SCBWI Carolinas - A pictorial essay

I'mmmmmmm back.

I know you all have been soooooo worried and lonely without me.

Sorry I was out of pocket.

I was on faculty at SCBWI Carolinas this past weekend. (BTW we are missing Laurent Linn and Elizabeth Dulemba in this pic :( Bummer) It was AWESOME! I had to drop off the blog b/c I had 2 presentations and I had to work on them last week. Hopefully they went well. (If it didn't, DON'T Tell me. If it did, toot my horn all you like!)

BTW - you should be following all of these people's blogs and twitters because they are great resources. I know because I heard them all talk.

I love going to conferences and finding those little nuggets that stick with you esp. when you don't realize it at the time. I love flipping back though notes until you find the ones that grab you - kinda like shopping on the racks at TJMAX for the perfect shirt. You go through a lot of basic everyday stuff, but when you find something - its totally fabulous.

Here are a few that touched me so maybe they will help you:

Alvina Ling (Sr. editor at Little Brown) talked about the difference between Literary vs Commercial. She said, "The difference between commercial and literary is language. We look for the sweet spot in the middle. If you get feedback you are 'too commercial' -it probably means you need work on your language and writing style. If you get feedback that you are 'too literary' - go back and focus on your pacing/plotting." She said you should assess - really scrutinize - every word and look for an even better alternative. Alvina also encouraged writers to query the more junior agents/editors b/c they are more willing to take you on and work with you on your book.

I must admit - I was a little scared (petrified) to meet Alvina. I know fro following her blog and twitter that she's brilliant and also has a list of amazing clients. I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep up with her. That she'd be so much smarter than me, it'd be like talking to a 6 year old for her. Ok - so how funny and cute is she? Not only does she love Karaoke (we even broke out into song a few times at the same time, singing the same song) but she also loves food - eating it AND taking pictures of it. You think I'm kidding? Here's a hot of her taking a picture of my delicious chocolate cake. And I had to wait until she was done to eat it!

She's also hilarious and so sweet and thoughtful. Oh yeah and she says "NEBULOUS" a lot. She even joked about it being a new drinking game.

Alan Gratz (author of new book Fantasy Baseball)
talked about Pacing and Plotting. He suggested dividing your book into 3 acts with the middle act being the largest (like 50% of your book). He said "You should always have 2 overarching plots in the book - the external (conquering something outside the character) and internal (growth)."

Alan rocks and is hilarious. One of those naturally funny people. He's smart and everything he says is interesting (well almost :) I loved hanging out with him and learning from him. Sharing tidbits we've learned along the way. I'm bummed he's not still living in
Atlanta b/c I think we could be great friends.

OH yeah and he has a new book coming out that is brilliant. Knowing him, it's probably funny too. Liz is his editor on it and she's as excited about it as he is. Its called FANTASY BASEBALL where a boy plays baseball with characters from literature. It's an adorable book for MG that comes out in March 2011 - so look for it!

Liz Waniewski (editor at Dial) talked about some trends she's seeing in submissions that she thinks are a bit oversaturated. PB - bedtime, monsters, going green, grandparents, love you books, boredom, first day school, and baby bird books. For novels - new kid at new school, popular vs outcast, high fantasy, divorce, sulky teen, ordinary kid discovers powers, paranormal.

Liz is adorable and sassy. She loves sports (esp softball) and fantasy, and sci fi. She is the editor on Incarceron, Lady Bug Girl, as well as several of Alan's books. Its amazing how fun and real editors are b/c we (or is it just me?) tend to see them as old fogies sitting in their offices, slashing through books, laughing in an evil way, while reading War and Peace over and over. Liz is so sweet and a brilliant editor. Not only that but I think if I was in NYC - we'd be buddies (right Liz, tell me we would! If not - just pretend and nod.) b/c we laughed a lot and talked about books - debating and discussing - over an entire dinner. So fun. Alan is very lucky.

Chris Richman (Upstart agent) talked about agent relationships. "If you have an agent (or an editor) that takes on you and your work. Know they really have to love it b/c we have to read the book at least 10 times so we better love it." He gets about 500 queries a week. In almost 2 years - Chris only has 10 clients so he has to connect with each book in a special way.

Now, this is the second or third time I've been on faculty with Chris and he cracks me up. The guys is so down to earth and funny. You should definitely query him b/c he has a heart of gold and seems to know this biz very well. he could list off all 13 imprints at Penguin! That's impressive. Oh yeah and his name is RichMAN not Richmond. That seems to be very important to his family so be sure to get it right when you query him. :) He loves board games - scrabble, balderdash - as well as sports. His cuff links are even scrabble letters. Though I'm not sure if they are worth triple or not.

Elizabeth Dulemba on Picture Books - I don't have any nuggets from Elizabeth's talk because we spoke at the same time. But she's always full of them. Elizabeth Dulemba is one of my favorite people who I never get to see enough of even though she lives in Atlanta. We went to high school together. But even though she was a little older and much cooler - she never holds that against me :) The special thing about Elizabeth is she is always looking out for other people. I even heard her pitching someone else's book to an editor b/c she thought the editor would like it. Seriously! She is so sweet and I'm lucky to have her as a friend.

Laurent Linn Art Director at S&S spoke about art illustrations (bummer I did not get a picture of him :( He's funny and brilliant and also worked on the Muppets, which was fascinating to me.

I love finding the nuggets at conferences

I was lucky enough to get to hang out with all these cool people b/c I was on faculty talking about Author marketing and Branding. I was also pleasantly surprised to have a standing room session with about 50-60 people. So thanks to all the Carolina attendees that took time out to listen to me. It makes me happy knowing I might be helping authors get on their way to promoting themselves and their books.

Somewhere along the way, I met Megan Miranda (author of Fracture - 2012 and repped by the amazing and brilliant Sarah Davies at Greenhouse who also happens to be one of my top 10 recommended agents and people to know) Megan just sold a 2 book deal to Bloomsbury/Walker in June. YAY Megan! You know how you meet someone and you just click? Like you've known them forever. That was Megan. We hung out the rest of the conference and laughed a lot. She's adorable and her book sounds amazing. So look for it Winter 2010. (This is the only pic I had of the two of us us but she doesnt like this pic - I think its so cute of her.)

FRACTURE, in which a girl survives a fall through the ice into a Maine lake and subsequent brain injury, only to discover that she now has a strange and frightening affinity with the dying.

Beth Revis (author of Across The Universe, Jan 2011)
I must say I was a tad nervous/excited to meet Beth. I've known her online for a couple years and we have been routing each other on this journey from the sidelines. At that time, neither of us was even agented and we both only had a few followers. She is also a fellow Bookanista and an occasional email cheerleader to me when I need a pep talk. We met for drinks Sat evening. She had been out of town at a Book show and was sweet enough to come by the hotel to meet me before embarking on a 2 hour drive home. Megan joined (crashed!:) our party and the three of us giggled for about 2 1/2 hours. Beth is just like she is online. Sweet, funny and so deserving of everything she is getting. I truly adore her (now - even more) and am so glad we got a chance to hang out. Not to mention, she gave me an ARC (which is AMAZING BTW!!!!!) of her book, Across the Universe, Jan 2011. Not that I'm bragging or anything :)

And last not certainly not least - Carrie Ryan, author of Forest of Hand and teeth.
Yes you heard me right. The CARRIE RYAN! I had lunch with Megan and Carrie on Sunday at a delish Mexican place before I left. I met Carrie over breakfast a few weeks ago at the Decatur Book Festival. After chatting some, she gave me her card and phone number. Said she'd love to meet me when I come to Charlotte. She too just flew into town - having finished the SmartChicks tour - and got in late Sat night. Let me just say - I have a BIG author crush on Carrie. I love her books, but more importantly - I love her writing. So this last week - when we were texting about meeting up - I was all giddy and jumping around my house. Drove my hubby crazy! Needless to say I was so nervous - ME meeting Carrie Ryan for lunch - WHAT????!! This world is crazy. I dragged Megan (like it was sooooo hard to convince her :) along with me so I didn't look like a total dork. Carrie is so funny and sweet and down to earth. We laughed, shared stories and tips for over 3 hours! I finally had to go b/c I had a 4 hour drive back to Atlanta in the rain. But I'm convinced the 3 of us would have sat there all night if I lived close by - chatting and laughing. I am so glad I met Carrie and got to know her better - again the instant click. (I hope she felt it too :) (Watch, she probably thinks I am a dork and I just don't know it yet :)

What a weekend right?

So try to go to conference, you NEVER know who you will meet or what will happen that can make it all worth while.

For me - I've listed at least 9 reasons here alone.

Decatur Book festival recap

NEWSFLASH

Since I've started to get more requests, my marketing biz is focusing more author client for swag and promotion. So if you need any buttons, posters, flyers, postcards, bookmarks, tshirts, twitter/blogger backgrounds, or custom web site designs that you can manage - keep me in mind. I can also help come up with book campaigns, other giveaways, and teaser lines you can use on the road. Some of this can be for published AND prepublished authors. I give 20% off to SCBWI members. You can get more information at my web site. Also if you need fabulous book trailers, my friend Vania rocks!

Decatur Book Fest

Had the best weekend.

Not only was most of it spent with my family. But on Saturday, I spent the whole day in Decatur amongst writer friends, gorge weather, and frawesome panels.

Hung out with Jennifer Jabaley (Lipstick Apology), book trailer guru, Vania, Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall, DemonGlass), Myra McEntire (Hourglass, 2011, Egmont), Victoria Schwab (The Near Witch, Hyperion 2011) and Michelle Hodkin (THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, S&S 2011).

Some authors I got a chance to chill with were Carrie Ryan (yes you heard that right! Holy crap right and she was a sweetie pie ) and the always-hilarious, Jackson Pearce.

Panel - Chicken Nuggets of Brilliance

Romantic Realism, Realistic Romance with Terra Elan McVoy (author of Pure and After the Kiss) and David Leviathan (co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson)

• The mechanics of romance is not what grabs teens. Its the emotional romance.
• Think about what makes it real. Love is not perfect so when a love scene is - its boring
• The awkward moments are where the realness lies.
• Sometimes romance is impacted by the surroundings and what is happening
• Pull from real life - but ask what if to change the scenarios. What if I hadn't had my first kiss. What if my first kiss was good? bad?
• Romance i funny not serious. Funny moments are always buried under the glistening eyes and puffy lips.

Creating a Fantastical World with Jessica Verday (The Hollow), Kathleen Duey (Skin Hunger), Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer), Cinda Williams Chima (The Exiled Queen)

• Make the world believable so when you introduce the unbelievable, the reader buys into it.
• If you are writing fantasy - read historical books to learn about essentials like communities, plagues, sickness, government etc
• You can create a fictional town in a real world to make it your own.You can create bible for made up worlds.
• University of Idaho is a great resource for research.
  
• Don't invent characters, interview them.
• Setting should be from characters POV. If they are in their house - they would not describe their sofa unless they tripped over it. Do not describe things that the character knows only do what the reader cannot assume.

Zombies vs Vampires Smackdown with Alyx Harvey (Blood Feud) and Carrie Ryan (Forest of Hands & Teeth)

• Writers take too much time away from writing. get away from the Internet and be sure you are writing on your book a little everyday.
• Carrie Ryan wrote every night when she got home from practicing law and read the chapters to her husband
• Both authors wanted strong characters that could take care of themselves.
• Both always think their books are not good when they are writing it.
• When you get stuck - ask yourself "What is the very worst that can happen" and do it.
• In moments of tension you can either blow something up or kiss.
• It is important in a series to have character arcs in each book as well as an overarching series arc that connects it all together.
  

Real Issues in an unreal world with Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall books) and Nancy Werlin (ExtraOrdinary)

• Kids face same issues. The paranormal aspects highlights the strangeness that adolescents feel on a daily basis.
• Paranormal is so hot b/c kids want to escape. Or they want to feel special.
• Hope the move is towards funnier paranormal but paranormal will always be hot. Yet there will always be another trend.

After the panels, I went to dinner with Myra, Rachel, Victoria, Michelle, Vania and some other girls. We ate, had a beer and laughed.

The things I love most about these kinds of events are:

• the energy you get from other writers
• how close each of us really is to being the next big book (yet it seems so far)
• the little nuggets of brilliance I always seem to find
• getting to know the authors and listening to their journeys as well as their struggles along the way
• talking about my writing and reading passion with people who get it
  
• realizing - once again - I am not alone in this crazy publishing world
• creating everlasting bonds and friendships
• expanding my support system
• buying other authors books, knowing I am supporting their dream
  

And still - I am always amazed at how I feel I know people just from meeting them online. I know this weekend, I've met a lifetime of friends in just one day.

Any of these nuggets grab you the most?

2010 SCBWI New York Notes from across the Net

Hi guys.

I've been perusing and reading some great notes from the NYC conference. I thought I would lists out a summary of what I have found. Some of this is on the SCBWI Team Blog, but a lot of these I found on Twitter/ random blogs.

Jane Yolen

Write Up My Life

Berrie Green


Libba Bray

Beware of the Hot Pterodactyl

Story Makers

Libba Bray on Writing

Writing as an Extreme Sport

Libba Bray on Writing as a Sport


Jim Benton - Illustrator

Compulsive Creator


Viral Marketing/Promotion - Jennifer Bailey, Blogger & Graphic Designer

Jenn Bailey on Promotion

Viral Marketing


TV and New Media - Eddie Gamarra Agent, The Gotham Group

Your book as a Movie


Picture Books - Allyn Johnston, Vice President & Publisher, Beach Lane Books

Real Deal about Picture Books


Writing Fantasy - Arianne Lewin Editor, Disney/Hyperion

Writing Fantasy

Arianne Lewin on Fantasy


Literary Novels - Alvina Ling Senior Editor, Little Brown

SCBWI Aving Ling


Visual StoryTelling - Laurent Linn Art Director, S&S Books for Young Readers

SCBWI Laurent Linn


NonFiction - Brenda Murray Editor, Scholastic

Brenda on NonFiction


Contracts - Edward Necarsulmer Agent, McIntosh and Otis

Exciting world of Contracts


Writing For teens - Ben Schrank Publisher, Razorbill

Writing for Teens

Ben Schrank on writing


Series Fiction - Francesco Sedita, VP & Publisher, Grosset & Dunlap


Miscellaneous sessions: Intensives, Q&A Panel, Signings

Post intensives and Q&A

Networking NIght

Conference summary

Autograph Party

Agents on the Market


Other sessions

Sheldon Fogelman Agency

What's selling



General Round UPs

SCBWI Blog

Winter Conference

NYC SCBWI

Round UP

SCBWI Conference 2010

Conference High Points

Surviving NYC Weekend

Publishing tips from NYC

Conference Wisdom

Summary:
Part 1 - Friday
Part 2 - Saturday
Part 3 - Saturday
Part 4 - Sunday


Hope this helps!

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!

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.

What I learned in LA (outside of the amazing knowledge I have already shared)

• Friends you have met online are just as important to you as your friends in person. They know you so well. (heartfelt shout out to Kim, Katie, Lindsay, and SF Hardy)

• I love blogger buddies, they are even cooler in person. (shout out to Sherri, Lisa S, Christy, Elizabeth, Jess, Heather, Amanda, Suzanne, Jay, Shana, Jolie, Cindy P, Tammy Sauer, Cynthea Liu, LK)

• New friends that you connect to in a special way, that laugh at the same things you do, and that you will never forget are hard to find but when you find them, you know they are forever (shout out to Stephanie, Tyler, Bill, Graehm, and Paul)
  

• Agent and editors are people too. They can be cool if you let them. (special shout out to Marietta and Sarah!)

• I am a writer at heart. Always have and always will be.
  

• I will go to LA as much as I can. It is so worth it. IN more ways than I can possibly put into words. To be in a room full of book worms is very rewarding and now I know - I am not weird! Ok wait. I am weird so I guess I learned - you all are weird too!

• I have a short - no very short - attention span.

• My butt flattened from sitting in those chairs. I swear it is about an inch wider.

• Never wear your heels to the food court - one word - blisters. price you pay for looking good!

• SF Hardy takes good notes so I dont have to. Hope she lets me copy hers ;)

• Sometimes you learn more in the lobby than in the classrooms.

• Egmont's profits go to children's charities. They are technically a not-for-profit publisher.
  

• SCBWI rocks!

• I am inspired to write more.

• It is possible to sell a book and get published all within 6 months! (believe it! t happened per Wendy Loggia)

• Alot of writers are funny!

• The boys bathroom is a whole different universe that us girls will NEVER understand. nor would we want to (which of course would only be for a boy book research)

Pure brilliance!

SCBWI LA - Day 3

Today was a fun day! duh! I'll post pictures next week b/c Ive been using Katie's camera :)

I skipped the first session for a quiet coffee and laughs with Lindsay leavitt and Lisa Schroeder. I haven't changed. I do not feel cool unless I skip something. It's leftover from my school days. It makes me fee like a rebel! :)

Highlights:
1) I tripped in front of 921 people and screamed in a large room. This is not very surprising if you knew me.
2) I saw a man try to hand a manuscript to an agent. when she would not take it - he opened her laptop and put it inside.
3) after an editor said, " I do not take zombie books or board books" a guy asked this question: "Do you take zombie board books?" do we not get rejected enough that we have to ask for a double rejection?
4) someone saying to me - You look so cute in your blog picture (what not in person? :()
5) someone saying to me - your funny in person (what not on my blog?)


Holly Black - Fantasy

• Only a small combination of fear and awe separates fantasy and horror
• get the concrete stuff down - the real stuff must be real even though the fantastical elements surround it
• know your world - think about rules, system, formal policies vs informals, how does your world work. are their laws?
• World building - fantasy can resemble historical fiction b/c you have to convince readers must go to a place they have never been or where they can never go back, they feel like they've been there.
• Two types of logic - day logic - there are rules and everything is the same. You get the same results, it is a science; night logic - rules are unpredictable. you must know your rules.
• Two types of magic - closed magic is magic that is hidden (harry potter - real world doe snot know about wizard world); open magic - it is a part of life (Trueblood - everyone knows about vampires.)
• Fantasy has two story archs - fantastical and human. Human stories starts earlier and ends later than the fantastical story.

Elizabeth Law - Egmont

• Don't be afraid to talk to editors and agents
• Follow your strengths when you write - not the market or what you WANT to write. If you are good a PBs then don't do historical fiction o

Egmont

• 100 years in UK with no american branch
• new - the next Bloomsbury and Candlewick
• non profit publishing house - all profits go back into business and children's charities. (unique set up)
• children's book industry is stable and growing.
• competition among writers is tiff - alot of great writers out there
• use books as inspiration not a formula that you copy
• know why your book can sell and what the pitch is
• book scan - shows how book did in $
  

5 Tips

1. Social networking - publishers interested in social networking to reach readers. Get online and start your platform now. However, if you are not writing, you are online too much.
2. Voice - Voice is not enough in a story. You must HAVE a story.
3. Strengths - better to do what you do well than what you THINK you do well
4. Take control of career. It is ok to follow up with submissions after reasonable amount of time. usually 3 months.
   
5. don't complain - especially online. If i see something negative about someone, I wont take it

Goofs

1. don't write to trends. write what you are passionate about
2. dont change the age of your character to fit the market.
3. don't be afraid to talk to your agent.
4. take control of career

E.B. White quote: I wake up with the desire to improve the world or enjoy the world, this makes it hard to plan my day.

Richard Peck - Golden kite lunch

Sat next to Marietta from Nancy Galt agency. She was hilarious. I highly recommend her as an agent. down to earth and passionate. she is looking for all kids books especially if they have passion.

• Don't be afraid to take risks, we can not be fired, we are already unemployed.
• Kids create their own secret worlds the minute parents turn their backs, why not give them books.
• stories are roadmaps to show the illiterates out of town
• we are getting older, but somehow our readers stay the same age.
• all stories turn on an epiphany - when everything changes and you know you can't go back.
• You wonder if there is a boy down the hole if you can safe him. Can the story help? That is what we do, that is who we are.

Frank Portman - King Dork
(panel with his agent Steven Malk and editor Krista Marino/RH)

• He was a musician.
• Steven Malk heard him play and thought his songs were funny.
• His song titles include: Even Hitler has a girlfriend, King Dork etc
• Steven approached him about writing a book and invited Krista to hear him play.
• he wrote 30 pages of king dork and Steven sold it to Random House
• he is brilliant at marketing.
• Humiliation is key in promotion
• use all your contacts
• build relationships
• market your own books/be creative
• figure out who would like your work
• always be nice, friendly and approachable

Main points:

• take from everywhere in your life
• read a ton of books
• market your books hard
• find editor that gets you and your voice - they need to love it.
• put in time and beat the streets
• blog!!!
• use your connections
• remember the process is collaborative - don't be afraid to revise

Since this is the last night, we all went to dinner. me and katie, SF Hardy, Kimberly, Paul, Bill Cochran, Tyler, and Stephanie - great asian place with waterfalls.

hung outside and laughed until about 10:30 our time.

I leave tomorrow at 2pm for airport.

PS this conference is worth the money - if not for the classes and energy. But for the networking and meeting people.

PSS I met two editors who want to see my work when it goes on sub! yay!

Day in LA - Day 2

Today seemed like a longer day.

I think it was because I was not focused on my book so much.

Started out with a coffee meeting with Southern Breeze Region - shout out to Donna and Jo! :)

Met Sherry (Write it out) and Katie for breakfast.

First session was Karen Cushman -

Nuggets of Brilliance:
"I wrote because I couldn't dance."
* To focus on your writing, you need to:
* You have to show up - take time to fantasize, give power to your thoughts. Be present everyday.
* Pay attention - look around, stuff yourselves with sounds, words, images, conversations. Focus on what you love or hate - those bring out the deepest emotions and you get an honest reaction. Read blogs, interviews, books to learn about the market
* You must tell the truth - look for facts, do your research to add believability
make people connect through the realness of your book

Break out with Ari Lewin (Hyperion) - Acquisition process
1) read submissions. Agented only.
2) Take work to Editorial Board - everyone in department. She pitches book. Discuss book. what awards can they potentially get. what is the audience. what is the hook? when is best to put it out - what can we tie book promotion to (dates, events time of year etc).
3) Goes to Acquisitions - includes all publishers, sales, marketing and publicity. They can make or break a sale, especially in this economy. Goes in with flap copy to pitch. At this point, she does not yet call agent b/c she does not want to tip them off to any possible offer. They do not like auction situations. Fill out acquisitions form - what is the sell sentence.
4) Money - how many will sell. advance is based on that. Don't want advance too high so author can earn out advance.
5) Gives offer to agent - negotiates terms
6) sometimes takes right on, sometimes I do a noncontractual agreement which states what I think needs to be done to book for me to acquire it. If author agrees, they work on revisions with hope I will like it in the end.
7)Contract Request Form. Fill in for contract that has been accepted. Fill in subrights, rights, Lewin only gets 1 out of 7 manuscripts for various reason.

Earn out formula- retail price X royalty X # copies

Fyi on top contract clauses:
Look for option clause, high discount royalties, foreign rights, audio rights, Out of print clause.

Blogger buddies here is who I have met so far:
heather Hanson
Amanda Morgan
Cindy Pon
Cynthea Liu
Tammy sauer
LK Madigan
Lisa Shroeder
Shana Silverman
kathleen duey
Bill cochran
Christy Raeke
Jill Corogan
Suzanne Young
jess Jordon (finally :)
Sherry Peterson

Anica Rissci - Simon Pulse/Krista Marino (Delacorte) - Teen trends

*long series going away - buy very view open series; usually focus on trilogy, 2 books, quartets
* teens follow authors today, not series
* teens like reality-based but in fantastical ways (example Hunger Games, Twilight)
* No more Bitch Lit - dropping name brands on book
* teens like dark books right now. Not as much funny stuff.
* advances for large books staying high. advances for their authors - going down.
* saving money by doing digital galleys and digital catalogues
* Galleys cost 3 times more than books to make.

Wendy Loggia - Delacorte - 7 reasons she rejects a book
We have to be mean to be nice.
1) good writing but no story. No plot. heavy on telling.light on action. It is not EZ to reject a great manuscript when you see potential.
2) too similar to other novels on list or has worked on in past. If it is similar - it must be better.
3) unsure of who target audience/reader is? who do I market the book to?
4) If writer seems difficult or negative. Googles to find blogs and see if they are bashing fellow editors, agent friends, any of her books, authors, negative reviews or complaining about process. writers who belabor process. do not share anything about number of rejections online. If I know 20 houses have passed, I wonder why I should not pass.
5) love concept but cannot connect to voice
6) submitting too early - before work has been done
7) will not stand out on list.

I went outside and read with a glass of wine. Talked to Sarah Davies for a while.

Went to Blue Moon Party. Best costume went to an alien octopus (don't ask). Other costumes: blue man group, astronauts, aliens, blue butt

SCBWI LA - in a day

Book Update: Bright is backin hadns of Awesome Agent. Cross your fingers! I feel its done - I rewrote beginning and ending in addition to edits _ added material resulting in an additional 12,000 words. Now tween book is at 63,000.

Blogger Update: so far have met Christy (Juvenescance), sherry solvang(write it now), suzanne young, shana silverman, lisa schroeder. someone told me Jess jordon was here but we havent seen her yet.

It is 10 pm (LA time) and our day really just ended.

Went for breakfast this morning with Lindsey Leavitt, Katie Anderson, Sarah Francis Hardy, and Kimberly Derting. (SFH had the best egg pizza - yum! and LL had a tower of sticky buns!! Yum yum! Me? the healthy oatmeal boring. Tomorrow I am going all out :)

The morning started off with Sherman Alexie, author of ...Diary of Part Time Indian...

he was so funny. But under all the humor was a guy who turned his painful childhood into a dream existence. A kid with brain damage, bad vision, poor, lived on an Indian reservation. A kid who found a way to escape from his hard childhood with books.

Here are some of my "Ah ha" moments (for more detail you can go to scbwi's blog.)

"when you give a kid a book he naturally identifies with than you expect him to connect with it. But when you give a kid a book that is outside his normal comfort zone, and he finds a way to connect with it - that is when you begin changing the world."

"The power of books is amazing. They find a way yo the people that need them the most. Whether its 1 person or 100,000. Every book has the destiny to change at least one person."

"As a children's author - you must accept responsibility of writing for a young audience; prepare to be lonely because it is hard work, and know when you write it - it will impact people."

Next was David Weisner (Flotsam)

"He talked about the films and books that impacted his illustrations and writing. He showed a journey of how he got to Flotsam. How all of his books led up to that one."

"Writing is a personal journey. We don't write with a certain kid in mind. We write from our kid. From our hearts, experiences, and memory. Kids just happen to be touched by them."

"Think about all the stuff that you thought was cool when you were a kid. There is a story in each thing that stood out to you."

Ingrid Law - Savvy

Write with creativity and courage
Read the book "Spunk and bite"
Push voice further than you thought possible.
exercise: write a crazy sentence - then ask questions. This is how Savvy started - one crazy sentence and a bunch of questions.
Trust your instincts, be wild and playful, have a beginner's mind, be courageous, take risks, and don't be afraid to break the rules - you can always rein them in
pretend you are always a tourist and see things with a new eye.
be sure to look up when you walk around so you can observe the nuances of life

Sarah Davies - Greenhouse Literary (love her!!!)

world rights - all languages in world
world english rights - english language anywhere in world
hard to see Us fiction in UK. less space for YA market

Ways to spread international buzz:
Scouts - represent foreign publishers
Publishers marketplace - sign up and watch foreign right sales
understand foreign market
Pub weekly features on international authors
Bologna Frankfurt conferences/book fairs

Advice for global sales
consider world when you write
have market in mind
middle grade needs strong sales
YA fiction with unique voice and premise

Audio Books
1) primary - when they exploit own rights
2) secondary - sells rights to someone else

what helps international sales
global appeal
unique voice
Non fiction and PB do not sell as well as MG/YA
unusually ideas
awards/sales figures
love young boy fiction
concepts and setting that transcends cultures

see you tomorrow!

The Notes of A Dark Angel

I've never considered myself an angel. However this weekend I was asked to be angelic to an editor at a my SCBWI conference.

Being an angel - although probably more of a Dark Fallen Angel in my Angelees eyes - was a fantastic experience. My Angelee was Martha Mihalick (Associate Editor Greenwillow Books) and was extremely gracious and fun - so fun that in another place and time - she probably could be my friend. Now whether she thinks so or not - is another story.

I admit as I was walking her around - I kinda had flashbacks of my horrid UGA sorority week when I had to show "pledges" around the house, be on my best behavior, be sure my "wicked" humor did not offend too many people. I pray I said all the right things. The only difference with Martha was I did not break out into a song or routine. Which actually may have been much more exciting for her :)

In being an Angel- I learned a few key things about myself. Some of which I knew, some of which I usually try to hide, and some of which reminded me how awkward I was in high school when I spent hours wishing I could be the naturally cool kid that everyone wanted to hang out with.

Top things I learned
1) I am not cool - no matter how hard I try.
2) I can be pretty organized until someone is counting on me. Then I fall apart.
3) Drama always finds me no matter where I hide
3) When in an awkward situation - i resort to dumb jokes to fill awkward silence.
4) I hate small talk and actually suck at it
5) Editors are people too
6) I am an introvert at heart
7) I am not cool
8) A good martini always breaks the ice
9) I will hike 7 flights of stairs against my better judgment
10) I love my critique group
11) My computer is my security blanket
12) I am getting old - most of the agents/editors were much younger than me :(
13) I wish I took a different path earlier in life - that I would have chosen publishing/editing children's books instead of marketing communications. (oh well - Water under the bridge)
14) Oh yeah - did I mention - I am not cool?

We all here horrific stories of editors and agents - the Simon Cowell's of the publishing. However, Martha was the "Paula Abdul" with a dash of wit and a pinch of cute. It was fun to learn about the people behind the curtain - The Oz's of Writing. And boy do they know their stuff. There is a reason why these people do what they do.

The conference - once again - was great. I love talking about writing and these are the rare times you can talk about writing for 24/7 and people don't think you are crazy or weird. So once again, I am back, energized and ready to send out my manuscript.

Key notes/points from Conference:

Paul Fleishman -
"creating art is solving a problem"
"serendipity is 1 of 4 food groups for writers."

Building a Story
1) Collecting - gather anything you may need for the future (articles, clippings, vacation stuff)
2) Personalizing - Add a bit of you - traits, obsessions, beliefs, your personal stamp
3) Forming- shape the idea for your book, create space
an intellectual is a person that can sit happily by themselves without reading a book"
4) Connecting - most important word is at the end of a sentence, the most important sentence is at the end of the paragraph, the most important paragraph is at the end of a chapter. Write a book where a person can't skip any pieces - make every word count.
5) Altering - what can be changed to make it better. Don't be afraid to cut. Pull out the leftovers
6) Judging always criticise what you wrote, is it doing what you want it to? don't be seduced by your book to the point of delusion

Lindsay Davis- Writers House

• be sure the voice of the book is represented in your letter.
• take comments or edits and make them your own
• always address to specific person
• its ok to have some humor in your letter
• keep it short
• For characters - do a character web - know all the back story and characters ins and outs.

Molli Nickell - Successful Queries

query workbook online and free at http://www.getpublishednow.biz/

Query letter do and don'ts

• put most important stuff in the first paragraph - whatever you want them to read in 20 seconds
• most will not scroll in an email query
• sell not tell
• be sure your voice comes through
• be sure to focus on the benefits to the other person - avoid I, me, myself - focus on "you".
• 1st paragraph - plot hook - 3 sentences
• 2nd paragraph - 1st one expanded - lot summary - more about story. can be a little longer - 4-6 sentences
• 3rd paragraph - your experience/mention SCBWI
• never put web site on the letter - save for the 2nd one
• always use Times New Roman 13 pt with 16pt spacing (exactly)
• synopsis is expanded version of 2nd paragraph in query letter, the story about the protagonist

Andrea Welch - Beach Lane Books
if you follow up after submission - use a postcard - do not call or email.

• always check web sites for changes in the house submissions
• beach lane is a closed house
• the shorter the query letter, the better. If it is too long - I will feel like I have to put "time" aside for it instead of just reading it right there.
• spell name and company correctly
• do not harass
• never be mean to an editorial asst or secretary - they have the power, will one day be an editor, they will remember your name, are starting to build their own list
• submit 1 story at a time
• SASE with enough postage
• Include a Postcard to confirm receipt - we will mail back so you know we got it.
• looking for classic picture books - have 5 in 2009. will do about 12-15 books - mostly PBs but maybe 5 MG/YA

Insider Information - Midsouth Notes

Keynote: Bruce Coville – “What we do matters?”

In your stories, you want a:
· Ha - laugh
· Wha – tears (sad or joy)
· Yikes – when a story turns on itself – conflict or surprise

2 ways to fail
1) so tasteful no one wants to read it
2) character does not save herself – someone else does it

• Ask yourself questions about your scene – why is XX doing this? Answer it and then ask "why" again. You don’t want the easy answer – you want to underlying answer.
• Use 3 of the 5 senses in every scene – taste, smell, sight, touch or hear
• Make sure you have set ups for every payoffs – for example - if a boy’s book falls into a puddle (payoff), the set up is that it has to rain the night before

Amalia Ellison – Confessions of an Asst Editor

Used to work at Random, has a grad degree in Literature from New School in NYC. Is also a writer – the heart of a writer with the knowledge of a publisher

Benefits of an agent

1. more money
2. more protection
3. editing
4. buffer and advocate for you with editor
5. manages legal aspect
6. watches rights
7. makes sure your advance is not so high that you cannot earn out (either make break even point or sell X number of copies)
8. set up a vetting screen for editors. If you come agented – editors automatically perceive better than those unagented.

General Notes

• Editors are only allowed to offer X$ to unagented authors. Even if they should make more and they were the next JK Rowling, if they came unagented – there is a limit.
• If an editor is working with you and has not mentioned a contract in any way yet. You have time to get an agent. You can even ask the editor – may I tell an agent you may be interested. If I say yes, you may be able to get an agent easier. But if I have told you I am drawing up a contract and provide an offer – then it is too late to get an agent. You have already committed to the process. You can walk away but if you said at this point – let me get an agent – I would probably retract offer. It would not be good.
• When submitting, go for asst agents and asst editors at reputable houses. They are hungry and need to prove themselves. Be sure they have acquiring power. They have more time and energy to work harder.
• Sometimes small and mediums size houses offer more to authors because they are more intimate. You can tell by how much they publish – look in catalogs. Mid size – Abrams, FSG, Candlewick. Small – Holiday house, Greenwillow
• Abrams does not rank authors – they are all top priority. Some houses have mid lists and rank authors from top to bottom
• Take your book and know what makes it different than others. Think about reversing it or twisting it around. ie – If a book is about a girl sports – instead of softball - why not use football and have protagonist the only girl on an all male team?
  High Concept dramas are hot right now – ie Lost, Harry Potter, Twilight, Heros. Watch TV shows – they allude to trends even in book market. You don’t see a lot of sitcoms, you see dramas.
• Picture books and nonfiction – hardest to sell. PBs cost a lot
• Have discussions about covers and illustrations before illustrator is picked. Offer editor a few you like so they can see styles. Let them know your vision.
• If your book goes to acquisitions meeting – you are in good shape.
• It is ok to do illustration notes in PB submissions
• This year Abrams has 6-8 YA, 6-8 MG, a few picture books.

2 types of auctions:
1) best offer – one round, best overall offer wins. Editor does not see any other bids, just puts in best offer.
2) bid auction – at least 3 rounds – editors can bid against each other and can see all bids

Top 3 problems she comes across in books:

1. authors talk down to kids. unauthentic voice
2. it just does not fit her personal taste or her houses taste – do your research!
3. authors seem to spend more time on letter than book. She does not even like letters

Harold Underdown – Analyzing Catalogs (this was great! Hard to take notes unless you have a catalog to look at)

General Notes

• Know and research imprints. They have their own staff but are owned by larger houses.
• Find out if you can submit separately to each imprint or you can only submit to one.
• Check out catalogs – count number of PBs, MG, YA and nonfiction. It will tell you what the imprints focus is on.
• Check out conferences at NCTE, ALA Book Expos. Most houses have booths and catalogs. You can order catalogs online at some houses.
• Don’t try to figure out editors taste. Editors go from house to house. They have to stay in alignment with house and imprint taste. It is better to learn the “tastes” of the houses then to track editors.

Information you can find in House Catalogs:

• what kind of books they do
• “bestselling” or “number of copies in print run” – this assumes Commercial books
• “awards” and “reviews” – assumes books for teachers or libraries
• marketing plans and budgets - are they do signings at bookstores or libraries - are they doing ads? displays, budgets – larger budgets – bigger books,
• how many spreads given to each books. tells what the focus is. If PBs get 2 pages and YAs get 1. PBs seem to be the focus.
• Tells what rights are sold.
• Lists how many pages books are and target ages of audiences
• Sometimes tells you the agency if all right have not been sold.
• USCOM – means can be sold in US, Canada and Open market (in countries where English is first language only.)
• W – can sell worldwide in any language.
• Tells if authors have other books. Can tell how many of the books are first time authors.
• Tone of the books. Are they quirky, serious, dramas, chick lit etc.?

Bruce Coville – Creating a Series

Started with book packagers. Has total of 93 books. Found book packaging job in Publisher Weekly classified section.

Funny Quotes

• “As writers – we need to always shoot to do better than we did before.”
• You can only write if you are at the keyboard. Can only get published if you send out your work.”
• “Inspiration without craft is basket making. Craft without Inspiration is Modern Art.

Book packagers

• Good way to eneter biz
• When you write a series, always try to write a book better than expected.
  Don’t work for a book packager too long.
  If you are ever offered a flat fee or royalty. Always take the royalty, bet on yoursel

Where do series come from?

When writing a series – try to leave something to wonder at the end. Don’t tie everything up too neatly. Leave some questions that create demand.

1) Planned Series – you get a “bible’ which has all background. Usually comes from Book Packagers. ie Goosebumps, Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins
2) Accidental Series –
a – character driven – character needs to grow and does organically
b – by demand – fans/readers want more

Types of Series
1) Template – all start the same. Nancy Drew
2) Evolutionary – characters develop over time. Harry Potter, Narnia Chronicles

How to create a Series Bible?
Always write your own BIBLES – includes setting, character profiles, and plot summaries
1) setting – what is your world about? what does it look like. Add details
2) create description of main characters. This should include positive and negative characters – all opposing forces.
3) Do synopsis for a few books. Be sure stories can stand alone with an overarching story.

Tips
(a) Create strong main character
(b) Up suspense – write the book then try to find a way to condense plot to create sense of urgency.
(c) Keep it fresh. Start with a story. Identify ways to make it unique. Switch points of view, change characters, create the unexpected.
(d) If you need to have a synopsis to keep readers up to speed. Try writing prologue in characters voice
(e) Know when to stop

Misc. Notes

Submission Statistics

• 70% picture books
• 20% MG/YA
• 10% non-fiction
  o Out of these, only 1% get personal rejections/go to acquisitions/editorial letters
  o Out of this 1% – 1% get published (5,000 a year published – this is 1% of the total submissions

Best fonts
o serif fonts
o bookman old style 12.5
o always double space – not 1.5 spacing. always 1 inch margins.

Good books on craft
o Story by Robert McKee
o Art and Fear
o 30 days to a better PB