All the cool kids are reading it.  You wanna be a cool, don’t you?

So I finished my revision… now what?  As a way to deal with the dismal No Man’s Land that lurks between revisions and new projects, I’ve been getting crafty.  This past September at the SCBWI Working Writers’ Retreat, the creative Julie Williams gave us some unusual ideas about how to build an authentic world for our stories.  Found-book collages, paper dolls, and object-inspired writing exercises made me realize that there’s more to grounding yourself in a new world than outlines and brainstorms.

I’ve had some ‘in between’ time on my hands, so I pulled out my notes for my next book and got to work.  Or play, rather.  You can see I’ve made a mess. But that’s what it’s all about.  Or is that the hokey-pokey?

As I construct this world in a literal, hands-on way, specific and rich details are floating into my brain like gifts from the ether.  Scenes have begun playing themselves out in front of me and characters are finding forms.

It’s been a fantastic way to travel from the analytical territory of revisions to the open space of creation. And it’s reminded me that this whole venture is supposed to be fun.  Here’s a peek at the world I’m just starting to imagine.

What? What’s that you say?

I already wrote about the conference? Well, tonight I have to host a whole SCBWI Schmooze on the topic, so you’re gonna hear about it again, whether you like it or not! In hopes of inspiring people to send their writing out, I’m mostly going to stick with info about editors and agents that I heard speak. What they’re looking for and what they love.

But first, let’s start off with Bruce Coville’s 7 deadly sins for writers: Dullness, Repetition, Sloth, Inattention, Perfectionism, Clumsiness and Cliche. He had virtues too, but hey, sins are more fun!

Diane Muldrow, an editor with Golden Books talked about making good picture books that are accessible to every child. This is what she is looking for in a book: Perfect for reading aloud. Doesn’t have too much text. Lively stories that convey the wonder of everyday experiences that are new to a child. Has a ‘twist’ that makes it special (a riddle, a game, a little joke that the kid is in on.) A book that will backdate well and become a classic.

Michael Bourret, an agent at Dystel and Goderich, gave a great talk about queries. His general suggestions were to have a killer opening with a great hook ie., don’t start with dry details such as word count or genre. Let the query represent your writing. And have 3 clean versions of your query letters ready for you to choose from so you can better match the agent’s personality. He also mentioned that is is looking particularly at voice. And he suggested simultaneous queries when looking for agents.

I took a revision class with Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton’s Children’s Books, but I think I need a whole different post for that class. Simply put, for her it’s all about voice, voice, voice.

The up and coming editor panel was great. My favorite part was the list of 3 books the editors wished they’d published. It gave an unique window into what they’re really looking for. Here’s the list, but I was writing fast, so I can’t promise they’re all right!

Gretchen Hirsch from HarperCollins: (looking for smart and sexy books, paranormal YA, soft spot for dogs) Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo WiIllems, Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart.

Amalia Ellison from Amulet Books: (looking for eclectic/commercial, paranormal YA) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and Holes by Louis Sachar.

Nancy Conescu from Little Brown: (Self-declared “girly” person) Emily Gravett’s books, Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, and John Green’s books. In another talk at the conference, she said she’s looking for a different take on familiar subjects, like Vampirates. She divulged that she looks at Etsy.com and other artistic websites to find illustrators. She also mentioned edgier YA.

Namrata Tripathi from Hyperion Books: (Literary/Eclectic) The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante, Wave by Suzy Lee, and Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott.

If you didn’t go to the summer conference or hear these specific people speak, hopefully this post has given you a little peek into what they are looking for. So, now I’ll leave you with these last thoughts to motivate you to get those manuscripts out!

Leonard Marcus shared this wonderful quote from the great editor Ursula Nordstrom, “Is there any prettier sight in the world than that of someone sticking out his neck?” (I hope I got the wording right!)

And since I started with Bruce Coville, I’ll end with him too. He shared this scary and invigorating thought about writing: When you get to the edge of a cliff, jump. If you don’t jump, you’ll never grow wings. Ever. He may have said this more artfully, but you get the point. Send that book out!

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!

No. What I mean is that before, my manuscript was the story of a character, Faye, that I loved and crafted and who was very much alive in my mind. Now, Faye and her world is strong enough to live in other people’s minds. To capture their interest and make them ask the most important question in the realm of books. “What happens next?”

I can’t express how grateful I was that my suspicion, that Faye was finally alive and kicking, was confirmed at this summer’s SCBWI conference. One editor assured me that my ‘voice’ was strong enough. Another editor expressed interest in looking at the whole book and asserted that she really thought there was something there. Topping it all off, on Sunday I found out that I was nominated for the Sue Alexander Award for most promising critiqued manuscript at the conference.

Well, aside from bragging and shouting from the rooftops, what I’m trying to say is… “She’s Alllllllllive! She’s Alllllllive!” Now, if she only would stop clomping around all night and eating brains!