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 Conference, Authors, SCBWI, Revision, Books, Writing
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
Conference Karma
August 11th, 2008 by Sara
Recently I’ve been really feeling good about my writing. I’ve had quite a few “Aha!” moments and, slowly but surely, my story is transforming into a novel. By this, I don’t mean that I’ve been making it longer or writing the acknowledgements page (don’t worry, you’re totally mentioned).
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!
Posted in Conference, SCBWI, Revision, Nifty happenings, Writing
August 11th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Congratulations, Sara!!! Your hard work has paid off! I am so HAPPY for you!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Wow Zombie Sara,
Super congrats on being amazing. I bow before your greatness… unless you take a swipe at my brains. I need those.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Lovely!! I love this post!!!
I am thrilled for you, too. :D :D :D
The Rules
July 14th, 2008 by SaraA while ago, I had a friend read the opening chapters to my novel. He was very supportive, but he said that there wasn’t enough momentum to my story. Not enough momentum?! What does he know? He’s an illustrator. He reads picture books and graphic novels. He doesn’t know ANYTHING about young adult books!
Okay. Maybe he does. Maybe he was right.
The main problem with my book was that it wasn’t exactly sure where it was going. Or actually, it knew where it was going, it just wasn’t sure how to get there. And it didn’t know what the rules were.
Rules are what give your story boundaries. They give your words room to stand up and stretch. Plot points can be powerful and huge, or quiet and small, because they know exactly how far to go. And the reader can get comfortable, too. They may not know what’s going to happen, but at least they know what game is being played.
Another friend of mine said to me, Fantasy writers spend so much time creating their worlds, no wonder they write sequels and series. You wouldn’t want to have to start over!
The same thing is true for contemporary fiction. Each story has to have its own set of guidelines. How far are your characters willing to go? What principles lead them through life, determining what they would do, and what they would never do, even if it would be so convenient for your plot. And how far are you, the author, willing to go? Are your character’s lives in jeopardy, or just their lunch money?
My book has a foot in both worlds. It takes place in a contemporary setting, but all kind of unusual, supernatural things are happening. The reader never feels comfortable, if they don’t understand what the rules are. Magic wishes cannot be unlimited. Super heroes cannot be completely invincible. And life cannot always be fair. It is the limitations, and what the characters do with them, that gives your story power.
Posted in Characters, Revision, Writing
July 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
as the aforementioned bastard illustrator, i still feel badly about causing you so much consternation and grief that i’ve cut off 3 toes.
and to clarify, i do read more than just picture books and graphic novels- i also read the backs of cereal boxes and the comics page in the daily newspaper. (yes, i still like getting printers ink on my fingers as i peruse the day’s news:)
Sigh….
April 25th, 2008 by SaraSigh…
Today in the mail, I received the bane of a writer’s existence. “Your work was given careful consideration by one of our editors, and we are sorry to say that we do not feel like it is right for our list.” ARGGGGGGG!
The form letter has the power to derail you like nothing else. That’s because it is exactly that, nothing. You can’t fight back against it. You can’t rage against its harsh judgment. You can’t even scream ‘THEY’RE WRONG.” It’s pretty hard to argue against a non-opinion about your work.
And, of course as writers, we start imagining. Picturing the assistant editor’s assistant who looked at your pages. She sneered at them. She didn’t even bother getting to the second paragraph. She just cackled evilly to herself.
“I wouldn’t sully my pen by writing a single word on this manuscript. The ink would probably eat through those terrible metaphors anyway. How dare such filth be sent to this fine establishment! Ban the Sara-woman for life!”
I will not let the reality of my experiences and conversations with perfectly nice editors get in the way of my imagination either. The assistant is actually a dragon, sitting in her cave, surrounded by manuscripts instead of treasure. She roasts the truly despicable ones… I can even see the singe marks around the edges of my story now. Can’t you?
Whew. I’m actually feeling pretty lucky now. I’m sure the worst authors get kidnapped and skewered for dinner. At least, I escaped that fate.
Flap. Flap. Flap. Do you hear that strange noise?
AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Posted in Not-so-nifty happenings, Writing
April 28th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Sara,
let’s take a little of that WHUMP! WHOMP! energy from the drumming and open up the can of WHUMP *$$ motivation they mailed you with that lame form rejection letter.
Think about this: the best revenge will be success, HUGE success!
You are a great writer, and they just lost out on something really special.
So, WHUMP! WHOMP! On to the NEXT prospect - you’ve got the gold, you just need to find the right editor, editor’s assistant, and assistant to the assistant editor who KNOW treasure when they’ve got it in their hands!
So take that rejection letter, put it on the floor, and STOMP on it!
WHUMP!
YOU ARE A DRAGON, TOO!
WHOMP! WHUMP!
And you’ve GOT the treasure, by golly!
WHOMP! WHUMP! WHOMP!
GIVE A GOOD ROAAAR, AND SOAR INTO THE SKY!
You’ll get there. I KNOW it.
Your fan,
Lee
Whump! Whomp!
April 18th, 2008 by Sara
There is nothing like
Taiko drums to root rhythm
Deep into your words!
Posted in Writing
April 19th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Oh, yeah!! I’ve been meaning to tell you, if you and Tony are interested in trying taiko again, I’ve got a recommendation for you!! :D
Warts and All
April 17th, 2008 by Sara
Well, instead of groveling for bloggle forgiveness for my inexcusable absence, I’m merely going to chalk it up to an excellent example of how I write.
What an great idea, you’re saying. Why didn’t I think of that excuse myself, you wonder. Why? Because I’m simply BRILLIANT and full of sh…arp ideas!
So, here’s the thing. This past weekend was Writer’s Day here in the LA chapter of SCBWI and one of the speakers was Gail Carson Levine. Someone asked her what her writing schedule was like. She stalled for a moment, then revealed the awesome truth.
I have a laptop, she said in Sara’s fairly accurate paraphrase, and I write when I eat breakfast. And lunch. And I write while I eat dinner. I tend to fall asleep while I’m writing and at least I can’t sleep while my mouth is moving.
Ok. Hands down one of the best answers to that question EVER.
So, inspired by that wonderfully bizarre and revealing answer, I realized that this blog is clear proof of my writing style and schedule. Sometimes I write consistently. Sometimes erratically. Sometimes I seemingly abandon my writing all together. But no matter how my ‘active’ writing process is going, I am always, _always_, ALWAYS thinking about my stories.
When I go to the Battlestar Galactica concert featuring the amazing music from that amazing show, I find in the music a soundtrack to my novel that uncovers the sense of urgency I’ve been trying to inject into my key scenes.
When I go to the bookstore to peruse the new picture books, I find a book that uses page turns in just the way that will give my picture book the added momentum it needs.
And when I get angry at the world because my writing is stalling out, and I’m no closer to reaching my goals, I realize that rage is the exact emotion that is missing from my final scene.
Sometimes I feel like I lose my way, but the truth is, I’m walking the writing path every minute of every day. Even when there are these spells of seeming dryness. I’m really just one of those toads who lives in the desert. They bury themselves, sometimes for months at a time. They just sit there and sit there, existing. Waiting. Then it rains and they emerge. They splash and drink and eat and sing and well… you know. They party until the rains stop and the desert dries up. Then they burrow back down into the dark to wait.
So, I’m a toad.
Except for one huge difference. When I’m in the dark, I’m never waiting. I’m dreaming and plotting and planning exactly what’s going to happen when I finally do reach the world up above.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
man, i love your insights into the writing process. you make it easy to understand what goes on in the life of a writer. :)
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Hey Sara,
This was really deep and considered. And I really appreciate how thoughtful you are about your process, and how open you are to sharing it with all of us in the blog-o-sphere.
I don’t think I’ll ever look at desert toads in the same way again!
Maybe they’re plotting and dreaming while they’re burrowed deep, too?
It’s a great reminder that each step, even when it’s not directly putting words down, is part of this writer’s journey of ours!
thanks for that!
Namaste,
Lee
Adam Rex answers!
February 7th, 2008 by SaraA email response from Adam Rex! Hooray!
Well, this made my day. I’m going to have it tattooed on my head. Thanks so much Sara!
-Adam
Posted in Authors, Valentines, Writing
February 8th, 2008 at 5:32 am
That is sweet. You should tattoo his reply on your body, and blog about it! Then he could tattoo that, and you could . . .
February 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
It’s be like looking into 2 mirrors at once…. the infinite compliment!
A Month of L<3VE
February 1st, 2008 by SaraInstead of candy hearts and flowers, I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day with books! I hereby declare the month of February as one humongous Valentine’s card to my favorite authors and stories. Yes, even writers and illustrators need to feel the love. So lets give it to them!
I’m going to be dedicating each day of February to a different great artist. 
A St. Valentine’s card of bookwormy wonder. Feel free to add your own praises and throw out suggestions. So lets start handing out some…
<3
<3
<3
<3
Posted in I heart this book, Nifty happenings, Books, Writing
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Can’t this wait till morning?
January 10th, 2008 by Sara
Sigh…
4:03 in the morning. Of course, that’s when I get the idea.
Not when I sit down at my computer in the middle of the afternoon and stare at the blank screen. Not when I’m trying to solve that finicky problem with my picture book manuscript. Not when I have a notebook easily within reach.
4:03 in the morning.
I fumble around in the dark and my fingers ferret out a pen. No paper. I scrawl a word on my hand, so I’ll remember the idea. But that one action releases a torrent of words. If I’d been that dutch boy, Holland would just be one giant lagoon by now.
So, I scrawl another word, then another, till I must look like Noah Webster got drunk and tattooed my arm. I lay in bed fixing that weird phrase in my book that’s been bothering me for weeks. Then moving 
on to a whole new book, scheming it out. I keep my eyes closed, still hoping I’ll pick up on the subtle hint. Finally, I wave the white flag pillowcase. I crawl out from under the snuggly covers, abandon my handsome, sleeping husband and fluffy dog foot warmers for the quiet scratching of pen on paper.
Scritch-scratch. Scritch-scratch. Sigh.
Smile.
I might just have something here.
Or is that just the sleep deprivation talking?
Posted in Writing
January 10th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
After that fantastic Schmooze you gave last night on picture books, I can’t believe the muse was banging on your subconscious at 4:03AM to get you up and writing! There is just no mercy.
Sara, you stated last night that after reading 300 picture books, you had an Ah-ha! moment. What was that? What did you “get” after reading 300 p/b? You had said, “Now, I get it.” What did you get?
I admire you so much in your quest to read 1000 picture books. I read so many of them, myself, I think I will start keeping count.
Thanks for sharing what you learned in this experience.
Hugs,
Edie
January 10th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
You are such a great writer! I feel like I was with you this morning! I hope the the ideas burst the dam ( but not tonight :)
Meg
January 11th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Hilarious. I envisioned your arm filling up with words like the tree branches on your home page. This happens to me, too, and yesterday I wrote about the inconvenience of my characters bugging me.
I am impressed you’ve read 1000 picture books in 100 days! It’s taken me almost three times as long to do that, and I haven’t logged all of them in LibraryThing–what a great idea.
Enjoyed your blog; I’ll be back.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I love this post!! And I know all about inconvenient, but you gotta do it. Yesterday at about 5 AM I had to get out of bed to scribble down a whole picture book. (Me, too!!) I spent an hour mooning over my genius, afterward. Then I got very tired and it suddenly seemed ridiculous. (But was it?? Time–or you guys–will tell…)
The other day I had this huge epiphany while writing in my journal. Good thing I was already writing, right? The next morning, away from home, I tried to remember what that epiphany was. It was gone from my brain. I had to wait a whole day to get home, flip open my journal, and re-read my own brilliance. (It was still pretty good, but my hopes had made it huge by then.)
;)
r
P.S.
And I concur with Edie–GREAT SCHMOOZE THE OTHER NIGHT!!
January 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I’ve found my light up in the dark pen and a little notepad to be really useful. I used to get up, turn on the light, search for pen and paper, and by that time both I and my guy were completely awake. Much better to only wake him up gently, so he can fall back asleep sooner. Also, by my not getting up (just reaching over) I’m able to keep the fluttering muse hovering just so, and the idea gets on the page more completely.
In the morning, it’s often illegible, and I have to strain to figure out what was so brilliant I had to jot it down…But I love the idea of writing it on your hand, arm, and body - like an inspiration tattoo… hmmm - there’s a fabulous character in there, somewhere!
Namaste,
Lee
January 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
That’s funny!!! This has happened to me, too! But for some reason, any ideas I have in the wee hours of the morning just don’t gel. In fact, any ideas that come to me when I’m not writing never work themselves into the actual writing. So, sigh, I have to sit down and write and see what happens.
It makes me wonder, though, why this happens to us.
Great post!!!
:D
January 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
You know what makes me sooo happy about this post (well… *one* of the things that makes me so happy about this post!)…. that you used the word ‘lagoon’ :) I got a big beaming smile when I read it… dont know why but it just felt good and big and round and like the word was so relieved it got used :)
btw… it’s 4am here in Bombay… ha!
Books of the Week: Illustrators
December 17th, 2007 by Sara
I’m constantly delighted by the illustrations in the picture books I’ve been reading. Here are a few illustrators that have really captured my imagination.
Dan Yaccarino
(Every Friday, Trashy Town)
Mark Teague
(How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, The Secret Shortcut)
David Shannon
(No, David, Duck on a Bike)
Steve Jenkins
(Move, Actual Size)
David Wiesner
(Tuesday, Flotsam)
These illustrators show a creativity with their subject matter that brings you closer to it. Their pictures invite you into the story and stay in your mind long after. Whether it’s the simplicity of line, the movement within a still image, or the depth of detail, all of these illustrators and their styles are a joy to look at and read.
Wanna see who else I’ve been reading?
Posted in Books of the Week, The Great Picture Book Read, Illustration, I heart this book, Books, Writing
December 22nd, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Hi Sara.
Jude sent me your website and I love keeping up with your writing and reading. Best of luck for 2008 - It will be a special year for you I feel sure.
Congratulations to Tony for his work on Compass. We enjoyed it, especially all the R&H work.
Merry Christmas to you both.
