I was motivated by the quotes posted by dlanthomas (and of course all the great reviews posted by other dedicated LJ’rs such as edithspage, missrodeo, marivee, grizzlygirl1, and soniag – thank you, thank you:)
Here are some quotes that inspired me:
“Find joy in the process.” Bruce Coville
“Boil down the conflict, and let everything jump off from there.” Mark Teague
“Writing stopped being a hobby and became a mission.” Lisa Yee
“Think of how an adult would react to a situation and write the opposite.” [for YA]
Rachel Cohn
“Dialogue must be unique to each character. Does it make a difference if you switch lines?” Margaret Peterson Haddix
“The tone of the manuscript, the voice of character, need to be even more captivating than the problems presented.” Julie Strauss-Gabel, on first pages.
- Mood:
touched
* 1. Post these rules.
* 2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about themself on their journal.
* 3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 3 people
* 4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
* 5. No tag-backs
1. I LOVE playing "Crash all the Cars" (Uh...it's a made-up game) on the kitchen floor with my 2&1/2 year old godson, Tristan.
2. I can float in a pool for hours. Really.
3. Throughout my writing career, my day jobs have included: delivering Christmas wreaths, working the desk at a tanning salon (I know, I know - SO bad), being a Holter Monitor technician at Mount Sinai Hospital, Legislative Aide in the NYS Assembly, Hotel Concierge, Personal Assistant to the late great Kevyn Aucoin, Translator for Argentine journalist on movie junket interviews, Hotel Desk Manager (and p/t beach bum) in Montauk, NY, Freelance Editor, and Receptionist at a Private Equity Investment Firm.
4. I make a delicious panna cotta dessert.
5. My most embarrassing moment was turning too quickly one day and bumping into a woman in the very posh and subdued lobby of the hotel where I was working. She was wearing open-toe strappy sandals, I was wearing very high platform pumps. And...I knocked her big toenail OFF! There was blood (hers), tears (both of us) and I still turn red when I think of it!
6. I have a huge poster from the movie Amelie in my kitchen. It was the first movie my boyfriend Charlie and I ever saw together. We held hands during the whole movie.
7. As a teen, I loved staying up all night reading a great book and then crashing on the beach the next morning. And yes, I ended up pretty toasty-frito some days!
8. I'm having my floors re-finished and my apartment painted later this summer. This means I need to pack up all my worldly possessions (mostly, think books - lots of books) and live out of my suitcase for a week or so!
- Mood:
cheerful
Yesterday was a great day of writing for me. I (along with MissRodeo and bklynwritergirl) participated in the NY Writer’s Coalition 2008 Write-A-Thon. Aaron Zimmerman the NYWC Founder and Executive Director opened with some introductions and information on the organization. Among other creative projects, they provide free writing workshops for unheard New Yorkers, including the homeless, the elderly, and teens at high-risk of gang involvement.
Novelist Colson Whitehead spoke at lunch and was inspiring, charming and very, very funny. You need a good dose of humor to re-fuel for a full day devoted to dancing with the blank page.
There were prompt desks available for anyone who felt stuck during the day, and the opportunity to take a free workshop. I didn’t take part in any class, but was really happy with the progress I made on my little novel-to-be. I guess all that collective creative energy in the room was more than enough for the muse.
Last night, I went to see Sarah Dessen at Barnes & Noble on
She first read from Just Listen (the seat belt and CD scene where Owen gives Annabel a ride home) - which was very fun. Then we were given a sneak preview to her next (as yet unfinished) book, Lock & Key due out next year. It was only the second time Sarah read these beginning pages publicly. She apologized in advance that she probably wouldn't read this excerpt as smoothly. No worries, we were all captivated. Even when her mike went dead, the room was so silent you could hear her clearly. Some great opening hooks and a strong narrator voice promise another Dessen winner in the coming year.
In the Q&A portion of the evening, Sarah discussed topics of interest to both readers and writers. She mentioned how the reoccurring characters in her books started simply as a way to let some concerned readers know that characters from previous books were doing all right. Then it just grew into a "thing" (a thing most readers seem to appreciate, I might add!)
She also shared some of the challenges with handling slang and technology in her books. It was helpful hearing that such a successful author also has to work at finding the balance between keeping YA books current, and avoiding making them dated too quickly.
Other questions prompted helpful comments about her writing process, (the up's and down's), her inspirations, research, and even the breaks she takes between writing her novels.
Overall, it was a great event - Sarah Dessen was gracious, generous and thoughtful in sharing herself and her work with us.
- Mood:
bouncy
My goal today is to get a little closer to that kind of simplicity in my writing. I want to be able to tell a story without worrying about what the "neighbors" think, if I am making sense, or if people will like my book.
It is almost 32 years after that first book, and I would like to remind myself that what matters is that I am first satisfied with my work. The editing process is a separate task. It can only be helpful after I have set the wilder, creative side of my mind free on the page.
18 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!!!
Fall down seven times, get up eight. - Japanese Proverb
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