Authors’ advice on writing novels

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Here’s some excellent advice from six authors with several novels under their belt on how to write a novel. On the Hunger Mountain – the VCFA journal of the arts blog – you’ll find such statements as “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain if this is your mantra: revise, revise, revise,” by Connie May Fowler. Dani Shapiro writes: “Patience. Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a relationship you enter.” And author Thomas Christopher Greene writes: “Know the arc of the story before you begin, especially the climax. Then you can write toward it.” There’s more. Visit the blog and see for yourself.  

Chautauqua

“Literary Term: Conflict: The problem in a story that triggers the action. There are five basic types of conflict: man vs man; man vs society; man vs himself; man vs nature; man vs fate.” — Reading Group Journal: Notes in the Margin

For Illustrators and Writers

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Can one get inspiration from a picture? I know I did when I saw a photo in our local paper and created a story around it, which turned into a picture book, The Battle of the Snow Cones. In SM Ford’s article, “Writing to Pictures,” on the Institute of Children’s Literature blog, she writes about an assignment she got from a publisher to “… to take the existing spreads of illustrations and fix the text.” How awesome is that. Read her article to find out how she did it.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Speaking of illustrations, you might want to watch this four-minute mini-documentary (TeachingBooks.net) by Author/Illustrator Chris Raschka, 2012 Caldecott Medalist, for the picture book, “A Ball for Daisy.” In the video, he shows the painting techniques he uses in creating his pictures. 

“Finish what you’re writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.” — Neil Gaiman

Excellent Read

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I just finished reading the 2012 Newbery Medal book, Dead End in Norfelt, by Jack Gantos. It was an excellent read. I really enjoyed it. You might want to listen to a five-minute mini-documentary provided by TeachingNet.com where Gantos talks about his love of journaling and writing. I am in the mood for reading so I also bought two of Richard Peck’s books, The Teacher’s Funeral, and The River Between Us. Of course, I recommend my friend Lupe’s book, Under the Mesquite, which is written in verse and got the Pura Belpre Award.
Rio Grande Valley
“Five Questions for Jane Yolen,” is also something you might want to read. The Horn Book blog post by Roger Sutton features an interview with Yolen about her book, Snow in Summer. According to the post, Yolen has over 300 titles to her name. Yikes! I have a lot of catching up to do. It was my pleasure to have met Ms. Yolen at a writer’s retreat a few years back. She was charming and supportive of all the aspiring writers there, including yours truly. 

“The only way to fail is to not write the book you care about.” – Libba Bray (From Ingrid’s Notes blog).

Wordless picture books

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Did you know that the 2012 Caldecott book is a wordless picture book? Amazing! A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka won the Caldecott for best illustrated story. Raschka already has another Caldecott under his belt—Hello, Goodbye Window won in 2006. But A Ball for Daisy was his first wordless picture book and Raschka said “…was a challenge … and went through many, many variations” in an NPR post.  Read the entire article on NPR’s blog. Pretty fascinating. 
School Visit
At the SCBWI-LA 2009 conference, which I attended, the Golden Kite Award was presented to Hyewon Yum for another wordless picture book, Last Night. It was a delightful illustrated story.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island … and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.” – Walt Disney

Great stuff on SCBWI Winter Conference

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The SCBWI winter conference in New York was over just a few days ago. If you were not in attendance, here’s your chance to take a look at their official blog on the happenings that went on at the conference. From fabulous pictures of editors, agents, conferees, panels, etc., to videos of conferees talking about their experiences there, to great articles about the keynote speakers’ addresses, you won’t want to miss reading this post. 

While scrolling down through the blog, I saw where Regina Brooks, founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency, sponsors an annual writing contest. Here is your opportunity if you’ve been working or have finished a YA novel.

Sigh. Wish I had been there.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. – Maya Angelou

Do book awards matter?

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In my previous post, I mentioned some of the 2012 award-winning books and offered a link, ALA Press Release, for the entire list of awards. If you wish to read more about why these awards matter, visit Harold Underdown’s blog (The Purple Crayon). He breaks this topic into three sections: (1) Why awards matter, and what you’ll find here. (2) More sources of information and places to buy award-winning books. (3) Articles about children’s book awards. 

 And don’t miss Publisher’s Weekly interviews with the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and William C. Morris Debut YA award in the article: “Gantos, Raschka, Whaley: Where They Were When the Award Call Came.” It is an interesting read.
“No matter what your writing life brings, believe in yourself and keep moving forward. Most writers cycle between periods of self-doubt and periods of confidence.” – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Newbery, Caldecott and More

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The book awards list is out. Congratulations to all those on the winner and honor lists. I am especially excited because I know three of those on the Pura Belpré list: Monica Brown, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and Xavier Garza. What an honor.
The 2012 Newbery medal (most outstanding contribution to children’s literature) went to Jack Gantos for his book, Dead End in Norvelt, published by Farrar Straus Giroux.
The Caldecott Medal (most distinguished American picture book for children) went to author/illustrator Chris Raschka for the book, A Ball for Daisy, published by Schwartz &
Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
The Pura Belpré Author Award (honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience) went to Guadalupe Garcia McCall for her YA book, Under the Mesquite, published by Lee and Low. The Illustrator Award went to author/illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh for the book, Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers.

For a complete look at all the winners and awards, link to ALA Press Release blog.

“Surprise is what keeps readers turning the pages and writers filling them up.” — James Howe

Kids’ Book Club Pick

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Here’s an interesting article, “January Kids’ Book Club Pick: ‘The Watsons Go To Birmingham’ – 1963” published on the National Public Radio (NPR) blog by Michele Norris. The book, written by Newbery Medal winner, Christopher Paul Curtis, is what is becoming what NPR calls a modern classic. I was privileged to meet Mr. Curtis at one of the SCBWI-LA conferences. His book, Bud, Not Buddy, is one of my favorites. Enjoy the article.
Christopher Paul Curtis autographing his book!
If you’re writing a chapter book, Little Pickle Press is accepting submissions. For more details, visit their website. Best of luck with your queries and submissions for the new year.

I attended our first local SCBWI chapter meeting of the new year yesterday. The session, “Goals: Set, Track, and Meet Them in 2012 (and Beyond!),” was a great way to start the year. I came home and set up a spreadsheet defining my writer’s goals for the year. I hope to stay true to those goals. Have you set up yours for the year?

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.” — Chinese Proverb

Writer Contest

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If you’re in the middle of writing or have finished a YA novel, perhaps you’d be interested in entering the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. According to their website: “…the award brings together talented writers, reviewers, and publishing experts to find and develop new voices in fiction. The 2012 international contest will award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance. Open submissions for manuscripts will begin on January 23, 2012 and run through February 5, 2012. If you’re an author with an unpublished or previously self-published novel waiting to be discovered, visit CreateSpace to sign up for regular contest updates. See the official contest rules, or read details on how to enter.”
Garden
Great news! The talented author/illustrator, Laura Lacamara, who is illustrating my next book, Alicia’s Fruity Drinks/Las Aguas Frescas de Alicia, is on the 2012 Top Ten “New” Latino Authors to Watch (and Read) posted on the LatinoStories blog. I am thrilled for her and wish her much success.
“Sing like no one’s listening; love like you’ve never been hurt; dance like nobody’s watching; live like it’s heaven on earth.” — Mark Twain

Creative Writing Prompts

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I enjoy going to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I love the wide open skies and the Sandia mountains looming over the city, changing color as the day goes by. Tumbleweeds roll across the road as the winds help them along. Historic Old Town in downtown Albuquerque is vibrant and colorful. I can see why some artists and writers find inspiration there and are attracted to that city.
But as a writer, you don’t have to wait for inspiration or visit another city. All you need to do is sit down in front of that computer and write! Easy to say, right? I know it’s hard staring at a blank screen sometimes. If you’re like me, you try to find excuses to get out of that chair. But it takes discipline to stay put. Try some writing prompts to get you started. Or pick one word and write around it. Sometimes what I do is start this way: I remember when ….. Or I would really like to write about ….(something you don’t know anything about but wish you did). I know it sounds simple but I’ve heard the expression of keeping “butt in chair.” Try it. You might just find out it really works.
Albuquerque
 But if you’re still having trouble getting those creative juices started, try some simple prompts.  The following website has tons of writing prompts to choose from: CreativeWritingPrompts.

“A room without books is like a body without soul.” — Cicero