SCBWI Midsouth Conference (Part 2 of 2)

Cheryl Klein - Character Development (BTW she posts all of her talks on her web site.

"Your characters should literally change the world, especially the one you created."

Know the point of your book and who is your reader.

Once you know that - everything should support and not detract from that purpose and readership

Ask yourself "What am I trying to do here?"

ESSENSE OF CHARACTERS

1. Figure out the facts of your character - age, gender, social status, marital status, where do they live.
2. Know their Internal qualities - personality traits, ethics, values, morals, self awareness. Look for qualities that can be contradictory to cause conflict.
3. Create external qualities - appearance, descriptions, how they see the world or other people. If you use first person - know what she sees in others. manner of speaking (mannerisms), set your character apart with a few characteristics (nose tapping, rub hair across lips when they think). Watch people around you.
4. History or backstory - you need to know it even if you don't tell or show it. Only use the things that are relevant to the story. (is if it is a book about competitive nature, tell us her volleyball scores etc). You need to know backstory between characters too. If she has a best friend - how long, why, how are they together.

Every story should have a "tater tot" moment - where something happens to begin the sympathy.

ACTION

1. Desire - what a character wants. create double desire - a conflict between two wants where they have to choose one over the other. which one is more important and what is the consequence of going against the other one.
2. Attitude/Energy - how do they relate to others, life, a situation, death, fights etc. are they an optimist or pessimist? Try journaling as the character to find voice. Must balance + and - energy -For example: the pessimist girl who is funny. The optimist who is annoying. Create a story conversation - a) what is said, b) what is unsaid, c) what can't be said.
3. Action - Desire plus attitude. if a character has a desire there must be follow through that is relevant to book. plunk character down in different situations in your mind to decide what they would DO in that situation. Lack of action from a protagonist is one of the top 10 reason why she rejects manuscripts. either its impossible to accomplish or she wont do anything. There must be a reason for inaction.

You must increase the "action quotient" - the reader must see things happen. 1) character can act out against something 2) add in desire where she can take action. (lisa yee does a good job)

3 questions to answer:
1) what keeps him alive?
2) what is his pain?
3) what is his name?

Every character is a hero in their own story.

Secondary characters must not be over played. They must be relevant to the story and plot. If there is not a need - don't use them.

most important elements are - honesty (must be honest with what happens) and time (must be the proper pacing)

let characters words and actions speak for themselves. Try not to stop them. Wind your characters up and let them go. You are not your characters' mother. You are their observer. Allow them to make mistakes and suffer the appropriate consequence.

Cheryl loves characters that make mistakes and show pain.

Activity - character outlines

• boy or girl
• Male of female
• age
• what is the family like?
• where do they live?
• what is their name?
• what are the internal qualities? external?
• what keeps him alive?
• How are they emotionally interesting?
• what is their pain?
• what do they want?
• what is their attitude?

6 strategies

1. make characters new
2. give character a cause
3. take action and show energy
4. put them in anticipated pain
5. surround with unlikeable characters
6. be able to feel with and kill your character at any moment. don't get too attached so that you hold them back.

Caroline Cooney - write at full speed

writing activity - write without thinking.

• use pen and paper - not computer. because you always have 10 minutes somewhere
• fill out the character outline above....
• write a line about setting
• write a sentence about character
• bring in another character
• bring in conflict
• change their location
• what do they see?
• write first sentence to 2nd chapter.

writing tips

• Everyone can write a page a day
• next day - reread what you wrote
• write while you are in car waiting
• answer who, what , where , when and why at everything to dig deeper into story
• every sentence should give you another one

It was fabulous!

Marvelous Marketer: Jill Santopolo (Executive Editor, Philomel Books)

Hi Jill, Thanks for joining us today.

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I'm a newly-minted executive editor at Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group. Before I came to Penguin, I worked at HarperCollins for seven years, starting as an editorial assistant at Laura Geringer Books and working my way up to a senior editor there. I held the same position for a year at Balzer + Bray after Laura Geringer left the company.

I'm also a writer and a writing teacher. My books The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure and The Ransom Note Blues were published by Scholastic, and I teach a children's novel writing class twice a year through Mediabistro. I have an undergraduate degree in English Lit from Columbia and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. I also have a certificate in Intellectual Property Law from NYU, but only really use the info I learned there when I'm talking to in-house lawyers about contracts.


As an author and editor, what do you think are the top 3 things every author should and must do to promote their book?

1. I think all authors should have a website that they update as often as they can with new content to keep readers invested (I'm not particularly good at this, but I try).

2. I think all authors should try to coordinate appearances where they get to meet their readers face-to-face. I think middle grade writers especially should try to book as many school visits as possible.

3. I think all authors should do something special for the launch of each book they write--a big launch party in their home town, a contest online, a blog tour--basically anything that drums up excitement for the publication of the title.


How important is technology to an author’s marketing plan?

I think technology is especially important for authors writing for teens. It's a good way to get the word out to teachers and librarians about books for younger kids, but with books for teens, it's a way to get your book in front of the eyes of your target audience and allow them to connect with other fans to form a community around a certain book or a certain author.


As an author, did you think about marketing before your book was published? Did you start prior to getting an agent or selling your book? If so, when and what did you do?

I didn't start thinking about marketing prior to getting an agent or selling my book, but I did start prior to publication. I made a website, organized a publication party at a local independent bookstore along with my publisher, and organized an online blog tour/contest (also along with my publisher). I created tote bags with my book jacket on it to give out at the book launch and as part of the blog tour/contest, and I used my contacts in the educational world to arrange for school visits. I probably should have done more with stock signings at book stores, but I dropped the ball a bit on that one.


How do you feel about group promotion? Is it effective?

I do think it's beneficial for authors to team up and promote as a group. First, I think it's always good to pool brain power. One person may come up with an idea that another person would never have thought of and vice versa. With more people working together there will likely be more out-of-the-box, interesting ways to promote titles. Also, if a reader likes one particular author, he or she may show up for an event to see that person and then will be able to learn about other authors and other books and enjoy reading them too. I see group promotion as a way to merge fan bases and merge ideas so that all authors benefit and can expand their readership.


When evaluating whether to take on an author or book, do you ever google them to see if they already have a web presence or platform?

I usually don't Google an author unless the agent makes a mention in a pitch that the author is part of such-and-such blog or so-and-so website--or if the agent says that the author is already published. In both those cases I check out the blog or website mentioned or look to see what the author has done online for previously published books. I probably should Google everyone, though. I bet it would give me insight into authors' brains a bit.


What other advice do you have for authors/writers regarding marketing?

My biggest piece of advice is that as the author, you will be your book's biggest champion. Your agent and your editor and your publishing house will do the best they can because they want your book to succeed too, but the more you can do the better. One caveat: make sure to run everything by the publicist your publishing house assigns to your book, because you don't want to step on anyone's toes or make any enemies. But once you have a good relationship going, and you know what it's okay to do on your own, go for it! Your book is your baby, so do what you can to get the word out.

And finally, everyone wants to know, what are you looking for? What are you interested in?

I'm looking for good books for middle grade girl readers. I'd love a contemporary, realistic, commercial series or two that focus on a core group of friends--something that would be today's equivalent of The Babysitters Club. I love well-plotted mysteries and kick-butt female protagonists. I'm also looking for standalone literary novels with a strong concept and strong character. But mostly all middle grade and all for girls.

Thank you for taking time out to answer these questions for us!


Thanks Shellli!

SCBWI Midsouth Conference (Part 1 of 2)

This weekend, I am at the Midsouth conference. It is amazing as most conferences are. Here are some of the things I took away from today:

Caroline Cooney - tips on writing character and great stories

• character has to be sympathetic
• characters without friends - know that emotion takes over the plot line
• adults have the habit of taking over action
• must make the logical thing illogical to do
• if you have a conflict - you must know what emotion it is attached to
• every conflict you create takes away from something - be sure it does not take away from main plot line
• If you are stalled - visualize a scene as if on stage as a film director - what do you see, where are you, who is with you
• stay alert to ideas around you and how you can transform the into books
• names matter - cannot have similar names
• action story - needs to have a deadline in the story
• speed counts - learn to write fast
• first draft are always bad
• 3rd person is always better than 3rd person and present tense
• you can do anything for 15 minutes - force yourself to to write, set a time, take paper and pen with you so you utilize every minute. don't wait to get in front of your computer
• books are like pottery - some come out misshaped, some cracked, luckily with books, you can always reshape them

Chris Richman (Upstart Crow Agency) - the agent relationship

A great agent:

• shares your writing
• are the gateway to editors - trust yours will do the right thing
• control the money - editors pay agents who take their royalty and then pay you
• should beleve in your work wholeheartedly
• looks for more than just a sale, looks at your career, writing style
• keeps in contact and keeps you up to date
• know trends
• knows what editors are looking for
• buffer between writer and editor - good news comes from author, bad news comes from agent
• tries to sell your work
• should not charge a reading fee
  

Some agents don't like to tell writers where they are subbing until the book is out. they know the editors and have built relationships. If you take on an agent, you need to trust they are on same page as you and are doing the right thing

ask your agent...

• what is your percentage?
• do you revise? if so how much? what about for this book?
• how many clients do you have?
• Can you speak to any of their clients?
• what genres do you rep?
• who will you sub to?
• where do you see my career?

The original excitement can wane. If things go bad, talk it out first. give your agent a chance to improve before you dump them.

Q&A

• you do not want more than one agent unless you need one for a different genre outside children's.
• when i revise, i need to get the book to a point where I think it will sell. that does not necessarily mean perfect
• some agents are becoming more promotional b/c money for marketing is dwindling

Tomorrow I will post some key takeways from the amazing Cheryl Klien and Caroline Cooney's writing activity.

Friday's Marketing Round up 9/25)

Book update
I have finished my last big round of edits for Alyssa. I must say she and Lyuba have bettered my book by at least 200%. Sometimes you don't realize how much more your book can improve until someone pushes you. One great thing about an agent. They are kinda like a personal trainer. Just when you are about to call it a day - they make you do another set that burns but shows results. (good analogy right!) They both have been amazing in helping me flush out the right things and I feel really good about the end result. I am currently waiting on some line edits which should be here this weekend and I plan to turn them around. We hope to go to sub the first or second week of Oct! Wish me luck!

Marketing Favs!
I am doing this today because I am heading to Midsouth tomorrow to speak on Marketing, hang out with my writer buds, and meet a great faculty team including Chris Richman (Upstart Crow), Cheryl Klien (Scholastic), Kaylan Adair (Candlewick) and more!

Here are my marketing favs for the week:

Questions about Book Trailers - Writer and Chicago Film maker, Daniel Kraus, discusses Book Trailers with Cynsations Cynthia Leitich Smith

Google Book Promotion - 5 EZ Ways - Here are five things Google offers that you should consider using to connect with readers and promote your books.

Self publishing isn't for everyone - The traditional media loves a good Cinderella story and, lately, so do folks who spread the gospel online of self-publishing.

How book publicist can be trust agents? Getting mainstream coverage is more and more difficult. Budgets are tight. What’s a book publicist to do?

Tools of Change online conference - Join us on October 8th for this half-day online conference to explore the state of the art of electronic publishing. This single track and interactive event will dive deep into three areas of innovation and opportunity.

Guide to understanding replies, mentions and Direct messages on Twitter - The goal of this piece is to help well-meaning people from inadvertently annoying others on Twitter, or worse, accidentally sharing private information publicly.

Have a great weekend!