A little departure from writing about writing...

This is one of the coolest things I've ever heard. Thanks, Jeanne, for sharing. I hope it inspires you as it inspired me. We are amazing creatures, capable of creating unbelievable things. [For some reason it's very low. You might have to turn your speakers way up to get the full effect.]

AMAZING! I Wasn't Stricken With a Case of CWFBS!

OK, so... I received a lot of ribbing from our fearless NJ SCBWI leader, Kathy Temean that my recent once a month blogging has got to stop and that I need to resume my once a week-former-blogging-self. It was like she was channeling the spirit of my dead mother, the guilt thicker than molasses... so fine! I get it. Point well taken. I will resume my normal once a week blogging. I promise-ish... Okay, I will do my best. How's that... (I know she is sitting reading this saying, not good enough. A promise is a promise... *sigh*)

Anyway, I am back from the fabulous, the amazing, the all-inspiring Toms River weekend. I cannot say enough about this workshop. But before I go on and on about that... Thank yous are in order.

First, thank you to Kathy Temean and Laurie Wallmark for putting together this stupendous mentoring weekend. What an amazing opportunity!

Thank you to our wonderful, encouraging, and sweet-as-apple-pie (or lemon squares...) editors, Lisa Yoskowitz from Penguin's Dutton and Eve Adler from Henry Holt . (Who, by the way, I would give anything to have the experience of working with at any point in my career.) Every writer I spoke with said they had such a great critique session and found each editor approachable, friendly, easy to talk to, and full of such insightful comments and suggestions regarding both their MS and the industry in general.

Third, thank you to all the novelists who had the daunting task of reading 180 pages total and offering supportive, yet informative critiques.

Although, I did not read any of the PB manuscripts, I spent some time getting to know this special group of gifted writers as well, and it was a pleasure getting to know all of you (PB writers, novelists, and editors alike).

This is the first time I have come back from a conference/workshop without "Conference/Workshop Furrowed Brow Syndrome," CWFBS for short. Come on ladies, you know what I'm talking about. CWFBS is what happens to writers near the end of the conference/workshop weekend when you've heard such an onslaught of feedback and information, and as if it helps in the process somehow of contemplating all that info in your head, your brow begins to pucker.

This simply did not happen.

Well, it almost happened after Kathy suggested that page 30 (out of a 30-page submission) was really my page 1... So, I almost came down with a serious case of CWFBS on Sunday morning after sleeping on this idea. But once I was in the room full of inspiring writers and editors, I was cured.

Sometimes a serious case of CWFBS occurs when you come home from such a weekend. You walk through the door, relived to be home, happy to see your family and pets, when your grab your briefcase weighted with critiques and reality sets in. UGH! Now you have the arduous task of wading through all the critiques to ponder their suggestions.

But, again, it didn't happen.

Why is that? What sets Toms River apart from the knowledge-filled June Conference or any other great workshops offered through NJ's SCBWI where cases of CWFBS have been known to sweep through the room like a flu epidemic? Why didn't it happen here?

You might think it was the gorgeous fall weather with a kiss from the summer sun. Could be. You might think it was the proximity to the ocean. Maybe. You might think it was just simply getting away for a weekend. Possibly.

I think it was the cast of characters. And not just the ones on our pages. It was a coming together of a diverse group of dedicated women who have made children's book writing/editing their life's work, the relaxed ease of friendship that comes from this commonality which creates a bond among essentially strangers.

When I taught kindergarten, I used to end the school year with the same bulletin board: We started the year as strangers but we ended as the closest of friends. This was true about this weekend.

Photos were taken, hugs were shared, warm words of support were spoken, and the awesome task was understood by all about what it takes to make this dream a reality. And to each of us I raise my proverbial glass and say, To us! To our dreams. To our stories. To our perseverance. I know I will be seeing you on the bookshelves one day! L'Chaim!

Hugs and kisses and wishing you all the best,

Sheri

PS, Please send me your blog/website links. I would love to add an "in attendance" below. This is what I have so far...

Kathy Temean

Laurie Wallmark

Besty Devany

Mimi Cross

Cynthia Iannaccone

Johanna Bilbo Staton

Bettelynn McIlvain

Off to Tom's River

I am very excited. I am off to a writer's workshop weekend at Toms River through NJs SCBWI. My brain is a little scattered right now with all the novels I've been critiquing for peer group. That and I've been up until about 2:00 each night critiquing and preparing. But still, I am very excited.

Toms River is one of the rare occasions where novelists can have 30 pages of their novel read by an editor or agent and sit down to a 45 minute one-on-one! (as opposed to 15 pages for 10 or 15 minutes).

This year Lisa Yoskowitz from Dutton Children's Books and Eve Adler from Henry Holt will be in attendance. I've briefly met them at the June Conference. Both are very approachable and very easy to talk to.

The group attending is very small and our cozy accommodations are in the club house of the Toms River Country Club. I hear it is a very relaxing and education weekend. Have I said how excited I am?

So I am off tomorrow but when I return I will fill you all in on the experience.

Sheri

Split Personality

Woe is the artist… We artists struggle with many things –

• How to make money while pursuing our art?
• How to ignore the household chores so you can write without guilt?
• How to ignore distractions like the telephone, long conversations with a good friend, email, blogging, etc. ?
• Do I exercise now in this spare time or work on my novel?
• Do I write this in present or past tense, in first or third person?
• Is my pacing right, my tone, does my voice sound like a 40-year old or a 12-year old?
• The dog is whining; Do I let him out again, or put him in his crate so he can stop distracting me!

There are A LOT of things that get in our way but did you know that that is because there are two of you?

According to Robert Olen Butler from his book, From Where You Dream; the Process of Writing Fiction, there are two of you; the one you are aware of – the writer-self – and the one you might not be aware of – the nonwriter-self.

The writer-self says, I want to write! The nonwriter-self says, No I don’t. And that is the voice that tells you to do the dishes first, or fold the laundry, or let the dog out, or second-guess your every writer decision, or write this blog article instead of edit pages to send out for submission.

Now that you are aware of this saboteur you can look her right in the eyes and say, “CUT IT OUT! I mean it. I’m serious. I WANT TO WRITE,” and silence her once and for all.

Butler further goes on to say, writing, like all other art forms, must stay a sensual experience. Easier to do for dancers, musician, and artists, but not for writers whose art is words. So how does one create a sensual experience through words? Think of the five ways we experience emotions.

1. Sensual Reactions - be aware of where in the body the emotion is felt and what specifically is felt - a rise or fall in body temperature, heartbeat, muscle tension, neural changes...
2. Sensual Response - be aware of how the sensual reactions are shown on the body - posture, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and so forth.
3. Experience Emotion through flashback - most of the times we are unaware of this because we do it so readily, but think about it... when you get upset about something, often times you get flashbacks of other times in the past you also felt like this. Sometimes it is an object that will bring you back to when you felt this way before. For example, you're angry with your mother because she always forgets to call you on your birthday. You have sensual reactions - maybe you get hot, hear a ringing in your ear. You have a sensual response - you stand with arms folded, foot tapping, shooting icy stares at the phone which never rings. And then you have the Emotional flashback as you stare at the phone - She always does this. Remember that time when I was 9. She said we'd go to Farrel's for dinner and the huge 12 scoop sundae. I waited by that damn olive green phone in the kitchen until the sun and moon switched places in the sky. By the time she got home, I was in bed and her breath smelled of wine and cigarettes once again. [this is just an example... my own mother would never do such a thing =] This flash back is key. It is quick, rooted in the present emotion but tells so much about both characters, triggered by an object in the present tying it to the past.
4. Emotional Flash forward - this is like a flashback but it speaks of the future. It can speak of your characters hopes or fears. Let's take the above example again. Next year I turn 30. Will she forget me again, even then? No! Next year, I am going away on my birthday. Yeah. Just me and Flo. We'll get on that charter bus... no a plane. Yeah, we'll fly out of this one street light town to some tropical heaven where there are no phones and then it won't matter if she forgets because I won't be there to find out. In the flash forward we still learn a lot about our character. We learn about her tiny town, her dreams of leaving it behind, and learn there is a friend she might take with her. But the yearning is still there. She still yearns for her mother to notice her and love her.
5. Sensual Selectivity - Butler says that at every moment we are accosted by sensual cues but when we experience an emotion we only allow a certain number of sensual cues in. What we see is our deepest emotional inner self. Again back to our example... Ugh rain clouds. Of course! Nothing but me and the lonely grey cloud above that follows me everywhere. Outside there are also flowers in bloom, leafy crowns on the trees, birds splashing in puddles but our MC can only see the lonely grey rain cloud because that cloud reflects her feelings, it's how she sees herself, and so she tunes out all the other sensual details and focuses only on the one that represents her emotions.

I recommend adding this one to your bookshelf dedicated to writer How To's. I am on my second reading now. There were some parts that were not so helpful for me. But the parts that were have changed my writing forever.

Now let’s share. What are ways you tell the nonwriter-self within you to PIPE DOWN and let you write?

Emotions in Your Life: Show and Tell; A Lesson From the Master and Emotional Journals

We all hear about showing vs. telling; a common battle we writers must conquer. I know you've heard me talk about it here, several times. If you've not heard about this issue or you're new to my blog or writing, and you do not know what this means let me explain.

This is telling.

Mary was angry.

This is showing.

With clenched jaw, Mary spoke in staccato words, "You will never do that to me again!"

I didn't say Mary was angry in the latter example. I showed it. Which is better? You decide. Which makes you see the scene specifically, feel the emotion, experience the anger in a part of your body like Mary experienced it?

Forgive me for the repetition if I've already given this next example, but it is worth repeating because it was the moment this lesson resonated inside of me. My epiphany.

Eggs by Jerry Spinelli

...Their relationship came to be symbolized by a carrot. She left a fresh one, washed and peeled, next to his peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch each day. She was careful not to hound him about it. Only once did she mention that carrots were good for him, they supply vitamin A, and, as her own mother had told her time and again, they help one to see in the dark. The daily carrot became her last stand - one small, pitiful, final attempt to bond with her grandson. He never took a bite.

Frustrated, she worked up her nerve for a showdown. She said to him at lunch one day, "We used to have such good times together."

He went on munching his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The carrot, as usual, lay untouched on the table.

"David?"

Munching. As if she weren't there.

She went away in tears.

Two days later, out of the blue during lunch, an answer arrived: "You were Nana then."

"She stiffened. She stood in front of him, looking down on the top of his head, the brown hair she once loved to muss. "Then? I still am Nana."

"No."

"No?" Something delicate inside her fell from an edge and shattered. She could not keep the tremble from her voice. "What am I now?"

He did not reply. He got up and left the kitchen. A half-eaten sandwich lay on his plate.

Sticking up out of the bread, like an orange dagger, was the uneaten
carrot.

That, my friends is the best example of show don't tell. The pages I read where a light bulb not only went off, sirens sounded, blood rushed, and I said out loud, "Oh, I get it now!!!!" An aha! moment. We not only understood how David felt, but how the grandmother felt too, "...Something delicate inside her fell from an edge and shattered."

How does Jerry Spinelli do that, get there, show that, create those beautiful moments? I think he avoids using generalizations like,

"Who am I now?"
"The enemy," he said and left the table.

True, those words would sting to hear, say, and read, but how much better the surprise when we SEE that David saw his Nana as an enemy. The dagger stabbed his sandwich. It was powerful. So powerful that I still talk about it and write about it and probably will continue to do so forever.

I wanted to practice this in my own writing and so I created something I call my Emotional Journal. I've written about this before but today, I am going to share a snippet. Of course names are changed. The important thing is not to just retell an event that brought up an emotion in you. The important thing it to force yourself to say more, to show more, to make a reader feel what you felt by discovering in your own body where this emotion lived.

Then when you have to write a passage like this in your stories, you can draw from that. This is certainly not an example of fine, flawless writing. It is a journal, so I a do not edit, spellcheck, or search for the perfect word. It is a warm-up exercise to that days writing for my story. I think about my character and an emotion she might have to feel that day and then I mediate and try to remember when I've felt that way and try to describe it without generalizing.

Today's' entry was on betrayal. This is how I exercise my writer's wings in the morning...

Betrayal

Step One: Brainstorm Instances
Sarah with Jane
Daniel with John
Diana with Chris
Margaret with no one; just not being there for me at a time of need

Step Two: Choose one and briefly explain it
I’m going to take the one with Margaret because it is the most recent. Someone I love had just been diagnosed with Hashimoto Disease. I was trying to tell Margaret about the whole ordeal which had been very terrifying for us. There was a chance, a good chance, it was cancer. All Margaret was interested in doing was telling me her extensive knowledge and experiences with hyper and hypothyroidism. I tried to explain how that had nothing to do with this – an autoimmune disease. She became agitated, competitive. I told her about the treatment. She again questioned my doctors with an in-your-face attitude. She called me combative. I was shocked. I felt this shock behind my eyes, in the front of my brain, trying to right the wrong. I couldn't. My chest felt tight. High up in my chest, I felt tense.

Step Three: Take the instance - which is full of generalizations - and rewrite it from a sensory perspective…
The betrayal hit the back of my eyes first then seeped up to the front of my brain where it searched for a plausible answer. She was accusing me of the very thing she was doing. Combative. I was informative. She was fighting against everything I was saying. High up in my chest, I tensed. This tension moved down my back and I could feel something there crackle and pop. I’ve felt this sensation before – when fighting with Jane. An electricity, like a toxin, travels through my muscles until the muscle’s last bit of healthy flesh crackles and pops, no longer able to fight against the hurt and pain and bitter shock of a loved one turning against you. Blackness seeped from my eyes as my world became dark. If this person is not here for me, who then is?

Like I said, it is not flawless, but the point is, hopefully to be in touch with your senses when you felt that emotion. Where did you feel it? Emotions are felt in your body. Knowing where that feeling lived will help you SHOW it to your reader so they can feel it too.

Give it a try and share your samples in the comment section.

I Won an Award!

I'd like to thank everyone at the academy... Ahem.... Oh sorry - that was a day dream. But I'd like to thank Amy Tate over at the Virginia Scribe for honoring me with this prestigious and beautiful award...

The Superior Scribbler

Isn't it pretty?

I'd like to thank Amy also for her patience because silly, over-taxed me took a long time to noticed I'd won this award. If we lived closer - not separated by a couple eastern states, I think she would have knocked me over the head with it. (And not to worry, Amy - your critique is coming. Really...)

Anyway now I am supposed to post these rules and follow them....

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy buds.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor! (honestly, I have no idea what the heck this means... So I will skip this rule and so can you if you'd like...)
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

And the award goes to...

All of you deserve one but in honor of the rules... the Scribbler goes to;

1. PJ Hoover
2. Casey McCormick
3. Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young
4. Jean Wogaman
5. Rebecca at Rebecca Writes

Congratulations to not only these five writers but to all of us who...

• put faith in our stories even when no one has asked us to write them
• write despite a bad cold or being up into the wee hours of the night with a sick child
• pick ourselves up to write again even after a rejection letter, an unfavorable critique , or you plain feel writing a novel is next to impossible
• write because we simply have no other choice

Happy writing everyone!

Books on the Craft of Writing

We've all read 'em... How to Books on the craft of writing.

I am currently reading Richard Peck's Invitations to the World. I'm kinda-sorta enjoying it. Some chapters are about teaching in a world where kids grow up in families without dads or in families with both parents working, so no adults are ever home. He talks about teaching in a world where the present becomes the past in a nanosecond.

Then, some other chapters are about when he was a kid and the vast difference between then and now; How when he was young, you lived in a community and fathers were home for supper at 5:00 and you learned to negotiate life by living it, not by playing virtual versions of it.

Then other chapters are where he quotes himself from his plethora of novels to show this point or that point about character and voice.

So far, it is not moving and shaking my world. As a speaker, Richard Peck is my hero. He made me laugh. He made me cry. He recieved a standing ovation at this year's NJ SCBWI June Conference. But I am finding it hard to remember what I've read in this book. FOr me, the format does not lend itself well for sticktoitiveness. I like the chapters best where he talks about his past. And I even like parts of the chapters where he talks about today's youth. But I find the chapters where he quotes himself indulgent, if I can be so honest.

So, how about it... What are your absolute most favorite, must reads for writers today? If the world were ending and you were allowed to bring one How to be a Better Writer book with you to our new planet, what one would you bring and what did it teach you?

Summer Goals, Week Two

OK, It's time for weekly goals people! So, hop to it and post them in the comments section. How did this week go? Did you reach your goals or not? If so, bravo, keep up the good work, but if not, why? Let's talk it through and help one another.

Don't be shy? Who's first? OK, I'll go. My week was not so bright and shiny....
Novel Title: OW
Novel Draft: 1.6
Date: 7-20 -09

Goal: 1. To assess exactly how much time I need to complete this novel
2. To set up a schedule for next two weeks while kids are in camp.

a. this week – kids leave at 8:40. I will begin writing at 9 and then stop at 11:45 to pick them up from camp.

b. Absolutely no answering the telephone, making phone calls, checking email, writing email, checking my blog, checking my work email during these hours.

3. Send out next set of pages to my group for review by Monday.

4. Write at least 25 new pages this week – NEW pages, not revising previously written pages.

5. I am giving myself until Sept 20 to finish this novel once and for all. If I am not done by then, I am going to put it aside for a while and begin working on something new.

Actually Accomplished:
NOT MUCH! This was a very bad week. I was in a very low place and I allowed it to effect my work and cloud my judgment.

Downside:
I re-read chapters I thought were well done and hated them. This sent me in a tailspin of doom and gloom – I’ll never be good enough, I’ll never finish, I might as well stop right now and admit defeat, start a new novel, etc. etc. etc.

Upside:
It’s Monday morning and I’m still here, sitting at my desk ready to get to work on my WIP no more whining or bellyaching. Once and for all, just get to it!

UGH!

Did you ever read your lasted WIP and think, "Do over!"

That is exactly how I am feeling right now. I just re-read chapter 13, which I loved last week and thought, "UGH! I want to start over!"

How do I resist this pull? I've been down this road before and always answer its call. I MUST FINISH THIS DRAFT! But right now, I just want to scrap it and start again.... again...

UGH!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I have a book-crush... ... ... OK, for my regular readers, I know it is really no surprise. But I have a book crush on Harry Potter. There! I said it. And I feel so much better getting it out in the open. *Sigh* I just love Harry. He's the true shining example of a hero's journey. He was not born a hero (that is debatable, really). He was made a hero. He disbelieved. He believed. He distrusted. He trusted. He faltered. He succeeded. He tried. He failed. He tried again. He feared. He was brave. He was everyone's best friend - well, at least in the reader's world. Maybe not so much among Slytherins or Death Eaters.

I am so inspired right now I feel like I could run a mile! I saw HP yesterday on opening day and it was (can I sound like a teenager for a minute) TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, to BE JK Rowling! To create something that becomes a thread forever sewn into our societal fabric! To leave your mark and change the world. To create characters that the young and (not so) old want to read about and watch again and again. To create something that fans line up to see for ten years or more. To create the emotive connections between readers and characters so that when the characters in your head are "brought to life" on the silver screen, we viewers feel we know them, miss them, understand what is not said. *Sigh* Oh, to be JK Rowling.

As you all know I, at first, was a reluctant Harry reader. I went in kicking and screaming and dragging my feet and came out head over heals in love with the series, the characters, the world, and most of all with JK. Can I say, I know we are not supposed to have idols but JK - you are my idol!

I left the theater thinking, I want to do that. I want to be like JK. I want to write something that changes the minds of readers forever. I want to create something so vivid, so luring, that you can't look away and you crave more, more, more!

I also realized, I believe the key to such success is you have to have a boy MC. See, girls will read about a girl or boy MC but boys will only read about a boy MC. So, in order to really be able to span across the markets, you need to have a boy MC. This is nothing new and earth shattering for those of us who have been busily pursing publication. We've always known this, perhaps. But I so solidly understood the full scope of it yesterday as I passed scads and scads of movie-goers lined up for the 7:00 show. They were young. They were teens. They were adults.... (BTW, Harry and the Half Blood broke all movie sale records from the midnight showing ALONE!!!!) *Sigh*

I decided I have a lot of work to do! Not only do I have to finish this draft, but I think I need to write, if not an entire version, perhaps key chapters from my other character's POV to beef up my boy element. Also, after I complete this draft, I need to begin thinking beyond this novel into my grander scope, broader arc of the series.

Sometimes, when I see someone like JK Rowling or Walt Disney, who began as an "unknown" and had an idea, a simple concept, and I see how their perseverance paid off, how they used their talents to effect the world in a positive way, I marvel at such people and the good we can accomplish. I think, how, if we are capable of creating such beauty, such awe, such ingenuity, how then, can we not solve starvation, war, pollution? How can we capture the butterflies of love's first kiss and still not be able to live peacefully.

RUN, don't walk! Go see Harry. If I could, I would have walked right out of the 4:20 showing to the end of the long, winding line for the 7:00 showing! It was THAT good.

Now, go! Write! Be inspired! Inspire others! Use your talents for good!

Weekly Summer Writing Goals. Wanna Play???

It's back... Summer Goals. If any of you would like to join in with me to keep each other motivated, inspired, and on-track, please join in in the comments section.

What are Summer Goals? Exactly what it sounds like. Every week you will set your writer's goal for the week. Maybe it's a word count. Maybe a revision. Maybe you need to cut words, etc. Whatever your goal, just state it and then tell us if you were able to accomplish last week's goal, why or why not.

My turn...
Novel Title: OWE
Novel Draft: 1.6
Date: 7-13 -09

What I Accomplished Last Week:
Well, I posted my goals late (via email to fellow Summer Goals Writers) so I knew it was a lot to tackle in a short amount of time and so I am not surprised to admit that I did not reach my goal. I see now though, that my goal will remain my goal probably for many weeks, most likely the rest of July. I did read chapter 12 and saw it was laden with problems and so I began rewriting. I know, I know. I wasn't supposed to do that but it's better now and I feel better about that chapter. I noticed chapter 13 was far too long and so I divided it up into chapter 13 and my now chapter 14. I also really like my new chapter 13. This is where I stopped working due to a very busy and full weekend.

Downside:
Didn’t reach my goal. BLECH! It was really hard to flex my writing muscles after many months away from my novel. It was slow going at first to get in touch with my writing-self. I felt very low and overwhelmed like I will never, never, ever complete this novel. *whine* When life takes you away from your desired goal and you come back to it after months away, the task feels HUGE and unobtainable. I do feel better now and I know if I just keep at it, I will eventually, sooner or later (hopefully sooner) finish my novel. But it is so hard to get back on track after a long hiatus. It truly is like exercising. (Speaking of… yeah, I should begin doing that again too!) *Sigh*

Upside:
Once I did get in touch with the writer-part of myself, it felt very good. And even though I shouldn't have been writing new pages (according to last week's goal), it was good to be writing anyway. I feel chapters 12 and 13 are exciting and move the story forward. It felt so good to write again.

Goal for this week:

• Re-familiarize myself with my outline; add, delete, change accordingly
• Continue to re-familiarize myself with my story by reading current pages from chapter 14 on
• Edit as little as possible (if possible)
• Try to keep chapters to 5 - 6 pages each. Divide chapters where necessary

Art Reflects Life

How many of you have ever heard the Boomtown Rats song, I Don't Like Monday's?

Growing up in the 70s, I recall this song. I can sing almost every lyric, still. Although the song came out when I was twelve in 1979, it was still popular by the time I reached HS. I remember driving to school, listening to WPLJ play this song like a Monday morning anthem. I'd drive with the windows rolled down (when the weather was nice), and sing on the top of my lungs, Tell me why? I don't like Mondays. Tell me why? I don't like Mondays. Tell me why? I don't like Mondays. I want to shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down....

It was also common knowledge, in those days, that the Boomtown Rats wrote that song based on a real life tragedy. Today, when people think of school shootings, their minds jump to Columbine. And, truly, that was a horrible, horrific, unthinkable tragedy. But, sadly school shootings have been happening for many, many decades.

The Boomtown Rats did, in fact, write this song based on a 1979 tragedy that took place on a Monday morning, on January 29. The shooter, Brenda Ann Spencer, was 16-years old. She was given a gun as a present from her father. She lived across the street from an elementary school in San Diego, California and decided it would be "fun" to open fire and shoot the children, teachers, passersby, etc. like a shooting gallery. When she was later questioned she replied, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day." Spencer showed utterly no remorse and even said it was "fun." She killed two men and wounded eight children and a police officer. She currently sits in a California prison where her parole has been denied numerous times. She is up for parole again this year - 2009. At 46, she's practically lived her whole life in prison.

Why do I bring up this unspeakable event? Because, as artists, we hold a responsibility to tell about life and the world we live in, that one day will become history. We can use our gifts to tell about the trials, tribulations, or triumphs of life. The Boomtown Rats were plagued and haunted by Spencer's cold reasoning and it prompted them to write a song that I am positive, if you lived in the 70s (and were not a baby or a toddler) you remember it. They took life and made art.

Look around you. What if you were a child growing up today? What would you think about, worry about, be afraid of, or excited for? It is not the same world we grew up in and yet, somethings never change. Our job, as writers of children's literature, is to reach today's children. They live in a time when we've elected the first black President, whether you voted for him or not. I was born only 13 years after segregation ended! We live now in a time when our economy is frighteningly unstable. When I grew up, the United States had the strongest world economy. Times have changed, time has stood still, and we, the artists, the writers, must capture our time. Re-frame it, structure it, learn from it so we teach from it. We need to tell our story but reach today's children.

Will you be like the Boomtown Rats? Will you take life and turn it into art? What piece of today will you capture in your stories? What lesson do you hope to teach?

Thank you, Kathleen Conners, for inspiring today's posting. It is not one of her favorite songs, but look how thirty years later, we are still discussing the song and the story behind it.

I don't Like Mondays Lyrics
The silicon chip inside her head
Gets switched to overload
And nobody’s gonna go to school today
She’s gonna make them stay at home
And daddy doesn’t understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be show-ow-ow-ow-own?

Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down

The Telex machine is kept so clean
And it types to a waiting world
And mother feels so shocked
Father’s world is rocked
And their thoughts turn to their own little girl
Sweet 16 ain’t that peachy keen
Now that ain’t so neat to admit defeat
They can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reasons do you need?
Oh Oh Oh Oh

Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot
The whole day down, down, down,
shoot it all down

And all the playing's stopped in the playground now
She wants to play with the toys a while
And school's out early and soon we'll be learning
And the lesson today is how to die
And then the bullhorn crackles
And the captain tackles (With the problems of the how's and why's)
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to die, die?
Oh Oh Oh

Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot the whole day down

Agent Panel Discussion from the 2009 NJ SCBWI June Conference

Famous last words... I must be careful sharing with the Universe that I have free time on my hands because then all heck breaks loose and I am overburdened with too much to do.

Last week, I promised you all info from the June conference. Well, better late then never, right??? Here is some info from the agent panel discussion. More to follow. (When that is, I do not know. Bare with me... ... ... ...)

Present:
Jill Corcoran; Associate Agent, Herman Agency
Jenni Ferrari-Adler; Literary Agent, Brick House Literary Agents
Rachel Orr, Literary Agent; Prospect Agency
Scott Treimel; President, Scott Treimel NY
Emily Van Beek; Literary Agent & Rights Director, Pippin Properties
Marietta B. Zacker; Literary Agent, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency

Emily Van Beek – Emily’s agency, Pippin, is a child focused literary agency. Celebrating their 11th birthday in April, they represent everything from PB to YA, writers to illustrators. They currently represent just under 50 writers and illustrators. They represent authors like Kate DiCamillo, Doreen Cronin, David Small, and more. About half of these writers/illustrators began their careers at Pippin. And so Holly McGhee’s original vision for her company has come to fruition; Holly’s vision was one of longevity. For this reason, Pippin LOVES to represent artists who are just beginning their career and so does Emily.

When searching for a company’s name, Holly thought about books that meant the most to her as a child. Their mascot, Zeke Pippin, was gifted to them by William Steig, considered to be the grandfather of their agency. They are a small, but focused agency, dedicated to bringing the finest children’s book authors and illustrators to print today.

Part of the success of Pippin is due to a philosophy shared by all Pippin artists and authors.

• The world owes you nothing. You owe the world your best work.
• Evergreens—we want to create books that will stand the test of time.
• We want to work with people in all media who share our philosophy.

Marietta B. Zacker – Marietta’s number one pet peeve is when people do not even try to pronounce her name. Mad(with a soft R roll)-ee-etta. She works for the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency in South Orange, NJ. They also only represent children’s authors and illustrators. Nancy Gallt founded her agency in 2000. They do not currently have a website. But Casey McCormick has great info and links about Marietta.

Jenni Ferrari-Adler – was founded by Sally Wofford-Girand. Brick House is located in NYC and is considered a “boutique” agency, representing mostly literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. Jenni specializes in representing fiction, food writing, and cookbooks, but recently experienced representing her first middle grade novel – an adventure set in the near future of a dystopic society where three friends unravel a mystery behind life-threatening migraines.

This experience has left, this once foody agent, hungry for more. Jenni is very interested in building her client profile and would love to represent more MG and YA authors.

A graduate from Oberlin College, she was the editor for Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant and has an MFA in fiction. She has also worked as a reader for the Paris Review.

They do not have a website but you can find out about them at here

Rachel Orr – is an agent for Prospect Agency in Brooklyn, NY. Emily Sullivan Kim is the founder. They currently have four agents, Emily Sullivan Kim, Rachel Orr, Becca Stumpf, and Vivian Chum. They represent everything from board books to adult literature, from writers to illustrators. Rachel launched their illustration department and currently reps eleven illustrators.

Jill Corcoran – The Herman Agency, located in NYC, was founded by Ronnie Ann Herman in 1999. They rep around 50 – 60 of the best children’s authors and illustrators.

Jill reps MG and YA and is looking to expand. She views herself as a talent scout and enjoys editing and helping your MS get to that next level.

Scott Treimel – began about 15/16 years ago with his whole career has be focused on children in one way or another. He was at Curtis Brown and Scholastic as an editor. Tired of hearing “NO!” all the time, he crossed over to United Artists, Home and Garden Magazine, and Warner Brothers where he founded their World Wide Publishing. He then worked as a consultant at Harper.

Then in 1995, he began his own agency where he represents everyone from teen authors to illustrators.

All the agents were very approachable and so easy to talk to. You'd be lucky to be rep'd by any one of them.

The following was a Q&A session brought to you by The 2009 SCBWI NJ June Conference Word of the Year

Dystopia n. Dystopic adj.
1. a world in chaos 2. disharmony 3. antonym of utopia 4. a current theme used a lot in today's children's MG and YA novels

The SCBWI NJ June Conference Agent Panel Discussion was sponsored by Vampires and Zombies and any combination of the two. (No vampires or zombies were hurt in the making of this panel discussion. Agents are Equal Opportunity Representatives.)

Q: What are the current trends in submission?

MZ: Vampires! They are done. Or zombies. They are done too. Or Vampire/Zombie mixes. Also done. Also, this is not necessarily a good thing, but I'm also seeing a lot of plot driven stories without character development; that can be done, too.

ST: Lots of “Dystopian” worlds. I don’t feel paranormal has peaked yet, but seeing a lot of that too. Historical fiction is low, can always use more of that. And please, no more stories about bullies, zombies, and yes, vampires!

Q: What do you want more of?

MZ: I want to see more depiction of what’s outside out world – true ethnicity, true representation of our populations. ALL kids need to be represented in books. More authentic ethnicity is needed.

JC: BUT don’t make ethnicity trite or cliché – Chinese New Year’s….

ST: Yes, DON’T make it about one black guy, one white guy, and one Spanish guy go on some adventure together.

MZ: Be true to yourself. Don’t write what you know like what Mr. Peck said (as in Richard Peck, our key note speaker). Look outside yourself.

EVB: Too many divorced or dead parents, or kids in new homes, unpacking boxes when suddenly, all of a sudden… no more of that!

Q: What about sexuality or books about gay teens?

ST: If you’re going to write about a gay MC, dig deep so it’s not just about being gay.

MZ: Gay shouldn’t be the issue. It should be authentic.

EVB: Even cursing, if not authentic, does not work.

JC: YAs do not need to have cursing and sex in order to appeal to the YA market.

Q: Can we re-submit something else after being turned down?

ST: It needs to be as good or better.

EVB: Rarely do you get a second chance so don’t waste a bullet. The world owes you nothing so put your best foot forward. Make sure you really put work in before coming back with an additional submission or re-write of the same MS.

MZ: Yes, and please don’t pretend that we don’t know you. Indicate that you had once submitted before and now you are submitting again. I don’t know why some writers think they can pretend like we don’t know you or won’t remember you. We will. So, just mention it in your query.

(NOTE TO SELF - keep excel spread sheet on who you send what to and what draft the MS was at the time because I would be one of these writers and it wouldn't be because I was pretending. It would be because I FORGOT!!!!)

Q: Do agents want lists of who saw the MS?

JC: Yes. The more we know, the better.

MZ: Trust! Trust us to give us all your information and that we’ll give it to the right editor. If that editor saw it already, we need to know that. And we need to know what draft they saw. Maybe they'd be open to seeing a re-write if they know you've done your revision with us.

ST: Don't forget, we are building your career, so I know this is more to the other question, but don’t just have one MS for us to show. If so-and-so saw this already, let us show them something different. And if everyone keeps telling you the same thing, maybe it’s time for you to re-evaluate your MS.

EVB – Know the agency's list of what they've represented. Know their flavors so you can find an agent that is the right match for you and your MS

ST: Yes, and don’t forget, we are each attuned, maybe, to different editors’ likes and dislikes, so the more you share with us, the better.

Q: If you have an agent who won’t rep one of your MS, is it OK to get a different agent for that MS?

A: (quite in unison) NO!

EVB and ST basically said the same thing: Unless you write children and adult, you would need two different agents for that.

ST: But don’t play the field. Like we said, we are trying to build your career. It could be that we feel that MS is substandard compared to your other MS and we wouldn’t want it to tarnish your reputation as a writer. Again, trust us. If you don't maybe you need a different agent.

Q: What do you love?

MZ: Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot at these things when we tell a room full of writers what we love. Then all of a sudden we are bombarded with MS only about that. Often times, I don’t know what I want until I read it. I want something good.

ST: I have favorites, but I don’t want to be defined by them.

JFA: I love MG dystopic novels with exceptional writing, and rich worlds, great characters. For YA, it’s all about the voice; funny, fresh. In general, I want characters you fall in love with and can't forget.

EVB: My motto is, if I can resist it, I will. So, give me something I can't resist.

RO: It’s like falling in love. Sometimes I read something that is so good, I have to stop because I'm so afraid it’s going to suddenly go bad or I just don't want it to end. I know I love something when I start quoting it to my husband.

Q: How much do you edit before you submit to editors?

RO: I tend to over edit. I do line edits, definitely. I can’t help it. I think because I was an editor first.

EVB: I also was an editor before. When launching we’ll put a lot of work into it to make sure it is just right. The Underneath took two years and eight revisions, but it was worth it.

JFA: I do a lot of editing, too. For me, it’s one of the pleasures of what I do and it’s exciting to see what the writer can come back with as a result. That is so exciting to see what they've come up with as a solution and how much better it is.

ST: Between writing and revising, I’d say revising is the most important. Many times I can articulate what it needs, but the writer just can’t deliver it. Revision is where a true writer shows his/her talent.

MZ: Use your critique groups to revise, revise, revise before sending it to an agent though.

JC: I love to edit. I think because I’m also a writer. When I take on a project, I look at it as if we are critique partners. I edit a lot.

Q: How should we submit to you?

JFA: I am actively searching so email me your query with the first page and visit our website for more information on submission standards.

JC: You can submit the first ten pages. I am looking for WRITERS. I read the pages before the synopsis

ST: Check out our websites for submission policies but when querying an agent, let them know you are an active SCBWI member and send them a polished MS. But also be sure to mention what you are also working on. Try to get an agent first.

THE END!

More to come from the NJ SCBWI June Conference... at some point...

It's That Time of Year Again...

Can you tell by looking at my desk what time of year it is??? It's NJ's annual SCBWI Conference time!!!! Well, it was this past weekend and my desk looks like it! The inside of my brain probably looks like this too, stuffed and messy with so much information!

Highlight #1: OK my number one highlight is really silly but an agent, who I thought seemed super nice, came over to me and said that I had a great smile and that I looked like such a nice, happy person, someone nice to know. I told you it was silly, but it was one of my highlights! Highlights, I tell you.

Highlight #2: was Richard Peck was our keynote speaker!!!! OMG! He was amazing. He was funny and serious and funny and made me cry three times. I was relieved, when in the bathroom later, I heard other ladies say they had cried too. (Note to self - it was not just female hormones... phew!)

He was so approachable too. Later, I walked over to him - wait, let me say that again... I walked over to HIM... OK, so for those of you who might not know... I get star struck around authors, agents, and editors. Usually I am an idiot - my tongue becomes ten times too big for my mouth and all grammar and vocabulary fly out of my brain. I don't know what got into me, but I walked over to him, put out my hand, and said, "Mr. Peck, my name is Sheri Oshins, and I just wanted you to know how moving your speech was. It brought tears to my eyes and I thought, just maybe, you might have done this at least once before." He squeezed my hand and laughed and said, "Maybe once or twice. I am so glad you enjoyed my speech, Sheri." *chills*

Later, when I stood on line for him to sign his books, he remembered me and we chatted a teensy bit more - couldn't hold up the line you know!!!!

Highlight#3 : sitting down with Michelle Poploff, VP of Random house to discuss my WIP. She had some great suggestions and I can't wait to finish this draft so I can begin again - it's like a sickness, isn't it? A word disease!

highlight#4: hanging out with all my writer friends and meeting agents and editors and not being scared to talk to them.

Throughout this week, as I have time, I will be blogging about what I learned so I can share all my knowledge with all of you!

Discussion: If you feel like it - what's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done at a conference in an editor's or agent's presence? I once forgot the title of my WIP. Just a total blank. It was so painful. The published writer next to me said, "Well, if you can't even recall your very own title, that's not a good sign," to which all the editors and agents within earshot laughed. I can laugh now, but at the time... DOH!

My Emotional Journal

I am going to begin a new type of journal to use as a resource in my writing. It will be called my Emotional Journal.

In my Emotional Journal, I will write about my feelings as they are happening so I can catalogue them and then later when my character experiences that emotion, hopefully, it will help me avoid cliches.

Let's take a look at one shall we... how about uneasiness? All weekend, I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had done something wrong, that I had forgotten to do something that others were counting on me to do. It made me remember what it was like to be a young kid or teen when say you got an "F" on a test and the whole walk or bus ride home, your stomach churned with the knowing you were about to get in trouble.

Later this weekend, when I called this friend I thought might be mad at me, I learned she was just busy and couldn't call me back. I felt such a powerful rush of relief, it almost made me cry. I, then, thought of my MC's father and how I can use the entry from my emotional journal to help solidify for readers the worry a parent feels and the release that comes when we know our kids are safe and sound.

My intent for my journal is to just free-write these emotions and situations and to underline all the cliches. For example, in my first emotion above, I wrote about a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. This is so cliche. So, the next part of my journal will be to try to brainstorm ways to write that feeling in a new, fresh way. That's not easy.

Cliches have become cliches because someone once said it the first time. And it was so succinctly stated that it stuck and became a thread in the fabric of our society. We all know what that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach feels like. We've all felt it. How else can that be described without being over described. THIS is what I hope to discover in my journal.

Discussion Topic: Let's give it a try, shall we? How might you describe that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach?