Stylish Blogger Award!

A nice surprise awaited me on Monday—my first-ever blog award, gifted to me by Mel Chelsey over at Writings, Musings and Other Such Nonsense. I’m not sure my blog is “stylish”, exactly, but hey! I’ll take it!

The rules seem to be 1) I get to pass this award along to five other bloggers, and 2) I need to tell you seven random things about myself.

Read more »

Ten Gifts of Twitter

I consider myself a relative newbie to the Twitterverse, so it amuses me that friends and fellow writers ask me for Twitter advice. The #1 question I get is whether Twitter is worth the time investment—that is, what the heck do I get out of it?

So I figured I’d share my answer with you all, lovely readers and Tweeters. Feel free to chime in with thoughts on what Twitter gives to you!

Read more »

Monday Inspiration: First Sale Tales!

Last week, I got to participate vicariously in something wonderful and exciting: Twitter friend Jenny Torres Sanchez (@jetchez) on Twitter sold her first book! I read her announcement on Twitter and her blog recounting her initial reaction, and I basked in the shared joy.

On the road to selling a novel, “wins” can be few and far between. It takes a loooong time to write a book, and even longer to learn the craft required to write a good book. What keeps you going along the way? Jenny’s recent book sale reminded me that sharing other writers’ successes is a great way to stay energized and motivated, so I thought I’d collect tales of writers’ book sales here, stories of celebration for inspiration and encouragement.

Read more »

Society of Environmental Journalists conference 2010: what children’s writers can learn from SEJ

I just finished my time at the 2010 SEJ (Society of Environmental Journalists) conference. My head is spinning with information and ideas—a good sign, since I wasn’t sure whether to come to this conference. I mean, look at the title: Society of Environmental JOURNALISTS? I don’t think of myself as a journalist: I’m a writer. A children’s writer, a medical writer, a science writer, a nature writer—but not a journalist.

This conference made me question that assessment of myself. I write for magazines (journals); I do interviews and research; I fact check and look for bias. My first day here, a fellow attendee quizzed me on what kind of writing I do. When I finished, she said “I think you are a journalist. You just don’t know it.”

It’s an interesting question, because in the past few days I learned that journalists receive different training than “writers” do—and I think we writers (yes, even children’s writers) can learn a thing or three from them. Here are a few for starters:

Read more »

Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI Fall Conference: Bruce Coville Wows and Inspires

I have a special place in my heart for Bruce Coville’s books. It’s not just that they’re lots of fun—which they are—or that they’re great examples of craft, plotting, and storytelling—which they are. His book Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher saved my life.

This happened a few years ago, when I made one of my overly optimistic cross-country drives from Colorado to Pennsylvania with two kids in tow. Just before Christmas. In horrendous weather.*

After three days of driving and too many hairy moments to recount, we made it to PA late at night, in the middle of a snow storm. We were supposed to spend the night at my sister’s house with her husband and kids because my parents were at the hospital, where my dad had just had surgery. I’ve been to my sister’s house. It’s a large white farmhouse with a red barn only just off the road and, theoretically, it’s not that hard to find. At least, it’s not that hard to find in the daylight. At night, in a snowstorm, in one of the darkest counties in PA, when one’s brain is theoretically addled from WAAAY too many hours on the road, it’s another story. I drove up and down that road without seeing it.

Meanwhile, the snow is getting heavier, my eyelids are dragging, and both kids are awake and pathetic in the back seat.

What does this have to do with Bruce Coville, you ask? Well, it was his story, performed by his audio book company Full Cast Audio, that kept me awake and kept the kids and I sane for much of the cross-country drive and for ALL of that stressful night. We listened to it as we searched for my sister’s house. We listened when I finally gave up and headed to my parent’s house, even though I knew it was empty. We listened to it as we slipped and slid our way down their very long, very snowy driveway and I left it on for the kids while I stomped through snow drifts trying to find an open door and, when there wasn’t one, breaking into the house. We listened to it over the next week every time we drove from one house to another, because this was rural PA, where the minimum driving time between any two locations is 25 minutes. We listened to it when the cousins joined us in the car and we needed entertainment (so that I didn’t go crazy in my stressed-out, overtired state.)

So: it was with great interest that I sat down Saturday morning for Coville’s Keynote address. I came to the conference seeking inspiration and encouragement—and he didn’t disappoint. But more on that in a few days…

:) Cheryl

*Yes, I know. The weather is BOUND to be horrendous somewhere along a cross-country drive at that time of year. See overly optimistic, above…

Writing Friends…

…are the best antidote to writing stress. I met with my writing buddies Chris and Laura at the Huckleberry this week, where we enjoyed freshly-brewed chai and scrumptious breakfast creations like their salmon omellette with fresh herb cream cheese, seasoned potatoes, and buttermilk biscuit, all in this cute lavender building in the Louisville Historic District.

Two hours of talk and food and de-stressing. Yay! We have to do this more often!

:) Cheryl

The Secret Identity of Writers

I’m starting to wonder if all my writing friends have secret identities.

It started with my friend Chris. Chris writes very interesting nonfiction that requires lots and lots of research in very thick books with small print. She’s an amazing conference planner and retired co-RA of the Rocky Mountain SCBWI. She’s well-versed in Chinese culture and history, Socratic seminars, and how to engage a room full of squirmy middle schoolers.

In other words, on the surface, she’s a dyed-in-the-wool writer.

When no one’s looking, though, she becomes:

Okay, so maybe she doesn’t actually wear a cape, but she does adorn her walls with intricate fabric artwork, quilting pieces of the sort you expect to see in art galleries.

Another writer friend, Laura, likes to create elaborate fantasy worlds with cool magic systems. In them, she weaves tales of love and betrayal, discovery and redemption. She’s also a certified dream worker and knows more about dreams than you can shake a stick at.

But under the cover of the evening sky, Laura mixes multihued oil paints on swaths of blank canvas, like Van Gogh in hiding. And she’s good! Really, really good.

This makes me wonder about my other writing friends…

I get it, though. Even if you adore writing and can’t live without it, once you enter the publication game, it’s hard to shake that feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder, judging your words. Everything you write has to be “good enough.” There’s pressure, where once there was only the joy of creation.

When a writer takes up another art form, she can create without the pressure to produce something marketable. The only person she has to please is herself.

Wait—what’s that? Do *I* have a secret identity? Of course! Shh—don’t tell anyone, but outside the public eye, I become…

 

But it’s a secret. :)

Challenge #3, cont: Strategies to Stay Motivated

Here are some more of my strategies for staying motivated:

1. Writing Contests: A writing contest—and its deadline—is a great motivator, plus a contest win provides a nice pat on the back, an addition to your writing resume, and potential feedback from contest judges.
2. Blog: (I had to mention this one, right?) Keeping a blog encourages a regular writing practice, involves you in conversation with the online writing community, and helps develop your platform for future marketing efforts. For more thoughts on blogging, read this post.
3. Conferences: Where better to regain your fire for writing? Conferences bring together writers, both experienced and inexperienced, editors, agents, and other industry professionals. Attend a conference for a dose of inspiration mixed with craft and market info.
4. Smile File: Also known as a brag box, this is a collection of affirming feedback. I keep an email folder where I store glowing letters from freelance clients and the occasional message from a fan. (Okay, one letter from a librarian who read my short story in Cricket and wanted to know if I wrote a book based on it…and I treasure it!) I also keep a running list of things I proud of. I look at it when the going gets tough or I start to feel discouraged.
5. Ignore everybody (negative): See The Creative Penn for a review of Hugh MacLeod’s “Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity”—which, apparently, includes blogging as a creativity booster.

What about you—have any tricks to staying motivated through the ups and downs of the writing life?

:) Cheryl

Ganging up on Isolation

In my last post, I talked about isolation as one of the four challenges we face as writers.  Hopefully I’ve convinced you that even introverted writer-types need the occasional human contact for our well-being—especially contact with other writers.

And no, four legged furry friends don’t count!

But how do you find writerly humans to contact? Step #1 is to step outside your comfort zone and start looking. Here are some possible places to connect:

SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) offers a myriad of resources for connecting writers.

• Local conferences and other events offer opportunities for you to meet other writers living in your area
• National conferences are a great place to meet like-minded writers and form your own online critique group

Classes: check out your local Continuing Education program for a writing class that interests you. In addition to learning something, you’ll get to know other local writers—this is a great place to recruit critique group members.

Online Resources such as news groups, listserves, blogs, and Twitter provide a spot for writers to touch base with one another. You’re not necessarily going to manage full-length conversations via blog comments or Twitter chat, but it’s a great place to connect for encouragement, accountability, and reality checks. Here are a few of my favorites:

• For accountability and encouragement:
  • Inkygirl’s daily word count challenge
  • Book in a Week: challenge runs the first week of the month—set your own goal and keep motivated with daily check-ins and writing prompts
  • National Novel Writing Month: provides word counter and plenty of daily encouragement during November
• For industry and craft discussions:
  • The “Blue Board” - Verla Kay’s message board for Children’s Writers and Illustrators
  • Children’s Book Insider’s message boards (aka the famous “Yellow Board”; you must be a member/CBI subscriber to use this feature)
  • Children’s Writing listserve: on Yahoo groups; must sign up with Yahoo (free) and join group to participate (also free, but prevents SPAM)
  • NFforKids listserve: also on Yahoo groups, discussion group for all topics related to nonfiction writing for children

Challenge #2: Isolation

 

Isolation is another one of those big challenges we face as writers. Let’s face it: most of us work alone, avoid the telephone, and spend more time with our favorite pens than our favorite people. With a large number of introverts in the writing community, many of us cultivate alone time. We thrive on it.

But.

Even the most introverted of us all still needs occasional contact with other people—especially with other writers. Other writers can provide us with:

• Support and encouragement: Every now and then, everyone needs to hear that they’re doing a good job. And no, your cat can’t actually provide the needed reassurance.
• Normalization: things don’t look so bad when you realize you’re not the only one receiving six rejections for the same book on the same day…from the same publisher. It happens to everyone.
• Networking: there’s a reason people network. Friends and colleagues help us to connect with future writing partners, business associates, and editors. It’s not about using people (which is why I disliked the term networking for a long time); networking is about helping people make beneficial connections.
• Shop Talk: Whether you’re looking for someone to vent with about the current state of the publishing industry or a critique partner or someone who knows a bit more about social media than you do—talking shop is a great way to hone your ideas and knowledge, and collect info from colleagues.
• Accountability/Motivation: There’s nothing like a writing buddy to help you make that word count goal, finish revising that project, or send out the novel you want to protect from the big, bad world. Accountability partners come in all styles, from Boot-Camp Billie to Sweets and Sympathy Sylvia. Find someone and team up with them!

People need other people—in small doses, perhaps, but even introverted writer-types need to rub elbows with others traveling the same road.

Maybe you know that—and don’t know where to go from there. More on tackling isolation in my next post….

:) Cheryl

The Happy Writer

Despite the once-common stereotype of the tragic writer creating heartbreaking literature whilst drowning her sorrows in port, I think most writers would prefer a happier route through our writing lives. And yet, the odds can seem stacked against us:

• Creative people are more likely to suffer from depression.
• Writing is (usually) a solitary pursuit, which means we lack the day-to-day support and feedback provided in a more conventional workplace.
• Writing is a VERY TOUGH field in which to succeed, with many writing novel after novel for years on end while collecting piles of rejections—positive feedback can be few and far between.
• During the long writing apprenticeship (check out Justine Lee Musk’s excellent post on the writer’s apprenticeship process), most of us have to work at other jobs. After all, those rejection slips don’t come with paychecks.

So here we are, struggling writers, overworked, underpaid, prone to depression, and, unless we do something about it, creating in the void, with little feedback or encouragement. Makes you wonder why we do it!

Don’t worry. Writing is hard, but for some of us, it’s also the most wonderful occupation in the world. So how do we get past the inevitable bumps in our writing road? I think the first step is to recognize the challenges listed above.

And then? Then we can start to DO something about those challenges! More coming tomorrow….

:) Cheryl

Life: After THE BOOK

Photo: Inspiration Collage for VOICE

For those of you who don’t religiously read every oh-so-poignant word on this blog, here’s my latest news flash: I finished polishing my latest WIP enough that I sent it off to my critique group and agent (who wanted to see it at the same time as my crit group, honestly, even though I warned him that it was sure to be full of glaring typos and continuity errors….)

This all happened two weeks ago. I kind of figured—crazy me—that the time following would be, you know, nice and low key. Lazy, even. I’m thinking lots of time to read all those books piled from my bedside, time to pick up an unfinished article or two, time to start that PB class I’ve been meaning to take, and in between I’ll finish crocheting the shawl project i started over Christmas….

Yeah, right. It hasn’t happened *quite* that way because, like many writers I know, I perpetually overestimate the amount I can accomplish in any given period of time.

I’m not complaining—I like being busy. I love that a wonderful science writing project fell into my lap unexpectedly, giving me the chance to indulge my molecular biologist side. I love that I have a book proposal project elbowing for its share of mental space in my brain.

The busy-ness helps counter the strange post-partum feeling that comes with sending out  manuscript that I’ve lived and breathed for the past few months. (Yes, I even slept with it. Luckily my DH puts up with ink stains on the sheets from those times when I dozed off with pen in one hand and notebook in the other….and with the light flipping on at 2:00 AM because I had to jot down some fantastic idea.)

It also helps as I wait to hear back from an editor who requested a rewrite of my mg fantasy….

Of course, I have to finish all these lovely busy projects in the next three weeks, because as soon as I get feedback from my critique group I’m supposed to turn around a rewrite in a week because my wonderful and magnificent agent, Gary Heidt, loves the book and wants to go out with it ASAP. Hmm. Is that even possible? Guess we’ll find out!

A room of her own

I haven't had an official "writing room" for more than a year now. It's been okay--I'm a very portable writer, with my WIP, laptop, and a few key reference books usually stashed in my messenger bag--but I confess I miss having my own space. The desk I use now doubles as a craft/school project/homework area, so I can't leave things spread out quite as much as I used to do.

On the flip side, this works because my kids are both in school (tres weird--I used to write while homeschooling two high-energy boys) and I don't need a private writing spot as often as when there were always other people in the house.

But...this past weekend, we attacked the basement to make a space for a little exercise area: weights , a weight bench, a mat, and a foam roller. I'm so psyched!

Officially, this basement is only a crawl space. The beams supporting the floor above are only about six feet high, and ductwork is suspended below that. You have to duck to get through the miniature door, balance your way down a steep set of skinny stairs, and duck to keep from hitting your head on the ductwork. The floor is dirt covered by an ancient piece of carpet.

But past the ductwork is a spot about five foot square where I can set up my weight stuff, and beside that there's just room for a little table and my writing files--previously relegated to an inaccessible corner even deeper in the dungeon. I scrubbed down the shelves and brought my writing materials out where they're actually usable.

I feel kind of like a kid creating a private clubhouse. It's not beautiful, not brightly lit or particularly warm, but it's mine. Hee-hee. So if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm hiding in my basement....

:) Cheryl

The gift (?) of perpetual surprise

Why is it that I continue to be surprised when writing is--hold onto your computer screens here--hard. Yep, it's true. Sometimes when we writerly types sit at the keyboard, the words refuse to jump through their hoops.

It's not that I ever find writing easy, exactly. It always takes a certain amount of effort to move from an amorphous vision to polished words on a page. But sometimes the first step of the process--dreaming the scenes--comes so easily that it's jarring to lose all momentum at the keyboard. I mean, it was all so clear in my mind, so alive and vivid; why are the words emerging as sawdust?

So today I took two breaks to get coffee, rearranged existing text a half dozen times, reread the opening chapter twice, and began chapter 2 about ten times. The result: I'm fairly convinced that the scene that seemed so perfect in my imagination doesn't work on paper.

Although, come to think of it, I might have a new vision of how to move the story forward. It looks absolutely perfect in my mind...we'll see how it looks on paper tomorrow.

:) Cheryl

Notes to start a writer's week

When stuck in your writing, the answer is NOT:

1. Sleep

2. Starting a new project

3. Painting your toenails

4. Reorganizing the laundry room

5. Reorganizing your paper clips

6. Shopping for new office supplies

7. Shopping for new anythings

8. Surfing the Internet (even in the name of research)

9. Chocolate

10. (although chocolate may be part of the answer)

The answer, instead, involves one or more of the following:

1. Butt in chair, hands on keyboard, and all that

2. Daydreaming scenes

3. Character sketches

4. Creativity walks

5. Writing exercises

6. Writing retreats (although probably not....)

7. Turning off the phone

8. Turning off e-mail

9. In fact, turning off the entire computer might be good

10. Putting pen to paper and writing, writing, writing

:) Cheryl

Non-Writing Weeks

Does anyone else have weeks when they feel as if their writing-selves are getting edged out of the picture? That's been this week. Don't get me wrong--it hasn't been a bad week--just a week when all my other roles are hollering for attention: Mom Cheryl, wife Cheryl, tutor Cheryl, slave to the domestic creatures Cheryl...you get the picture.

It works for a while. I drop the writing (mostly--I can't ever really drop writing) and focus on all the other important stuff in my life. But after a while I start to develop withdrawal symptoms. Hmm. Is writing an addiction?

Or maybe writing is like air for some of us. We need writing to feel like our best selves. We need it to feel grounded, creative, human, interesting, or like a contributing member of society...or all of the above. We need it to figure out what we think. We need it to relax and we need it so that we can, afterward, free our minds for other things.

Theoretically speaking, of course :). I'd write more, but...I have to catch up on some writing. I hope you all find time to do the same!

~Cheryl

Notes to start a writer's week

1. Cold days are good for writing.


2. Cold days and warm, fuzzy blankets are definitely good for writing.


3. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, and hot tea are even better for writing.


4. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, hot tea, and a pair of snuggly dogs are wonderful for writing.


5. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, hot tea, a pair of snuggly dogs, and cranberry scones are perfect for writing.


6. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, hot tea, a pair of snuggly dogs, cranberry scones, and a crackling fire are splendiferous for writing.


7. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, hot tea, a pair of snuggly dogs, cranberry scones, a crackling fire, and a bit of George Benson on the stereo are perfect AND splendiferous for writing.


8. Cold days, warm fuzzy blankets, hot tea, a pair of snuggly dogs, cranberry scones, a crackling fire, and a big comfy chair are practically perfect in every way for writing.


9. Today, in other words, is for writing--even if you are lacking a few of the things on your list.


10. You can make the scones later :).

Happy writing! ~Cheryl

Notes to start a writer's week

1. When writing YA, buying Doc Martens is a perfectly acceptable means of character research. Although you should stick to one pair. No, really.
2. Gravity works every time. Even in the car. That's why the kids are no longer surprised when you spill your coffee while driving, even though you are.
3. I'm sure there's a nicer term than space cadet for people who forget about gravity, although it doesn't immediately come to mind....
4. Yes, it is okay to plot stories while driving, although you should probably keep your eyes open.
5. And your eyes shouldn't glaze over, either.
6. And you probably shouldn't jot down notes while driving, except possibly at red lights.
7. You are probably not the only person who drives through town hoping for red lights so you can jot down your latest ideas. Although, on second thought, you probably shouldn't write while driving even at stop lights.
8. Note to self: buy a voice-activate recorder.
9. Listen--here's the equation. It's simple. IF you don't write, THEN:
   - you can't sleep
   - you're grumpy
   - you're unromantic
   - you're no fun
   - you aren't a very good mom.
10. THEREFORE: Write, baby, write!

:) Cheryl

Taking Life Inventory

A day late, maybe, but I'm doing the New Year's thing (now that I'm feeling a little more human after too little sleep on the train) and taking an inventory of my life. I've been taking life inventory every so often since about seventh grade, when I laid out a detailed plan for how to convince my parents to let me travel through Europe with a friend. It looked something like this:



1. Prove I am responsible.

2. Earn money.

3. Learn French.



...okay, maybe these aren't the most finite and measureable goals, but they did lead to some life changes and I did, eventually, get to go to Europe. I also got to go to college, which I was also under the impression I was paying for at the time (since my parents hadn't said otherwise and I never thought to ask).



Point is: taking inventory helps me see if I'm heading in the direction I want to be heading and adjust course as needed. Kind of like setting New Years' resolutions, but with equal attention to looking back as to looking forward.



If you want to take inventory of your own life, be sure to pair the inventory--that is, the list of what you like, what you don't like, what you want to change, and so on--with your goals for the new year. Take what you find and plan accordingly.

1. Set goals that are specific and realistic, but leave yourself some wiggle room for when life intervenes.


2. Be accountable to someone--a friend, writing partner, or blog readers :)--who will help keep you going when you hit a roadblock.


3. Be sure to notice your progress in some way, whether that means checking in with an accountability partner or keeping a log or just posting sticky notes on your wall. '


4. Plan to celebrate each step of your journey.


5. Be open to course changes and the winds of fortune.

I like to take inventory of where I've been and where I'm going: it's a chance to discover that yes, I am actually making forward progress, even though it's not always apparent on a daily basis. It's a chance to step out fresh on the road, with the whole world ahead.



What course will you chart for the year ahead?



:) Cheryl

My Writing Christmas List

1. Peace enough to dream stories...


2. ...and characters full of heart.


3. Love to grow them.


4. Friends to read them.


5. A box of fine pens to write them.


6. College-ruled spiral notebooks with pockets and durable covers to hold them.


7. Delicious books to savor and inspire them.


8. An encouraging--and challenging--critique group to better them.


9. Time to remake them.


10. Joy in the process.

Editors, agents, publication...all those are nice, too :), but it's good to articulate the essentials occasionally.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and fabulous New Year to everyone!

~Cheryl