It's my day job...

Advice for newbies

2012-01-23T22:23:00.000-08:00

I visited a local radio newstalk station early this morning to talk about children's books. Obviously, it's a subject near and dear to my heart, and the hosts were a delight to talk to. I actually enjoy radio, although it's always a surprise to remember that you don't know who might be eavesdropping on the conversation :).

Perhaps naturally, the question came up: "What advice would you offer to someone that wants to write for children?" The way I answer this question has probably changed over the years, but today, this is a short glimpse into what I think writers need to keep in mind when writing for children.

1. Hang out with children.

Children are fun. Children are funny. And children say some the most thought-provoking, imagination-firing, laugh-out-loud, heart-squeezing things sometimes. So go find your audience! Find out what they are reading, what they like about it, don't like about it, things they care about, things they hate - and then take it home and stir it into the pot of your own experiences, passions and irks and see what starts bubbling to the top. It may be something amazing! It may be something that totally stinks! But either way you'll have something very unique.

2. Hone your craft.

Writing for children is one of the most exacting and challenging genres you could ever want to jump into. Partly because of brevity (every word has to count); partly because it can get kind of crowded (a lot of people take the approach "Write a children's story? How hard can that be?"); and partly because publishers are having to be more selective about the number of books they publish, the type of story they can accommodate and the size of the piles they have resources to dig through when facing a landslide of submissions.

But it's also one of the most exciting areas of writing to participate in. So practice, practice, practice. Learn the details of manuscript formatting, picture book construction, page layouts, blurbs and jacket copy (even if you aren't the artist). And learn about the tips and tricks of language, not so you can shoehorn them in at every turn but so that you have all the tools you need at your disposal when it's time to tell you story.

3. Know the business.

Writing for children, just like any other genre, is a business. So be a professional. You really have no excuses not to be - the list of resources available is endless! Get in and get grubby among the details of submission and contract terms and rights and finances and tax exemptions and small business claims. You don't have to be an expert in any of these areas but you have to at least become familiar with the terms. Think about school visits, or social media platforms, or e-books. Know your own strengths and then use them. And always, always put your best work forward.

Even if you don't write for children, I think this advice holds true (substitute "Trekkies", "sports fans", etc for children depending on your area of interest). You need to have a grasp of who your audience actually is, you need to present the best possible writing you can offer, and you need to know the business. And tip #4?

Even on the radio, you might want to think about a little lipstick.

So there it is. Now let's get to work!

Dance & Powerpoint (A TED Talk)

2011-11-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

Do you know how every once in a while you run into a concept or a presentation or a thought or a person and you actually feel the connections start to light up in your brain? It's such an exciting moment and for me this TED talk was one of those most recent moments. It's a completely fascinating meld of idea, presentation and challenge. Maybe you won't see it the same way but for me, it once again stirred the pot of potential and it's always amazing to see what comes out of that.

A 2012 owl calendar

2011-11-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on the mural project that is creeping nearer to completion. Unfortunately for my schedule, it's colliding with the production of my first stage play called "By Way of Wonderwood" that opens on December 8th. But it's certainly improving my skills as a multitasker. What a blast it has been to see costumes, props, stage sets, etc coming together! And every completed character on the mural is a triumph, too.

In the meantime, I found a wonderful downloadable calendar for 2012 through My Owl Barn that lets you choose from a wide variety of artists to customize your own calendar. It's hard to choose just 12! The founder of the project also invites you to use them as gifts for friends and families so put together a few!

I'm excited about the coming year - what are you looking forward to?

Imagining big.

2011-10-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

It boggles my mind to think of the mental gymnastics necessary to produce this art. But wow.

Starting to finish

2011-07-09T09:50:00.001-07:00

I've mentioned several times now that I've been involved in a mural project that has been keeping me busy. As an update, I've been working as design lead on a mural project in a children's area (birth to pre-k) that involves 6 classrooms, a prep area, entry area and large common space (+3 restrooms with some small details in them). Each room has a theme and involves wall murals plus some installation and/or 3D items to bring fun and fascination to these spaces for the little ones that will be using them.

I am finally able to say that we're "beginning to finish". Step by step, elements are being checked off the list and while there's still plenty to go, there's some to share now too.

It's been so exciting to see these characters come to life!

Today's selection are from an ocean room:

And this dolphin is not done yet, but I'm so excited about him I had to share him anyways:

Counting sheep?

2011-06-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Between the mural, a trip to France and a computer that keeps trying to eat my camera cards, it's been a little hectic around here. (Oh and don't forget conference prep!) So once again my best blog ideas are waiting until

1. the mural is done
2. I'm over my jet lag
3. I can access the photos I want to share
4. I have something constructive to show about my hopes for the conference.

But here's another one of those creative gems that just makes me giggle:

Mixing it up

2011-05-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

I've been slow with blogging lately. Mostly because I've been knee deep in a very fun project that involves decorating a children's space. It's 7 rooms that have murals, installations, furnishings and a variety of things to make the kids feel welcome. I've had the privilege of being design lead for the project and - boy! - are we having fun!

So here's a snippet of something I was working on the other day. Doesn't it look yummy?

Btw - do you have any idea of how many paint colors are named after FOOD? It's possible to get a serious case of the munchies standing in the hardware store...

Practical problems with prepositions

2011-04-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new venture these days - wall murals. It's going to be a fun project and I'm very excited to see the finished results but today at the paint store I ran into a misunderstanding over a couple small words.

Part of the challenge came about because paint companies no longer seem to feel the need to print those "progressing" chips that have a range of intensities of the same color available. I wanted specifically to use Olympic's new lo-odor, VOC-free paint (*quick review below) but they simply had nothing acceptable on the paint chip display. So I had to take in a competitor's paint chip and have a custom blend done. I started small (1 quart) and while the color was right on, it did prove too intense for the large scale we will be using it. So, I needed to lighten it somewhat.

The helpful man at the paint store informed me that he could enter the mix colors from my quart and the computer would let him scale it in terms of percentages - 50% lighter, 75% lighter, etc. This was exactly what I was hoping for so I asked for 5 gallons at 75% OF the current tint. He mixed me 5 gallons lightened BY 75%. And I looked at the sample dot on the lid and thought "Hmmm, that's really light" but didn't think through the process until I got it out to my van.

So I'll take it to the job site and try it. In my defense, paint does darken quite a bit on the wall as it dries, right? I'm pretty sure it will be too light and I'll take it back and ask them to add 50% of the tint mix and try again. (I've checked with a couple math whizzes and they assure me this will make the 75% I originally intended. ) And we'll carry on.

And next time I'll watch my prepositions a little more carefully.

_______________________

Quick review: LOVE IT!

The new Olympic No VOC latex paint goes on smooth, has (as they claim) virtually no odor (there's a very faint puddingesque smell if you get your nose right into it), and is definitely comparable in price to many paints. I've definitely needed two coats for good coverage but that's not a big deal compared to all the benefits. A review I found reminded that once standard tints are added it is not truly VOC-free (although even with my math I can figure out the VOC levels would be greatly reduced) so don't think I'm touting it as completely non-toxic but the no-odor factor has made me a fan.

The Writer's Life

2011-04-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed me to this video and it is too funny not to share. (I'm also a little envious of the beautiful bookshelves in the background.)

A new resource: Library Insider

2011-03-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

There's a new resource in town! The agents at Books & Such have introduced a new tool for authors called Library Insider.

It consists of two parts - a database of libraries and their acquisitions information to help authors target their marketing materials to the people and regions best suited to their titles. It's subscription-based and you can find out more here.

Along with it they offer a training package to help you learn how to navigate and best use the database. Behind the Stacks, with author and 25-year librarian Judy Gann, walks you through the process and the best way to get a positive response as an author. As they say on the blog:

"The database is half the equation; the training is the other half."

It looks to be a great resource (and there's a contest for a subscription discount running until Thursday! Check the blog for more info.)

Psst: You can find them on Facebook too.

Missing the Point

2011-02-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, a great group of talented artists that focuses on the medium of (what else?) colored pencil. The work of some of these artists leaves me absolutely breathless.

It quickly became a goal of mine to have artwork accepted to their annual international exhibit. Along with the exhibit, the accepted pieces are also showcased in the CPSA membership magazine, called "To the Point". Because I am not usually in a location to attend the annual exhibit, that issue has become a highlight in my year.

Somehow, that goal took on the flavor of an "ultimate" goal. Once that happened, I would "really" be an artist and would have professional confirmation and would cruise ahead with my other art goals and become famous and never step in a puddle or have to smell a bad odor again in my life. (Or something like that.) It became a BIG DEAL.

So last year, I once again submitted a piece to them and - wonder of wonders - it was accepted! I was thrilled!

Or would have been if I'd known about it.

Unfortunately, a mis-communication on the entry site meant that I did not see the notice of my acceptance. I found out about my acceptance when the curator of the exhibit contacted me via the CPSA co-ordinator to find out why my artwork hadn't arrived at the gallery. The exhibit opened TOMORROW, and I was 300 miles from my studio.

Needless to say, I was devastated for a time. "Aaaaggggghhhhh!" was the sentiment that kept running through my head. But eventually my husband interrupted my plans for hara-kiri and I decided I had a lesson to learn. And I eventually also decided to share it so hopefully someone else can learn from my mistake besides me:

When you're entering something, make sure you find all the information!

Entry deadline, entry requirements, date writers/artists will be notified, HOW they will be notified, when winners will be announced, etc. If you enter online, make sure the image/document is attached. Ask if there's something that doesn't seem to have gone through correctly. Make a note on the calendar and pay attention!

That's about it. It can always be hoped that an exhibit or competition will keep us updated and notified as events happen. But ultimately the onus is on us to be as responsible for our own work as we possibly can.

So when the exhibit issue of To the Point arrived a couple weeks ago, it was a bittersweet moment. But I intend to try again. And we'll see what happens.

A full band (Josh Wilson)

2011-02-25T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before how much I enjoy creativity. And seeing people be creative in their own field is doubly exciting if it's not a field I typically work in. So here's a snippet from a very talented guy, Josh Wilson. I got to see him in concert last weekend and and love some of the unique ways he blends his many musical talents with technology to give it that little extra spice. (I'd also recommend that you watch the video on YouTube. There are actually six Joshes in the video but it won't size properly for some reason.)

How do you suppose an author could make use of multiple appearances? :)

Winsome words

2011-02-17T21:12:00.000-08:00

This week found me grinning over some tasty phrases and delightful thoughts. Here's a few of my favorites:

"impromptu wedding" - It was Valentine's Day after all

"gleeful preposterousness " - actually used in a review of one of my books. Favorite review to date.

"unbiased ratings" - is this actually humanly possible?

"Dyspepsi-Cola" - apparently there's a role playing game that considers this a usable item.

"valetudinarian " - sounds classier than hypochondriac, don't you think?

How about you? Do you keep your ears open for some brain ticklers?

A painting's progress (Olivia "Livvy" Schemanski)

2011-02-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

I have always maintained that I learn more in watching an artist at work than any number of lessons or self-help books can give. So I was very excited that a friend of mine, 'Livvy' Schemanski, put together a video that showed the progress of one of her gorgeous wildlife paintings. How exciting to see this painting come to life on the canvas!

I have stood in front of this painting many times and marveled at her skill. Olivia has a depth of knowledge in the art realm that is simply astounding. Technical skill, creative insights, a wealth of experience, a fun sense of humor and a generous heart to go along with it have taught me a lot since I was fortunate enough to meet her years ago. Enjoy!

(If you want to see some of my work in progress, you can find it at my Val's Imagination blog. Not as dramatic but hopefully helpful all the same.)

Robert Gray: Memory & the 'Smell of Books'

2011-02-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

I will confess that I am one of those that enjoys the smell of books. Real, paper, bound-with- glue books. Leather and hand-stitching books. So this, of course, caught my interest:

Robert Gray: Memory & the 'Smell of Books'

I love that there are those that can categorize the odors in and on books. Each classification brought a distinct aroma with it. That smell of 'literary dust' is an intrinsic part of literacy to me. And I love the link with other people that feel the same way.

(But please don't bother to buy me a can of "Smell of Books". I thank you.)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

What did you do to close out the old year and ring in the new?

I was at a friend's house, playing games, laughing and generally having a great time. I also tried sushi for the first time. Which made me realize I might share something with this character --

Happy New Year!
Let's dream big and see what happens!

P.s. Want to dress your own penguin? He's available at ValerieCoulman.com.

Self-murder and other editing tools

2010-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I came across a quote recently that, to me, stands among the brilliant statements of a writing career:

Ruthlessness with one's own copy remains the mark of a professional, because you have to stab yourself in the back. - Paul Collins, How to Write Like A Victorian

Collins was writing about the first "how-to" writing book, written in the 1890s, and how it's advice is very similar to the tips writers receive today. It is somewhat ironic that the writer, Sherwin Cody, really didn't have a track record of writing fiction, but he blazed a trail of Victorian writers into that pernicious field of fiction.

Collins point is an excellent one. It is no surprise that the title editors and agents always encourage writers to pick up is "Self-editing for Fiction Writers." (BTW, did you know SEFFW is on Facebook now?) The ability to take a firm stand with one's own work is really one of the marks of the writers that have the best chance of succeeding in publishing. The other, sometimes, is the combination of nerve and nose that Cody demonstrated in the late 1800s. (See the full article here - it's a good read.)

While you ponder that, here's a very funny look at the writer not willing to mess with his own work. Maybe you'll recognize him.

An American Xmas - an invitation

2010-11-27T00:17:00.000-08:00

A new play is opening on December 9th. It's called "An American Xmas" and is a comedic look at many of the accepted but contradictory attitudes taken towards Christmas.

As I mentioned before, I get to be involved through set design, costume selections and decor for these events. It's a great group to work with and the end result is always something exciting!

This year, I also got to have some artwork be part of the poster and promotion for the event. It's just more and more fun every year!

If you're in the neighborhood, you're invited to come to "An American Xmas"!

"Printing will destroy architecture"

2010-11-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

"The book will destroy the edifice."
- Dom Claude, in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

My husband has lately been reading Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and pointed out a passage to me that tied up with a current train of thought I'd been having. It's a long passage so I'll skip around a little but the gist of it is the thought that the Gutenberg press was threatening the art of architecture:

"When the legends of primitive races became so numerous, and their reciting was so confused that the stories were about to be lost, people began to transcribe these memories in the most visible, the most lasting, and at the same time the most natural medium. Every tradition was sealed under a monument."

This practice, says Hugo, eventually gave rise to the elaborate architecture of the cathedral and castle. But with the printing press, those same ideas were not captured in words, not in images. Hugo writes:

"Here was a premonition that human thought had advanced, and, in changing, was about to change its mode of expression, that the important ideas of each new generation would be recorded in a new way, that the book of stone, so solid and so enduring, was about to be supplanted by the paper book, which would become more enduring still. In this respect, the vague formula of the archdeacon had a second meaning: That one art would dethrone another art. It meant: Printing will destroy architecture."

It brought to mind the many discussions on the future of traditional publishing in the light of digital publishing. It seems that one was seen as a threat to the other, with both points of view pointing at the other and saying that the end was coming. Obviously, with hindsight, architecture hasn't been done away with. It has changed and modified its look with the trends of the cultures it represents. Perhaps it has become more functional. But it has still carried on with a purpose and with the artistry of those that practice it. A book can't provide shelter like a building can and a building can still express a concept, a thought, an idea even if not as graphically as it once did with its murals and carved edifices.

I suspect the reverse is true of traditional print publishing and digital publishing. The digital formats reduce much of the art to the functional - so far, anyways - while traditional publishing maintains the art and craftsmanship. But there will be room for both to develop their strengths and unique position in a previously unchallenged marketplace. One will have a little more "weight of tradition" behind it, while the other breaks new ground and presents age-old ideas in new and novel ways.

In the end, I suspect traditional publishing will carry on. Not at odds with digital possibilities but in standing as a monument to the ideas and artistry of its kind to be practiced with an old and new purpose unique to itself.

Let's see how it works out.

*all excerpts from Book V, chapter 2 "This Will Kill That"

Remembering ...

2010-11-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The edge of the box

2010-10-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been reading Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin, and have been both challenged and intrigued by his perspective. Although his expertise is generally considered to be in the hi-tech industry, I've been benefiting from taking him literally when he uses the terms "art" and "artist" to apply to the work done in any (or every) industry.

Here's some snippets that, in the words of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, "have given me furiously to think":

"Artists don't think outside the box, because outside the box there's a vacuum ... Artists think along the edges of the box, because that's where things get done. That's where the audience is, that's where the means of priduction are available, and that's where you can make an impact." (pg. 102)

A readily available analogy for this concept is in writing. Writers introduce new concepts, new characters and new worlds but they do it inside the framework of written communication - grammar, plot, sentence structure and so on. Their creative efforts or art rely on the framework of the known. If a writer suddenly abandoned all rules of grammar and just threw words in any order or any tense onto the page, chances are very good that his/her intent would be lost. There would be no idea communicated, except in a purely visual sense. But even the visual arts follow certain conventions that give their work impact, to find that point of contact with their viewer.

Godin's addressing the idea that art must meet reality in order to truly accomplish it's purpose. In order to make an impact, it first has to make it out the door. He quotes Steve Jobs "Real artists ship" as the basic concept of impact.

Now, I've known this for sometime on a personal level - I produce better and more consistently when I have a deadline. Am I always 100% satisfied with what I've produced? No. But if my satisfaction is the key to moving it out, it will never get out. Let's face it, I can putz with a comma or an area of shading forever. The ship date keeps me focused.

Here's Godin's challenge:

"The only purpose of starting is to finish, and while the projects we do are never really finished, they must ship ... Shipping is the collision between your work and the outside world." (pg. 103)

And it eventually becomes part of the process.

"When you first adopt the discipline of shipping, your work will appear to suffer. There's no doubt that another hour, day, or week would have added some needed polish. But over time -- rather quickly, actually -- you'll see that shipping becomes part of the art and shipping makes it work." (pg. 103)

That's the edge of the box. It means you can't rest on the direction of someone else for your daily involvement in your craft. It means paying attention to each step. Walking the edges of the box take balance, discipline and dedication. But creating on the edge of the box also means that your work can be both satisfying and have the impact you intend. And that's the point at which you become indispensable.

Step out and ship it.

Up to my scuppers?

2010-10-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big TV watcher. Have a few shows on DVD that I prefer to watch over and over again, but while traveling last summer, I finally watched an episode of Holmes on Homes. Even where I'm living, I kept hearing, "Don't you know who he is? He's from CANADA!"

Oh.

I thoroughly enjoyed the show and that night I learned what a scupper is - at least related to a home roof. Then I also learned it's actually a boating term. A "scupper" is a drain on a boat.

Which led to this fascinating bit of information - "If you're 'up to your scuppers' you're about to sink..."

It's been a busy time here at my desk. Lots of writing, not enough art, and general business taking up much of my day. There are moments I do indeed feel "up to my scuppers"!

But then that phrase makes me laugh out loud, and I return to the writing waiting for me.

And do it with a smile, too.

(Thanks, Uncle B.)

Sound theories on writing for children?

2010-09-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

“They seem to regard books for children with the same tolerant tenderness with which nearly any adult regards a child. Most of us assume there is something good in every child; the critics go on from this to assume there is something good in every book written for a child. It is not a sound theory.”

– Katharine White (Mrs. E.B.White) quoted in
The New Yorker, 7-21-08 “The Lion and the Mouse”

Cleaning house

2010-09-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

I've been cleaning and sorting through my studio the past few weeks. And will be tackling the closets soon. But today, I sat down and did the same with my computer desktop, not just the physical one.

And I threw out 1500 words.

I know I may miss having words like pastiche and lugubrious and senectitude tucked away for a rainy day but sometimes we just have to prioritize.

("Word Dump" created at Wordle.net)

Author adventures

2010-09-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

School is back in session across most of the nation, or will be next week, for students. And as I think about the year ahead, I still smile about how the year ended for me and an elementary school that I was visiting.

I'd had a week together with a wonderful elementary school in state and it was our last day. Plans were to finish our writing/art projects in several classrooms and then the day would end with a short session with the parents, an ice cream social and a book signing while the parents got a chance to tour around and see what their students had worked to produce. And, as usual, some of the students had done an exceptional job.

So the day began. 8:20 am and I was five minutes in the first session of the morning and - BLINK- the lights went out. Just like that.

It had been raining all week. A steady but strong constant curtain of rain that kept me largely building-bound in a town I was excited to explore. As it turns out, this school is built on the edge of a marsh and one of the big cottonwoods that bordered the marsh had enough of the rain and fell. Snapping a power pole in the process.

Because it is a marsh, the standard equipment couldn't get to the pole to replace it and the crews had to wait for equipment to come up the freeway from another town. The school and the surrounding neighborhood would be in the dark all day. I was told that normally, the procedure would have been to notify parents and let students go home.

But there were two problems with that plan. 1 - the phone lines at the school went out with the power. Everyone would have had to break out their cell phones which would leave the students rather at large while messages, etc were left around town. And 2 - the administrators that would make the let-them-go decisions were in emergency budget meetings.

So the remarkable staff did what all enterprising and resourceful teachers do. They carried on.

We read by open windows, drew in courtyard-rimmed hallways, painted by the light of flashlights and toted water for our painters up the stairs to the better-lit atria in the library. Volunteer-manned lanterns marked the darkest corners of the hallways and restrooms were restricted to the ones with available lighting.

It was a fabulous day! The students really seemed to enjoy the toss-up in routine and still carried on with their work in an almost carnival atmosphere. The staff and parent volunteers laughed and joked and told stories as we figured out the worst of the disruptions. And the principal smiled right along with them, I hope with a measure of pride in how well her school responded to the day in the dark.

My hat is off to Bohemia Elementary for a day of fun and adventure! And maybe I'll make it back for some ice cream some day after all.

Pixels

2010-09-01T09:04:00.001-07:00

How cool is this!

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. - Arts and animation videos.

Fun with foamcore

2010-08-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

I have the privilege of regularly being involved in stage decor as I've mentioned several times in the past. We love to do it fun, innovative and as cheap as possible.

This week, the challenge was to create a giant journal. Boy, did I have fun! The best part, though, was making the giant pencil. It's 7 1/2 feet tall and made up pretty much entirely of foam and duct tape. The pencil body is painted foam core, and the "eraser" is duct tape formed over poster paper and a foam plate.

Best part it, it is so lightweight that when the AC comes on, the pencil moves and looks like it's writing!

Artists on the road

2010-07-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a family vacation that covered a lot of territory. We never specifically planned to take in any galleries or art exhibits but one of the things I noticed is the way art kept popping up through the "regularly scheduled" activities. It was my pleasure this year to discover (or become reacquainted with) some talented artists and their work.

My first encounter was in Saskatoon, SK. The Circle Park Mall has made a number of display cases along the mall and in one of them I found Jackie Miller's cityscapes. They were bold, colorful and had the occasional flair for taking an unusual angle. I enjoyed them thoroughly.

Then in Louisville, KY, we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum. Beautiful building and fun tour but the exciting part for me was the display of original work by Kadir Nelson for his book We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. I became familiar with Kadir Nelson through another book of his, Abe's Honest Words, and the chance to see his work in person was an absolute thrill. It is breathtaking.

Another unexpected intro to an artist showed up at the National Auto Museum, in Reno, NV. Throughout the museum was displayed the work of Robert Cinkel, a Reno artist commissioned by the National Auto Museum to depict autos in their historical context in an exhibit called "Even in Africa". His work is delightful and made an already unique museum an unforgettable experience. (Of course, I liked the period clothing, too.)

If you're near any of these art opportunities, I'd encourage to you to find them and enjoy them. And keep your eyes open. Who knows what treasures may be waiting along the road this summer?

"Re-vamp-aderci!"

2010-07-28T11:19:00.001-07:00

I've mentioned before that I love creativity in promotion. Lately, the "thing" seems to be book trailers. And so many authors are creating book trailers - some compelling, some fun, some odd and some - well - slightly painful. I think they serve their purpose, but for the most part, I don't think many of them have the advantage of novelty that they used to. Don't get me wrong - video book trailers have taken their place on the list of marketing essentials, but they are rather like author websites - much of a muchness.

But here's a GREAT book trailer! It's fresh, funny and he invents a word too! Enjoy...

If you're interested in producing your own book trailer, Writer's Digest did an article awhile back with some how-to advice. Check it out here.

Dream big

2010-06-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

I like crossword puzzles. It's part of my morning routine and my understanding husband lets me have the weekday ones (he gets the NYTimes Sunday puzzle). So on a school visit early this month, I grabbed a local paper, found the puzzle ... and I was in it!

Okay, it wasn't me personally - but it was still my name. And it made me wonder - what do I really consider success? Do I want to be so commonly known that my name really is a crossword clue someday?

I actually found at least part of my answer later that day. As I walked down the hallway of the school I was visiting, I heard whispers following me down the hall - "It's the author lady!", "Hi, Valerie!", "I like your books..." And the smiles and the laughter and the hugs and the funny ideas and creative surprises continued on all day.

You know, that's good enough for me.

A quick thought

2010-05-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

I've been immersed lately in business writing. It's been filling all my spare moments and then some.

Apart from the fact that it pays well, I consider it a whetstone for my writing - it keeps me sharp and it keeps my editorial knife keen. In fact, it makes me practice this adage:

I try to leave out the parts that people skip.

~Elmore Leonard

Author action figures

2010-05-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

I generally try not to post two in a row (two videos, two writing prompts, etc) but this is too fantastic to pass up on. I hope it puts a grin in your day.

Another gem

2010-05-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

Words + concept = art

Paint savers

2010-05-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

As an artist that works fairly often with acrylic paints, the need to be able to walk away from my work for awhile has presented some problems. Once out of the tube/jar/bottle, acrylic paints dry. Ironic, isn't it?

Where this really becomes a problem is when I've mixed a batch of custom color and then have to put the painting aside for awhile. I know, I know, where's my dedication to the craft? But, hey, life happens.

I've tried a few different products that are supposed to help prolong the open life of acrylic paints. Some were inadequate. Unless I'd mixed WAY too much of a color and could peel the skin off to reach fresh paint underneath, they simply didn't do the job.

One product that's pretty good is the Premier Sta-Wet Palette By Masterson. It did a very nice job of keeping the paints fresh for up to 3 weeks. But the depth of the palette meant they had to be pretty small portions of paint. And as time went along, the moisture level in the palette made the edges of the paint dollops get rather watery and begin to run into each other. And after three weeks, the paints were still wet but were starting to smell funky.

A last issue I had is that the papers for the Masterson palette were very difficult to find in my area. Plenty of sponges available but no paper. I did find though, that freezer paper would work in a pinch.

Then I found two better (and much cheaper) option.

Number 1:

It began in a workshop by Jeannie St. John Taylor, when she showed us how she used the lids of margarine tubs (or whipped topping tubs) as her palettes for small dabs of color. If she needed to save a color for a while, she simply popped the top of the tub back onto the lid and, presto, an air tight seal. If it had to be extended, she gave the paint a short mist of water and closed it up again.

I borrowed this idea and bought some cheap food storage containers at a local dollar store. The clear containers were much better for me so I could see what colors I had on the go. I use the lids for the palette and the "tops" for rinse water as I paint. When it's time to stop, I simply rinse the "top", then snap it over the lid. The little bit of moisture left from the rinse keeps the paint fresh for up to four weeks (depending on the size of the paint dab). If I don't get back to them in time, it doesn't solve my color dilemma but I simply peel the paint off and save the dried, flexible paint drops for use in an abstract later.

One drawback to my particular system to note: the colored lids can affect your color perception as you paint. I test on my background so it's never been a huge dilemma but you can see how it might become one.

Number 2:

For large paintings, I still needed something that would hold a generous amount of paint but really hadn't found a good option yet. But then, in preparing for a large live painting session, I grabbed a deli-type container on the way out the door. It seemed like a good all-in-one option for big amounts of paint and having some rinse water nearby.

It worked very well and after clean-up, I simply slapped the lid back on thinking I'd deal with it at home. Well, home took over and it was two weeks before I got back to my temporary palette. To my amazement, the paint was completely fresh from top to bottom. Problem solved!

Here's how it works: take any multi-compartment deli container (you know the type that come with veggies and dip, or crackers and cheese) and use the compartments for your paint colors, but leave one compartment empty. When you need to close up the paint, put 1" of water in that compartment and snap the lid on. The paint I've currently got in there had been in this make-shift palette for 5 weeks and is still completely usable and moist. As the water evaporates slightly, it creates enough humidity in the container that the surface of the paint does not dry. I'm going to leave a little paint to see how long I can really keep it going, but for the purposes of my latest painting, it's been perfect.

Thomas Grey's "Elegy Written in a Country Church-Yard"

2010-04-29T00:00:00.001-07:00

Etta Wilson has been posting about poetry this week and it brought back to mind one of my favorite poems of all time. So bear with me and enjoy:

"ELEGY WRITTEN IN
A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD"

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
And all the air a solemn stillness holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds:

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as, wandering near her secret bower,
Molest her ancient solitary reign.

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

The breezy call of incense-breathing morn,
The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed,
The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn,
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.

For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
Or busy housewife ply her evening care:
No children run to lisp their sire's return,
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share,

Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield,
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke;
How jocund did they drive their team afield!
How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!

Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the Poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour:-
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Nor you, ye Proud, impute to these the fault
If Memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.

Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?

Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway'd,
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre:

But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,
Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll;
Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage,
And froze the genial current of the soul.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast
The little tyrant of his fields withstood,
Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.

Th' applause of list'ning senates to command,
The threats of pain and ruin to despise,
To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land,
And read their history in a nation's eyes,

Their lot forbad: nor circumscribed alone
Their growing virtues, but their crimes confined;
Forbad to wade through slaughter to a throne,
And shut the gates of mercy on mankind,

The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide,
To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame,
Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride
With incense kindled at the Muse's flame.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenour of their way.

Yet e'en these bones from insult to protect
Some frail memorial still erected nigh,
With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd,
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.

Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd Muse,
The place of fame and elegy supply:
And many a holy text around she strews,
That teach the rustic moralist to die.

For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,
This pleasing anxious being e'er resign'd,
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,
Nor cast one longing lingering look behind?

On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
E'en from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.

For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonour'd dead,
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate;
If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate, --

Haply some hoary-headed swain may say,
Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn
Brushing with hasty steps the dews away,
To meet the sun upon the upland lawn;

'There at the foot of yonder nodding beech
That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high.
His listless length at noontide would he stretch,
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.

'Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn,
Muttering his wayward fancies he would rove;
Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn,
Or crazed with care, or cross'd in hopeless love.

'One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill,
Along the heath, and near his favourite tree;
Another came; nor yet beside the rill,
Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he;

'The next with dirges due in sad array
Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne,-
Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay
Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.'

The Epitaph

Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown.
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth,
And Melacholy marked him for her own.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Misery all he had, a tear,
He gained from Heaven ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.

No farther seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode
(There they alike in trembling hope repose),
The bosom of his Father and his God.

By Thomas Gray (1716-71).

Pencil vs. Camera

2010-04-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

This is such a fun mix in visual mediums. Check it out!

Pencil vs. Camera

NewsFlash: Books make a difference!

2010-04-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

Found this article rather interesting: Children Who Grow Up With Books Fare Better.

And my question is this -

are you surprised?

Authors on the move

2010-04-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned Canadian YA author Eric Walters before, but just found out he's doing something even more remarkable (and with Eric it's always a long list of remarkable). He is part of a group that is walking across the desert in Tunisia. He's joining the founder of impossible2possible (i2P) and several young people in this adventure. Their goal is to raise awareness of water issues in Africa and funds for Ryan's Well. You can learn more about the adventure here.

Travels can prompt stories and I expect Eric will come back with plenty. Books like My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the Worldby Margriet Ruurs are fascinating glimpses into aspects of these travels, and sometimes plain silliness comes out of them too. An artist friend has a visual journal of her travels in the number of art pieces that have been prompted by her travels overseas. Do you enjoy books that give a definite sense of place? What about art? Is one easier to convey than the other?

In my travels today, I was in one of the bookstores in the San Francisco airport this morning and was browsing, as usual, checking out what was selling, what people were looking at, and what was on sale. There was a large group of children's titles for sale that made me vaguely sad (love a sale; hate to see children's books undervalued) and some titles that surprised me with the instant assumptions I formed about the book.

There were also some titles that I had some pretty strong reactions to that probably had nothing to do with the story. I've been known to buy a book for the cover, and I walked right past some today, even skirted around them, again because of the cover. I didn't have time to test all the titles (Did the back copy match my assumptions? Was the writing as evocative as the cover?...) before I had to run catch my own flight.

Gotta fly ...

Poems to music (Natalie Merchant)

2010-04-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

A link from a colleague sent me to this video of Natalie Merchant's adaptations of a collection of early poems. The music and staging are delightful but even more so is the fact that the words of these sometimes little-know 19th-century writers are living again. Can you picture your words being revived in a hundred years or more?

Enjoy!

Outsider talk

2010-04-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

I've been planning to write about jargon for a while now. But the more I think about it, the longer the post gets in my head and I put it off (again).

But I found this word:

exonym (n.) : a name given to a person or place by foreigners; a name used by people not native to the place of reference; a place name or a personal name used by foreigners instead of the native-language version used by its inhabitants.

Examples are Moscow (the English version of Moskva); Germany (Deutschland); Japan (Nippon); Vienna (Wien). It's also been fairly common with names - using a name that sounds similar but is different from a person's personal name, often because of linguistic differences and often to make assimilation easier. ie. Charles for Karl; Julia for Juanita, etc.

As a writer, this intrigues me. Like jargon, it represents a certain kind of "inside" knowledge.

I write for English readers. But if I were to set a story in Moscow, which name would I use? Would it lend authenticity to refer to Moskva or just confuse the reader? (It certainly confuses my spell checker.) Tom Clancy uses the exonyms for many Russian cities but sometimes a Russian character would use the native name. Does the time frame or historic setting make a difference? Brock and Boede Thoene also use exonyms in their historic series.

And the last question: are those writers' examples enough to draw a "rule-of-thumb" by?

Fortunately for me, my next story is set in a pond. Which the characters simply refer to as "home."

Tax time translations

2010-04-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

It's tax time here both on a quarterly and annual level, and in reviewing some of the information on quarterly taxes and self-employment tax, I came across this statement on the IRS site:

"The subject of employment taxes is not as formidable when you consult our comprehensive resources."

I have to tell you that after three hours of research that don't answer my questions, several seemingly contradictory sections, and learning that the rules change if I'm a farmer or a fisherman ...

that's a very funny statement.

Ha ha ... ha ha ... ha ha ha ...

Funny fears

2010-03-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Saw a great definition today:

aibohphobia:

The irrational fear of palindromicity

Fun with Post-its

2010-03-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

My husband pointed me to this video and I was amazed. It took some real dedication (follow the link to "the making of" and you'll see what I mean) to produce this and its absolutely remarkable.

The right foot forward

2010-02-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

A terminology word search led me into the multi-syllable world of foot structure this morning. Why? Because someone I know kept referring to the top middle section of the foot as "the instep." That just didn't seem right to me. I always thought the arch and the instep were synonymous in referring to the bottom central portion of the foot.

It seems that I was right and wrong. The instep is generally considered to the the bottom, inside, curved portion of the foot. But I have not yet found a satisfactory term for the top middle portion of the foot. "Midfoot" and the ever-obvious "top of the foot" (as opposed to "the toes", I suppose) seemed to the the simplest terms I could find the for area above the 5 metatarsal bones.

As a writer, I like to have the right word in the right spot. (Of course, writing or not, I just like to be right. But you might have guessed that already, right?) As an artist, I found a couple good resources for those interested in drawing feet, or understanding them from a visual accuracy perspective.

The first is The Foot Thread on WetCanvas, where a series of studies and exercises lead you through different and relevant portions of the foot. It's fascinating even if you don't plan to draw detailed feet.

The second is a Wikipedia article which may drown you in Latin, but has some great illustrations of the various muscle groups that influence the foot and lower leg. What a mechanical marvel!

So have a look and then step out and put your best foot forward.

Packing for literacy learning

2010-02-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

I'm just packing to get ready to go to the 20th Western IRA Regional Conference in Portland. While I'm there with a friend as a vendor, the beauty of going with a friend is that we can still take in some of the sessions on literacy education. If you want to check it out, see the details here.

I'm hoping to come back with lots of news!

What are your don't-miss events for this year?

Stage works

2010-02-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

I promised a little while ago to put up some pictures of the Christmas drama/musical set I'd been part of and it's finally time.

It turned out great! I was responsible for set design/assembly and helped again with costumes (so cool - we had a lady supply us many authentic vintage items for the costumes!) Each of the panel sections in the center were mobile and would swing forward to be an 1850s market place or a dock scene (complete with a stuffed boar's head outside the pub!), or they flipped to show orphanage walls on the back side. Our builder was amazing! I gave him two pencil sketches and a brochure from West Ed Mall and he turned it into magic! Including a twenty+ foot mast (he cut down a tree!). Of course, no 1850s London docks scene would be complete without a fogger. And did I mention the snow machine?

It was four performances of original music, an original new script and fabulous costumes.

As I mentioned before, I would really encourage writers and artists to get their toes into a dramatic production if the chance ever arises. It really produces a living, dynamic event that teaches much in the process and rewards greatly in the finished product.

At the end, it was bittersweet to take it all down. But it also left the question that faces every author, artist, songwriter or playwright - what'll we do next to top this?

I'll have to keep you posted.

A new exhibit

2010-02-03T23:51:00.001-08:00

Along with some of my artwork (and that of a lot of other talented people), the exhibit will also feature the award-winning Homemade Confections, and ForGiving handcrafted jewelry. Feel free to stop in and check it out!

Making the list

2010-01-29T22:48:00.001-08:00

I admit it- I've been known to Google my own name. It's fun sometimes to see where it pops up. And not fun other times. I've found my name on an "aliens-are-coming-and-we-welcome-them" club membership list and others of that ilk, but I've also found some fun sites and information through these searches too.

This week, two spots of note (It's all about me again so turn away if you're feeling queasy):

I made TVO's Recommended Reading Lists for Family Literacy Day with When Pigs Fly, and according to their calendar it looks like When Pigs Fly will be featured in June of this year in Gisele's Big Backyard Book Club. Yay! Love Gisele's Big Backyard Book Club!

Secondly, I found a neat site called Once Upon A Storyville. There are some great reviews, some books I'd like to check out after seeing them there and other interesting tidbits. Where do I come in? Here.

What do you learn when you look for you? You might want to try it before the alien's show up.

Threadbare souls

2010-01-20T08:08:00.000-08:00

I saw this quote today that got the mental wheels turning:

"Often behind silken apparel lies a threadbare soul." (unknown)

How would that play out in a character in a novel? In their relationships? Can you think of a character, either in film or literature, that this would sum up? If you're looking for something to get your gears turning today, give this one a shot.

I remember reading (some time ago) Forever Amber, a novel written in 1944 but set in the luxurious courts of 17th century England. (It also had the distinction of being banned as pornography in 14 states when it was published so let that be your guide about whether you want to invest the time to read it or not.) My lasting impression of the heroine as I closed the back cover on the book was "Wow, she still doesn't get it." Gone With the Wind, similar. Some sense of this too, in Vanity Fair. Why do you suppose the first characters I think of are women? Is it that they are more likely to guild the lily to hide the soul? What male characters display the same traits?

Really, my question is this - can you be satisfied with a character that has a threadbare soul?

Times are bad

2010-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

I saw this quote in a fellow writer's tag line and it gave me quite a chuckle:

"Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is
writing a book."
~Cicero, 106-43 BC

Meet my muse

2010-01-14T12:35:00.001-08:00

I'd mentioned before that I had a project that just hasn't been moving along as fast as I'd like. Well, as part of my determination to complete it (and sooner rather than later), I've done two things:

First, I asked another picture book writer/illustrator if he'd be interested in keeping tabs on each other progress. It always helps me to have a deadline. He very graciously said yes, and hasn't really heard from me since. (But I am working on it, Rick, honest.)

Secondly, I found my muse.

Not for inspiration but for motivation - someone that will be looking me in the eye everyday and waiting for me to get back to my drawing board. Now, I must mention that my husband has been filling this role for some time. And while I appreciate it, he doesn't wait beside my work for me every day (sorry, hon).

So here's my muse.

Isn't he something?

The story I'm working on has a line of ants constantly wandering through the illustrations so this little guy is perfect. Plus he has such an expectant and welcoming look on his little face, it's just fun to sit down beside him and feel like we're partnering in the progress of this story. When I look at him, I'm instantly transported to my make believe world. Even the tilt of his little head keeps me going.

And the itty-bitty snail at his feet has his own story too. Last year, a friend and I had been talking about a lack of progress and the frustration that comes with that and came across a little snail. (We were unloading rocks for a display and had inadvertently brought him with us.) But here's what we learned from that snail - as long as you're moving forward, you're making progress. The speed doesn't necessarily matter. My editors may not always agree but in general it's a pretty good policy.

So, between my muse and I, we're going to make progress. I'll keep you posted.

What does it take to keep you moving forward?

IMO - Derwent Graphitint pencils (set of 24)

2010-01-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

I've been trying out a new type of art pencil (at least new to me) over the last month or so, and while I'll admit the jury is only about half in, here's what I've found so far:

The pencils are Derwent Graphitint Pencils- Set of 24 - graphite pencils with a hint of color. Of course, being water soluble they can be used in wet or dry techniques. I decided to start with a "dry" drawing because I wanted to see just how subtle the color tint was. The picture is not quite finished but here's how it has developed so far:

Over all, I've enjoyed them. It's possible to lay down some very subtle and easily blended layers. But I found the color range to be very limited. Obviously, with only a set of 24 colors available, there will be limitations but I found the shortage of yellow hues and lighter hues to be somewhat problematic, particularly as I enjoy working on colored grounds. Possibly with wet techniques this would be easier to compensate for - using more watercolor techniques instead of colored pencil techniques.

I also found there was a distinct "saturation" moment - an abrupt point where you simply could not lay down more pencil on the drawing any more. Again, this may be the fact that I was working on Strathmore paper (which I find to be notoriously short on tooth) and will have to try it on some other papers to get used to the depth of layers possible. Only one color was a little gritty and that seemed to get better as I sharpened the pencil.

They're worth a try but overall, I'd give them 3 stars out of 5.

*I was not compensated in any way for this review and did not do so by request of Derwent. This is just my opinion based on my experience with this product.

All images and artwork (c) vjcoulman.

Added 1-14-10: If you're interested, the final original artwork is available for purchase at ValsImagination.

New goals

2010-01-01T21:43:00.000-08:00

So last week I was thinking about goals that I had/hadn't reached yet. And was thinking that it's a new year, it's time to get the new list together. And found a great list at this blog. And generally have dragged my toes for 9 whole hours of the new year about goal setting.

But in sorting through some notes today, I found this quote scrawled on a scrap of paper:

"Most of us learn to write well by writing badly for a long, long time."
(Sue Grafton in Snoopy's Guide to Writing)

I like that. I think I have a goal now. :)

Happy New Year everyone, and
all the best to you as you write
- good OR bad!

"...almost incredibly successful"

2009-12-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

I picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night and actually read through the introduction this time. And I found this gem:

"... Later I became a writer and worked on a lot of things that were almost incredibly successful but in fact just failed to see the light of day. Other writers will know what I mean. " - Douglas Adams

Do you have an almost incredibly successful project in the works? What stage is your future success at right now?

There's still time!

2009-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about Christmas shopping.

What I was thinking about was year-long goals. Do you set those at the beginning of the year? I often do. I always start with some easy ones so I feel progress right off the bat. But those ambitious ones are trickier. They take plodding - one small task at a time that eventually adds up to the big job done.

So it's about this time of year that I dust off the goal list and see how I've made out. And as I look at it, I see some things I'm really proud of. I finished one ambitious art piece that I've been working on for 2 1/2 years. I've experimented with some new mediums - some I like, some not so much. I've had some very productive public appearances and made some good friends in the process.

But I must confess, I've got one big project that still isn't ready to go. In spite of time blocked out, my husband's support (read "coaxing", "encouraging", "nagging") and a "productivity pal" it's still not where I wanted it to be by this time.

...sigh...

But the good news is the year isn't over yet. I still have time (roughly a week, once the Christmas company clears out for the year) to pull it back out and make some progress. And even if I don't quite make it, I guess I have the beginning of a goal list for next year.

What's left on your list for this year?

My thanks to Rick Green for the use of his hilarious "doodle".

Art in healing

2009-12-14T21:57:00.000-08:00

Art enables us to find ourselves
and lose ourselves at the same time.
Thomas Merton

I found a site today that intrigued me. And once I finished looking through it, it also touched and challenged me.

The site is called "Lilly Oncology on Canvas" and it features an annual art competition, as well as a gallery of past competition winners, for those who have been personally touched by cancer, either as a person diagnosed with cancer, caring for someone with cancer or as a healthcare professional.

I'd encourage you to take a moment to look through it. And if you know someone that might be eligible, encourage them to consider expressing their journey through art. The guidelines for the 2010 competition are here.

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.
Charles Horton Cooley

Touch typing

2009-12-08T07:58:00.001-08:00

I've run into a funny dilemma in my writing.

The letters are wearing off my keyboard.

B and N are totally gone. L and V are a mere speck of their former selves. S, D, C, M and K are fading fast. And E is looking pretty skinny too.

I've never actually had this happen before and its been funny to watch the letters slowly dissolve into blackness. It's also causing more typos and spelling mistakes. It's not that I stare at the keyboard as I type. I progressed beyond that some time ago. But somehow having the "anchor letters" fading, combined with the process of thinking through the spelling on some words makes me too aware that some letters are missing. That it'll be a laborious process of memory to find it on the keyboard if I have to look.

My solution, for now, is to have to operate in autopilot. You know how that works, right? Like the centipede that has no trouble walking until it has to explain which leg goes where - if you forget your hands and just type away, it seems to work much better than being conscious of where each finger should go to find each letter. It goes much more smoothly that way. (It also works sometimes if you forget your PIN.)

I suppose I could get a new keyboard. But I kind of like the story this one is telling on its own. It tracks my writing almost as well as anything else. So for now, I'll just clatter away on this one.

But when I wear out the asterisk, I'll know for sure it's time for a new one.

(I also learned two things while taking the picture of my keyboard:

1. It's very dusty!
2. There are actually function cues on the fronts of some of the keys. Never noticed that before ...)

Responding to criticism

2009-12-03T08:16:00.001-08:00

I was pointed to a great blog today by Nathan Bransford. His blog on "How To Respond to a Manuscript Critique/Editorial Letter" is definitely worth the price of admission.

These responses can be difficult. I always open them with rubber gloves and as long a reach as I can manage, especially if it's a first-time response from an editor I haven't worked with before, or that I've disagreed with before. And I've had clients tell me they react the same way when I send revisions their way, too.

So what do we do? We know that these suggestions and critiques are necessary to make our writing stronger. (Yes, I said NECESSARY.) But the whirlwind they can cause sometimes makes writers (and artists) want to pack in their pencils.

I've learned to watch for some warning signs in my responses. Maybe some of them will look familiar to you:

1. Anger. This usually takes an "How dare they?" or "They don't know anything" sound. Don't they understand that the whole premise of the plot rests on the fact that the protagonist had his mother serve him bad brussel sprouts as a child?

My suggestion? Anger might suggest they have a point. So have a tantrum if you must, but then take a deep breath, count to ten and look again at the suggestions in small pieces. Remember that it's business, not personal. Your editor or agent isn't out to destroy your voice, your career or your reputation. On the contrary, they have a very vested interest in seeing you succeed. That doesn't mean to have to agree, but it does mean you need to understand why you agree (or don't agree) with the suggested changes.

2. Despair. "I'm just not a writer," "I'll never write again," or "This will take MONTHS to revise." It may be even the silent motion of simply closing the file and walking away with no intention of ever opening it again. (Depending on deadlines, of course. Or money on the line.)

My response to myself has usually been, "Get over it." Put it away for a bit and then take another look after you've armed yourself with a goodly supply of chocolate (or coffee or Barry Manilow or whatever it takes to keep your mental boat steady. Okay, maybe not Barry Manilow.)

3. Dismissal. I was part of a critique group once that had a mix of genres represented in the group. And I found myself "weighting" the criticisms by the genre the other writer wrote. "Well, he writes novels - he just doesn't get picture books," "She's a poet. She doesn't have to deal with character development."

It's common sense that we gravitate towards people with similarities, in almost every situation. But that doesn't mean there's no value in the differences. Why? Because our readers will also have different viewpoints, backgrounds and areas of expertise. Perhaps don't make wholesale revisions based on every comment you get, but welcome the "hmph" reaction as a chance to see from another point of view. And then (and only then) evaluate it's validity.

Criticism is a double-edged opportunity. Too many times it can feel like "hit me again." But it's still the mark of the dedicated writer to be able to accept the input of others to shape and carve our words. Hopefully without feeling carved up in the process.

From paper to stage

2009-11-24T13:46:00.001-08:00

Once again, I'm knee deep in Christmas and have been for two months now. I'm involved again in set design/construction and costuming for a Christmas musical set in 1850s London. It's actually a sequel to last year's production. And what started as a paper script in July is rapidly taking shape into something truly special.

What's fascinating this year is the range of experiences we have represented in this year's drama. Creativity is always exciting and to see the various strengths of each person work together is a huge learning experience and an exciting process. I would really encourage you to step out of your comfort zone once in a while and see how this type of collaboration can "enlarge your vision" within your own craft.

Our costume consultant has worked in community theater and has a private collection of over 1000 vintage costumes that she is loaning and adapting to our actors.

Our scriptwriter is a multi-talented man and a fantastic actor with an unerring sense of blocking.

Our director has over 30 years in voice talent, print and movie promotions, acting and decorating, which all adds up to some really exciting possibilities.

Our set builder was a doctor by profession but is also a very creative builder who can see and make anything we've handed to him (including a SHIP!) so far.

And the songwriter has proven again his versatility in stirring the heart with a range of songs and styles.

It promises to be something truly exciting and I hope to post some photos soon. But until then, you are invited:

People's Choice

2009-11-14T23:21:00.000-08:00

Awards are always an honor but I must confess the ones I enjoy watching (and receiving) are People's Choice-type awards. They're a little more unpredictable and a little more exciting and often more surprising.

Today, I was very honored to receive the annual "People's Choice" award for photography from SOSA (Southern Oregon Society of Artists) for my photography "Love Never Fails". A year of juried entries in the quarterly critique categories culminated in today's choice by the SOSA members.

Thank you to my fellow artists, photographers and peers.

I am honored.

(And, it would appear, I am also bragging. ;) )

Ladybug Picnic and Bud Luckey

2009-11-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Ladybug's Picnic was (and still is) my all time favorite Sesame Street clip. As a child I would sing along and dance in the living room. I still do - though it's not on as often any more. As a child, I never thought much about the person that created it. I just loved it.

Then I grew up and one day went to see Pixar's "The Incredibles" . And fell in love with Boundin' - the short for the movie*.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that Bud Luckey, the writer/director/singer/illustrator/etc of Boundin' was also the man that animated The Ladybug's Picnic. It was a moment roughly akin to the day as an adult that I realized Jay Williams, author of The Practical Princess and Other Liberating Fairy Tales was also the author of A Bag Full of Nothing, the story my sister won in first grade and that I'd been threatening to steal every since. It connected a lifetime love where I hadn't know there was a connection.

Mr. Luckey makes a comment in one of the extras about Boundin' that I love (yes, I rushed out to get the DVD). He says of working with a generally younger team,

"I like to think these days that 30 years ago, I used animation to teach kids their numbers. And now these kids are teaching me how to animate with numbers ... So it was a good deal."

I like to think I'm at the beginning of my career as a writer and artist. But if I think about the long term, my real goal is to be like Mr. Luckey - able to look back on a varied career that touches something special in a child. For a lifetime.

Thank you, Mr. Luckey.

*the Academy Award-nominated Pixar Animations Studios Short Film Boundin', to be precise

Putting it to the vote

2009-11-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

At my last public author event, I took along the usual coloring pages, gum balls, postcards and that sort of thing that help catch the eye of parents and children and make great ice breakers. But I also took along a sketch that I'd worked up awhile ago, along with a supply of colored pencils. A fellow author once observed "You're not a real writer until you've been ignored by the public" and the art was a way to pass the time while I was being ignored. It was also "test time" for me - I wanted to experiment with a couple different techniques in the same medium and see which I preferred.

These obviously aren't finished yet and the scan is patchy, but this is where the gaps in two days got me. Keep in mind, I used roughly the same colors (I switched the shadow shade in the darker version from green to purple but otherwise, it's the same colors) just a different technique:

It turned into an impromptu survey. As I chatted with various people, my work was out on the table (each was only 5 x 7 or so) and if people craned their necks to have a look, I'd ask which they preferred, the light touch or the strong arm approach. I have to admit, I usually enjoy the strong arm approach - laying down the color as thick as possible. But with a new drawing in the planning stages, it was time to experiment.

The end result was interesting.

Girls preferred the light touch, almost unanimously. And the younger they were, the more emphatic they were about their preference.

Boys like the brighter color and wanted the dragonfly to be RED.

It was an eye-opener to get their feedback and see where I agreed and where I didn't. I've done the same thing sometimes with story sketches when visiting classrooms but adding the color discussion was a lot more fun.

I think I'll take some new sketches along next time, too.

Build your vocabulary

2009-11-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Ever needed just the right word but it's simply not there?

Well, chances are it's there, you just don't know what it is.

So here's few random words to help build your vocabulary. Or help you with your morning crossword puzzle.

acnestis:
noun: The part of the body where one cannot reach to scratch.

grangerize:
verb tr.:
1. To mutilate a book by clipping pictures out of it.
2. To illustrate a book by adding pictures cut from other books.

comstockery:
noun: Overzealous censorship of material considered obscene.

cwm: (gotta love a word with no vowels)
noun: A steep bowl-shaped mountain basin, carved by glaciers. Also known as cirque.

eleemosynary:
adjective: Relating to charity

Now go see if you can put these words to use.

A writing quote

2009-10-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

"The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other cat's mat is a story."
--John le Carre

Showing and telling

2009-10-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

One of the time-worn maxims of writing is "show don't tell." Novice writers mumble it in their sleep, and experienced writers stand in front of novice writers and repeat it. Sort of an "I had to learn it, now you have to learn it."

As a picture book writer and as an artist, "Show don't tell" is been a maxim that I have to view differently. It's my job to tell the story but in telling it, I get to use pictures (show) AND words (tell). Do you suppose it's a coincidence that show-and-tell vanishes from the classroom about the same grade as picture books? Wordless picture books are phenomenal in their own right but admit it, they don't function to improve reading skills and there are some constraints on the types of information they can convey. At the same time, words only don't always spark the fascination of the reluctant reader. Or even an avid reader, sometimes - even in adult markets, why do you think that so much effort goes into producing that eye-catching cover?

That being said, it's long been my theory that in a picture book, good illustrations will carry a weak story but weak illustrations will sink even some of the most magical text. I have some wonderful stories by various talented and favorite writers on my shelf but quite frankly, don't read some of them very often because the illustrations are not appealing to me at all. It doesn't have to do with style or color - some of them just don't add to the story.

And that, I think, is the key.

In picture books, both the art and the text tell a story. In the best picture books, each carries a separate thread of the story but they become braided together through the tempo of the tale to create something unique and whole and completely satisfying.

As a writer, I cannot add every detail to the text. The story has to be a single "lint free" thread. But in the pictures I can create a rich world or a fanciful one that supports and adds to the intrigue or humor or suspense or silliness of the story.

As I was mulling this over once again (I offer a workshop on this so spend a fair bit of time thinking about it), I picked up The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Bookby Bill Waterson. It's a fascinating book because he shares some of his "behind the scenes" thoughts about everything from the strip composition and story lines to his struggles with licensing and syndicates. And he makes this statement:

"The best comics have funny writing and funny drawings, but sometimes the strength of one can make up for the weakness of the other."

So far I agree. And then he goes on to say this:

"Great writing will save boring artwork better than great drawings will save boring ideas ... "

Now if you've been paying attention, I just spent a couple paragraphs disagreeing with this. But he goes on:

" ... but comics are a visual medium, and a funny picture can pull more weight than most people think."

Okay, that's true. Particularly because he demonstrates it so well by having a frame just below this statement where Calvin's bubble gum imploded all over his face. He concludes:

"Whenever deadlines force me to go with a mediocre idea, I go for broke on the illustration."

And we're back to agreement. Ding, ding, ding. Round's over ...

Picture books, like comics, are largely a visual medium. I suppose it's a perk of the current publishing environment that fewer of the boring ideas (including a few of my own) are making it to market. The variety of illustration styles and mediums is also picking up and giving greater variety to the look and feel of the stories.

But I still say go for broke on both.

Seeing a story

2009-10-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any."

--Orson Scott Card

Motivation

2009-10-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

Some people (writers, artists, salesmen, whatever) are very good at finding reasons not to (write, paint, make contacts, whatever). And I confess I am frequently one of them. Life steps in and I forget to put things in their proper order. Or I do put them in the right order but that means writing falls down the list for the moment. I've heard this called "the tyranny of the urgent" and I dare say it catches all of us at some point.

Randy Ingermanson - "deranged physicist and award winning author" - wrote once of an arrangement he made with a group of friends that helped him stay focused on his priorities. The basic gist of it was that if he didn't meet a deadline they'd agreed on together, there was a penalty to him. And as he pointed out, it had to be something he couldn't afford to give them.

I told a friend about this last summer and, half joking, said "We should do that. But let's not make it about money - I don't have any of that. How about one of your paintings?" Now, I must say, I didn't think she had agreed to the plan. We were interrupted at that point and went on with our day. But a couple weeks later I was emailing her and closed with "So how's your writing? Am I any closer to owning one of your paintings?" (Total joke this time.) And we hadn't been in touch since then.

Until yesterday when the phone rang.

My wonderful and talented friend called to tell me that she had met the deadline for the particular piece of writing she was working on. She even had the FedEx receipt time-stamped for 3:59 pm (4 pm was the latest she could turn it in). I congratulated her - it was quite a feat and I was very excited for her. But my jaw hit the floor when she told me how instrumental I had been in helping that happen.

What?

She had taken our "deal" very much to heart and had even shed a few tears at one point because she didn't think she'd make it and wasn't willing to part with painting she knew I would ask for. She wrote the final chapters from a hospital bedside in the wee hours of the morning but she GOT IT DONE.

Wow.

What will it take to get you motivated? I'm not even sure I can always answer that question myself. But let me close with a thought from Hope Clark's Funds for Writers newsletter this week:

"I don't care if you want to be a writer or a plumber, a doctor or a teacher. You need to establish your path and lay out benchmarks to reach those personal goals. The television, the movie and the dust mop can go to hell.

The only time you have is now."

What will it take?

The pen is mighter

2009-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

While getting my breakfast together this morning, I realized something. Just as important as my cereal and fruit is my pen.

Why? Well, because it tastes good dipped in milk.

Okay, not really. But I like to do the crossword puzzle every morning to get my day started. It's roughly the equivalent of that first stretch of the morning. It gets the juices flowing and shakes loose the stiff spots. Trying to make the connections the puzzle maker assumes I'll be able to loosens up the mental pathways as sometimes the clues have the expected answers and sometimes you have to think in a totally different direction. Usually the puzzle has an overall theme and the major clues will all link back to that one premise. It's almost like bullet point plotting.

What do you do to get your mental processes shaken into working order? It might be worth remembering that sometimes, the pen is mightier than the spoon.

A triptych

2009-10-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend playing in my paint and ended up painting a triptych. (Do you know I have to look up the correct spelling for that almost every time I use it? And if you google it, you get lots of hits from people that decided not to look it up.)

Figured out a simple green "recipe" that I really like, and experimented with some textures and shapes at the same time. But even more exciting for me is a fourth painting that's not turning out at all like I expected. Just like a story can take you to unexpected places, the painting has as well.

Abstract art is always fascinating because though it can speak volumes, it always seems to speak a different language to different people. Our connections to colors, to emotions, to shapes all contribute to the "appeal" of an abstract piece. It reminds me of a passage I recently read:

... The third picture was my picture. There wasn't really much to it, if you know what I mean. It was -- how can I describe it? It was kind of simple. A lot of space in it and a few great widening circles all round each other, if you can put it that way. All in different colors -- odd colors that you wouldn't expect. And here and there, there were sketchy bits of color that didn't seem to mean anything. Only somehow they did mean something! ... All I can say is that one wanted terribly to go on looking at it. (from Endless Night by Agatha Christie)

A list of ___ things

2009-09-23T21:53:00.001-07:00

I recently read an article that touched on the topic of writing list-style articles. (I'll point you to it later.)

I have to admit that as a freelance writer, I have written list articles - 5 Ways to Bake Cookies Without An Oven During an Oregon Summer; The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Odors in Your Closet; Three Reasons Pet Rocks Trump Pet Frogs - that sort of thing. There are advantages to the list article, not the least of which is that it can be a helpful way to group semi-unrelated thoughts.

So here's my list article for the week.

FIVE REASONS I HAVEN'T POSTED THIS WEEK
(or Random Excuses I May Want to Pull Out as a Deadline Approaches)

1. A wildfire.

Yep. I walked out my front door Monday afternoon only to discover that 600 acres of my view were in the process of being consumed. It was an interesting day. I'm a prairie girl and don't know a lot about forest fires. But I did know that if the wind shifted, we were going to be in real trouble. Fortunately, due to a host of heroes from across the state, no homes were lost in this fire and only one (that had been vacant) was lost in the sister fire down the valley.

2. Make that two wildfires.

It was an interesting lesson in crisis management. A neighboring town had a 90-acre, four-alarm fire the same day the fire broke out across from my neighborhood. And there was talk of a third fire in between. The good news is that every possible resource was in motion very quickly. But the rumors and speculation ran rife for quite some time. Why? Because the people that had the accurate information were busy doing the job that had to be done. Even now, there is still no definite word on the cause of either fire (or confirmation of the third).

3. A broken faucet.

The kitchen sink went kablooey, meaning I've had to do dishes in the laundry room. It would have been a great week to strap on the pedometer.

4. A virus.

It's the beginning of the school year and somehow that seems to amount to an open invitation for every virus in town to come visit. Again, though, there is a silver lining. Because of H1N1, students are coming home jam-packed with information on preventing germs from spreading. Which they explain to us as they pass the germs along anyways.

5. Router issues.

And I lost my favorite pencil. (You guessed it - Ms. Organization tried to tidy up.) How is this related to my router? Please don't ask me to explain. Not now that I've finished my list and am wrapping up.

In the meantime, here's the article I mentioned at the beginning of this post, "The List of N Things" by Paul Graham. I think you'll enjoy it. And in a somewhat related topic, I'll be posting on jargon later. After I find my favorite pencil.

Bring in the ...

2009-09-19T23:02:00.001-07:00

Author Organization

2009-09-15T08:55:00.001-07:00

Today at the Books & Such blog, I saw an author organization quiz in the lower right hand corner. Being a sucker for punishment, I decided to take it.

Now as much as I try to avoid generalizations, when it comes to my own work, I have many. And generally I do not see myself as very organized. I'm sure my family would agree when they step into my studio. But in other areas where I work, I seemed to have developed a reputation for organization. Ironic, don't you think?

Well, the results of the survey surprised me a little but here's what the results said (and I might add, the majority of authors seemed to fall into this group):

Organization Meister

You are an ORGANIZATON MEISTER!

You look organized to everyone around you because you shine in several areas, but you secretly worry about the hidden glitches in your systems.

Even meisters can improve so ... "

A Meister? Cool, but ... really?

Well for starters, I must say I don't usually secretly worry about the hidden glitches because I see the hitches every time I try to walk to my desk. Some days, it's an obstacle course. Organized? It sure doesn't look like it.

But at the same time, I don't miss a deadline unless it's for circumstances completely beyond my control. If I say I'll do something, I usually do it the moment I'm back at my computer. I figure I don't have to stress about what's on your to-do list, so the faster it's off mine and back to you the better. I have two calendars open (a desktop one and a, well, a "desktop" one) to track what needs to be done and what I have done each day. I think I can say it's fairly organized.

Here's where I think the dichotomy lies:

I do have a system. I jokingly refer to myself as being a "visual filer" because my system runs somewhat on the principle that out of sight is out of mind. So I tend to have stacks of papers or letters or supplies sitting around me. My desk does tend to overflow. All my shelving is open so I can see at a glance what's there. Project supplies, research or notes get stacked together. I prefer the open mesh-style filing boxes for current stuff. And I usually have one small box of stuff "to be dealt with." It's not urgent but I don't want to put it away just yet because it's significant for some reason.

Now here's the thing - I can find everything. I know which stack to look in. It's when I clear up and file things that I lose track. Occasionally I do a massive purge (like the days before company comes) and then I have to reorganize the mental files to match the move in the physical ones.

So while my friend the professional organizer might agonize over the state of my system, it's working. I hear, though, that even meisters can improve and I never want to close the door on improvement. I'm sure there are tips and tricks that will let me better mesh neatness and organization.

But for now, I'll add that thought to the appropriate stack. Then I'll know where it is when I need it.

Author visit with Donita K. Paul

2009-09-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

School starts in my area today and to mark the occasion, we have a former teacher visiting today!

Donita K. Paul is another of the authors that participated in the Motiv8 fantasy fiction tour. I met her on that tour when I heard a young reader say, "You can tell she has fun writing her books." Of course, with an accolade like that, we had to bring home DragonSpell (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 1).

I've since learned that before picking up her pen to write, she worked in the classroom. So let's sit down for a chat with her today while the students are finding their way to their seats.

Q: What is your background and how did that lead to your career in writing?

A: You know that old saying, "Don't quit your day job"? In a manner of speaking, my day job quit me. I was an elementary school teacher, but I became disabled in '96 but didn't give in to not working outside the home for a couple of years. Writing became a career because I was stuck at home - an A type personality in a D body. In order not to go crazy I started writing again, something I've always wanted to do.

I think this is just where God wants me. I kind of wished I'd listened earlier to the gentle nudgings.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your writing process? Do you plan first or let the story develop as you write?

A: I am definitely a seat of the pants writer. I "see" the scenes in my mind and just write them down. Then I go back and do the technical stuff. I have a general idea that will be accomplished by the end of the story, but there are no details on neat 3x5 file cards. No story board. No notebooks. No character sheets. If I die just before the climax of my next book, everyone is out of luck. No ending!

Q: You work in two genres (romance and fantasy) - does the process vary between the two?

A: The process is the same with both my romance and fantasy novels.

Q: Christian fantasy has historically been considered a very tough market. How did you find your publisher? How long was that process for you?

A: It didn't take long at all. I submitted the manuscript and had a contract in eighteen days.

Q: What marketing techniques or events have you found to be most successful for you?

A: Without a doubt more books are sold by word-of-mouth than any other ploy. So you need to consider how you can stimulate conversation about your books. I use bookmarks and t-shirts as giveaways.

Q: How did the Motiv8 tour come about? Had you met any of the other authors before?

A: I knew Christopher Hopper from one quick meeting. This young man is a dynamo and has a wonderful ministry to teens. I know LB Graham from another brief meeting. I was most familiar with Bryan Davis and Sharon Hinck. We've been online writing friends for several years. The fantastic four (Wayne Thomas Batson, Christopher Hopper, Bryan Davis, and Sharon Hinck) did a book tour up the east coast the year before the Motiv8, and they invited us to join the troupe traveling down the west coast.

Q: What were some of the benefits of working together with other Christian fantasy writers?

A: One of the things we did as we talked to readers was to guide them to the authors who had the books best suited for the reader. I would point out that the mother of my young fan would appreciate Sharon's book with a mother protagonist. For younger brothers and sisters of my readers, I could point to Eric's and Jonathan's boks. For those interested in more epic fantasy, we had books by Bryan, Wayne, Christopher, and LB.

Q: Drawbacks?

A: With eight authors and readers with limited funds, the frustration of young readers wanting to buy everything they saw and not having enough was a bit sad. However, we encouraged the patrons to ask their public libraries to get copies of the books and to put the books on their birthday and Christmas lists.

Q: What encouragement would you offer writers that are just beginning their journey to publication?

A: 1. Read. Read. Read.
Read the genre that you intend to write.
Read the books on how-to.
Read the books you like and try to figure out why.
Read the books you hate and try to figure out why.

2. Get in a productive critique group. Don't pick one where everyone says "Oh that was just wonderful!" Don't pick one where there is one person who "knows it all" and has the kind of forceful personality that dominates the group.

Q: Are you already working on another book? What is next for you? For your readers?

A: I have started writing the next book. It picks up where The Vanishing Sculptor: A Novel left off.

Q: One last question - I noticed on your blog that you sometimes take your dragons out for dinner. Are they generally well behaved?

A: They are generally well behaved. However, if the grandsons go also, the dragons become excited and don't behave.

Thank you, Donita!

If you want to know more about Donita K. Paul and her books, visit her website at http://www.donitakpaul.com for games, downloads, a photo gallery, writer's resources and more.

Measuring success

2009-09-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

I recently was part of a community fun fair. It was a first attempt by a local group and they had a few problems with the logistics of the event. I don't want to comment too much on that, but it did lead a lot of the vendors to look at each other and ask, "How was the weekend for you?"

Hmmm.

One vendor said she'd met her goals. Enough books sold to cover her fees plus some community connections that would lead to more business. Another vendor was cautiously optimistic - he never knows until a couple weeks down the road what final results are. Some just shook their head and several others actually packed up and went home part way through the day.

It made me stop and think about how I was going to measure the event.

Sales? Well, I sold a respectable number of books, plus had the pleasure of seeing some faces really light up as they looked through them.

Give aways? I gave away over 200 gum balls, plus every one of the dozens of coloring pages I'd brought. (I literally finished the day by cutting my master sheets apart.)

Contacts? I had a great chance to talk with several area teachers and handed out brochures about school visits and art residencies. It remains to be seen whether any of those translate into visits. And I was able to provide resources to many parents and a few aspiring writers as well. That's always a perk.

Publicity? This was the most interesting one for me, this time. Each of the brochures, business cards and coloring pages I handed out listed my website (of course). Yesterday I went to my web stats and found some exciting numbers. In that one weekend, the number of unique visitors to my site had jumped by 25%; the number of visits by almost 30%; page hits were up and so were page views.

So I think the upshot has to be that, yes, it was a successful event. And I learned a few things to do slightly differently next time and that counts in the plus column too.

Children's writers (a quote)

2009-08-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

I was catching up on a older version of a WOW! newsletter, and came across this great quote that Esther Hershenhorn attributes to a friend in her interview there:

“Children’s book creators are actually long-ago friends from another time and place who have simply and suddenly reconnected.”

I made a few of those connections last weekend, and I must say that they are always eminently satisfying. Although in one case, it was not a person. It was a book. A delightful and instant long-lost friend sitting on a library shelf.

Where do you plan to connect with some "long-ago friends" this year?

Another unlikely writing tool

2009-08-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

I've been rather silent here because I've been preparing for a 2-day community fair in my area that began today. Teamed up with a friend that's written a fabulous book for teachers and parents that have a struggling reader at home (find her here).

But in the meantime, I came across another unlikely writing tool the other day. I was paying my credit card bill and the opening flash ad looked suspiciously like a writing prompt. See what you think and have at it:

"Your rental car got stolen.

In the French Riviera ..."

Now begin while I finish up with a full (9-9) day tomorrow. Then I'll be back. And if you finish early, check the ads around you for some other likely looking prompts.

A fish out of water?

2009-08-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

It's summer. I'm preoccupied with weather. (You may have noticed.) There have been a couple days where I just want to crawl right inside my water bottle and stay there. Which led to this sketch:

Stay cool!

Love the library hum

2009-08-16T00:32:00.001-07:00

We dropped into our local library and what a pleasant trip it was. We have a beautiful new library downtown and it's not the sort of place where you'll see "Shhhh" on the walls. It's had it struggles in the past few years but today it looks to be a vibrant and much-loved place.

Today, if fact, it made me think of a market. There was a pleasant hum as people talked about different titles or browsed the fresh selections and well-loved standbys on the shelves. At the self-serve check out stations people arranged their assortments of topics, ideas, information and entertainment preparing to take them home to savor. At the staffed check out counter, staff shared insights and tidbits about various titles people were sampling for the first time, or sharing from timeless favorites.

And in a delightful display, a woman of somewhat Reubenesque proportions reclined on a bench in the lobby, in no hurry to leave the novel she was devouring with a rather voracious appetite. I would have liked to have painted her.

Today was also a "wrap up summer" party, and a live xylophone performer in the courtyard played a pleasant counterpart to the planned children's activities. Open doors and sunshine made an inviting atmosphere where even the children negotiating "just one more book?" with their parents added to the flavor of the afternoon.

Mmmm ...

Fancy words & fanciful words

2009-08-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

I came across something today that might develop into a real writing tool for me.

I was posting a comment to a friend's blog today and it was one of those that requires you to enter a password before posting. The "word" that came up was REMIDDLE.

I like that non-word. It seems delightfully familiar but of course I don't have a clue what it means. And as I let my mind wander to try to find a meaning, I found a sentence, then a paragraph forming about the process of "remiddling." It had a fantasy flavor to it and I may take time to play with it some more.

Yesterday, it was VADAL. Sounds adjectival, don't you think? Now it turns out that Vadal is actually the name of a community in India. I hadn't know that. So I could do some research and choose to write a short story set in Vadal, or I could work on a setting where the appropriate - the only - descriptive word for some noun would be that it was "vadal."

Keep your eyes open. Those passwords might just open the door to some truly vadal writing.

Turn up the heat

2009-08-04T12:39:00.001-07:00

I mentioned in my last blog the temperatures that are jumping around above the 100 degree mark in my area. It's summer and probably soon the sky will start to haze over with forest fires or thunderstorms (or both, or in sequence).

But I got thinking about this today - the impact of something is always notched up when we turn up the heat. For example:

Molten lava vs. solid rock
A sheen of sweat vs. a cool facade
Melted chocolate vs. solid chocolate with a dusty haze
A roaring fire vs. a drizzling rain
Burning desert sands vs. murky ocean floor
The heat of an argument vs. rational discussion
A sizzling steak vs. raw meat
"hot-headed" vs. "icy, null and void"

So it begs the question - how can I ramp up the temperature to give my writing more sizzle?

Escaping with my imagination

2009-07-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

It hit 109 degrees in my neighborhood yesterday - I know, I know, there are some places even hotter but you've got to remember I'm a Canadian girl. I am acclimating but not fast enough for those kinds of temperatures!

So here's a different time of year to think about:

Stay cool!!

Team writing/Coauthoring Without Murder

2009-07-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

Team writing intrigues me. Whenever I see two names on a script or a book cover, I begin to wonder about them as a duo and how they managed the mechanics of coauthoring. I recently met a woman that writes with another person (actually her sister-in-law). And a few years back I met a dynamic mother-daughter duo that write together. When I meet these teams, my first thought is usually, "How's that working for you?"

A very interesting article on the subject by Randy Ingermanson is below (and the legal stuff that says it's okay to post it is below that. Then a Monty Python clip is below that. It's all good so hang in there.)

I've learned from experience that team writing differs significantly from the editor/writer relationship. There's an implicit hierarchy involved in the editor/writer arrangement that really gives one person or the other the final say. In a writing duo, that has to be spelled out more carefully but can be a good thing to do up front, so to speak.

I also think there are styles of writers that work best together. That's why I find the clip below so funny. I will say though, that my friend and her writing teammate seem to be handling the challenges very successfully. At least neither of them has gnawed their own arm off yet.

Organizing: Coauthoring Without Murder

By Randy Ingermanson

"We're Best Friends Forever," she said, tilting her
head toward the woman sitting beside her at the dinner
table. "And we're writing a novel together. Isn't that
COOL?"

I nodded noncommitally. "Sounds . . . great." We were
eating supper at a writing conference and I was hosting
a table and trying to get to know the other writers at
my table. But anytime I hear that two friends are
coauthoring, I get nervous, because writing a novel
together can be murder on your friendship.

"We heard you coauthored a couple of novels with your
best friend," one of the BFFs said. "And those worked
out great, right?"

I nodded. Yes, I wrote two novels with my best buddy,
John Olson. Yes, we sold the novels, won several
awards, and remained best buddies. Yes, it worked out
extremely well. Yes, we would do it again.

But the fact is that writing a novel with a friend
doesn't always work out great. In fact, it rarely works
out at all.

Coauthoring is serious business, and there are a lot of
ways to go wrong. John and I were too ignorant to know
better, or maybe we wouldn't have tried it. But we did
and it worked.

The main reason -- probably the ONLY reason -- you
should ever coauthor a novel with anyone is that you
each bring some skill to the table that the other
person doesn't have.

With fiction, the most common reason two people
coauthor a novel is that one of them is an expert on
the subject of the novel, while the other is an expert
at writing fiction.

The reason this works so well is that fiction needs
both good content and good craft in order to work.
Normally, an author brings both the content and the
craft, but it makes perfect sense to team up one person
who has the content and another person who has the
craft.

For example, the LEFT BEHIND series, which sold tens of
millions of books, teamed up Tim LaHaye (famous in
certain circles for his interpretation of biblical
prophecy) with Jerry Jenkins (a talented novelist). Tim
brought the content; Jerry brought the craft. Together,
they made an enormously successful team.

So whenever I meet BFFs who are working together on a
novel, the first question I ask is, "What does each of
you bring to the project that the other doesn't?"

A lot of times, this draws a very long, blank look, and
the words, "Well . . . we're FRIENDS."

My next question is, "How do you split up the writing?"

If this also gets a blank look, then I know this
partnership is in trouble. You have to split up the
writing somehow. You have to. You can't sit there at
the keyboard all cuddly and both type at once. (John
and I NEVER tried this, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't
work.)

I've often thought about what went right with John and
me. There were several reasons that we made a good
team.

First, we have complementary organizational skills.
John is a visionary guy who is great at setting
strategic goals. I am good at taking a vision and
translating that into a set of tactical goals. So our
first novel, OXYGEN, was John's idea (although I
contributed a lot of ideas). I made the battle plans
(and John played a key role in revising those plans).

Second, we have different areas of expertise. John is a
biochemist. I'm a physicist. Our novel, about the first
human mission to Mars, required a ton of research. John
handled the life-science aspects. I took on the
physical-science stuff.

Third, we have different skills as fiction designers.
John is exceptional at developing plot and he LOVES
writing synopses. I find character development easy and
I LOVE writing character sketches. So we each did what
we liked best in developing the story and writing the
proposal.

Fourth, we have complementary emphases in our writing.
John loves to "write from the shadows" -- giving each
scene an air of mystery and intrigue. I like shining a
bright light on things, so that the reader always knows
exactly what the viewpoint character knows.

So when John edited my scenes, he added some mystery
and shadows. When I edited his scenes, I clarified
things that might have confused the reader. Somehow, it
all melded together into a unique style that was
neither mine nor John's. Our editors were completely
unable to guess which of us wrote which parts.

Now here is where things could have gone badly wrong.
If we'd asked anyone for advice, they'd have told us
not to both be the writer. It's very hard to mix two
people's styles into something that works.

But we didn't ask for advice because we didn't know
there might be a problem. So both of us wrote first
draft material and both of us edited. Our biggest
problem was scheduling things so that we were always up
to speed on what the other guy had written.

Early on, we thought that if we each wrote a scene at
the same time, then we could work twice as fast. But
then we discovered that the scenes simply didn't work,
because the tone of one scene's ending determines the
tone of the scene that follows. And you don't know
exactly how a scene is going to play out until you
write it.

So eventually, we hit on a plan where we'd map out the
scenes for a week in advance. It would go like this:
Randy will write a scene Monday morning and send it to
John. John will edit that Monday night, then write the
next scene, and send them both to Randy. On Tuesday
morning, Randy accepts or rejects John's changes, then
edits John's scene, then writes the next scene, and
sends it all to John.

Repeat until the end of the book. It's a little
complicated, but it worked without anybody losing an
eye.

There was another rule we had. Each of us "owned"
certain characters and we got to write the first draft
of any scenes in which our character was the
point-of-view character. John "owned" the female
biochemist astronaut named Valkerie. I "owned" the male
physicist astronaut Bob.

There was a third character named Nate who had a fair
number of viewpoint scenes. Nate was a very rude and
belligerent guy, and it turned out that I'm ruder and
more belligerent than John, so I wound up writing
Nate's scenes. This evened the work out, because John's
character Valkerie had more scenes than my character
Bob.

If you are going to work with another author, then one
key requirement is that you both have to leave your ego
at the door. This is hard. Writers have big egos
(otherwise, they'd never do something as egotistical as
believe that they might be able to write something that
many thousands of people might actually want to read.)

I think what made things work for John and me was that
we each had a very healthy respect for the other guy's
talents. We had been friends for a few years, and each
of us knew what the other was capable of doing. I think
each of us felt lucky to be working with the other guy.

There is a very bad reason that people sometimes give
for coauthoring: "It cuts the work in half to have two
people working on it."

No. It cuts the MONEY in half. But there is always some
inefficiency in getting two people working together. I
suspect that in most cases there is a LOT of
inefficiency.

Don't kid yourself on this. It may take more time to
coauthor a novel than to write it alone. I used to joke
that "John wrote 80% of our book . . . and I wrote the
other 80%."

But I suspect that each of us actually put in about
120% of the normal effort for a book. This would be
foolish unless the end result is better than either
author could have done alone. In our case, I think we
did get a better result as a team than either of us
could have done solo.

When John and I first pitched the idea for our book to
an editor, one question he asked was what we'd do if we
disagreed. We hadn't thought about that, but the answer
seemed obvious to me. The book was John's idea. So if
we couldn't agree, then he had the deciding vote. For
the same reason, his name would go first on the cover.
And if we decided to break up the team, then John would
own full rights to the book.

Our editor thought that made sense. It would have been
wise to spell that out in writing, along with a few
other details. Maybe we should have. I've heard that
it's a good idea to write a contract between coauthors,
but we never did.

Should you write your novel with a coauthor? Before you
do, here are some questions you MUST have answers to:

* Why can this NOT be a solo project?
* How are you going to split the work?
* How are you going to split the money?
* When you disagree, who gets to decide?
* Whose name will go first on the cover, and why?

You'll notice that none of those questions has anything
to do with whether you're best friends with your
coauthor. Friendship is a fine, fine thing, but you
need a good sound business reason before you enter a
business relationship with anyone.

I never heard what happened to the two BFFs who were
writing a novel together. Maybe they finished it. Most
likely they didn't. I hope they're still friends.

People ask me once in a while if John and I are going
to write another novel together. The answer is always a
good, firm, "Maybe." We'd like to. Working together was
great fun, and I learned a lot about writing from John.
I hope that he may have learned a trick or two from me.

But it has to be the right book, at the right time, for
the right reason. When that happens, we'll do it. If it
doesn't, we won't. I value John's friendship more than
I value any book we might write together.
___________

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the
Snowflake Guy," publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing
E-zine, with more than 16,000 readers, every month. If
you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction,
AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND
have FUN doing it, visit
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing
and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.

____________

Live and learn, grasshopper

2009-07-22T12:43:00.001-07:00

Here's another sketch I did many moons ago while sitting stranded (yet again) in the Denver airport. Because we were snowed in, there were no grasshoppers in sight. And in spite of growing up surrounded by grasshoppers in Saskatchewan, I realized I didn't know how many legs a grasshopper actually had. Logic said six, like any insect, but did the big ones count or should there be an extra pair on the thorax?

Turns out I was on track. It's amazing what you aren't sure you know sometimes.

And on the subject of grasshopper legs:

*Did you know grasshoppers have ears in their legs? Although it depends what type of grasshopper they are - some types keep them on their abdomen. (You can print a grasshopper anatomy picture to label here.)

*Here's a cool piece of fractal art call "Grasshopper Legs".

*I just finished a fantastic novel called The Brushstroke Legacyby Lauraine Snelling that also involves grasshoppers. But you'll have to read it to find out how.

Write or Die (Dr. Wicked)

2009-07-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Dr. Wicked site? Apparently Write or Die is now in version 2.0, with extra devious gadgets and nefarious consequences should your writing falter.

I found it in the comment section of Rachel Olson's blog and must say, it's a very convincing (and slightly masochistic) tool for getting through writer's block. Give it a try! (insert evil chuckle here...)

http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html

Tough Love and tough to love

2009-07-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

Tough Love:

In an open letter posted in the School Library Journal Talkback section, librarian Diantha McBride posted an article called "Tough Love". It is definitely worth reading whether you are a children's writer, illustrator, editor or publisher. This is the kind of inside information I love.

Check it out here.

Tough to love:

In another interesting but unrelated post, David Pogue of the NY Times posted an article about Amazon Kindle readers that suddenly were missing copies of e-books they had purchased. Apparently, the publisher "changed their mind" about making the e-books available so Amazon simply took them back while crediting the users' accounts. As Pogue says, "This is ugly for all kinds of reasons" and I have to agree.

Read Pogue's post here.

"Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com"

Visual words - like, y' know?

2009-07-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

I love this clip on so many different levels it almost leaves me speechless. (Almost.)

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Mimicking art

2009-07-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

While teaching at the Inspire conference, I had some free time to take an illustration workshop with Jeannie St. John Taylor. Her road to publication and illustration is an interesting one and someday I hope to have her visit the blog. But what is always fun is to see how other artists work - their tips, their tricks, their methods and their madness.

Jeannie walked us through her "formula" for Eric, the star of several of her picture books ( like Am I Praying?) She uses a mix of mediums and methods but at the end of it all, we each had a version of Eric. It was fascinating to see how we all interpreted her instructions. Our Eric's were unique. Some comical, some delightful, some very close to her version, some a little ... challenged. It was a great exercise in learning how to structure a character and how to make an idea your own. She pointed out how she addresses some of the realities of illustrating picture books. And her formula definitely is something to keep in mind when developing a character of our own.

Here's my Eric. I didn't get to the final step which would have added some shading and contour but I know how she does it now. (It was also a lesson in color reproduction as he really isn't this yellow in real life.)
Is there an illustrator you'd like to learn from?

Testing your opening

2009-07-06T22:23:00.001-07:00

I found an interesting way to test an opening sentence. It easily answers those pressing questions: Does it grab you right off the bat? Do you plunge into the action? Are you drawn in from those first few words?

How does it work?

Simple. Go to a customer service page on any website that has a feedback form. Type your opening paragraph and then hit submit.

Now, if it's like the one I used today, it will send a confirmation email with only the first sentence of your question displayed. You will see it like a reader will see it - out of context, directed to you and vying for your attention. Trust me - you'll see that opening sentence in a whole new light.

Mine could have used a little work.

(Really, you shouldn't bother random customer service centers with your WIP. Although I suppose if they emailed back asking for more, you'd really know you had a winner.)

Training to amble

2009-06-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

I ran across an interesting word the other day:

trammel

(TRAM-uhl)

MEANING:

noun:
1. Something that limits or hinders.
2. A fishing net having three layers.
3. An instrument for drawing ellipses.
4. A shackle used in training a horse to amble.
5. An instrument for gauging and aligning parts of a machine.
6. A hook for hanging a pot or a kettle over a fire.

verb tr.: To restrain; to hinder.

Now apart from being a very versatile word with a variety of divergent meanings, the fourth definition caught my eye.

I had no idea horses had to be trained to amble. I thought ambling was one of those things that went automatically with unbroken stretches of desert, western sunsets, dusty trails and worn leather saddles. Maybe I've been confusing the cowboy with the horse.

Which poses a problem. As the pace of summer slows things down just a little, I've been okay with ambling through the weeks until school begins again and my daily writing and art routine has better defined hours. I'm still writing, still drawing and painting, but perhaps not at the same speed.

Does this mean I've been trammeled?

Good writing trumps everything

2009-06-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I read a novel called Talking to the Dead: A Novel by Bonnie Grove. I'd been anticipating this book, partly because of one of those 6-degrees-of-separation circumstances, and partly because I follow Grove's info-packed blog. So I picked up this debut novel and snuggled into a corner of my love seat, preparing to indulge.

I was surprised as I began to read to find myself somewhat confused. Why? Because for reasons I still don't understand, I was expecting chick lit. Maybe I gave too much weight to the notion that it was "tender" & "quirky." Instead found a story that fell somewhere between "Regarding Henry" and "Sleeping With the Enemy." As I progressed further into the novel, I literally had to stop and reset my expectations. But it also helped me understand the maxim that "good writing trumps everything". In spite of my confusion, Grove's writing had drawn me into this story. And once I had my perspective back on track, Grove's writing shone as she led me through the trauma and discovery of a grieving woman.

So really, my review needs to begin here:

The novel begins with one of the best openings I have ever read:

"Kevin was dead and the people in my house wouldn't go home. They mingled after the funeral, eating sandwiches, drinking tea, and speaking in muffled tones. I didn't feel grateful for their presence. I felt exactly nothing. Funerals exist so we can close doors we'd rather leave open. But where did we get the idea that the best approach to facing death is to eat Bundt cake?"

So begins the story of Kate, a young widow, facing her future from an internal emptiness where the past months have imploded in her memory and left her with questions she is trying to answer. Grove deftly stays with her character, revealing Kate's story bit by bit as she pieces the past together through an odd assortment of characters, including Kate's dead husband, that are never what Kate has assumed they are. Grove just as expertly reveals that Kate is not everything we expect her to be either.

Grove manages to weave themes of betrayal, obsession (dare I say idolatry?), manipulation and human nature into a story of recovery and hope. Her light touch keeps it from being overwhelming and points instead to the heart of forgiveness on the path to wholeness. My only criticism, perhaps, in this book is that the romantic ending looks formulaic against the honest reality and occasional brutality of the rest of the story. But overall, it is beautifully crafted and will draw you in to Kate's journey through grief and back to life.

A review copy of this book was provided by The B&B Media Group.

Conference reflections

2009-06-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

Phew! We just finished the Creative Arts conference today and am I tired. But in a really good way. I think all in all, we can call it a success.

And it was a huge learning experience. Both in the process of organizing the conference (8 months of it), in teaching at it, and in getting to attend some of the other workshops offered as well. I think from each one I found a nugget of information that was an absolutely golden one.

Randy Ingermanson once suggested that every writer (artist, etc) should attend conferences because "opportunities lie thick on the floor." I'll write more about some of those opportunities later but for now, just let me say he's absolutely right. And some of those opportunities look different than you expect.

By any other name

2009-06-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

I met a woman today who's background is in theater costume. I've had a taste of this and while I enjoyed it and love clothes of all times and types (I was a seamstress for 8 years), I also knew that in that situation, I was out of my league. I got the job done, of course, but because I was also the set painter, it involved some intervention by a wonderful crew of volunteer seamstresses to come alongside to make it happen.

This person was telling me of a review that described her costume work as "luscious" along with a lot more complimentary words. Isn't that a great descriptive word? I can envision luscious costumes, and in fact will get to work with her this fall and am very excited to see that process in action. The time period we'll be working in is given to "luscious" and I will be wielding a needle again when necessary.

I have a friend that writes luscious prose. (Mine tends to be fairly streamlined. So do my favorite fashion eras. And my home decor. But I digress.) My mother makes a luscious chocolate cake. And ad companies have made millions from the concept of luscious lips. (Speaking of luscious, you need to check out the photos on this blog - wow!)

What word would you like someone to use about your writing?

A dancing hippo

2009-06-02T14:37:00.001-07:00

Just a portion of a sketch I did the other day. Ever feel like a hippo in a tutu?

Building language

2009-05-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted and I'd love to say that I've been deep in a creative effort. And I have, sort of, but it's been a bricks and mortar kind of creative effort. It's the time of year when the weeds take over without some really intensive effort so I've been on my knees battling Bermuda grass (came up with a few new epithets - I suppose that's writing related) and getting landscaping in order. We were given two loads of fresh cedar mulch, too - just the smell conjures up images and stories start to dance around in the fragrance. And I do feel the creative juices start to stir as my yard has become filled with raised beds, climbing roses and gently curving walkways. Lovely.

But I did take time for a seminar of sorts. Not a new one but a fascinating one. My husband came into the studio one night and told me I had to listen to this. "It's a geek thing but I think you'll get it."

Now that alone was enough to pique my curiosity. There's not many geek things I "get." I'm a technodummy of the nth degree. So away I went.

The presentation is Guy Steele's keynote at the 1998 ACM OOPSLA conference (it's a computer thing). If you have a chance to watch it, it's fascinating both in concept and in construction. If you don't have time for the whole thing, I've put a few of my own thoughts below.

Did you watch any of it?

If not, SPOILER ALERT!

The premise of his talk is that he does not use words of more than one syllable unless he defines it first. (It takes him about 9 minutes to explain that.) And he does this for almost an hour!

As a writer, I found it to be a fascinating exercise. (Probably my background in linguistics plays a part too.) But particularly as a children's writer, I want to expose kids to fun and extended vocabulary but I must be careful to leave enough context or enough familiar language in the text so that my readers don't get lost. Just like the computer operates within a set of rules, so young readers are taught a set of rules to help "decode" the language they encounter. The more decoding they have to do, the harder it can be for them to grasp the story. I don't want them stuck with "small language" but must pace the growth too, so that the purpose is not overwhelmed by a language that is too complex too fast.

And so we build a language together as writers, teachers, parents and caregivers that work with children through reading and writing. And from that language come the images, ideas and worlds that we can revel in to accomplish big things.

I'd heartily recommend finding time to watch the whole thing.

The write tool for the job

2009-05-07T22:25:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of tools available to writers these days. Plotting software (which I've never tried because it is my personal opinion that all software plots against me), market guides, digital recorders for catching those on the go ideas, workshops, critique groups, and so much more. Technology has produced some pretty helpful gadgets and gizmos to help the writer along.

But they are not worth a plugged nickel when you're caught away from the tech toys and the inspiration starts flowing. Whether you sit up in bed at night with the dialogue flowing or meet the perfect protagonist in the produce aisle of the grocery store, you have to write it down before you lose it. And when that happens, it's whatever is closest and will leave a mark.

Today, the perfect writing tool for me just happened to have a dancing monkey posed on top. And it worked just fine.

In fact I could tell when the juices were really flowing because the monkey lit up. How's that for making the muse happy?

Good writing to you today - whatever that may look like.

A conference invitation...

2009-04-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

This unique conference features tracks for writers, artists, actors, musicians and photographers. Two free-to-the-public concerts will feature Russell Fragar and Jared Anderson, and the days will be jam-packed with instruction, hands-on training and encouragement. The faculty includes:

Russell Fragar - song writer and producer

Jared Anderson - recording artist and song writer

Karen Cain-Smith - award-winning pastel and oil artist

Roger Hutley - music pastor, song writer and script writer

Rene' Phelps - actor, scriptwriter, director

Jeannie St. John Taylor - author, speaker and artist

Jacob Gregory - event and fine arts photographer

Sandy Cathcart - writer, artist and photographer

And me!

For more information and registration and hotel info, visit www.medfordbethel.com.

I hope to see you there!

The tax man cometh...

2009-04-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's that time when we writers and artists are (many of us) looking at our shoe box of receipts and thinking, "I need to do this better next year." Many of us creative types are just not as strong in the area of record keeping and that "Type A" sort of stuff. I've learned to do it but it's still not one of my favorite things, especially when it comes to inventory tracking. (And sometimes learning means learning to hand it over to someone that understands the tax forms better than we do.)

But there's hope. An interesting blog by Allena Tapia points out some of the more common financial mistakes creators make on the Wow! blog called "The Five Fatal Finance Mistakes Writers Make." And if you want more information about some of those pesky deduction categories, Sandy Cathcart has available "Totally Honest Tax Tips for Writers." It has forms for record keeping, how to calculate home office deductions, handling things like office equipment and phone calls and more info for tax time.

Until then, though, keep that shoebox in a safe place.

A pictorial prompt

2009-04-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs I love to follow is Organized Doodles by Rick Green. His sense of humor is a delight and I enjoy his drawings. I even heard a hint that he might be considering moving into book illustration! Rick's "doodles" always spark a story for me, even when he doesn't share the background. And he's pretty generous with his drawings if you flatter him a little bit. (Okay, check out his blog for the real terms.)

Here's one for you to get your creative currents stirring:

My story about this aromatic avenger involves a shortage of blueberries. What story would you write about this caped critter?

"Super Skunk" (c) Rick Green. Used under his copy-and-share-if-you-dare policy. Thanks, Rick!

Lazing in the spring sunshine

2009-04-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's spring here in my part of the world and in the last few days the birds have been picking up volume, the flowers are showing off and the sun keeps coaxing me out of my studio to come just soak up its warmth. It gives me new insights into the lives of cats.

So today I plan to revel for a bit in the fresh spring day. I found a writer that also responded to the allure of nature and I think he benefited from his time out of "the office." I hope you can find time to refresh your muse today too.

THE APOLOGY

Think me not unkind and rude
That I walk alone in grove and glen;
I go to the god of the wood
To fetch his word to men.

Tax not my sloth that I
Fold my arms beside the brook;
Each cloud that floated in the sky
Writes a letter in my book.

Chide me not, laborious hand,
For the idle flowers I brought;
Every aster in my hand
Goes home loaded with a thought.

There was never mystery
But 'tis figured in the flowers;
Was never secret history
But birds tell it in the bowers.

One harvest from thy field
Homeward brought the oxen strong;
A second crop thine acres yield,
Which I gather in a song.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

A cast of characters

2009-03-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

I was recently traveling and ran into one of those nobody's-going-to-believe-this situations. We were stranded twice by snow both coming and going to our destination and the situation gave me plenty of time to see my fellow humans in action. Not in a physical sense, because we (180 of us) were confined to a plane for 5 hours, then confined to a small airport terminal for another hour, then shuffled through a series of bus seats and hotel lobby lines for another 12 hours. It was a "hurry up and wait" sort of time as we waited for decisions beyond our control to be made and carried out.

Out of that 180 passengers, I ended up with a list of people that stick out in my memory:

*The adventurous older gentleman (and I don't use that term lightly) that braved the icy tarmac on two bad legs because he had to get a photo of the whiteout. He breeds dahlias and has had one on the best seller list for 8 years in a row.

*The young soldier that was quick to mention his time in Iraq but wouldn't give up his place in line to help a mother with an 8-month-old baby and a pile of luggage.

*The pretty young woman that did the rounds, entertaining children and helping the elderly - even offering to share a room with an older woman who was tired. She quickly bonded with a number of people and they became the unspoken tenders of the entourage.

*The weather-beaten maintenance man who's cigarette never left his lips in the storm as he loaded unclaimed bags in after the cattle-packed passengers on a bus.

*The "just so" petite blond wife and mother that tried to inform the authorities (a loose term since no one actually seemed to be in charge), her husband and her teenage daughter that she "doesn't bus". Her exact words as she sprang off the bench were "I don't bus!"

*The quiet young man who was one of the last to get a room because he did take time to help with bags and suitcases and parcels but did it all without really talking.

*The TSA agent-turned-tour guide that "jollied" the grumpier passengers into checking out the small town we landed in. His enthusiasm for his home town was evident.

Obviously, we were living a story of a particular nature during our extended hours together. Some people I spoke with and some I just observed. But in that mix of people I've seen hints of another story brewing. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with them but there's a tantalizing sense that it's all there, just waiting to be given its proper shape.

It's the stuff a writer dreams of.