Tomorrow...it begins. The 35th Annual SCBWI National Conference. Why do I go there, year after year? For the writing tips? Sure. The networking? Absolutely. But mostly...the inspiration. Being around creative people is such a boost to my own creativity. Watching friends slowly peel off into the Published category makes me work that much harder.
And yet, year after year, my wife hands me a written message as I’m on my way out the door that is all the inspiration I need. Usually it’s a card that I keep in my bag and carry with me throughout the conference. This year her note read, in part: Have fun being you & doing what you love. This journey has truly been amazing to watch & it’s just getting started!!
With all the ups and downs this process has brought, all the times I thought publication was just around the corner only to have nothing come of it, it’s nice to know she finds the process amazing to watch. It’s frustrating to me, but an amazing journey to her. And that helps.
(To Eve and Robin, sorry about all the sappiness dripping from your computer screen.)
So what’s been the coolest addition to my amazing journey? Remember that fortune cookie from my last post? It said I should watch for a new relationship to develop within the month. Well, with just 24 minutes to spare till the end of last month, an agent sent me an e-mail saying she was interested in representing my YA. We scheduled a phonecall for when I get back from the conference. And if it all works out, I’m going back to that Chinese restaurant and I’m crackin’ some more cookies.
- Jay
Oops...before I leave, I can’t forget my fishnet stockings.
Don’t worry, we’ll show you the pictures!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Dating...Again --Eve
I once compared finding the right critique group to finding a boyfriend. Well, I’m back in the dating scene, but this time I’m serious. That’s right, I’m looking for a husband. I’ve finished my Great American Teen Novel, and I’m searching for an editor to “raise” my offspring with me. It’s much more difficult than one would think. I mean, I can’t settle down with just any editor because my baby needs a daddy. I need someone intelligent, open-minded and dedicated…someone who will love this baby like I do.
But it’s not like editors are hanging out in bars and dance clubs, kickin’ it against the wall just waiting for me to walk by, catch their eyes, flip my hair, and give ‘em that look that says, “Let’s go hit the dance floor and get our freak on.” This dating scene is a little trickier. Instead of trolling the usual singles haunts or the grocery store, we writers have to get a tad more creative. Thanks to the internet, we can find information on websites. We can scour interviews, speeches and web logs gathering bits of information to determine which editors are “husband” material.
But if they’re not chillin’ in dance clubs waiting for us to buy them drinks, shake our booties while singing The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?” and slip our manuscripts into their pockets at the end of the night, then how will they ever notice US?
I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet an editor in person this past weekend (without having to buy drinks or shake any booty). Cheryl Klein is a wonderfully creative and witty editor at Arthur A. Levine Books. We Disco Mermaids follow her blog religiously, as it is a fantastic peek into an editor’s perspective. And, as an added bonus, the girl is wickedly funny! She gave a presentation in L.A. about the Harry Potter books and dodged five million questions about what’s in Book 7 like Wonder Woman dodging bullets with her cuff bracelets. I was excited to get the 411 on everything “Harry Potter” --way more than any human ever needed to know-- so I could forever kick ass on HP trivia contests with my nephew and sister.
After the speech, I hung out with the brilliant Lisa Yee and the magnificent Gregory K. discussing Lisa’s upcoming SCBWI Conference “Why Bother To Blog?” workshop (where we’ll be special guests!!). They introduced me to Cheryl Klein, who is just as charming and amusing in person as she is on her blog site.
She shook my hand and said, “Oh, Eve. I know you. You’re a Disco Mermaid with Jay and Robin!”
Holy Crap! A dream editor and potential co-parent of my offspring actually knew my name. Now, just like in dating, I realize that an editor knowing my name does not a relationship make. But it’s a step. And I know that my writing must speak for itself.
But at least now I’m a tiny bit past the “Look at me! Look at me!” phase of courting where I have to wear a saucy little outfit and flip my hair and all the rest. Yes, when I submit a manuscript to Cheryl, I’ll still hover in the Slushy Pile like everyone else. But when I emerge from it, maybe she’ll remember me a little and I won’t be just some random chick doing the running-man on the dance floor!
--Eve
But it’s not like editors are hanging out in bars and dance clubs, kickin’ it against the wall just waiting for me to walk by, catch their eyes, flip my hair, and give ‘em that look that says, “Let’s go hit the dance floor and get our freak on.” This dating scene is a little trickier. Instead of trolling the usual singles haunts or the grocery store, we writers have to get a tad more creative. Thanks to the internet, we can find information on websites. We can scour interviews, speeches and web logs gathering bits of information to determine which editors are “husband” material.
But if they’re not chillin’ in dance clubs waiting for us to buy them drinks, shake our booties while singing The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?” and slip our manuscripts into their pockets at the end of the night, then how will they ever notice US?
I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet an editor in person this past weekend (without having to buy drinks or shake any booty). Cheryl Klein is a wonderfully creative and witty editor at Arthur A. Levine Books. We Disco Mermaids follow her blog religiously, as it is a fantastic peek into an editor’s perspective. And, as an added bonus, the girl is wickedly funny! She gave a presentation in L.A. about the Harry Potter books and dodged five million questions about what’s in Book 7 like Wonder Woman dodging bullets with her cuff bracelets. I was excited to get the 411 on everything “Harry Potter” --way more than any human ever needed to know-- so I could forever kick ass on HP trivia contests with my nephew and sister.
After the speech, I hung out with the brilliant Lisa Yee and the magnificent Gregory K. discussing Lisa’s upcoming SCBWI Conference “Why Bother To Blog?” workshop (where we’ll be special guests!!). They introduced me to Cheryl Klein, who is just as charming and amusing in person as she is on her blog site.
She shook my hand and said, “Oh, Eve. I know you. You’re a Disco Mermaid with Jay and Robin!”
Holy Crap! A dream editor and potential co-parent of my offspring actually knew my name. Now, just like in dating, I realize that an editor knowing my name does not a relationship make. But it’s a step. And I know that my writing must speak for itself.
But at least now I’m a tiny bit past the “Look at me! Look at me!” phase of courting where I have to wear a saucy little outfit and flip my hair and all the rest. Yes, when I submit a manuscript to Cheryl, I’ll still hover in the Slushy Pile like everyone else. But when I emerge from it, maybe she’ll remember me a little and I won’t be just some random chick doing the running-man on the dance floor!
--Eve
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Realization on I-85—Robin
I spent a good part of my vacation last week on Interstate 85 traveling between my in-laws house in Greenville, South Carolina and my parents’ house in Atlanta.
The realization happened just north of Commerce, GA (where they happen to have a killer outlet mall that we happened to stop off at and do some massive shopping.)
I was driving and chatting with my mother about what’s been going on in our lives—which basically consisted of me going on and on about what Jay, Eve and I have been up to and my mother smiling and nodding in her sweet southern way.
Then she asked me, “How’s your writing going?”
“Fine! Fine! Why? Did you hear something was wrong!?”
Apparently she really just wanted to know how my writing was going. Hmmm.
I told her that I was about a third of the way through my first young adult novel and she said she knew, that I told her about it a while ago. “I did? Well, what did I tell you?”
And my mother proceeded to tell me what my own novel is about. She described it in one sentence, in her sweet southern way.
While what she said was true, it prompted me to give her the following reply: “That sounds like the dumbest story I’ve ever heard!”
So we kept talking on and on and I managed to not talk about what Jay and Eve and I have been doing and we came up with the outline of what I think will be a much better novel.
My mother said she might even like to read a story about that.
It’s comin’ Mama.
And we’ll celebrate with a big bowl of grits.
--Robin
The realization happened just north of Commerce, GA (where they happen to have a killer outlet mall that we happened to stop off at and do some massive shopping.)
I was driving and chatting with my mother about what’s been going on in our lives—which basically consisted of me going on and on about what Jay, Eve and I have been up to and my mother smiling and nodding in her sweet southern way.
Then she asked me, “How’s your writing going?”
“Fine! Fine! Why? Did you hear something was wrong!?”
Apparently she really just wanted to know how my writing was going. Hmmm.
I told her that I was about a third of the way through my first young adult novel and she said she knew, that I told her about it a while ago. “I did? Well, what did I tell you?”
And my mother proceeded to tell me what my own novel is about. She described it in one sentence, in her sweet southern way.
While what she said was true, it prompted me to give her the following reply: “That sounds like the dumbest story I’ve ever heard!”
So we kept talking on and on and I managed to not talk about what Jay and Eve and I have been doing and we came up with the outline of what I think will be a much better novel.
My mother said she might even like to read a story about that.
It’s comin’ Mama.
And we’ll celebrate with a big bowl of grits.
--Robin
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Li'l Pieces o' Paper -- Jay
Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs.C'mon, sing it!
Blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind.
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the siiiiiiiiign?
(I know, I know. He doesn't say blocking. But this is a PG-13 blog.)
Now that my YA manuscript is out, I’m seeing signs everywhere. Not physical signs, but signs from Above...from The Almighty (and yes, like Robin said, The Almighty bares a striking resemblance to Dr. Seuss). The novel is called Baker’s Dozen: The AudioBiography of Hannah Baker. A baker’s dozen is thirteen. And the day my wife finished her critique of Baker’s Dozen, we walked down the street for some burgers and fries. Our ticket number? 13!
A while back, an agent took an interest in my query and asked me to submit the first three chapters via e-mail. I did, but I never heard back. So I sent my manuscript out to three editors. A week after that, the agent e-mailed to ask if I’d received her previous e-mail requesting sample chapters. She never received my response! I explained the situation and she asked me to send her the entire manuscript…via post. So three editors and one agent have my manuscript right now. The day before the agent received my full manuscript in the mail, my wife and I went out for Chinese food with some friends. My fortune? Watch for a new relationship to develop within the month. Hmm… Does that mean by the end of July or over the next 30 to 31 days?
I’ll keep ya posted!
- Jay
DiscoLove to the first person to correctly identify the background of the above picture.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Fork in the Road -- Robin
Actually, it was more like a forked tongue in the road. I was having one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days and decided to go for a run on my favorite trail overlooking the ocean. The plan was to run as fast as I could to the end of the trail where I always run into my magical leprechaun (if that sounds loopy, check out this post for details). 100 yards short of my inspirational point, I rounded a corner and came across a huge rattlesnake lying across the trail.
“Hello there, Mr. Rattlesnake,” I said tip-toe-ingly. “Mind moving aside so I can pay a visit to my leprechaun and end this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?”
Nothing. Not even an obligatory rattle.
I figured this no good day was just continuing so I turned around to go home. But then I reminded myself that when I’m faced with an event like this, especially an unusual one like a rattlesnake blocking my way to happiness, it must be a sign from The Almighty (and when I say Almighty, I’m picturing the late, great Dr. Seuss). So instead of going home, I took a different path. It went straight out to a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
I sat down on the bluff, crossed my legs, and just looked and listened. I figured Dr. Seuss sent me there for a reason and I was ready to find out what it was. At first I didn’t see or hear anything unusual. I just felt it. My body was warm, the perfect temperature, and I felt both rested and energized at the same time…almost euphoric. I realized that I had been resisting the writing of a certain scene in my book where my character would feel the same way I was feeling at that moment. I resisted because I didn’t know how to describe it. But now I had the experience and the words to use. All because of a carefully placed rattlesnake.
I stood up and looked straight down into the ocean. Just 30 feet below me was a sea otter lying on his back looking up at me. He was having one of those Discovery Channel moments where he was trying to crack open a mussel and looking incredibly cute. I looked up and down the trail to see if I could point him out to someone else. But on this particular stretch of California coastline, I was the only one experiencing this adorable moment at this particular place in time. Well, me and Dr. Seuss.
I went back to the trail to thank the rattlesnake for making my day an all too good, beautiful, wonderful day.
But he was gone.
- Robin
“Hello there, Mr. Rattlesnake,” I said tip-toe-ingly. “Mind moving aside so I can pay a visit to my leprechaun and end this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?”
Nothing. Not even an obligatory rattle.
I figured this no good day was just continuing so I turned around to go home. But then I reminded myself that when I’m faced with an event like this, especially an unusual one like a rattlesnake blocking my way to happiness, it must be a sign from The Almighty (and when I say Almighty, I’m picturing the late, great Dr. Seuss). So instead of going home, I took a different path. It went straight out to a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
I sat down on the bluff, crossed my legs, and just looked and listened. I figured Dr. Seuss sent me there for a reason and I was ready to find out what it was. At first I didn’t see or hear anything unusual. I just felt it. My body was warm, the perfect temperature, and I felt both rested and energized at the same time…almost euphoric. I realized that I had been resisting the writing of a certain scene in my book where my character would feel the same way I was feeling at that moment. I resisted because I didn’t know how to describe it. But now I had the experience and the words to use. All because of a carefully placed rattlesnake.
I stood up and looked straight down into the ocean. Just 30 feet below me was a sea otter lying on his back looking up at me. He was having one of those Discovery Channel moments where he was trying to crack open a mussel and looking incredibly cute. I looked up and down the trail to see if I could point him out to someone else. But on this particular stretch of California coastline, I was the only one experiencing this adorable moment at this particular place in time. Well, me and Dr. Seuss.
I went back to the trail to thank the rattlesnake for making my day an all too good, beautiful, wonderful day.
But he was gone.
- Robin
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Gettin' Jaded
Eve & Robin, a glue gun, and feathers- that can mean only one thing -
- - -
SCBWI's Jade Jubilee
is less than two weeks away!!!
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