Another link to writing advice

Excellent advice here about how to write a children's book from Tirzah Price, a fellow Vermont College of Fine Arts graduate. 

Ten Steps to help you learn how to write the best children's book you can.

Adventures (trying) Flying

I was weeding my email when I discovered this message to my sister. The first part is a repeat post written in 2012. But I realized that there was more to the story.  Here's the full adventure. (See the header above. This blog is about my adventures as a writer - and this one is a goodie. Not while it was happening, but … well, read and see.)

Why did I go to the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier in March (2012)?  (Besides the fact that I love the place?) I attended a Writing Weekend Retreat there.

And -- I had adventures on the way.

Firstly, about the time our plane should have been loading, we heard an announcement that Philadelphia (my next layover) had a backup and we probably wouldn't leave here for several hours. (a huge storm that missed Baltimore had slammed into Philadelphia and prevented planes from taking off.) Some people left the area to go to the food court, but I was among the ones who needed to change my connecting plane (I had only a 30 minute layover in Philly), so I got in the line for plane changes.  Good thing, too, because 10 minutes later they announced that Philadelphia's delay had cleared up and the plane would load soon.

Once in the Philly airport, I raced to my favorite Philadelphia cheesesteak sub place, only to find most of that area under construction and my option for lunch was a premade salad, sub, or wrap.  hmmmm. So I went on to the area where my connecting plane to Vermont was supposed to leave from.  Surprise.  That plane was delayed for an hour because it was flying from another airport hit by storms which had delayed their takeoff.  Whew!

Well, my plans to take a slow drive from Burlington (there is no airport in Montpelier) among the beautiful Vermont mountains, stopping to visit places -- like the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory -- had to be cancelled because now it was 5 pm and I had to rush down I-89 to get to the college by dinner time. The drive was still lovely. Wisps of foggy clouds flowed down the mountainsides and wafted in the valleys between.  I had to keep the windshield wipers working because of the constant mist.

Once at Vermont College the weekend began with a lecture about laying a foundation -- important in YOGA as well as writing. (complete with Yoga instruction) Ouch. I knew that after toting my heavy bags through two airports, plus yoga, I was going to wake up in pain the next day.  And I did.
But it was worth it. 

Saturday and Sunday at the Writing Retreat

Vermont is beautiful in March, especially when surprised by a heat wave of 65 degrees, which will go up to almost 80 degrees later this week. (The skiers expecting snow probably weren't so happy.)

Al three of the faculty at this writing weekend were fabulous, pointing out things that made us all sit up and take notice.  ( Coe Booth's lecture about Secondary Characters!) I had a consultation with Little Brown editor, Alvina Ling, who pointed out some major changes I could do to my work in progress. And the third thing I jammed into this day was a 4+ hour stretch of learning how to use my new composing software -- Scrivener. (I think I may have a bit of it figured out now)

In the evening we did readings from our works in progress.  Most of them were YA, some of them were Middle Readers (which means older Elementary and into Middle School).  I think mine was the youngest one there, and, deducing from the laughter, the funniest.  Many people did say it was also the most dramatic, but what can I say? I'm a children's librarian who loves to perform.  A quiet person with a drama queen inside of her.

Sunday was so sad.  None of us wanted to leave.  But, since I had an early flight to catch, I had to leave at 1:30, right in the middle of an interesting panel discussion of all three of our faculty -- Coe Booth, Holly Black, and Alvina Ling.  Another participant had an even earlier flight, so she joined my on my drive up I-89 from Montpelier to Burlington.

She made her flight.
Me?  not so much.

As I was passing through security, I got a call from the airlines that my flight had been delayed and wouldn't leave for an hour.  Grrrrrr.  I could have stayed longer! Then I was called up to the podium and told that, naturally that meant my connecting flight in Philadelphia would have to be changed.  Double Grrrrr.

I began getting email after email from the airline -- more flight changes.  At this point I didn't know if I were getting a connection in Philadelphia at 7 or 8 or 8:30 --
but they assured me that I DID have a seat.
In some plane.
That would get to Baltimore.
Sometime.

Philadelphia airport was -- interesting.
You do remember that I left Montpelier at 1:30 pm, right?
It was now 5:30 and I was only halfway home.  I picked up a sandwich for dinner (the wing of the airport that I was in was under construction and there was only one choice of food supply), found my boarding place and sat.  and sat.

It turned out that half of the people there were waiting for a flight to New York City.  And waiting.  Finally, they announced that they couldn't fix the broken window in their airplane and they were getting a different craft for them.
What about the Baltimore group?  We were asked to move to a different boarding place and would be informed as to when our flight would leave once we got there.

This was a dangerous spot to be.  It was right opposite a pastry shop in the terminal. I got myself a cupcake.  Then an almond pastry. If we were to be delayed here much longer, I think I would gain at least 5 pounds!

Oh joy!  our plane was announced -- we left after 8 pm. Landed in Baltimore and I had no problems finding my car in the long term parking lot. (where I ate the other half of the sandwich I had bought in Philly.)

I should be home in a half hour, right?
wrong.
There was a traffic jam at the Harbor Tunnel on I-895 (the old tunnel).  It took more than an hour before I pulled into my driveway.

Meanwhile, Arians -- the 12-year-old had been sending me messages (which I could read while we were stopped dead at the toll booths of the tunnel.)  "Are U home yet?"  She stayed awake until I could give her a good-night hug -- at 10:30 pm!!!

Let's see.  Left Montpelier at 1:30.
Got home at 10:30.
Nine (9) hours.
I don't think that I'll fly US Airways again.

(and, I haven't)

Diversity -- from the Native American viewpoint

As per some discussions on Facebook, at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and on several internet listserves, here are some thoughts on diversity in books and other media from the Native American viewpoint from ex VCFA advisor and best selling winning author, Cynthia Leitich Smith, has these thoughts on diversity from the Native American viewpoint on her blog, Cynsations.

How many of you remember watching The Lone Ranger on TV in glorious black and white?
(raising hand)

Gifts for Writers

Here's another list of possible Holiday Gifts. (pick your own holiday)

This time it's Gifts for Writers over on the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults' blog.  (all posts written by the faculty -- check it out -- it's called Write At Your Own Risk.)  

I see that she recommends a dog, but if you don't like the doggy smell and all the training involved with living with a dog, I recommend a cat, myself.

And for another list of good books, check out the NonFiction Monday roundup at the Wrapped in Foil blog.

Six ways to catch the eye of an agent

Mima Tipper, MFA, advises "Be the Lemon Square."
What does she mean by this?

Well, this busy writer worked as an assistant to an agent and discovered six amazing tips to make YOUR manuscript stand out from the pack.
Want an agent to represent you?
Want an editor to love your manustript?

Read these tips and apply them to your writing life.
You'll be glad you did.

Mother's Day books

Happy Mother's Day!

My oldest daughter took the 12-year-old out to buy a Mother's Day present -- and came home with Chocolate Covered Cherries hand made by Wockenfuss, a local candy company.
For me.
The best.
The very best.
YUM.

For your enjoyment, The Washington Parent online magazine has a collection of children's books (and one adult book) you might enjoy on Mother's day, collected by the famous writer and outstanding writing teacher, Mary Quattlebaum.  (Ya, she's also on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts.)
Click on the name of the magazine to see.

Learn as if you were to live forever

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever." Gandhi


And people wonder why I'm back in college, taking graduate courses in writing.  Now I have a suitable response.

Semester 3 Reveals their name

For those of you who wondered about the strange design I put on the blog last week, all now can be revealed. Although I was not able to be at Vermont College this week for the January residency, I still want to give a cheer for my classmates because they revealed their class name today.
Here's the YouTube link to the video they used as part of their presentation.

The class name is Dystropians -- a take-off combination of the writer's term "Trope" plus the predictions about Dystopia scheduled to begin in this year of 2012.

We are the DYSTROPIANS: Writers of the Apocalypse!

The other part of the presentation had the whole class up on stage wearing black hoodies, which they took off to reveal awesome black tshirts with the saying, Dystropians -- We Survive! on them. (plus a fantastic writers swiss army knife full of pens and markers and a flash drive instead of knives, etc.)

I wish I had been able to be there.  I wish you-all had been there to see it.
-wo

The last Packet of Writing (for this year)

Packet 5 is SENT!
My second semester at Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults is done.
Done, done, done.
(except for the end of semester reports, but that's no problem.)

This has been a wonderful, eye-opening experience, this learning to write fiction. It's so very different from writing nonfiction. Writing wonderfully descriptive passages? No problem. Nonfiction writers are good at that.

On the other hand, creating a personality who is pursuing a goal and staying inside that person's head, feeling/ showing his reactions to events, etc. That's hard. (I tend to pull out into omnipotent view too often.)
Being too nice to your hero -- easy.
Putting your hero up a tree and throwing apples at him -- hard.

I could go on, but it's been an exhausting two semesters and I'm going to take a small break, now.

What did you learn you could or couldn't do when you began writing fiction?
-wo

More posts about writing

I was browsing Ingrid Sundberg's blog today when I discovered she had compiled a list of tidbits she carried away from our 10 day Residency at Vermont College of Fine Arts for Writing for Children and Young Adults. Something I had meant to do, but never got around to it. Click on the link to see.

She also has links to a multitude of writing articles done by faculty and students at Vermont College, otherwise known as VCFA-WCYA. That list is here.

Click on over and enjoy.

Then tell her how much you liked her blog when you see her at the SCBWI conference in LA this weekend. (She'll be one of the authors with bright PINK hair.)

-wo

Write at your Own Risk

The faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts, Writing for Children and Young Adults just created a new blog. I can only assume that it will be full of great writing advice or perhaps glimpses into their writing lives. (They are multi-published authors)

The blog is called Write at Your Own Risk. I actually was on campus last January when the sign on the skating rink, Skate at your own risk, was changed in the middle of one night to Write at your own risk. How appropriate for something at a college of writing. And what an appropriate title for a blog of writing teachers.

Click on over to Write at Your Own Risk, and add them to your feed, or make a note to visit them at least once a week.

-wo

Vermont College -- Notes

Ah, I've discovered that other Vermont College students are posting about the lectures at the Through the Tollbooth blog. Good job folks. (and, it has pictures!)
-wo

Vermont College -- Notes

I'm going to be posting tidbits about my adventure at Vermont College of Fine Arts during the 10 day Residency. (If I can get the internet to cooperate.)

Yesterday, Classes at Vermont College didn't start today until 3 pm, so I took the car and drove up the mountain behind Montpelier.

and up.

and up.

Found a Maple sugar place and bought sugar. YUM.

Then took a different way home, drove off the map, found myself coming down a different side of the mountain on a dirt road. Eventually landed on Route 2 and wended my want back to the college. Just barely in time for the 3:00 gathering of all students.

The first lecture was in the evening was by the resident poet, Julie Larios. Her theme was "Who am I. The Lonely Riddle Reveals." The carry-away tidbit from her talk was, "How minds use language to organize the world affects the way we write. Riddles interrupt this and make us think.... and rethink."

-wo

Nonfiction Monday

I'm at Vermont College of Fine Arts this week and next, but you can find Nonfiction Monday over at proseandkahn today.

Go, click, and enjoy.

wo

End of the semester

This is a test. Blogger has been cranky again and not letting people post or comment.

But today is the end of my first semester at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Today I sent my last packet to my advisor and I'm crossing fingers and toes that she finds it acceptable. There's so much more work I need to do on these manuscripts. There's so much more writing technique I need to learn.

(Now to try posting this for the third time.)

Click -- Packet 3 is sent

Well, I've reached the halfway mark in my first semester at Vermont College of Fine Arts. I just sent Packet 3 to my Advisor. This is supposed to be our most difficult packet to complete, although others say that Packet 4 is the hardest.

We

shall

see.

One nice thing is that I think I now have a couple more picture books and picture book biographies almost completed. Once I have a free moment (what's that?), I'll see about sending them out to publishers. Hurrah, I'm creating again.

-wendieO

A new book about writing is published!

Today is the shipping day of a book that writers will find very useful. Instead of being required to have attended a conference to hear Editor, Cheryl Klein, give a talk about writing, now you can purchase a book full of her speeches. Plus other information about the writing and publishing process.

You can see her book and how to order it for your very own library of writing advice (otherwise known, at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, as a Craft Book), by clicking on this link to her blog, Brooklyn Arden.

I've already ordered mine and it's been shipped.
Now, if only the person delivering the box knows to put it onto my back porch, not my front porch, I'll be happy.

Why the back porch?
Because, when the road was redone, the county, in its wisdom, cut off the way to get to our front porch. Any person trying to deliver there must hack their way through bushes, cross the lawn, and duck their head to avoid being hit by hanging tree branches. But some delivery people still try to reach the front. Which means, a week or two after the delivery date, I get to do the hacking and etc. (or simply go out the kitchen door and go around the other side of the house to reach the front door) in order to check for packages on the front porch.
wo

Below zero and getting colder

Welcome to Vermont's below zero weather. Thank heavens I have a 'neck gaiter' that is advertised to be suitable for Vermont weather. Yes, it really, truly said that on the label.

And it's working well. I pull it up over my face, some days letting my nose stick out, but today keeping it over my nose as we walk from lecture hall to reading hall, to dinner, to more readings and discussions. Right now I'm cuddled in my LL Bean blanket in my room working at my laptop computer and sneaking a peek at my e-mail.

I have to say that the Readings done by the people who will Graduate this Wednesday are blowing me away. Watch out world. Another set of wonderful writers of children's books are flying from the nest.
-wendieO

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Well,
here I am at Vermont College of Fine Arts -- have been here a WEEK now. And all my good intentions have flown away.
I intended to post every day, offering tidbits and quotes from the amazing lectures about writing children's books.

What have I really done?
Taken a nap every day just to keep up with everything that's been happening. It's amazing how tired you can get just sitting there, taking notes. And walking from building to building in 10 degree weather (sometimes through a snowstorm) to get to the next lecture, meeting, reading, etc.

Meanwhile, there is a group of students and grads who are blogging about this Residency at Vermont College. Go visit the blog, Through the Tollbooth for your taste of all the wonderfullness here. and keep checking back, because there may be more posts about it in the weeks ahead.

On another note, we were thrilled to watch the ALA awards on Monday as a group, in the presence of one of the award winners. Many of us also took time out of our busy schedule to see the Newbery and Caldecott winners appear on the Today Show Tuesday morning-- a tradition going back for decades.

But they weren't there.

The Today Show has dropped that segment.
For many reasons.
(and what a loss to the book reading public it is.)

Click on through to Eric Kimmel's blog to see his view of this astonishing television decision.
-wendieO

one more day

Packing
packing
packing
(washing clothes)
packing

I'm almost ready to leave for Vermont College.
Happy, Happy -- found my warm ski gloves!

packing
packing

Leave the house before 7 am/ get to airport 7:30 am/ get on plane at 9.
-wendieO