New Location!

Greetings to all who have found their way here. This blog location location will be an abandoned post from here on out, but please visit me at my new web page at another location: http://www.winterhansen.com/. It's fresh as a newborn at the moment and I'm still tweaking things, but do come nonetheless. I love hearing your comments and look forward to more discussion.

Becoming your Character

Sorry I missed you last week, I've been thinking about character a lot lately. To me, it's the core of a story; who someone is and what they are made of. It was Booker T. Washington who said that character, not circumstance make the person, and I won't argue much with that. But bring character and circumstance together and you have the makings of a real story.

It's one of the most exciting parts of writing. Often it takes time and sometimes a lot of coaxing (of kids, spouse, your subconscious, the muse) before you're in a physical and mental space where things fall in place and you're allowed to discover who your characters are. Sometimes it's like lightning and you suddenly know exactly what your protagonist would have done and maybe more importantly, why. But you have to be ready.

Last week I chaperoned my son's class to a performance by the Richard Alston Dance Company visiting from the UK. They were brilliant and engaging, not to mention understanding that this was likely the first modern dance performance most of these elementary age kids had ever seen. Richard Alston himself, took the time to point out how the pieces contrasted, as well as a guided pre-interpretation of the stories and movements within the dances. After their two pieces were finished there was a Q&A. The best question by far was when the male dancer who had the part of Petrushka was asked what his favorite thing about dancing was. He didn't hesitate to respond that it was the process of actually becoming his character and understanding how Petrushka would feel, move, think, and exist that made dancing so thrilling to him.

This process is exactly what makes writing such an adventure to me. I constantly ask myself, What would I do if I were him/her in that situation? Seemingly infinite possibilities may overwhelm you, but the more you know your character and see the world from their eyes, the better your story will be.

Oh, and coming soon, this blog at my own domain (they wouldn't give me a kingdom).

Buy Indie Books!

I'm probably preaching to the choir today, but I'll say it anyway. Buy your books indie please.

I'm saying it again because I know (really, really know) how tempting it can be to just swing by Barnes & Noble or get on Amazon.com to find a book you want for quick and dirty immediate gratification. I get it. But it really makes a difference if you  check out the indie bookstores in your town first.

Yesterday I had to locate some copies of a local author's book for a school book club (Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel) and I needed them ASAP. I was lucky enough to find the copies with the courteous help of a few indie booksellers.

This process always goes smoother if you just give them a call first and tell them what you're looking for. If they don't have it, chances are they can order it in quickly, or may even refer you to another store! I have never had customer service so good as when I've gotten it at one of Seattle's great little book shops. All For Kids is gone, but Ravenna's Third Place Books is awesome (not to mention the great food at the in-store restaurant, Vios and the rockin' pub downstairs), Mockingbird Books in Green Lake is a new favorite (with café too), the University Bookstore has an amazing selection and well read staff, and an old favorite is The Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard. I love, love, love that store and only wish it were closer to home. The people there are as great as the books they carry and they also do the wonderful service of showing up at the monthly SCBWI meetings to give us the word on the latest hot material on the shelves.

All of these stores have helpful and knowledegable staff (will help you find a good read for that tough customer on your list), convenient services (pre-signed copies or copies signed to order), and often have superb lineups of authors and events (more than I can attend!). Besides these benefits, buying indie supports your local economy in immeasurable ways. It's just the right thing to do.

Gushing Love Post

It's 2010 and I'm in love all over again. A mad crush, a divine calling to destiny, whatever you want to call it.

It's writing that I can't give up or deny myself. It's reading that spurs me on and sparks my imagination. And what's reading without the writing? If one didn't happen, the other wouldn't exist, and vice versa.

Okay, I'm actually in the thick of re-researching agents (yes, I meant that) and writing query letters. One might think it would be easy to lose inspiration at this point in the writing process, but I'm energized. It's part of the process and like Bill Murray so aptly said, "Baby steps!"

Luckily, there are plenty of online resources for writing queries that make it simultaneously easier and more confusing. Just research until you find the agents you are interested in and send them only what they ask for and nothing more.

Also, here's a good list to follow at Writer's Digest. It's from 2008, but still pretty good advice to keep in mind.

So Happy New Year everyone and stay in love with your writing, even it means baby steps to your goal. Or as Churchill is reported to have said, "Never, never, never, never give up."

Baking for writing therapy: Ginger Lemon Scone recipe

Sometimes the writing ideas get a little stuck in the cycle of thinking too hard or just being stressed about it. Baking is one of the ways I let my mind relax into a state of semi-hypnosis where ideas seem to flow naturally and I have to scramble to write down notes, doughy fingers and oil splatters to boot.

As a break from my regular writerly musings, I would like to offer a tasty and easy recipe of mine as requested by a writer friend.

This Lemon-Ginger Scone recipe is vegan but is quickly made otherwise by using eggs, milk, and butter where I have made the substitutions.

Preheat oven to 375, makes 13
1 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 c. brown sugar (or organic/turbinado type sugar)
1/2 t. salt
grated peel of one lemon
1/2 c. chopped crystallized  ginger

1/4 c. soy milk (or other substitute)
1 t. vanilla
replacement for 2 eggs (I use ENER-G egg replacer, so it's 1 T. replacer + 4T. warm water, mixed before adding to the rest of the wet ingredients)

1/2 c. frozen (very important) soy butter (1 stick) grated directly into mixed dry ingredients

1) Mix the first 6 dry ingredients together in a big bowl.
2) Mix 3 wet ingredients together in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup.
3) Grate the frozen soy butter directly into the dry ingredients. Toss quickly and try to evenly distribute the butter as much as possible.
4) Add the wet ingredients and, again, mix quickly until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
5) Use an ice cream scoop to dole out onto seasoned baking sheet (use parchment paper, if you like), leaving an inch between and flattening them slightly with hand or spatula.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Should be golden brown and aromatic. Best if not over baked, so feel free to test one by opening if they are getting close.

Enjoy with a cup of tea and a friend while you discuss writing or your latest read.

Finding focus

I don't know about you, but as much as I appreciate festive foods, family visits, goodwill toward all, holiday carols, and a stocking full of fun, I dread this time of the year. It's not because I'm a Grinch or a Scrooge either. My desire to stay focused as a writer has much more to do with it.

The best way for me to deal with the holiday slump is to continue meeting for critiques with other willing and able writers. A deadline is a deadline and I will lose sleep to meet it. If I'm not able to find that quiet space in my head to write new material then I go to revising, which often gives me new ideas about what's happening in a story. And last, if revising isn't the ticket, I read, read, read (even if it's only in ten minute snatches). It's a great time to research whatever novel you're involved in or the one on the back burner of your brain. If you can't concentrate on the reading either, go for online agent research or just keeping up on your favorite blog. Scale back on your expectations a bit and you'll be able to spread yourself further. But more than anything else, don't lose hope or give up, the New Year is nearly here and I'm ready for it!

Does your writing take a big punch to the gut at this time of the year? How do you stay on track with your projects?

Take the Contest or Leave It?

I've recently entered a writing contest for the first time, written a short story but then didn't submit it to another contest (for various reasons), and have been thinking about the value of those excitement-making but perhaps unsubstantiated pursuits called WRITING CONTESTS.

As timely as ever, Nathan Bransford approaches this topic and has some good advice.

For me, I've decided to use writing contests as a way to motivate myself to work on specific topics, themes, or even formats. Why not? But like Bransford suggests, read the fine print.

How about you? Have you ever entered a writing contest? Any winners? Why did you do it?

Sex and Teen Literature

Sex in teen literature has been getting a lot of buzz lately. This great article by Mindy Rhiger points out the enormous range in sex inclusive books for adolescents these days and emphasizes that it's not all "fantasy and smut" as claimed by one mom in NBC correspondent Janet Shamlian's article. Rhiger also brings up an equally important point of interest: parental involvement. If parents care enough to find out what their kids are reading, then they create an opportunity to discuss the delicate issues brought up in the reading material.

I'm going to suggest that parents should be parallel reading with their kids, or even better, get to know the teen lit market and read ahead of their teens. Then the parents are in a position to influence what lands on their kids' literary plate and discuss it with them as well. I know parents are busy, but it's a matter of priorities and commitment, isn't it? Books are a perfect way of talking about the issues that matter most in life. Besides, reading current teen literature will make your life richer as well.

NaNo Freakout

Alright all of you NaNoWriMore than you ever thought you could in a month...no I'm not talking to those of you who have already won. Is anyone still typing? Oh, wait, we haven't even hit the half way mark yet. Well, that's okay, don't give up yet, even if you are a little or a lot behind. This is about personal goals.

I am a little behind, and it's all my own fault. I had time today. It's the truth. But the unfortunate thing about having time is that it will occasionally be frittered away. I did get some other things done, but I think ADHD got to me. Let's talk about the LACK in my story. I was lacking today. A lack of focus, a lack of desire, a lack of inspiration. Yep, it happens. So I used my best tactic. I did other things than write NaNoWriMo until now I'm almost out of time. So excuse me, I've got to go and write 300 more words in fifteen minutes.

Bone crushing, back smashing, keyboard melting fun

Just back from the Western Washington SCBWI Fall retreat. Whew. Intensive is right, but with the stellar editors Cheryl Klein and Ruta Rimas headlining, we were well taken care of. Also, many thanks to the the amazing women who organized the weekend: Jolie, Laurie, Kim, & Joni. Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Now back at the keyboard, in my cold office, I'm scrambling to catch up in NaNoWriMo, but it's no big deal. I'm high on all the awesome information absorbed over the weekend. Cheryl and Ruta went over writing basics, then went deeper to really examine what makes an excellent novel. We studied the relationships between and components of PLOT, CHARACTER, and VOICE and how we as writers can use different techniques to make our stories successful.

Big compliments to Cheryl for her repeated encouragement to NOT listen if someone dictates HOW to write, because it is an intensely personal process, and to Ruta for challenging us to experiment with different writing techniques and structures until we find what works best for our story.

And now, back to NaNo.

Teens want more books!

Well, this just in: though sales in adult books are projected to fall, juvenile and teen book sales are rising, even in these tough economic times.

 Not only that, but teens seem to feel that the bookstores they shop at don't have a large enough selection and not enough comfy places to sit!

Read more here: http://bit.ly/2dBo8Q

Writing: Addiction, Discipline, or Balance?

Yesterday, wonder agent and master blogger Nathan Bransford asked, "When does writing become unhealthy?" http://bit.ly/16qCdI

This is such a great question which can and should be used in many other circumstances (when does social media/email/drinking coffee become unhealthy?). But sticking to the writing, do any of you have a problem with balancing your life because of too much writing? For me it's a constant battle to get enough time to write. His question may apply most to workaholics, sociopaths, and people with addictive behavior issues. I am not one of those people, though I may have had tendencies in all three categories at one time or another.

Part of me still believes that you have to choose between your creative genius attaining success (which somehow ruins your relationships) and the mediocre creative life with modest or no recognition because you strive to balance your personal life. The rational me disagrees, because there are too many factors that go into success, and ruining your relationships doesn't exactly guarantee getting a book deal, unless your book is about how you ruined your relationship so you could get a book deal, THEN you might have some real takers.

Ultimately, logic applies. If you are getting ill from lack of sleep because you are writing: you're writing too much. If your relationships are suffering because of your writing, you need to make some choices (spouses and children are responsibilities, not electives). If the dog isn't getting enough exercise because of your writing: get out of the chair and do some character brainstorming while you take the dog for a walk! If the kids are complaining that you only spend time with keyboard, then turn off the computer for an hour and help them with homework, read them a book, or play a game.

Writing is an amazing part of my life, but it does not rule my life. I'm here for the whole experience, not just the deranged artist bit. Whether I end up a successful author or not is secondary to achieving a happy and satisfying life. What about you?

Where the Wild Things Aren't? How successful is the movie?

So after major promo all summer long, the movie adaptation of one of everyone's favorite picture books, Where The Wild Things Are, is finally out. And now, let the opinion battles rage. I haven't seen it yet, but the two following reviews are at major odds with each other. Certainly, indicative of humanity's spectrum of taste.

I used to believe that it was absurd to make movie adaptations at all. They never got it right; I was always disappointed, and the book was inevitably better. Really, how can you fit 800 pages of high concept fantasy into two hours of cinema? But I would go to the movie anyway as a means of satisfying my visual lust for the story and let the rest fall by the wayside. The Harry Potter movies and The Golden Compass are great examples of this.

In the case of WTWTA, how can you stretch ten sentences into a movie at all? One might argue this is the more difficult challenge, but I would disagree. WTWTA is a picture book, but don't make the mistake of believing it is superficial cotton candy. It's a picture book that is as bittersweet-salty-sour-spicy and heart-wrenching as life comes. It is exactly that accuracy of Maurice Sendak's seminal work of genius, that I am very excited to see Spike Jonze and David Egger's movie adaptation of WTWA.

It was only recently, that I started viewing movie renditions of books in a new light. I'd been stubbornly holding on to the idea that a movie should portray a book as accurately as possible. I see now that it's a big mistake to do so in a literal sense. Movies and books are simply two completely different forms of media. It's like comparing a photograph of a tree to a painting of one. Movies should be an interpretation of the original story. Obviously, this leaves a lot of room for creative success and disaster.

Though generally a practical realist and prepared to be disappointed, I am at heart an optimist. I believe this movie was done with tender care and love and therefore, I hope for the best. Let the work speak for itself.

What do you think? Have you seen the movie yet? What are some of your favorite movie adaptations? Most awful?

Movie Review - Where the Wild Things Are - Some of His Best Friends Are Beasts - NYTimes.com

Movie Review - Where The Wild Things Are - Among Sendak's Fierce Creatures, Dismay Also Lurks : NPR

Creating Language

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love language. Not just English, but any and all language. People like to imagine language (especially their language) is static, unmoving, and dependable. So dependable you can put it down in a book called a dictionary and it WILL NEVER CHANGE. I love it that this is so WRONG.

Language doesn't stop or even slow down; it's constantly evolving. We're closing in on 7000 spoken languages in the world today, and that's just the documented ones. What I really love, though, are the microcosms of language. Dialects are fun, but we really get into the nitty gritty when we reach slang; new words with old meaning and old words with new meaning. Words that make it to slang dictionaries are certainly the ones that had the best publicity (like movies, songs, or books), but there are so many more words created every day that don't make it past their birthplace.

My favorite language-creation situations are: 1) Family speak; which also applies to tight-knit groups of teens, ska (Sometimes Known As) gangs (NOT ska gangs, which could be cool) 2) Cross-cultural language creation; arises from being immersed in another language and struggling your way to understanding and 3) Mis-hearing what was said and either intentionally or unintentionally creating something intelligible though not necessarily understandable; aka acrylogia, Dogberryism (from Much Ado About Nothing), and malapropism (who could forget Mrs. Malaprop from The Rivals?)

I have to admit, in order to maintain a sense of humor with my kids, I intentionally create new word formations and phrases from what they said unintelligibly and say it back to them. The seven year old yells, "He's pulling my hair!" and it becomes, "What? Peas & pudding on the stairs?" It stops me from over-reacting and keeps them laughing.

The author/musician Frank Portman has done something wonderful with his character Andromeda Klein (from the eponymous novel) who mishears what people say all the time. What she first hears is often a stroke of brilliance compared to what she eventually deciphers into the mundane (packing up Sylvester Mouse was really picking up some extra hours). A great device that renders the situation comical and the character endearing.

Language creation (words, expressions, metaphors, analogies, etc) is one of the thrills of writing. Heck, it's one of the thrills of living as far as I can tell. Let's keep our ears open and find some more fun. Oh, by the way, there's a great website dedicated to misheard lyrics and a few other permutations @ http://www.amiright.com/.
Cheers.

Back on the horse

Hey, school is back in session, which is immediately gratifying for me because it means more time to write. As I've said before, summer writing is tough, but I'm determined enough to get in whatever I can. I bring my notebook to the kids' swim lessons and use those 30 minutes as a high pressure deadline for plot or character background brainstorming. I always get something good out of those sessions. Waking up earlier than everybody else in the house, and often staying up later than everyone else is a standard, but particularly useful in summer depending on how long you can burn the candle at both ends.

Now that the kids are off to school it's time to slip into my routine again. Ah, the bliss. As far as reading is concerned, I'm currently devouring King Dork by Frank Portman, of Mr. T Experience fame. I'm pleased to say that I saw them play in Switzerland in the basement of the collective restaurant Hirscheneck where I worked in the late '90's. They were awesome & very sweet guys. He's making an appearance at Secret Garden Books this coming Monday: http://www.secretgardenbooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=428289

Next on the reading list is Suzanne Collins'sHunger Games sequel, Catching Fire. Should be fun. Okay, back to work!

What I've been reading

Summer has been a little harsh on the writing schedule. It gets like that when you have kids. Not that I haven't been writing, but certainly not as much as I do when they're in class. Anyway, one thing that hasn't gotten away from me is reading and I feel like reading is always accomplishing something as long as it's a good book.

A couple weeks ago I read Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson http://www.writerlady.com/chainsh.html and it was great. Amazing and intense historical fiction from the POV of a young slave girl. I look forward to reading more of her material.

I also took on some Orson Scott Card and read Ender's Game http://www.ender.com/ender/ and the parallel novel Ender's Shadow http://www.sfsite.com/04b/es126.htm, both of which I immensely enjoyed as did my husband. I usually foist my favorite reads upon him and/or my ten-year-old with great success. My son, though, was not inclined to read Ender's Shadow as he was afraid it might contain some gory violence as did the first novel. He is acutely aware of his limits and rightly so. The novels were stunning for their character development but definitely on the sophiticated end of the spectrum when it comes to categorizing them as YA novels. Advanced but young readers wilfind it satisfying, though I would recommend parents read them first or alongside for the great opportunity to discuss so many issues with your kid.

Currently, I am reading Wringer by Jerry Spinelli http://eduscapes.com/newbery/98d.html, and Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson http://www.sfsite.com/10b/wh210.htm
both very enjoyable, though wildly different from each other. Check out the links to learn more.

That's the upshot about summer. I may have the kids more and less time to hide in my office pounding on the keyboard, but it's a lot easier to get some good reading done than to lug the laptop to the park or beach. Not to mention that it's still getting something accomplished (even if it's not the laundry).

When inpsiration strikes

So a few nights ago, after a long day with two kids, many errands, cooking and probably a few loads of laundry, I got in bed, turned out the lights, kissed my man, and said goodnight. That's it, right? For him, yeah. He was snoozin' in no time. Me? My eyes were wide open, my mind was still wide awake and not in the mood for shutting down. This was 1:30am. I'm a morning person and this does NOT happen that often, but when it happens, I have to grab the bull by the horns.
It was time to write, and being summer, the office was warm enough to do it. Give me this scene in December, and I'm reaching for the novel and booklight, so I don't freeze my bum off by exiting Duvetland. Wuss, yes, I know. That's what happens when you move from the 'Kick your ass' weather zone to the sissyfied weather zone (where I currently reside and love it, love it, love it-- I can drive an hour to the mountains if I miss the mosquitos or snow).
What I'm trying to say is, strike when the iron is hot. Get out of bed, and get writing. Especially if you have kids and a day job. Every minute counts and every word counts, so get it down, and sleep hard. Believe me, after writing through a tough chapter (even with three kid interruptions--guess I wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep) I was ready to sleep at four in the morning...all the way to eight.

Critique group guidelines

If you're a writer, being a member of a critique group is indispensable. Critique groups range from formal to casual and it's best to join or create one that suits your personality. In fact, to maintain the tone and success of a critique group, it's not a bad idea to have a few rules. What follows are a few suggestions.

You may want to have a confidentiality agreement for all members. Note: this may seem a bit paranoid, but some people swear by it. It is merely a measure to discourage plagiarism and keep people honest. Take it or leave it.

It's not a bad idea to ensure that members of your group are at similar levels of skill and commitment. One way of doing this is by having membership requirements, whether that's obligatory membership to a recognized writer's association or the completion of writing classes beyond high school. You may want to limit the number of members in the group. Other things that may fall into this category are: minimum attendance, output, and feedback at meetings.

You may want to have manuscript requirements. Examples include genre restriction, numbering of pages, minimum or maximum number of pages submitted, requiring manuscripts to have been proofread for basic spelling and grammar errors before submission. Some of these suggestions may sound a bit uptight but are all ways to get writers accustomed to doing what must be done for submitting a manuscript to an agent or editor anyway. It is just one of the ways critique groups can shape you into a better writer.

Other rules that often go into a critique group involve the critique process itself. Consider submitting by email in advance to give others a chance to review material before giving comments in person. Do you want only one person to present material or everyone? I have found that 3-4 people can reasonably present new material (read ahead of time by the others) and get feedback within a 2 hour meeting if there isn't too much chit-chat or snacking. Add half an hour to an hour if you meet at a pub. Do you want to read submissions out loud? This may be helpful for difficult passages. Make sure members write comments on the manuscripts they've printed out and critiqued. Don't interrupt the person giving comments. Wait your turn, and, if you're the author, be careful not to be argumentative or too defensive of your baby. You'll hear this many times, but if you hear a specific criticism more than twice, PAY ATTENTION!

Above all, as a member of a critique group, remember that criticism should be given with the goal of helping the writer improve the telling of the story. Do so with a generous spirit. As an author, remember not to take criticism personally. You should be able to take harsh criticism as well. If you are easily discouraged and want to quit writing, you probably should. This path is not for the faint of heart.

10 Hints for successfully being in a Critique Group

I'm not sure what made me pick critique groups as a topic today, but there you go. It's a topic that will never go away (for creative types, that is) and there's always more to learn about them. I won't get all pedantic on you, though. I'll just mention a few things that have made critique situations work for me.

Hint 1.Join a critique group. It's good experience. We all need experience. Even if it's not the best match right away. Why? Because you need the experiences of: having your material read and receiving criticism and reading other people's material and giving criticism. Think of it as a class with a test every time you meet, not a popularity contest.

Hint 2. Leave your ego at the door. Humility not hubris. Remember your goal of making your story the best that it can be. Be open to what people are saying, not defensive (this is difficult).

Hint 3. Don't hog the floor time. Be gracious and fair. Succinct. Concise. Got it?

Hint 4. Do your homework. Give your fellow writers (and their manuscripts) the respect they deserve. Don't leave reading until the last minute with half-hearted comments. This is also a difficult one. We all have busy lives but it is possible to make time. How committed are you to your dream? This is serious. Give it your all because you expect your peers to.

Hint 5. Mind your manners. That's right. I shouldn't have to say it, but sometimes people get whipped into a frenzy and forget. Be nice. Golden Rule and all that.

Hint 6. Show up. Yep, I know. Another obvious one, but apparently it's needed. If you are part of a critique group and you have a scheduled meeting, but nothing to show or share, go anyway. Give your feedback, be committed to the success of the group. If you absolutely can't make it, it's understandable, but don't expect everyone to change their schedules to suit yours. Doesn't hurt to ask, though.

Hint 7. Neutral territory or rotating hosting is recommended. Fairly self-explanatory, but I'll spell it out. Always meeting at one person's home may have the psychological effect of 'critique group ownership' real and/or perceived. It gets tricky once that sets in.

Hint 8. Don't let your group turn into a social gathering. I know this sounds uptight, so don't take it too literally. Be professional, do your business first, then pleasure, that's all. I know people that lament the fact that they're in a group with great people, but nothing gets accomplished. Remember why you are in a group and if you don't know why, then figure it out fast.

Hint 9. Remember that the people in the group don't have to be your friends or confidants. It's okay to maintain a professional distance. In fact, it's a really good idea, at least until you are well established in the group.

Hint 10. Leave the group when it's the right time. This is a hard one to see sometimes. I'm not saying that you will always have to leave a group, but it's very difficult to have a group of creative types together over long periods of time with out personal dynamics getting in the way. Don't have unrealistic expectations. Also, needs, minds, and goals change. Listen to your intuition and get on with it. Yes, you'll find (or create) a group (or partnership) that works better for you.

Well, that pretty much covers some of the more pressing issues about critique groups. Next time I'll put out some great ideas for critique group rules. Enjoy the weekend wherever you are.

WWA SCBWI Writer's Conference 2009

Wow! That was a great weekend of amazing speakers. Every year of going to the SCBWI conference gets better.Just wrap your head around the idea that it's more about networking than pitching your goods to an agent or editor. Meeting other writers is great fun and reassuring. I met real beginners and had an opportunity to encourage them to keep going, I met published authors and got to ask them questions about their career path and how they get/got things accomplished. Always an interesting answer.

It's always humbling to hear the success stories of local author panel and what they have to say about their backgrounds; how they achieved their dreams. Motivating too. This year I was particularly pleased with the selection of agents. Nathan Bransford is not only a stellar agent, but he's humble and generous, straightforward and efficient. If I could be so lucky.... Also Steven Malk from Writer's House gave a great talk on how writers should have a career strategy. It was very welcome information.

Ellen Hopkins, Patrick Jennings, and Lisa Papademetriou were three of the authors I was lucky enough to see speak. Ellen is a ballsy woman with the guts to closely examine the most difficult of subjects in teens' lives: meth addiction, incest, rape, suicide and more. Not exactly uplifting, but exactly what teens want. Honesty. Patrick Jennings gave a talk on school visits and demonstrated how he captures the attention of hundreds of elementary school kids at a time: subversive manipulation. Of course! Much the same techniques of another one of my favorite authors, Jon Scieszka (keynote speaker). Lisa Papademetriou was really a hoot. She's an unrepentent fantasy geek and spoke on world building. Very entertaining.

There are always a few fun games to play during the weekend and this time I participated in the haiku contest and got an honorable mention with a haiku about Michael Stearns (agent at Firebrand!!) after seeing his talk about plotting on Saturday:
Thirteen points of plot
for Michael Stearns to cover
good thing he talks fast

And that's all for now!