Reciprocity

When Life Intervenes

CCW — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:28:00 +0000

The best laid plans...well, I think you know the rest.

November was National Novel Writing Month and I decided to give it a shot: writing a 50,000-word novel in one month. And things went well, until my mother landed back in the hospital.

Her particular type of dementia is vascular, which means unlike Alzheimer's, it doesn't progressively get worse on its own. Unless she suffers another stroke, she will basically stay at the same level she's at now.

But periodically, about once or twice a year, she suffers a bit of a meltdown. We don't really know why. It could be her stress levels build up, it could be an intolerance to her medications, it could be a lot of things. But when it happens, it's very stressful for her, and it's very stressful for us, her family.

This time around, she developed a sudden anger toward her caregiver and my father, the two people who do the most for her. She was extremely aggravated, agitated, and angry. And when she first went to the hospital several weeks ago, that anger carried over to the hospital staff. It wasn't fun for any of them.

But here's the deal: I hate when my mother is in the hospital. I know there's no way to expect that people there will care for patients in the same manner that their families will, but what I've seen of hospitals in the time my mother has been ill has made me scared to death to ever land in one myself. So, I worry...the entire time she's hospitalized. And I deal with doctors who are too busy to call back, staff who are too busy or too indifferent to provide information, social workers who are so overloaded they can't even remember the name of the patient they are talking about -- even with the file right in front of them.

It's scary, and it's stressful.

So, what does all of this have to do with National Novel Writing Month? You guessed it. The novel didn't get written. I *did* get 15,000 words done, though, so that's something. And I'm quite pleased with what's there.

This past November will be remembered as another bad month in my mother's long journey with dementia, and the month where I *didn't* write that new book.

But, since Mom is doing better and will soon be discharged to go home, I'm not going to sweat the book.

There's always next November. :)

A 50,000-Word Challenge

CCW — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:21:00 +0000

Call me crazy, but I signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), daring myself to write a 50,000-word middle grade novel by the end of November. So, far I'm at 8200 words, slightly ahead of schedule. We'll see how long that lasts!

The hard part about this for me isn't the writing. It's not being able to re-write. The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to free yourself from restrictions (especially that little editor who lives in a writer's head and likes to criticize everything you put on paper). But, I'm one of those writers who likes to revise as I go. I usually go over everything I wrote the previous day and touch it up before I go on. Can't do that now. If I stop to revise, I'll never make the 50,000-word goal. So, I'm plowing ahead.

In some ways, it actually is very freeing to just write and not worry about the details, to just get the story down on paper without judging it. We'll see how I feel at the end of the month, though, when I'm faced with the monumental job of revising the book.

Ah well. However it works out, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I can write a whole novel in a month. That's an accomplishment in itself. :)

On Getting Him to Read Fantasy Books

CCW — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:11:00 +0000

Looking for something new to read after finishing the Harry Potter series, I happened upon several reviews of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and decided it was about time I read those books. I'm glad I did. They were a wonderful read for someone like myself who not only loves fantasy, but writes it herself.

I've often tried to get my husband to read some fantasy, but he always insists he doesn't like it. (Though he does willingly go to fantasy movies with me -- the Harry Potters, the Lords of the Rings -- and enjoys them.) I tell him he's nuts not to try fantasy, because we have very similar tastes in other genres (mysteries, suspense, etc.) so I know what he might like. I tell him about the wonderful Pern books by Anne MacCaffrey that he really would enjoy (science fiction and fantasy combined in one series, how can you go wrong??).

I also tell him I wouldn't recommend a book to him that I didn't think he'd like. And I tell him he should listen to his wife.

I shouldn't have mentioned that last one to him. :(

But, I guess I finally pestered him enough that he gave in and (all the while muttering under his breath) started the first book in the Pullman trilogy, The Golden Compass.

He hasn't put it down yet. And he oh-so-casually asked me the other day about the remaining two books in the series.

I'm not going to say "I told you so." I'm not going to gloat. I'm not going to tease.

But I'm sure as heck going to leave those Pern books out again where he can find them. And if he reads them, and likes them, I'm going to smile to myself and chalk another one up for the wives.

Men. What would they do without us? :)

Madeleine L'Engle

CCW — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:11:00 +0000

This is my all-time favorite quote by children's author Madeleine L'Engle:

You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007)

The author of the much-beloved fantasy series, the "Time Quintet" (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time), passed away on September 6th at the age of 88.

Though she's left behind a rich legacy of books, she will be greatly missed.

Book editors hate poetry?

CCW — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:16:00 +0000

Shortly after I blogged about online children's magazine, Wee Ones, I (and my fellow writers) learned that the magazine will be folding after 2008.

*sigh*

For those of us who write children's poetry, it's a sad announcement indeed.

The markets for children's poetry are few and far between. And if you differentiate between funny/humorous/silly poetry and (for lack of a better word) "serious" poetry the choices for each can practically be counted on one hand. (It is rare to find a market that publishes both silly and serious poetry.)

I must confess I don't understand this lack. Children love poetry. They love the rhythm, the sounds, the joy of it. So why are there so few markets for children's poetry?

I'm reminded of a statement I read not too long ago on an author's web site. While giving advice to novice writers, she said (and I'm paraphrasing but not by much): Picture book editors hate poetry.

On the one hand, I understand what she was saying and why. Editors, whether magazine or book, see a lot of bad poetry. A lot. And I'm sure they get tired of seeing it. It clogs up the pipelines. Turns piles of slush into mountains. Steering new writers away from submitting poetry until they know what good poetry is and can actually write it, is a kindness to all.

And yet...and yet...

Picture book editors hate poetry? Even the good stuff?

What a sad commentary on the state of the market.

Sweet dreams are made of this

CCW — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:43:00 +0000

I received a phone call yesterday from the editor at Blooming Tree Press. They've accepted a poem of mine to be in their new fully-illustrated picture book anthology to be called Sweet Dreams.

I haven't stopped smiling yet.

Of course, the downside is it won't be coming out until 2009 (illustrations and four-color printing take time). But I can wait.

That's a lot of smiling, but I can wait. :)

Webmasters: What are they thinking?

CCW — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:34:00 +0000

I just put up an article at Playground Prime that some of you may find of interest. If you own a web site that is geared toward children, you might want to take a look.

I'm still shaking my head.

My newest web project

CCW — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:52:00 +0000

Playground Prime, an Internet directory of people who create literature, art, and music for the entertainment of children. If you fit the bill, come join the fun!

Two Blogs - am I nuts?

CCW — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:56:00 +0000

Since I now have two blogs, this one and the one at my MySpace page, here's how I'm going to keep from going nuts keeping them both up-to-date (well, any nuttier than I already am, I mean): this blog on my "official" site will be mostly for business-related news (and by business I mean writing for children, natch, and my web design work); the MySpace blog will be for "fun" writing (my Harry Potter song lyrics are there for any HP fans out there! *grin*) and general chit-chat.

I hope you enjoy visiting both.

Children's Poetry

CCW — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:37:00 +0000

The outlets in today's market for writers of children's poetry (and short stories, for that matter) are not exactly what you'd call abundant. (And I'm talking quality outlets here - those that promote good writing.) So those of us who write these things tend to cherish the outlets we "click" with. One of those, for me, is the online children's magazine, Wee Ones.

The remarkable thing about Wee Ones is that they don't have any advertising on their site. They don't make money from their e-zine (they don't charge for subscriptions), and yet they still manage to pay their writers and illustrators a fee. Because they care about attracting quality work for their readers.

If you're a writer and you aren't familiar with Wee Ones, you should check it out. And if you have young kids, let them check it out, too. People who promote children's literature because they love it, not because it's a business, are becoming a rarer breed these days. We really should celebrate those that do.

Oh, and the poetry editor at Wee Ones, Kim Hutmacher, has a new site/blog. Go visit her, too:
The Write Marbles

Wow!

CCW — Thu, 17 May 2007 01:56:00 +0000

My blog has been out of commission for a number of months now, but....it's finally fixed! (I think!)

What can I say?

CCW — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 03:37:00 +0000

I'm a fan!

I Write to Survive

CCW — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:07:00 +0000

Time moves slowly in the publishing world, but not in the real world. At least, not in mine.

This was supposed to be a year devoted to full-time writing. But, as everyone knows, when you make definite plans, the universe delights in upstaging them.

The first six months of this year have been sad and stressful. My mother has dementia. If you've been fortunate enough to not face this in your own families, you can't have any idea how all-encompassing this disease is, how it taunts you, and mocks you, and ravages a family from the inside out. There are still good days. But it often seems that those good days are when the disease is at its cruelest because they offer a fragile glimmer of hope -- only to snatch it away again, and again, and again.

There is no recovery from dementia. The best you can do is cherish the good days, and survive the bad. And do a lot of hugging: it's the best way to connect when words are no longer viable.

And speaking of words...the writing has been going slowly as I try to write in (and around, and over, and under, and through) the almost daily depression I've felt.

Somehow, the words *do* come. My middle grade novel is progressing, there are a couple of picture books that show promise. Even though I haven't accomplished nearly as much as I would have liked at the six-month mark, I carry on.

I'm putting the words I can't say to my mother into my writing.

I'm a writer. It's the only way I know to survive.

Pithy Prose #5 - J.A. Konrath

CCW — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 03:11:00 +0000

There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published.

J.A. Konrath (author of the Jack Daniels mystery series, starting with Whiskey Sour)

Note: I haven't had a chance to read Whiskey Sour yet, but my husband has. He recommends it. :)

April 1st

CCW — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 06:03:00 +0000

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.
~Japanese Proverb

Happy April Fool's Day. Take a moment to dance.

Celebrate Poetry for Children

CCW — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:35:00 +0000

April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate the joy of language and literature with your children. Not sure where to start? Try the following children's poets/books of poetry:

Jack Prelutsky's It's Raining Pigs and Noodles (Greenwillow)
Caroline Kennedy’s A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children (Hyperion)
Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has one version; there are several)
Jane Yolen's Snow, Snow: Winter Poems for Children (Boyds Mills Press)
Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends (HarperCollins)
Kenn Nesbitt's When The Teacher Isn't Looking : And Other Funny School Poems (Meadowbrook)

There are many more. Ask your favorite librarian or bookseller for recommendations. Enjoy.

Grasshopper wasn't very patient, but...

CCW — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:33:00 +0000

Good things come to those who wait...but it's so darn hard to do it! :)

Finally heard from Highlights today about the story I sent them back in November. The wait was worth it, though, because they are buying "Roadrunner Rescue".

This story means a lot to me. It was one of those times, as a writer, when I really stretched, and it took some courage to submit the story when it was done. It's so easy to fall flat on your face when writing humor. :)

Also heard from the lovely Audrey Baird at Once Upon a Time today. She's accepting an article (on critiquing) and a humorous poem.

So, yeah, there are days when all the waiting and the angst are more than worth it. Just wish those days came more often!

Terry Brooks on Writing

CCW — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 06:20:00 +0000

I have decided, on reflection, it is best just to remember that sometimes the magic really works.

I cannot imagine life without books any more than I can imagine life without breathing.

I just added Terry Brooks' book on writing, Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life, to my list of recommended books for writers. Read it. It's that good.

Jane Yolen's Husband Begins a New Journey

CCW — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 05:35:00 +0000

Anyone who has followed Jane Yolen's tale of her husband's battle with cancer through her online journal, knows that yesterday she lost a truly remarkable partner, David Stemple.

I don't know either of them personally, only via their writings, but I have a great deal of respect for both of them. Their love of life and family, even in the face of cancer, has been inspiring. One of my favorite books of Jane's, Owl Moon, was written about David and their daughter, Heidi.

My best wishes and prayers go out to Jane and her children/grandchildren on their loss.

Some of Life's Essentials

CCW — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 05:53:00 +0000

World's Greatest Sister and I went to brunch yesterday, browsed at Barnes & Noble, then stocked up on pre-Easter candy (the kind you eat before you buy the stuff that will actually go *in* the Easter baskets).

Family, food, books and chocolate.

*sigh*

What a perfect day.

The Better Part of Valor

CCW — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 04:29:00 +0000

Say there's this writer who values her budding career as a children's writer. Say she's valiantly making her way through the minefield that is the publishing world. Say she sees, and reads, and hears things that make her laugh, make her cry, make her shake her head in astonishment, make her beat her head on her keyboard in frustration, make her question people's sanity, make her question people's motives, make her question people's intelligence, make her...er, well, *ahem*, you get the idea.

Does she blog about it?

No, she does not. :)

Porcine Parley

CCW — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 08:10:00 +0000

Stumbled upon this quote the other day and absolutely loved it:

"An insufficiency of pigs is one of the great faults of modern children's books."

Frederick Laws
(Of course, the fact that I've written a short story about a pig might have something to do with my feelings, ya think?)

Pithy Prose #4 - Anne Lamott

CCW — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 06:19:00 +0000

From one of my favorite books on writing, Bird by Bird, Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott:

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it.

I admire those who can turn off their internal critics and just write that first draft, unfettered by expectations. I'm working on attaining that kind of freedom in my writing. It sounds like bliss.

Busy, Busy

CCW — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 05:23:00 +0000

Yes, I've been very neglectful here lately, but it's because I've been working diligently on a few pieces that need to go out this month. One went into the mailbox on Friday. I can cross that one off the list. Still poking and prodding the other two.

Wrote a couple of poems the other day, too. For some reason, a lot of the ones I've written lately are nature poems. Perhaps it's my way of celebrating that spring's on the way. I love winter, but its shortage of daylight hours severely affects my disposition. Bring on the flowers and the chirping birds and I'll be back to smiling full time.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my sister and I spent Saturday in a mystery bookstore. It was heaven. Gotta love those indie bookstores! Support the ones in your area. They are worth the extra effort.

Pithy Prose #3

CCW — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:00:00 +0000

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."

Anton Chekhov

A much nicer way of saying, "show, don't tell."