A Writer's Husband's Wisdom

Me: I need a good ending to this story.

Him: A period is a good way.

Thanks honey.

Writer times in review

It was a strange week last week. I was applauded by a room full of librarians, had people ooh and ahh over me signing my book for them, and talked to a room full of fourth graders and got them to have fun writing. Big things for this quiet little writer.

I learned alot at the summer reading program workshop. So much work goes into putting on this free program and the librarians are so enthusiastic about it. Everyone came up with crafts and skits and they wrote tons of book talks to go read to the kids at school to get them interested in coming to the library. And we sang kids songs. I wondered what the two guys were thinking when they came into a room full of a bunch of women singing, "there ain't no bugs on me". They certainly looked confused.

It's easy to see how having the support of even one librarian can help a writer immensely. And it was just so fun to see people so excited about children's books, and not because they write them. I hope I get to go again next year, except I'll probably be expected to get up and give a book talk since I'm a writer and all. And now they all know it since my boss had to brag about me to everyone. There's no being anonymous with her around.

My book signing went pretty well. I remembered a pen, talked to alot of nice people, and even sold some books. Not too bad.

I was a little nervous about going to talk to the fourth graders, but now it seems silly that I was. Except for right at the beginning when the teacher told the kids I was there to talk to them about being a writer then walked to the back of the room followed by an eerie silence and a moments panic, it went pretty well. It seems I do have quite a bit to say about being a writer. I should, but I'm not much of a monologuer in person.

The kids had an inordinate amount of fun creating characters. I had cut faces out of magazines and pasted them onto index cards(thanks to the blue board for that idea). I couldn't help but pick the extraordinary sorts of pictures(Spin magazine was great for that). I think it made it more fun anyway. The kids made up crazy names and occupations and cracked themselves(and me!) up. It was great fun. And I've been told some of the kids are hoping I'll come back again. Don't know if I can top that though. Oh, and one of the coolest things was when I showed them the cover for Bedtime Monster. One boy blurted out, "that is sooooo cool!". I think so too.

Alas, the glory is short lived(thank goodness)and now I must wallow in the waiting of an overdue deadline. When will the torture end!

Sky is Falling by Dave Schlafman

Something

It's happening again. I have so many things to do I'm not doing anything. Under the guise of getting something done, I'll tell you what they are:

I have my first workshop as a librarian. On Thursday I get to go to the Summer Reading Program workshop with two of my librarian friends. We're supposed to make a presentation about something we've come up with for this year's theme; Catch the Reading Bug. Too bad my friends are procrastinators too.

Saturday I have a book signing. Not sure if I have to do much else than show up. I suppose I should give someone who knows a ring, but I'll be lucky to just show up with a pen at this rate.

My daughter's teacher has been bugging me all year to come in and talk to the class. He finally pinned me down with a general "I'll do it sometime at the end of the month" commitment. Warning! We have now hit the halfway mark on March. I keep meaning to get out my classroom talk ideas. I did just have half the class over on Friday for a birthday party, so it should be a piece of cake. Or maybe everybody just loves you when you serve them cake. *cough* I'm still waiting for a certain loyal Frolicking reader's mauscript so I can take it to class. Don't want to be tortured all alone!

I need to send out some more submissions. I want to. Is a chunk of quiet time when I can actually think too much to ask? And no, I am not actually thinking right now, but you've probably already noticed that.

Something I hope you haven't noticed is: my website sucks. Now don't you go looking at it. Just take my word for it. I'm getting to it, really I am. It will definitely have to be all pretty when my picture book comes out. And that time will come before I know it, so I'm trying to plan ahead here.

Too bad all my planning on planning for things doesn't get much done. At least it's something.

Vote for the Slush Monster!

I voted for Editorial Anonymous' Blog Mascot. She's(why do I think EA is a she?) got three finalists, but to me it's no contest. The first one is fun. The third choice is super cute. But, the middle one is definitely a slush monster. Which one do you like?

Beard Demographics

We went out last night to listen to some music and have dessert at our local library at a yearly fund raising series called Java Live. It's really nice, especially since there's not much art going on around here usually. No galleries, no music venues, no theater.

Java Live brings the locals together and makes us aware of the many different artists in our midst. This year local photographers were featured along with the painters. Every week featured two singers/bands. There's been pianists(the local doctor and his wife), folk singers, a trio doing harmonies, a fabulous opera singer, a one man band, and a sing along. In-between music acts there was belly dancing, poetry, and slideshows. Lots of nice people.

It's funny, as I was sitting there looking around I noticed that alot of men in the room had long beards. Not just unkept for a few days long, not ZZ Top long either(well maybe one or two), but somewhere in-between. I counted about eight in a room full of forty people(half women) before I was distracted. Seems like a high proportion to me. Is it just where we live? Is it mountain men who grow their beards long? But I know for a fact that some of these guys live in town. Is it winter? Could be. I'm sure that the last time I was in California I didn't see one long beard. I barely saw a beard at all. Not trendy I suppose. Things are different here.

I'm all for beards(on guys only of course). My husband looks really hot when he's sporting a beard. Sometimes I wish he'd grow one back. Sigh.

Possibilities

I've discovered the reason I like submitting manuscripts to publishers: the possibilities. When I have manuscripts out, there is a possibility that something amazing may happen. I might get a helpful rejection, an editor might say something nice about my work, an agent might consider representing me, dare I say, someone may want to publish my book. The more mauscripts out, the more chances of something amazing happening.

I had possibilites not too long ago. Requested manuscripts, slushpile subs. I got positive feedback and it was exciting. But now the excitement has worn off and I only have the aftertaste of disappointment left. It's there to remind me to get my stuff back out there. And it's starting to grate on me. Get to work! Publishing heavies liked your manuscripts. Get them back out there!

Too bad the submission process is so agonizingly slow. Find a publisher/agent who likes the type of work you do. Study them intensly. Make sure your title could be a fit for them(this is quite subjective). Find comparative titles. Write a hook, a peronalized pitch, a bio that doesn't sound braggy, print out the manuscript making sure it is in pristine condition, get the mailing label on straight. Be extremely cautious not to bungle up email subs. Blah blah blah. It's exhausting just thinking about it. But that's the problem. I can't stop thinking about it. I want some more possibilities. Then I can start checking my mail obsessively again.