L.A. Teen Author Reading Night

May 16th, 2012

I’m beyond excited, because a week from tomorrow I’ll be in Los Angeles, participating in the downtown Central Library’s Teen Author Reading Night!

 

I’ll be reading from FLYAWAY and taking part in a panel discussion with the other authors appearing that night: Leigh Bardugo (SHADOW AND BONE), Philana Marie Boles (GLITZ), Cecil Castellucci (THE YEAR OF THE BEASTS), Ron Kortege (NOW PLAYING: STONER AND SPAZ II),  and Laurisa White Reyes (THE ROCK OF IVANORE).

In addition to having a chance to meet these great authors and make connections with new readers, I’m thrilled to be able to spend some time with my friend and fellow Elevensie Kathy McCullough, author of DON’T EXPECT MAGIC, who kindly invited me to invade her home while I’m in Los Angeles.

And that’s not all. From L.A., I’ll take the train to my hometown of San Diego, where I’ll visit with my mom and brothers and see dear friends. Hopefully I’ll come back tan and rested and ready to dive into a rewrite of my WIP!

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Reading Like a Writer: THE FAERIE RING by Kiki Hamilton

May 11th, 2012

I don’t read much fantasy – which is odd, since as a kid I lived in Narnia and Middle Earth. But somehow, as an adult, my preferences have shifted to realistic fiction. So if Kiki Hamilton weren’t a friend and colleague, I probably wouldn’t have picked up her debut novel, THE FAERIE RING.

But boy, am I glad I did! Not only is it an engaging story, full of pickpockets and malicious faeries and royalty, but it’s incredibly well written. And since my goal is to read like a writer, here are some of the things I’ve learned from reading this book that I plan to apply to my own work.

1. Choose your verbs wisely. Here are some interesting verbs I found on the book’s first page: pickin’, loomed, shadowing, illuminated, bubbled, dissipated, jingled, taunt, clutched, forced, tugged, disguised. I love these verbs because they’re not only unusual and active, but they evoke the feel of the story’s 1871 London setting.

2. Make your main character a hero. Or, in this case, a heroine. Tiki, the pickpocket who dresses as a boy who is at the center of THE FAERIE RING, is a heroine not only because she’s brave and adventurous, but because she acts as a guardian for a group young urchins. The depth of her caring about these children is what makes me admire and root for her.

3. Sow the seeds of mistrust. Reiker, another pickpocket character, is handsome and, in some ways, sympathetic. But doggone it, I just don’t trust him, and I cringe every time Kiki does – which in turn intensifies my desire to see her reach goals and overcome obstacles before he can screw things up.

After reading THE FAERIE RING, I might just become a fan of fantasy again. I know I won’t want to miss the sequel, THE TORN WING, which releases this October!

Have you read anything like a writer lately? What did you learn that you can apply to your own work?

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A Writing Exercise for Cancer Survivors

May 9th, 2012

When Stacy Lawson of Red Square Yoga asked me if I would lead a writing exercise as part of a Restorative Yoga workshop at Gilda’s Club, a community resource for cancer survivors and their families, I jumped at the opportunity. I figured that between my personal writing practice and my own experience with cancer, I’d be able to come up with a great activity for the workshop. But then I started to wonder what I’d gotten myself into. What could I possibly offer people to help them get through what is probably the most difficult experience of their lives?

Then I remembered how, when I was undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teen, I would try to escape the uncomfortable sensations in my body by going to a beautiful place in my mind. That memory helped me create a writing exercise for the workshop participants.

The workshop took place last Sunday afternoon. After snacks and introductions, we went into the comfortable room where we’d be writing. Once everyone had gathered, I asked them to visualize a place they loved, a place where they felt happy and at peace. This could be a place in nature or an indoor space, a spot they had visited or a location they’d dreamed of visiting. I encouraged them to take their time and visualize it in full detail, paying attention to the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations around them.

The next step was to write about the place. I reminded the participants that this didn’t have to be “good” writing or even contain complete sentences. Their only job was to fully describe their special place for themselves.

After they had finished writing, I asked anyone who wanted to to share their work. They wrote about an amazing diversity of places, including beaches, woods, outdoor markets, Ireland, and China.

Next I asked them to circle 5 or 6 words within their description that evoked the essence of the place and use those words to write a short paragraph or poem.

Last of all, each person chose one word that held the memory of the place. Some of the words chosen were beach, rock, serenity, expanse, green, and frolic. I told them that this word was their talisman, something they could hang onto during a difficult treatment or episode of pain to help them escape to their special place.

It was such an honor to help lead the workshop and be surrounded by the courageous spirits of the participants. And for me, it was a reminder of how powerful writing – and words – can be.

 

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Five Tips for Working with Beta Readers

May 4th, 2012

The first draft of my Work in Progress is now in the hands of my beta readers! I feel incredibly blessed to have a wonderful group of readers whom I trust to give me honest, objective feedback on my work. Because I’m so close to my own story, gathering outside opinions is absolutely invaluable. Here are some tips for working with beta readers, based on my own experience:

1. Choose your readers wisely.

At the beginning stages, it’s essential to show your work only to readers you trust, readers who will give you both constructive critical feedback and encouragement. While you definitely don’t want your baby in the hands of someone who is going to criticize it harshly just for the sake of being negative, you also want to make sure that your readers aren’t inclined to handle your writer’s ego with kid gloves. You need readers who will be able to see the shining spots in your manuscript and point them out to you, as well as letting you know the sections that need to be strengthened in order for your story to live up to its full potential.

2. Let them know what kind of feedback you want.

If your beta readers are seeing a first draft, you want them to look at the big picture, not nit-pick over grammar or word choices. The more specific you are about the kind of feedback you’re looking for, the more targeted their comments will be. In a previous post, I shared some of the questions that I ask my readers to answer when critiquing a first draft. The most important thing I want them to tell me is what they see as the “heart” of my story. Once I’m clear on my novel’s heart, I can carve away any elements that don’t support it.

3. Give them a deadline.

I have a love/hate relationship with deadlines. The pressure of them can cause anxiety, but they also operate as a kick in the pants to ensure I get my work done. I think readers need deadlines, too. I know everyone is busy with multiple projects, so I usually give them a month to read my draft and give me feedback.

4. Take in their feedback.

This seems obvious, but sometimes it’s hard to actually take in the feedback you’ve asked for, especially when you know that acting on a particular comment will necessitate major work for you. We all like to hear that our stories our great, but learn to see critical feedback as a gift. Your readers truly want to help you make your work better!

5. Listen to your gut.

In the end, it’s your book. You have to sort through the comments from your beta readers and decide which truly resonate with you. If more than one reader makes the same comment, definitely pay attention. But remember, you’re still the one with the final say. I once added some characters to a novel, even though my instincts told me not to, because every one of my beta readers thought my main character needed more friends. I ended up taking the characters out again because they just didn’t feel right.

Do you have any other tips for working with beta readers? I’d love to hear them!

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Teen Author Showcase and other delights

May 2nd, 2012

Last Saturday, the hubby and I spent a delightful day in beautiful Tumwater, Washington. I’d never really thought to visit Tumwater before, and the only thing that drew me there was the fact that I’d agreed to be part of the Teen Author Showcase at the Tumwater Timberland Library. More about that later. First let me share our gem of a find: Tumwater Falls.

At Tumwater Falls, the Deschutes River makes an 82-foot drop into Capitol Lake. The river is bordered by a walking trail that takes you through lush greenery with scenic vistas at every turn. After walking the trail (or parts of it, as some sections were closed for renovation), we continued oohing and aahing over the beauty as we ate lunch at the Falls Terrace Restaurant.

After lunch we headed to the library for the Teen Author Showcase, a panel of seven debut YA authors. Pictured from left to right are: Stasia Ward Kehoe (AUDITION), Marissa Meyer (CINDER), Kiki Hamilton (THE FAIRIE RING), Me (FLYAWAY), Megan Bostic (NEVER EIGHTEEN), Daniel Marks (VELVETEEN), and J. Anderson Coats (THE WICKED AND THE JUST).

 

You wouldn’t know it from this picture, but there was actually quite a crowd. Each of us introduced our book, and then the librarian, Sarah Jaffa, asked us a series of questions, my favorite of which was “What advice would you give to someone who wants to break in as a YA writer?” The most popular answer, hands down, was “be persistent.” Then there was an audience Q and A, followed by a book signing. Thanks to the awesome teacher who bought copies of each of our books for his classroom!

We got home in the late afternoon, tired but happy. Now I’m looking forward to my next event, a Teen Author Night reading at the downtown Los Angeles library on May 23rd!

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