confession from a middle grade writer

Maybe it’s because I have a three year old, but I’ve been thinking a lot about pretend play. As a writer, it’s my job to pretend. Day after day, sitting at my desk, I pretend my characters are real.

I also pretend my writer self does not exist.

Instead of a writer, I think of myself as an actress. I live in the skin of my protagonist. I dress like her. I eat like her. I talk in her voice. I keep a journal as if it were hers.

After that, I pick up a new profession. I’m a gardener and I tend to my words with patience and care. I trim the story where my garden has overgrown. I pull out weeds and I keep planting new things.

Then, with a first draft in hand, I turn into a surgeon. I cut open the manuscript with precision and confidence. I use my tools. I ask for help from other professionals. I remain calm. I finish the job.

Finally, when the writing day is done, I take a bow, dust off my hands, hang up my white coat, and go back to calling myself a writer.

a perfectionist revises

Inspired by this wonderful post and this wonderful post, I’ve been thinking about how revision relates to me.

I should start by saying I’m a neat freak, so when I receive an editorial letter from my super smart agent, my immediate reaction is filled with anxiety. I don’t like when things are messy and I want to hide all of this messiness in the bottom of a trashcan. Honestly, I picture throwing my manuscript into my blue recycling bin and never looking at it again.

This, as it turns out, is my work as a writer. To see that mistakes aren’t really mistakes, instead they are indicators of where I can dig deeper.

However, as I begin to dig deeper, I feel vulnerable and because I feel vulnerable, I have a tendency to rush through a rewrite. I cut out entire scenes with one swipe of the delete key and I quickly write new scenes just to fill the missing space. This technique does not work for me! When I rush, I end up with a story that is hollow.

So how do I keep from rushing? The moment I get an editorial letter, I remind myself I’m grateful for the feedback. Then I step away from the computer. I let myself feel uncomfortable. And, I wait. I do not go anywhere near my manuscript! During this waiting period, which usually takes a few days, the notes begin to move from my head and into my heart.

Here are a few things I tell myself while I’m waiting.

I will listen.

I will trust my process.

I will not throw my manuscript in the trash.

I also have this sentence tacked above my desk. I look at it everyday.

There are discoveries I haven’t made yet.

Like writing, learning to walk is a skill that takes a lot of practice.  

My toddler's shoes know this better than anyone.

I just stumbled upon a good quote.

"Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before,
but in saying exactly what you think yourself." -James Stephens

SCBWI summer conference 2013

Just sinking back into my office after an inspiring SCBWI conference.

To name a highlight from a list of many:

Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler's workshop called Comedy Comes From the Heart. They stressed the importance of figuring out what you find funny. They told us to write for ourselves, not for an audience. Delight yourself. Mine your own life to create comedy. Love your character. Be willing to look like a fool.  In fact, Mr. Winkler even suggested dressing up as your character for inspiration.

What fun! As I type this, I'm wearing a suit, tie, and fedora.

i write like

Have you heard of a neat website called I Write Like?

After you enter a paragraph or two of your work, the site tells you which writer you write like.

My result: Oscar Wilde.

How about you?

wonderful

When a seven year old sent Roald Dahl one of her dreams in a bottle, he wrote her the following response:

Isn't everything about this wonderful?

Letter via www.lettersofnote.com

33 ways to stay creative

I'm really good at:
1, 9, 10, 31

I need way more of:
18, 19, 23, 26

How about you?  Do some of these numbers come easier than others?


Image via Pintrest.

great questions

The following questions are intended for mom's looking to connect with their children.  Instead of reading the questions as a mom, I was interested in looking at them as a writer.  I answered them as if I were the main character in the story I'm working on.

Click here to read 20 Pillow Talk Questions for You and Your Child.

scbwi conference

I found some much needed inspiration at the SCBWI Los Angeles Conference. To name a few highlights: Patricia Maclachan's keynote (she is so funny!), a workshop about four success stories and Gary Schmidt's words of advice.

Photo via scbwi.org

scbwi summer conference

I'm going to the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators LA Conference.  A few of the amazing writers I'm excited to see:

karen cushman
clare vanderpool
patricia maclachlan

("Sarah, Plain and Tall" is one of my very favorite books!)

a few favorite quotes

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why." -Mark Twain

"The deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world." -Natalie Goldberg

These are two of my favorite quotes.  Is there a quote that resonates with you? Please share!

morning pages

"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron is a book that suggests writing morning pages everyday. Morning pages are 3 pages of shorthand where you let your stream-of-conscience fly. I've been doing morning pages for years (all of my story ideas have come from this practice) and I feared I would not have the time/energy to write after having a baby. I'm happy to say, this has not been the case! In fact, my morning pages have helped me feel even more connected to motherhood. I think this kind of writing makes you aware and present without any pressure of producing some great piece of work. Do you write morning pages? Keep a journal?  Draw in a daily sketchbook?  What is the experience like for you?

a wonderful letter

To my delight, I discovered a blog called "Letters of Note".  I’ve spent all morning scrolling through letters, memos, faxes, telegrams, and postcards.  

This letter was written by Robert Pirosh, a copyeditor who came to Los Angeles in 1934 to pursue his dream of becoming a screenwriter.  He sent this to studio executives, producers, and directors.  I love every single thing about it.

Dear Sir:

I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave "V" words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land's-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.

I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around. 

I have just returned and I still like words. 

May I have a few with you?

Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024

Here’s a few more well written letters (click on name to view):

Conan O’Brien writes to a sixteen year old girl after she asks him to prom.

David Bowie replies to his “very first American fan letter”.

John Steinbeck sends a beautiful letter to his son about falling in love.

(Source: Letters of Note)

six

The following is inspired by children's author/illustrator Grace Lin. She posted her six on 2/23/11. I've been thinking about it ever since. According to Ms. Lin, Virginia Woolf gave a speech about Falkner's six (the six things writers should write about).

"Falkner said in 1949 in the Nobel speech that if we are not writing about these six things then we are not doing our job. They are love, honor, pity, pride, compassion, and sacrifice."

As one of my new year's resolutions, I've listed the six things that are important for me to write about.

On 2/27/11 they were:

LOVE
LOYALTY
KINDNESS
COMMUNITY
UNDERSTANDING
FREEDOM

Today my six are:

LOVE
COURAGE
AWARENESS
ACCEPTANCE
EMPATHY
RELEASE

Do you have your own six?

a great letter

things i love about this letter

the writer (a boy) used a magenta colored pencil

he isn't afraid to ask for what he wants

the fancy "D" in his Dear 

an empathetic voice

and self awareness

(Image via Cup of Jo.)

a great letter

A great letter says so much.  In just a few short sentences, Mick Jagger lets us know the kind of person he is, how he feels about Andy Warhol's art, and the type of relationship he has with Mr. Al Steckler.

Do you write letters?  I think it's a wonderful way to work with words.

ps.  I blocked out a phrase in the middle of paragraph two in order to keep this blog kid friendly!

Image via Awesome People Hanging Out Together

how to organize your work

This link was sent to me by author, Les Plesko.
I love every single thing about it.

"As I was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Glimpses of Beauty"
by Jonas Mekas

tim burton

Last night, I went to see the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA and I absolutely loved his work.  Many of his drawings have a wonderful sense of humor.  One of my favorites (shown above) is a print of "Romeo and Juliet".

The exhibit also presented framed lists written by Mr. Burton when he was a teenager.  For example, there was a list of some of his favorite horror films and a list about dirty jokes.  And I loved this drawing and poem (shown below) of a "melancholy melon head".  Click here to view more of Tim Burton's poetry and art.

The Tim Burton exhibit challenged me to think about writing.  Burton is an artist who connects deeply to the memory of his childhood and where he grew up.  As a writer, I feel inspired to remember who I was as a kid and use this as a source for my work.

(Sources: #1 tbcollectivenews, #2 dd.dynamicdiagrams)

a few good quotes

I created a list of my favorite quotes on Goodreads.  Click here to view. Stephen King is #20.

(Photo via Awesome People Hanging Out Together.)