I feel so guilty for not having posted the past few weeks! A few weeks ago I came down sick with the flu and was sick for about five days with body aches, chills, sore throat, cough, but no vomiting, thank God! Upon returning to work I had a lot to catch up on since my Twilight program at the library is coming up soon...this Saturday, Halloween! I also had other programs to prepare for, so I apologize for missing so many opportunities to blog.
Unfortunately being sick caused me to miss the Writer's Conference I was so looking forward to attending. Stupid flu. However, I DID get to attend my first MileHiCon last Saturday! I learned quite a bit while there.
1) Steampunk is the new "IT" trend, trailing on the ends of the vampire trend as it dies off. What is steampunk, you ask? For more information on steampunk, click here. Steampunk seems to be gaining steam quickly in both the adult and young adult book markets. The "modern" resurgence of steampunk seems to be melding with the paranormal, as books like "Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest and "Soulless" by Gail Carriger take traditional steampunk elements and combine them with vampires and zombies. Another notable YA steampunk out this year is Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan."
2) Most hardcore science fiction/fantasy fans do not seem to recognize YA lit as a reputable genre, which saddens me. Most of the people I talked to at the Con reacted negatively when I told them I was a teen librarian and read mostly YA fantasy/sci-fi. The most common reaction I got was "well, that's a stepping stone, at least you have an interest in fantasy/sci-fi!" I don't see it as a "stepping stone," I see it as a healthy, vibrant, and diverse genre, and frankly I find YA books to be a hell of a lot more creative and entertaining than most adult fiction out there.
3) I love fantasy. I love science fiction. Those are my genres and I realize I need to stick with them, because I have such passion for them that cannot be extinguished. And there are lots of other people out there who love it too, so I highly doubt it will be fading anytime soon. And don't let those hardcore "purists" deter you from what you love, because there is no such thing as a genre that is "better" than another. Some people like adult fiction. Some like YA. Never look down on others for loving a genre that speaks to them.
On another, I'm thrilled today is a snow day from work so I can stay home and write! I'll probably catch up on my reading too, and snuggle with my dog in front of the fireplace. As much as I love writing I have to keep reading too, seeing as they go hand in hand.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Banned Books Week 2009
I was a lucky kid growing up. Why? Because my parents never told me "no, you can't read that book." Because my parents gave me the freedom to choose my own reading material (with obvious exceptions like erotic romance) and respected my individual right to read books I enjoyed, which happens to be fantasy. Unfortunately for many kids, reading fantasy is just that: a fantasy. Fantasy books are prime targets for banning/challenging by angry mobs of parents. In honor of Banned Book Week 2009 and supporting our freedom to read whatever we choose, I've compiled a list of the banned and challenged books that have changed my life forever.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
1984 by George Orwell
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (my fave)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Please, do your children a favor and don't censor them from their right to read. I once saw a poster that phrased it perfectly: "Censorship causes blindness." Do we really want to raise another generation full of ignorance and bigotry and other forms of blindness? For more information on banned books visit the ALA's (American Library Association) website.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
1984 by George Orwell
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (my fave)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Please, do your children a favor and don't censor them from their right to read. I once saw a poster that phrased it perfectly: "Censorship causes blindness." Do we really want to raise another generation full of ignorance and bigotry and other forms of blindness? For more information on banned books visit the ALA's (American Library Association) website.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Working at the library is so novel!
Working at the public library is the best job an aspiring author could possibly have. I've been working at a public library for almost two years now and I really think the work I've done there has helped inspire me to write. Here are the main reasons why working at a library is beneficial to a new writer:
1. You are surrounded by books (wonderful and horrible) all day long, and by people asking for these books and your opinions on them.
2. As a librarian, part of your job is reader's advisory, which means you must read (or at least be very familiar) with a variety of books. And sometimes people will tell you about what they're reading or come back and ask for more books like the ones you recommended last time, which means they trust your judgment on what books are worth their time.
3. You are basically a professional researcher, which means the research techniques I've learned at work are now helping me to research publishing industry, such as how to properly query agents, how to find agents, what the current literary trends are, and universal guidelines to word counts, good writing, and do's and dont's.
4. You get to talk to A LOT of people. Which means you know what people are reading, what's popular, and what's not, which are good things to keep in mind. Also, many of the people I meet become inspiration for characters in my writing. Even the nasty patrons are good fodder for inventing your "bad" characters.
5. You get to exercise your creative juices by designing programs for teens and kids, which in turn keeps your mind sharp for when it comes time to write. Keeping the creative juices flowing is a biggie for me, because otherwise I find they coagulate and I get less good writing done.
I couldn't think of a better place to work while I write my first novel. Except maybe a publishing house...but at the library you get to hear directly from the public about what books are hot or not, and that's about as accurate as you can get.
1. You are surrounded by books (wonderful and horrible) all day long, and by people asking for these books and your opinions on them.
2. As a librarian, part of your job is reader's advisory, which means you must read (or at least be very familiar) with a variety of books. And sometimes people will tell you about what they're reading or come back and ask for more books like the ones you recommended last time, which means they trust your judgment on what books are worth their time.
3. You are basically a professional researcher, which means the research techniques I've learned at work are now helping me to research publishing industry, such as how to properly query agents, how to find agents, what the current literary trends are, and universal guidelines to word counts, good writing, and do's and dont's.
4. You get to talk to A LOT of people. Which means you know what people are reading, what's popular, and what's not, which are good things to keep in mind. Also, many of the people I meet become inspiration for characters in my writing. Even the nasty patrons are good fodder for inventing your "bad" characters.
5. You get to exercise your creative juices by designing programs for teens and kids, which in turn keeps your mind sharp for when it comes time to write. Keeping the creative juices flowing is a biggie for me, because otherwise I find they coagulate and I get less good writing done.
I couldn't think of a better place to work while I write my first novel. Except maybe a publishing house...but at the library you get to hear directly from the public about what books are hot or not, and that's about as accurate as you can get.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Books should be exciting!
The BEST book I've read this year is by far The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If you haven't read it yet, you need to. It's amazing. It has everything I'm a sucker for in books: nail biting action, cliffhanger chapter endings, strong female characters, and the excitement of having no clue what is going to happen next or how it will happen. I wish all books were this exciting! After four years in college of reading nothing but the classics and literary fiction I need a break (preferably a long one) from adult literary works of masterpiece. Give me a book that reads like a movie, moving at breakneck speed and vivid, graphic descriptions. Mostly I find these books to be young adult, so I am taking a hiatus from reading any adult fiction and disappearing into the world of YA lit. Which is completely fine, since I am writing YA lit.
In my own writing I try to avoid chapters that lag or cause the reader boredom. I try as hard as I can to keep the story moving along quickly, with several action scenes and a witty, well crafted voice. This is both a blessing and a curse, because even when I'm writing I find myself just wanting to jump from action scene to action scene without much transition or explanation in between and it's hard for me to go back on edits and insert transitional scenes to make the story slow down and flow better. I need to take the time to fully describe people and places in my story and make sure the characters are fleshed out beings and not just action heroes.
In my own writing I try to avoid chapters that lag or cause the reader boredom. I try as hard as I can to keep the story moving along quickly, with several action scenes and a witty, well crafted voice. This is both a blessing and a curse, because even when I'm writing I find myself just wanting to jump from action scene to action scene without much transition or explanation in between and it's hard for me to go back on edits and insert transitional scenes to make the story slow down and flow better. I need to take the time to fully describe people and places in my story and make sure the characters are fleshed out beings and not just action heroes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Web presence
I've been reading agent blogs obsessively of late, learning as much as I can about the publishing business and the current state of the YA market. The census seems to be that these days an author must have a "web presence" to become successful. A web presence ensures attention from readers, bloggers, and reviewers and is a necessity when it comes to marketing and promoting your book. Here are some ways you can create your own "web presence":
1. Create a blog
A blog gives you the means to keep readers and followers updated on what you're doing. An interesting and well kept blog means you maintain followers, which may someday become potential readers of your published work and reviewers, who are crucial to your book's success. Positive reviews propel your book's sales in today's competitive market. Also, a blog is more personal so people can get to know you and your voice better. Blogging has become quite the rage for authors as a tool to promote themselves by means of blog tours and guest blogging on another author or agents' blog.
2. Twitter
There are endless opportunities to network on Twitter. Become a follower of your favorite author and leave them a tweet and they might just answer your comment. Follow publishers and agents to learn up to the minute updates about what's happening right now in the publishing industry. Tweet about your own work and the work of others to create networking buddies and gain followers to get your name out there. Twitter is a great resource for staying on the up and up and being informed.
3. Personal website
A personal website is the place you advertise all that is you; your latest book coming out, your future books plans, book tour dates, book signings, squashing of rumors, and any other exciting news fans want to know. Here you can consolidate all your other online endeavors in a single stop shopping trip. Provide links to your blog, Twitter, fan pages, book reviews, and also provide your bio and picture. This is where fans go to really get to know you.
So far I have the blog and the Twitter, and with a manuscript nearing completion more every day I am feeling good about my web presence. When I first started writing my novel I had no idea there was so much more involved than just the act of writing. To be a successful writer these days, you need more than good writing going for you, you need to clamor for attention and get noticed because there are a million other authors out there but you need to differentiate yourself and make them want to follow YOU!
1. Create a blog
A blog gives you the means to keep readers and followers updated on what you're doing. An interesting and well kept blog means you maintain followers, which may someday become potential readers of your published work and reviewers, who are crucial to your book's success. Positive reviews propel your book's sales in today's competitive market. Also, a blog is more personal so people can get to know you and your voice better. Blogging has become quite the rage for authors as a tool to promote themselves by means of blog tours and guest blogging on another author or agents' blog.
2. Twitter
There are endless opportunities to network on Twitter. Become a follower of your favorite author and leave them a tweet and they might just answer your comment. Follow publishers and agents to learn up to the minute updates about what's happening right now in the publishing industry. Tweet about your own work and the work of others to create networking buddies and gain followers to get your name out there. Twitter is a great resource for staying on the up and up and being informed.
3. Personal website
A personal website is the place you advertise all that is you; your latest book coming out, your future books plans, book tour dates, book signings, squashing of rumors, and any other exciting news fans want to know. Here you can consolidate all your other online endeavors in a single stop shopping trip. Provide links to your blog, Twitter, fan pages, book reviews, and also provide your bio and picture. This is where fans go to really get to know you.
So far I have the blog and the Twitter, and with a manuscript nearing completion more every day I am feeling good about my web presence. When I first started writing my novel I had no idea there was so much more involved than just the act of writing. To be a successful writer these days, you need more than good writing going for you, you need to clamor for attention and get noticed because there are a million other authors out there but you need to differentiate yourself and make them want to follow YOU!
Monday, September 7, 2009
If I Stay--Review
Having just finished Gayle Forman's novel, If I Stay, I must say it's one of the best written books I've read in awhile. It's one of those stories that keeps you hooked until the last page, never knowing for certain which way the story is going to sway. Will Mia stay and go to Juilliard, get married some day and play the cello in front of a large audience some day? Or will she go to be with her family who are already lost? For you criers out there, this one is a tearjerker, so keep a box of kleenexes close by.
Speaking of novels I've managed to write over 2,000 words in the last two days, woohoo! It figures I am more productive in my writing on my days of from work. This puts me at a word count of approximately 20,000 words, halfway to the goal! This is my first novel, so after I finish begins the search for an agent and publication. I'm glad to finally be getting serious about my writing!
Speaking of novels I've managed to write over 2,000 words in the last two days, woohoo! It figures I am more productive in my writing on my days of from work. This puts me at a word count of approximately 20,000 words, halfway to the goal! This is my first novel, so after I finish begins the search for an agent and publication. I'm glad to finally be getting serious about my writing!
Monday, June 1, 2009
The worst is over
For me, the worst part of writing was getting over my fears. I've written short stories, research papers, and essays, but I've never attempted a full length novel. It's been my dream to write books since I first learned how to read, because I wanted to captivate readers the way I'd been captivated by the stories written by others when I was younger.
So now, here I am, two years out of college and I've just finished five chapters of a novel I've been thinking about and outlining for awhile now. At first I was afraid my writing wouldn't be good enough, or that the story wouldn't translate from my brain to the page like I envisioned it. But now that I have five chapters down, I am feeling very confident and ready to forge ahead. I hope to have my first draft done by the end of July. Stick around for more about my ongoing writing struggle.
So now, here I am, two years out of college and I've just finished five chapters of a novel I've been thinking about and outlining for awhile now. At first I was afraid my writing wouldn't be good enough, or that the story wouldn't translate from my brain to the page like I envisioned it. But now that I have five chapters down, I am feeling very confident and ready to forge ahead. I hope to have my first draft done by the end of July. Stick around for more about my ongoing writing struggle.
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