fannywrites

I have had three unpaid pieces published by well regarded children’s magazine. These pieces had been rejected by paying magazines. Maybe I hit the right spot because my subjects, whether for an article or short stories, were multicultural, the focus of the magazine. I’m also thinking, is the standard of a non paying venue lower?  I do notice that some online non paying venues do no have as high a standard as a payng one. 

Dedication and focus of a writer

I am reading a how to book on writing a novel. The suggestion by the author that I should read 100 books of the genre I want to write in is a good idea. But I don’t think I’ll read that many before I start my novel. 20 is more doable for me.
I also like her suggestion about making notes on each book, how each chapter starts and ends, how the dialogue moves the story etc.
But I cannot agree with her about total focus, to the exclusion of many things. The writing comes first, she wrote. To go to a Zumba class, to meet a friend for lunch are distractions. “Hold yourself back, save part of yourself for the book.”

I consider myself a disciplined and motivated person. I have yet to write a novel. I do plan to write one for my next writing course. If my craft is good, my instructor helpful, I do believe I can write a novel without giving up my interactions with my grandchildren or my piano practice. These things give me sustenance and make me happy. I cannot hold myself back in my personal relationships.

What do you think? What’s your reponse ?
I am new to blogging. I have yet to create a website. I’m supposed to start a presence before the publication of my books. I have two writers who follow my blog? If you like mine, please spread it among your writer friends.
I have to understand Face Book and Twitter, especially Twitter. Why does one need it? I can just email my thoughts to friends. So you see, I have a lot to learn.

This is my second winter conference. They have good writer speakers, but I also enjoy the illustrators speakers.  The highlight on Sunday was the talk by Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. Don’t call her a celebrity author, she detests that term because writing is hard, she said. Anyway, she is not a celebrity writer.  She wrote children’s books twenty years ago before co-writing with her daughter. Emma teaches writing L.I. and she lives on the west coast, so they write every word together by Skype. I have not read her books. Her most recent one is on the NYtimes best selling picture book list.  She freely admits that her name recognition sells books. We can be sure that her daughter, writing on her own, will not sell as many books.I have not read Madonna’s books or Fergie’s, but they surely are celebrity writers.

This year, I got more from  he breakout workshops than from the main speakers. It’s great to know that Charlesbridge accepts unsolicited submissions. It’s too bad my nonfiction book exceeds the 30 page maximum guidelines for nonfiction. But I can send in a picture book manuscript.  The Harper -Collins’ editor is interested in YA, so she’s not for me at this time.

I am not good at meeting people and talk shop at the social afterwards.  This time, I was rewarded with the assurance by one writer in the NYMetro area that it’s worth while to pay for an intensive on Friday. I will sign up for a session next year and do it early because it sells out fast.

The conference is expensive at $388.  I commute by subway, so without the cost of a hotel, it’s within my budget.

SCBWI sponsored a talk by the librarian who purchases all the books for the New York Public library system, which is separate from those of Queens and Brooklyn. It was very informative about what libraries really want.  She read the list from Scholastic’s editors. They forecast the  top 10 trends in children’s publishing.  Google Scholastic editors forecast trends.

Some of important tips Betsy gave:

Write a classic which will still be read in fifty years.  Don’t mention up to the minute computer model or video games that will date your writing. Write for staying power.

Don’t rhyme.

There are too few books about death.

Core curriculum is changing faces of publishing and reading. Common core states standards and initiative that schools have to adhere to. It affects nonfiction more It’s the golden age of nonfiction. Children are required to read more nonfiction. 3rd grade is important. Any book that can fit into the curriculum is important.

I guess we have to google what the core curriculum is. There is a website. She warned that it is not COMMON CORE STANDARDS.ORG

She admires the Queens library’s policy of letting children read in the library for at least an hr. to offset fines.  My grandson  has taken advantage of this policy many times.  The other day, I noticed a librarin who went up to two kids looking for DVDS. She told them that the hr. must be used for reading, not for using the computer or looking for DVDs.

Surprise guest speaker: Henry Winkler who co-wrote 19 books with Lin Oliver.  He addressed in particular the ones new to writing.  I wonder if the younger attendees knew who he was.  He was funny and encouraging.  He did poorly in school and was nicknamed Dumb Dog in German by his parents.  His father fled Europe, bought a timber business here and wanted Winkler to take over the business.  Winkler had wanted to be an actor since he was seven.  “You want me to sell   WOOD?”

When he had  a low in his acting career,”Who knew there would be a low?” he asked, he was introduced to Lin Oliver . Now they work in her office. He talks, she types on the computer.She talks and types. Then they talk and finish with several pages of manuscripts. When he held his first book in his hand, he rubbed it on his hand and body..  Hmm.. I wonder if I’ll do that.

Discussion of diversity, multiculturalism;  Make sure you do the research if you’r not from that ethnic group.  Editors have been known to miss errors of the writers.  Publishers also have to be true to the story by putting people of color on the covers. They had put white characters on the covers when the protagonists were people of color.

Discussion on fiction: YA and MG stories are in demand.  Forget abut rules, write what works for you.(I guess not so when we’re writing for a course) . Write for your reader self, not your writer self. Write wht you hold to your heart. You must care for your character.

Non-fiction: Unlike magazine publishing, book publishers want more fiction than non-fiction. Before approaching an agent, you must have a sense of the market place, what do you have to bring to the table, who do you think would be interested in your book. Blog: Why non-fiction matters.

There’s a market for non-fiction picture books:less than 800 words.

Closing keynote speaker: Jane Yolen; wrote 350 books. Only after 250th book, did she become famous.  She spoke to midlist authors, authors who have not sold a book in years. She gave three grants to three such authors so that they can either buy a new computer, go on a vacation, rejuenate themselves. ) one $2000 grant, and two $500 grants.

She still gets rejection letters twice a month.

Consensus: publishing is robust. There’s a global reach, publishers try to sell world rights. Your book should be able to travel beyond U.S.

From the last panelists:Try to write stories with a classic feel, not trendy feel.

Write for 2nd and 3rd graders

Write what young people want to know.

Show your work to others, and enemies too.

There’s some publisher out there for you, besides the big six.

Read and revise

My impression: conference was very well organized.  It was only one and a half days.  If it were two whole days, I could have attended two more small discussion groups such as: revision and picture books. Since I spent only a senior half fare to get there, it was worth the fee. I didn’t do a lot of networking, probably my own fault.  I did get the cards of a few illustrators in case I need one for Skipping Stones!

trial piece.

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