Two Sides of a Trend

I read two posts yesterday that got my attention:

Scholastics’s top 10 trends in children’s publishing

And the flipside:

The Top 15 most overused tropes in MG/YA fiction

When is a trend a trope? There's a tipping point somewhere, and it's not always copycatting but a shift in the zeitgeist. For example, I am guilty of number four on author Joelle Anthony’s list, which the Restoring Harmony (Putnam, 2010) author first published in a SCBWI bulletin. There's a reason writers don't give their characters cell phones. Once a mystery that required a book full of adventures to solve can be cracked in a paragraph by a middle-schooler with an iPhone.

So what do these kinds of lists tell us? Scholastic’s list is aimed at journalists, and ultimately consumers and book buyers. Few entries on that list surprise anyone who pays close attention to publishing, and the books referenced were written and contracted years ago. Now editors and agents are looking for something new.

And that’s why Joelle’s list is more useful. She’s trying to push writers farther into their own imaginations. When I lamented in her comments section that my characters have cell phone problems, Joelle kindly emailed me:

“I think the challenge here is to come up with a reason why the character doesn't have a phone that isn't because his/her "mean old parents won't let them." … That's what I hope this article gets helps writers to think about.”

So now I’m thinking about how to keep my ideas and writing fresh -- how to stay ahead of the trends. Because I would love to be on Scholastic’s trend list, oh, in two or three years, when the success of my current WIP ushers in a wave of imitators.

What trends do you see in publishing that Scholastic didn’t mention? What clichés would you like to never see again?

What Non-Writer Friends Should Know

I have friends that don't write. I know, it blows my mind as well. I mean, how do they fill the evenings and weekends? But I figure there are some things a non-writer friend needs to know.

1. IF I GO QUIET THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I'm listening to the character in my head. It doesn't mean I'm in a mood.
2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HAVING TOO MANY BOOKS. Seriously, why do people ask this? Do I ask why you need to breathe?
3. PLEASE TEXT/CALL BEFORE YOU 'DROP BY.' I want to see you, but I need the warning to brush my hair. I also need to wash the six cups I've collected while writing this chapter. And change out of my PJs. Maybe I should take a shower first...
4. EDITING IS A SLOW PROCESS. I know you think the book is fabulous after the first read, but it needs work. Trust me. It. Needs. It.
5. EDITS ARE ABOUT SACRIFICE. The red pen of doom is going to blot over the hard copy like blood. Some of your favourite bits may not survive the cull. We hate it, but sometimes need to kill our darlings to make it better.

And now some things the writer me should occasionally tell non-writer friends:

6. I MAY NOT TELL YOU I APPRECIATE YOU ENOUGH. I can be a pain in the butt. A huge one. I've complained about this plot twist three times. I'm sure you're about to hit me over the head for it, but you still smile/nod/aww/offer suggestions in all the right places. And you still ask me how the writing is going.
7. YOU'VE SUPPORTED MY DREAM FROM THE BEGINNING. You didn't laugh. You never tried to talk me out of it. You encouraged me. You believe in me.
8. YOU ARE AMAZING. You don't write, but you raise a family/study/work/manage a household etc. There are things you do everyday that make me stand in awe of you.
9. I'M HERE FOR YOU. Yes I write books, but you are important to me as well.
10. THANK YOU. Just because. :)

What about you. Is there anything you wish your non-writer friends knew about being a writer? Or spread some love for your non-writer friends in the comments.

Getting to Know You

So this morning, I thought I'd post a few random questions to find out more about the people who visit our blog. Here are the questions....answers follow.

1. What did you eat for breakfast?

Me: I had scrambled eggs and biscuits and gravy. (yum yum)

Oliver Awesome: Mouse.

2. What are you currently reading?

Me: Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation 

Oliver: The Legend of the Guardians 

3. What is your favorite color?

Me: Purple

Oliver: Orange.

4. Favorite dessert?

Me: Tiramisu

Oliver: Mouse

Me: Ew.. Seriously, Oliver?

Oliver: Shh.. Get on with the questions.

5. Cats or dogs?

Me: I like both. But if I had to pick, I'd pick dogs.

Oliver: Neither. They are too big to eat.

Me: We're not talking about eating them, Oliver. We're talking about which one you'd like as a pet.

Oliver: Uh, like have you ever seen an owl with a pet? I'm sticking with neither one, thank you very much.

6.. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Me: Flying.

Oliver: Flying is overrated. I'd choose super strength. Then I could try out cats and dogs.

7. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Me: Night Owl

Oliver: Serioulsy? Do I need to answer this question?

Last question..

8. What did you dream about last night?

Me: It was such a mash-up. It was a combination of my son throwing up to standing in the line at a store. Random, uninspiring dream images.  Oh! there was a murder mystery involved as well.

Oliver: (Yawn) Will tell you later. It's well past my bedtime. Good-day.

So what about you??

The Next Best Thing: All About Hype

Original here

Confession: my to-read pile is ginormous. Offensive, even. And it only keeps getting bigger. *face palm*

While looking at said to-read pile the other day, I realized I have a healthy balance of genres, all targeted for a YA audience. BUT I also noticed that some books I'd been hearing about for months, while others... not so much. 

I started thinking about a word that gets thrown around a lot in the blogosphere: hype. Particularly, its effect on book sales and reviews. You know, the stuff people are always worried about?

Well... wanna know a secret? *waves forward* Books will be good if they're good. 

Whether they're hyped about or not won't affect the quality of the author's words. It just means his or her sales will *probably* leave people's jaws on the floor. Or at least hanging inches away from it. :D

I don't know about you, but I get really upset when book reviewers/bloggers/readers/whoeverhasaccesstotheInternet start mouthing off against a book because it's been hyped about. Not because he or she read said book and didn't enjoy it for legit reasons. Why would I trust someone who hasn't even done their research? Who brushes off a book simply because the majority likes it? *shakes head* That's a huge no-no to me.

Then there's the opposite--those who ignore works of lesser known authors simply because they're not on the NYT Best-selling list. Because bookstores don't have them placed front and center, easy to find as soon as you walk in. Because nobody's fighting over film rights and blowing up screenwriters' phones for the movie adaptation. 

I have one question for both groups: seriously?

Like I said, books are good if they're good. Hype does not equal quality, nor do hyped-about books suck. At least, not to me.

Now fess up: are you easily swayed by hype when purchasing books? Or do you mix it up with un-hyped-about ones?

Emotional Overload is a Beautiful Thing

So, last week I was pondering on whether or not creative people needed angst to create. And after a bit of rambling, I think what it boils down to is this - what you really need to produce good work (in my humble opinion) is emotion. Any kind of emotion. Not angst, necessarily. But raw, unfiltered emotion.

Edna Ferber said:

I think that to write well and convincingly, one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion. Dislike, displeasure, resentment, fault-finding, imagination, passionate remonstrance, a sense of injustice – they all make fine fuel.

Notice that these are almost all “negative” emotions. I think negative emotions are just easier to tap into – and they are probably easier to relate to as well. Not everyone has felt that rush you get when you first fall in love or the total rush of supreme happiness experienced when you've finally obtained a goal you've been working toward. But everyone, at some point in their lives, has been sad or hurt or scared.

Do I think all creative people need to dress in black and sit around brooding with a shot glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other?…no! Of course not! In fact, my writer friends are some of the funniest, happiest, goofiest people I know. We spend the vast majority of our time cracking each other up. But I do think a writer or artist has to have some kind of emotional background from which to draw.

So, what emotions drive me as a writer? This one is easy….all of them. If you read a scene in one of my books that is particularly depressing – well, I was probably feeling depressed that day. Or I heard a song that made me think of that one time where I was horribly hurt or heart broken and Ta-Da!!! Someone in my book is going to get shot (just kidding…well, sort of). And if you read an especially funny scene, I was probably in a really good mood that day.

Can I write a funny scene if I’m mad or depressed? – yes. But I guarantee you it will be funnier if I was in a good mood when I wrote it. Same with the opposite end of the spectrum. I can write a fairly convincing tear-jerker no matter what kind of mood I’m in – but it really helps if I’m bummed, or tapped into those bummed feelings, when my fingers hit the keys.

We'll talk about how I help myself get into the right writing mood next week :D

For now, I wanna know....what emotions drive you? Are the harsher, more angsty emotions easier for you to tap into, or are the humorous ones more your cup of tea? 

Oooo and here's a good question for you - does writing about a certain emotion create that emotion for you personally? Meaning, if you are sad when you sit down to write a funny scene, do you end up in a better mood by the time you are done? Or are your creative emotions completely separate from your personal emotions?

Finding Your Voice

Hi!

Sorry, was that too exuberant a greeting? I'm a little nervous. This is my first official post on the group blog, the first post written entirely by me and not about a contest or interview. Today, you finally get to hear my voice. Well, by hear I mean read, but you get that, right? Right. Okay, no more stalling, then.

When I first started devoting serious time to becoming (my romantic notion of) a writer, my biggest worry was that I had no voice.

Yeah, you read that right.

I'd read something online about Finding Your Voice and I worried I needed to develop my voice. It's actually kind of silly if you think about it, because just about everybody is born with a voice. You don't question it or think about it. You just speak and words come out in your own unique voice. Sure, you have to coo or babble when you're a baby (not to mention all that bawling). You have to listen to your parents and siblings speak, and you mimic them to some extent. But in the end, the only way to develop your voice is to practice speaking.

Writing is the same way, but I didn't know that. I thought I needed a special guide to teach me how to be myself.  This stems from a fear that's haunted me my whole life, and I'm probably not alone.


Is being myself good enough?


It turns out that the only way NOT to have a personal writing voice is to try too hard to be like somebody else. Don't do that.

While the guide I linked above has good ideas, like reading a lot of different books or practicing writing like your favorite authors, or writing to prompts--all this is effectively the baby listening to conversation before she tries to make words on her own, and then awkwardly copying words like "No" and "Don't" and "Stop that" (this might just be my babies).

Writing in someone else's style is fine, but don't try to be Meg Cabot. Yes, she is awesome. Yes, she is witty. Be awesome and witty in your own way.

How do I propose you do that?

Blog.

For writers, blogging is like a warm bubble bath. It's the fun and relaxation of writing without the cold shower of pass-or-fail judgment. Especially when you're first starting out. For a long time, I had 33 followers on my personal writing blog, and only about 8 hits a day from different viewers. Reaching more people is awesome, but starting small is good, too. I got into my own writing groove whenever I blogged, and even though I never turned my internal editor off (is that even possible?!), I did allow myself some indulgences you simply can't do in printed fiction...

:) SQUEE!! LOL. ;) ROFL b/c That is made of awesome. OMGoodness! :p

...and the result in my novels has been palpable: I actually have a personality. Letting my hair down on my blog has freed up that personality more than copying Shakespeare or Mark Twain ever could. Not that I SQUEE in my books (though a character might at some point). They are definitely different formats, unless you're writing one of those MG books in chat format, which I think has been done to death, people.

The greatest key to finding your writing voice is to be yourself. 

Let that snark, incurable optimism, or witty cynicism seep into your novel. That's what people will relate to. Learn from others, try out new ways of expressing your themes and your characters. But don't bend over backward trying to achieve the oh-so-marketable and ever-elusive VOICE agents are always talking about. When they say that, they're really saying THAT BOOK connected with them on a personal level. Across the publishing universe, voice is as subjective as romantic chemistry. You can't fake it.

Be yourself, let your voice shine through the printed page, and trust that someone, somewhere will like you.



p.s. If you're having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, visit Lindsay's blog for some snowy goodness or Michelle's for Friday Funnies.

Kelly's Best of 2010

December is time for year’s end lists. Since nobody sends me ARCs or review copies, I rely on my fantastic public library for most of my reading. I still haven't gotten my hands on some of the newest books, but so what? These are my five-star MG (and one YA) reads of 2010, in alphabetical order. Some of them are older, but all of them have had a deep imprint on me as a reader, person, and writer.

Laurie Halse Anderson, Forge. I was moved by Isabel’s story in Chains, and Curzon is an equally compelling narrator. I’m a Philadelphian who grew up in the Bicentennial area, so the history of Valley Forge and the Revolutionary War is part of my cultural DNA. Anderson brought it to life. Should I say now that I have another story of my own planned for this general historic period and setting? Well, I do. I haven’t read Anderson’s contemporary YA works, but her historical fiction is an inspiration.

Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle. This was my first Jones book, probably because it was in the paperback section of my library and the hardcover selection included only middle volumes from various series. But boy, did I love this – creative, surprising, romantic. I also read Enchanted Glass this year, another marvelous book, grounded between the real world and faerie with a satirical edge.

M.M. Kaye, The Ordinary Princess. I’m a sucker for fairy tales, but I don’t like Shrek-like fractured fairy tales – I prefer my stories sincere and straight-up, no snarkiness please and – ugh – no anachronistic pop-culture references. Out of at least 10 books with the word “princess” in the title last year, this sweet, original story was the only one that captured my heart. The Ordinary Princess is illustrator M.M. Kaye’s only novel, published in 1981, a little late for me to have discovered it as child. But I would have loved it then, and I loved it now so much I read it twice in a row (not hard, because it’s so short) and then read it aloud to my daughter. I have a fairytale/fantasy story idea on my to-write list, and I have the very lofty goal of combining what I love about The Ordinary Princess and Howl’s Moving Castle. Aim high, right?

Robin McKinley, Chalice. I didn’t read McKinley when I was young (possibly Beauty – I read it this year and it was vaguely familiar) but I discovered her this year. I started with The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, both widely loved and hugely influential books. I saw them all over Graceling and Fire, which I read this year as well. I greatly enjoyed and admired all four of those stories, but Chalice, which is not one of McKinley’s canonical works, moved me more. I enjoy a warrior-woman tale now and then, but I prefer heroines who are just as strong but also gentle, like Mirasol.

Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This utterly delightful, sincere, good-hearted book, inspired by Chinese fairy tales, made me smile throughout -- the clever, brave children, the sad dragon, the exquisite writing, and the wonderful structure of stories-within-the-story that all tie into a very happy ending. This is a masterful work – a true classic.

Rita Williams-Garcia, One Crazy Summer. I loved the intersection of the ordinary family plight of the three girls with important but difficult to understand historic events, bringing it to life so clearly. As a young child, I lived in the progressive enclave of Mt. Airy in Philadelphia, so the setting was both familiar and fresh to me, while the voice of the young MC was endearing and original.

What are your favorite reads of 2010? Which books inspired you most as a reader, person, and writer?

Mystery Agent Contest: December

And... the contest is closed!! Thanks for everyone that entered. We'll let you know the results as soon as possible.

I can't believe it's December! With the festive season fast approaching isn't it good to know we at Operation Awesome aren't resting on our bottoms. Okay I am, but I write while I'm sat on my bed. :-)

Anyway...

It's Mystery Agent contest time! I'm happy to announce we have another fantastic agent for you who, until the grand reveal, is hidden away in a secret location with my cookies. I can promise that this agent IS fantastic. Seriously!

Here are the details:

All YA and adult subgenres except for Christian fiction, erotica, MG, and picture books. Please include title/genre in the comments.

The first 50 one-line pitches posted will be considered.

Mystery Agent will choose one winner.

The winner will have Mystery Agent's full attention when they send their full MS. Yep, you heard me right -- YOUR FULL MS! So don’t forget, please have your manuscript ready to send before you pitch.

Note: It should go without saying, but please, please, please don't pitch your recently finished Nano novels. Give them the love they deserve and revise them like any book baby should be.

The rules: We won’t have any fancy ‘you must follow us’ rules. Sure, we’d love you all to follow us, but Operation Awesome is about giving back. But in the spirit of sharing please spread the word.

Want some help with your pitch? Here are some handy links:

Query Tracker - the one sentence pitch
QueryTracker Blog - the elevator pitch
Elana Johnson - one-sentence pitching.
Michelle McLean -- how to write a logline

The contest will close when the fifty entries are filled. Even if it looks like we have 50 spots filled, check the comments anyway (we do our best, but some comments could be duplicates/questions). So keep checking back to be sure you don't miss the chance.

Want to know who the agent is? Come back when the winners are announced and we’ll have an interview with the agent extraordinaire.

Good luck.

Now ready, steady, go!

Is Chaos Interfering With Your Writing Life?

So how has everyone been doing on their writing goals this month? I was one of those that said I'd finish my first draft for NaNo. It didn't happen. Matter of fact, I barely wrote at all this month. HOWEVER, I feel pretty darn good about what I've gotten done. I've re-claimed my home.

Are you one of those writers that lets your house fall apart all in the name of writing? Well, from personal experience, it is difficult to feel relaxed and creative if you have chaos surrounding you. For my post today, I wanted to encourage you all to re-find your life...your real life, not your imaginary world. Gain control of your environment, then you will be able to focus when you sit down to create your written world. You will be happier. Your family will be happier. You will have balance.

In the past, I've done some home organization with the help of Flylady. She is great for teaching you routines and baby steps. I still use a lot of her helpful hints even when I am not following her advise exclusively. I suggest you check her site out if you haven't already.


Currently, I'm using a more simple way to get my life in order. For several months, I'd given my kids chore charts. (I highly recommend it!) Well, I gave myself a chore chart, as well, and posted it up on the fridge right next to the kid's charts. If I expect my kids to be responsible, then I need to show responsibility myself.

Here is my chart:

As you can see, I've added exercise (blech), studying my bible (Quite time), and WRITING and EDITING. I've made it a PART of my day, instead of making writing encompassing my day. 

My house has never looked this good. Seriously. And all of my chores, once you have the decluttering down (Rooms Rescues), it only takes a few minutes to get that done each day. I feel more at ease when I sit down to write, instead of feeling guilty that I haven't gotten my normal, everyday stuff done.

I am not an organized person by nature, just so you know. And I'm about as un-domestic as one can get. So if I can gain back my house and increase peace in my life, I know you can too.

Now, go do something to balance your life.




NOTE: And don't forget to come back tomorrow and enter our new Mystery Agent Contest. Oliver says that you won't want to miss it.

Post-NaNo Editing Checklist!

Congrats to all the NaNoWriMo winners!! 50k in one month? Ya'll are definitely my heroes.

If you didn't win, or didn't participate (like moi), it's cool. Something is better than nothing, right? Right.

So. Since the end of NaNo is upon us, I thought I'd talk a bit about what you'll all be doing this December. And by that, I mean one word: r-e-v-i-s-i-o-n. 

*cue evil laughter*

Okay. December is Revision Month. And in order to tackle Revision Month, you need to take things one step at a time (so you won't go insane). 

Ladies and gents, I give you the Post-Nano Editing Checklist!

1) Read your first draft without editing.

Just get a feel for your story and how you wrote it down, not how you envision it. That part comes after you've finished reading the manuscript. But you are allowed to make comments along the way, like put something in bold with the words "this sucks out loud" in blue font or whatever. That way, you'll know where to find what to fix.

2) Put first draft aside and brainstorm.

Take a sheet of paper or a blank Word document and write like there's no tomorrow. What are you going to write? Any new ideas/scenes/chapters that come to mind. You can also make a list of what works best in the first draft, what needs to be improved, and what needs to get cut. The more time you spend brainstorming new ways to tell your story, the less you'll pull your hair out during revisions.

3) Tackle little things first, then go for the big ones.

Don't try to fix everything at the same time. Sure, if you work better that way, go for it. But if you're susceptible to dementia like me, go slow. Maybe you think Subplot #1 is an easy fix, but it's not as important as Subplot #3. Trust me--everything in your manuscript is important. Why else would you have written it? Take your time to work on loose plot threads/unclear world building first, then dive into character goals and motivations/theme/voice. Or vice versa, if you consider the latter easiest. In the end, it's all up to you. 

4) Send to crit partners and/or betas

Another set of eyes is needed for any manuscript. Yes, you think yours is awesome, but someone else needs to agree with you. They'll spot problems you never saw coming, and might even make better suggestions than the ones you came up with during Brainstorming Session. Just make sure you mull over every bit of advice your crit partner/beta gives you, then apply what works best for your story. 

5) Rinse. Repeat... until you can't find anything else to fix.

So there you go. This December is going to be soooo much fun, right? Right.

Tell me: do you follow a different set of rules for edits? What's the Post-NaNo experience like for you?

Food for Thought...and Writing

So you know that whole stereotypical writer? Angsty, broody, dressed in black, eccentric, moody, often an alcoholic or chain-smoker (or both)? Same goes for artist, sculptor - anyone in the arts. People hear that I'm a writer and they'll look at me (a mostly normal soccer mom) and say "wow, cool, I never would have guessed." I can't really blame them. I still have that stereotype visual in my head even though I and most of my friends are writers who don't fit that mold.

I was asked once if I thought creative people needed angst to create. And you know what, it's an interesting question.

Do I think creative people need angst?…. No. Do I think many creative people have angst (at least more than the average person)? ….. Yes. Do I need angst? …. I have no idea.

Angst can be defined as “A feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression…[and]…going through deep emotional and possibly physical pain .” For you visual folk, this is how I see it:

Angst:

No Angst:

I do tend to be more inspired by angst. Depression and sadness seem to draw the creativity out of me more than other emotions. (What this says about me I really don’t want to know…not sure I want to) :D The good news is, I don’t necessarily need the angst to be my own. I get very inspired by other people’s angst as well, like a really good, angsty song or movie. I guess I’d have to say, no, I don’t think creative people have to have angst in order to produce good work. But, I do think it helps.

Robert Penn Warren said:

The writer’s fundamental attempt is to understand the meaning of his own experiences. If he can’t break through those issues that concern him deeply, he’s not going to be very good.

I think this is what I try to do in my work. I wouldn’t describe it as “angst,” but I do dissect my experiences in order to serve up the most intense parts of them. And the more “angsty” emotions do tend to be the strongest, the ones that stick with me the most. For example, I was ecstatic at my wedding. It was a wonderful day. And then when my son was born, the love and joy I felt looking into his newborn eyes was beyond description.

But the experiences that are the easiest to delve into now, are the depressing ones, the sad, heartbreaking, fearful, adrenaline-filled, emotional ones. Though I remember the "good times" clearly, I have a hard time feeling that exact euphoria I felt at the best moments of my life. But I can feel the pain and anguish and rage and heat and desire and all consuming love or hate that I felt at the worst or most intense moments in my life at a moment’s notice – I just have to dip into the right memory.

This post is getting tremendously long, so I'll go into the whole emotion aspect more next week, but for now, let me ask you...

Do you think creative people need angst to create? Do you need it?

Literary Rock Star Interview with Teen Writer and Philanthropist Riley Carney

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Riley Carney on twitter?

You may have stumbled upon her interview this past September at CYNSATIONS or heard about the literacy advocacy nonprofit she runs with her brother (Breaking the Chain).

Or maybe you're already a fan of her fantasy series, The Reign of the Elements.

If not, then allow me to introduce you to a woman who loves books as much as you do, a woman who won't rest until she's shared that love with the children and adults of the world, a woman who started a nonprofit organization in her early teens and now, in her late teens, is in the middle of seeing her first five-book series published! This is an amazing person, someone who personally inspires me. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.

Here's Riley.

Katrina: You started writing seriously when you were ten, but when did you know you wanted to be a professional writer?

Riley: I’ve always loved to write, so becoming a professional writer was always a dream for me. During first and second grades I wanted to be veterinarian, but I think that was because I was so proud that I could spell the word. After that, all through my elementary and middle school years, I always wanted to be a writer. I loved the idea that my job could be something as fun as making up stories.

Katrina: What resources did you find most helpful as a young writer? Friends? Family? The internets? What is your advice to other teens, or kids, who want to become writers?

Riley: So many resources have been helpful to me. My family, of course, is incredibly supportive. They are always my first readers and I trust their feedback more than anybody else’s. Twitter and the internet have also been immensely helpful. There is so much information out there and so many helpful people in the writing and publishing industry that it can be really easy to educate yourself on everything that is happening, to find writing tips, or just to be able to communicate with some truly amazing authors. It’s great to be able to make the kind of connections that Twitter facilitates that I never would have been able to without it.

My biggest advice for kids and teens who want to become writers is to keep on trying. Persistence is key if you want to succeed. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – rejection and failure is part of the process. Also, educate yourself as much as possible. Read books about writing, read books about publishing, and just plain read!

Katrina: You have two published books, three more in that series, and another trilogy already written! Eight books by age seventeen. Are you participating in NaNoWriMo and what's next for you?

Riley: I am not participating in NaNoWriMo – I’m actually halfway through the first book of a new trilogy right now, and I never like to interrupt the flow of a book when I’m in the thick of it! This trilogy is YA with a dystopian bent to it, and I’m really excited about it. It’s different than anything that I’ve written before.

Katrina: Your parents must be immensely proud of you. But give it to me straight: are guys intimidated by your sheer awesomeness?

Riley: I’m not sure how to answer that one, except to say thank you so much for the compliment! :)

Katrina: If you were a character--any character--from a Harry Potter book, who would you be, and why?

Riley: I would definitely choose to be Hermione. She’s amazing – smart, funny, and quite dangerous with a wand. Honestly, I don’t know who wouldn’t want to be Hermione!

Katrina: (I would totally pick Hermione, too! She made me want to go to the library and read dictionaries. She rocks!)

At fourteen you started your not-for-profit against illiteracy, Breaking the Chain. At fifteen you wrote your first book. How did these choices influence each other? How did you make time to do it all?

Riley: Both my decisions to create Breaking the Chain and to write a book stemmed from my love of reading and learning. I first created Breaking the Chain when I learned that 120 million children worldwide are denied access to a basic education and that 1.2 million kids drop out of school each year in the United States. Hearing that and reflecting on my own education and my love of reading really propelled me to take action. My desire to write books and get them published came from my desire to share a story. I specifically targeted the age group of 8-14 since so many kids stop reading at that age, especially boys, and I thought that a fun, fantasy-adventure story might just keep some of them engaged in reading.

After I wrote my first book, I decided to leave my traditional high school and I began taking my classes at home through online programs from Johns Hopkins and Duke Universities. I usually do all my school work in the morning and early afternoon, and then spend the rest of the day writing, speaking at schools, or working on Breaking the Chain. I’m a little obsessive about scheduling my time, but I wouldn’t be able to get everything done if I wasn’t.

Katrina: Your not-for-profit, Breaking the Chain, has brought literature and learning to people near and far. We think it's incredible what you've accomplished and we want to support your efforts. Where is the greatest need and what can we writers do to help?

Riley: Breaking the Chain has built three schools in Africa, created a children’s literacy center at women’s shelter in Colorado, and given over 18,000 new books to classrooms in high-need or low-literacy schools across the United States. Here in the U.S., children are being left behind and never becoming literate. Two-thirds of children who do not learn how to read by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. I think that the best way to empower children is to teach them how to read, Sixty-one percent of low-income families do not have age-appropriate books in their homes. Only through exposure to books do children truly learn to read, and since so many children in low income neighborhoods are only exposed to books at school, Breaking the Chain is putting reading books in classrooms that have none so that every student has access to books. If you’d like to support our efforts, you can visit our website at www.linkbylink.org.

As writers, we all know the power of books and reading. It’s our responsibility to help kids who haven’t had the opportunity to learn to read, or haven’t had the love of reading fostered in them, discover the power and enjoyment of reading.

Thank you for caring about children’s literacy and thank you for having me!

Thank you, Riley! You are such an inspiration to me. I'm so glad you took the time to join us and share about your world.

Operation Awesome peeps, you can say hello to Riley in the comments and find her at any of the links below. 

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! Christmas is just around the corner. Giving books to kids is like giving them a completely separate world to process this one through. Spread the awesome. :)

Links:

www.rileycarney.com

www.linkbylink.org

rileycarney.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rileycarney

www.goodreads.com/author/show/3056388.Riley_Carney

Interviews:

http://rileycarney.com/10.html

THE BOOKS:

The Reign of the Elements, Book 1: The Fire Stone

The Reign of the Elements, Book 2: The Water Stone 

From the promotional copy of The Fire Stone:

Matt knows how to shovel hay, dig trenches, and dodge his father’s whip.

But when three terrifying creatures attack him, and he is rescued by a wizard, kidnaps a baby alorath, and is befriended by elves, Matt’s life transforms overnight from dreary to astonishing.

He unwittingly joins a quest to find the Fire Stone, one of the elusive Stones of the Elements which have the power to destroy the world, and is thrust into a string of perilous adventures.

Matt soon discovers that magic does exist and that he has extraordinary powers that can change his destiny and determine the fate of Mundaria.

My Precious!

Writing can be a solitary pursuit.  Think about the hours, days, weeks, months we spend hunched before our laptops like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's even worse at the beginning of a wip. We cover our screens like someone is trying to cheat on a test paper. Heck, when non-writer peeps (a.k.a the family) ask me what my new wip is about I go very vague. Kind of like this: 

(Image from Hyperbole and a Half)

Is it because I don't want to tell them? Nope. They are nothing but supportive of my hermit tendency to lock myself away with my fictional friends. Heck, they need a medal to put up with me going mute as I write that first draft.

It doesn't mean I don't love them. It doesn't mean I'm not dying to share my latest crazy brain activities with them. I allow myself to be a bit of a selfish shellfish. I write that first draft for me.

ME! ME! ME!

We've all heard thousands of times to write the story you want to read. I'm here to tell you it's true.

If YOU don't want to read about your character, love them or want to torture them into submission with a plot twist of evil (yeah, I'm that kind of writer) then who else will care?

Sure it won't be perfect. They'll be loads you can improve on and change.

I love getting feedback that kicks my butt into gear. That makes me focus on the bits I've edged away from. But, until that moment arrives, I give you permission to be selfish. Make the mistakes you need to grow as a storyteller. Be indulgent. Throw in a dinosaur who eats the villain (you'll delete it before your CP's see...Okay, maybe don't add a dinosaur if your story isn't set then. hee hee). Hug your first draft close while you can. Like a small child it will change and grow. It won't want you to hug it forever. *sniff* It will become a grumpy second/third draft teenager (and make you hack it to editing pieces), but the love will still be there. Why? Because it was a labour of love in the beginning.

Then your job is to help it grow and make others love it.

Wisdom From a Fortune Cookie

In keeping with the theme of dealing with muck of publishing, I thought I'd share a few of my own thoughts.

As Amparo shared yesterday, if she can't be published, she'd write anyway. Kelly states that she writes because she strives for publication.

Me? It totally depends on the day. There are moments that writing is so satisfying that it makes me soar. Other times, writing is a labor of love--the pushing, pain-inducing, give me an epidural sort of labor. My writing journey initially started as "I am going to be published." and now teeters on "What the heck am I doing?"  to "This manuscript would make great toilet paper" back to "Maybe I can be published". So sometimes, the only thing that keeps me writing is pig-headed stubborn preserverence.

And that is tough sometimes, especially after query rejections. And even more so after editorial rejections. After you've had an agent and find yourself back at square one, it would be easy to chuck it all and forget the whole "writing dreams" thing. 

So here is when I share the fortune cookie I got the other day. I don't believe in them as fortunes go, but I thought it was a great quote.
  

There is no shame in failure. There is only shame in quitting.

Remember that next time you are considering throwing in the writing towel...

Why You Should Keep Going When The Going Sucks

Last week, Kelly blogged about hope for writers seeking publication, and the odds stacked against them. In case you missed it (and shame on you if you did!), you can read it here. 

Like her, I see the downside to this whole writing/publishing thing. It's not easy to stay hopeful, especially in times like these. Now I don't know about you, but I get discouraged quite often. And not just about writing. Life in general can be a very hard thing to deal with, right?

But guess what? 

That doesn't make me stop. 

Yes, I feel like throwing in the towel and calling it a day, but I don't. I can't. And that's usually what happens when you find something that makes you happy. Like you're not you unless you do it. 

For me, it's not so much about hope. It's... well... it's about being selfish. Writing makes me happy, and I plan on doing it for a very long time. Even if I never get published. Why? Because getting published is a goal, not the goal. That might not be the case for every writer, as Kelly mentioned in her post, but the one thing we can't lose perspective of is the actual writing part. That whole having your book in hardcover/paperback part? Just the icing on the cake. 

If I told you not to get discouraged, I'd be one big fat hypocrite. Of course you can get discouraged. It's n-o-r-m-a-l. Just remember to pick yourself back up and keep going. Even when the going sucks.

Especially when the going sucks.

You'll learn. Grow. Become a much better writer than you thought possible. And guess what? The more you improve, the more your odds of getting that book deal will be in your favor, right? It's not all about luck in this game, folks. Talent and perseverance go a long way, too.

So stay strong. Keep writing/editing/critiquing. Whatever you do, keep going. 

Why Writing Both Fiction and Non-Fiction is Awesome - with the Fabulous Christine Fonseca

I first met Christine almost 2 years ago through our mutual friend and CP, Elana Johnson. We quickly discovered we were total soul-twins. I have been extremely lucky to not only get to be friends, crit partners, and agent sisters with this fabulous lady, but I also share with her the strange and awesome distinction of being a multi-genre writer - we both write fiction and non-fiction.  

I asked Christine if she'd stop by today and share with us why she thinks navigating both these worlds is so awesome.

Writing in Multiple Genres – Why I LOVE it!

First off, I’d like to thank Michelle and the fabulous peeps at OPERATION AWESOME for having me here today. When Michelle first approached me about writing a guest post and we talked about a topic, she said she wanted to talk about why those of us who write both fiction AND nonfiction do it. I thought, Sweet! A chance to talk about writing in both domains. Awesome.

Writing both fiction and nonfiction is an interesting endeavor. For me, it is a way to meet two very distinct and separate creative needs – the need to help people related to my work as a school psychologist, and the need to create stories that hopefully help in a completely different way.

As you can imagine, writing nonfiction and fiction requires different skill sets entirely – both with their own rewards and challenges. For me, this means that I get to engage more aspects of my creative mind, and meet more needs internally. All pretty amazing things!

The nonfiction side of my writerly life pulls on the more logical aspects of my brain. I research heavily for my books, doing traditional types of research, as well as focus groups and interviews related to the specific topic of my book. The voice of my works is my own, so in many respects it is like the presentations I prepare, the classes I teach and the counseling I do. It all originates directly from me.

The fiction is different. It appeals and draws on the creative side of my brain. The research I do doesn’t feel like I am conducting research for a doctoral thesis, the way it does with nonfiction. This research usually involves things like using google.earth to “visit” my setting, researching the meanings of names or certain symbology, and studying legends that will come into play in the stories. When I sit to craft a story, I get to lose myself in some other character’s voice. I get to disappear and “be” my characters, functioning as their storyteller.

Both are awesome endeavors. Both deeply satisfy a part of me. Both work to define different aspects of who I am.

I will say that it is hard, at times, working in both fields – like having two distinct careers in addition to the actual jobs I have. But the payoff is worth it as I feel more than a little blessed to be able to write in two specific genres and fulfill two distinct parts of who I am.

It is AWESOMENESS defined, I feel so fortunate to be part of both worlds.

What about you? Have you ever tried writing in such different genres? What do you like about it?
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll stop by to answer.

Christine Fonseca is the author of EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS (Prufrock Press, 10/1/2010) and 101 SUCCESS SECRETS FOR GIFTED KIDS (Prufrock Press, May 1, 2011). In addition to writing books related to giftedness, she writes fantasy and contemporary novels for teens. If you would like to learn more about Christine, please visit: www.christinefonseca.com.

LINKAGE!

Website (you can find info on her fiction here as well)
Blog
Find me on Facebook or Twitter
Order Emotional Intensity in Gifted Children here.
Read the first chapter here.
Preorder 101 Success Secrets here.

What is Critterpalooza?

Yesterday, Angela Ackerman mentioned Critter, the unofficial mascot of the kidlit community. Today, we went to the source of the traveling mascot idea... 

Christy Evers

...and got the skinny on this chubby little cow...

Picture from Jacqui's adventure Taming the Critter
(Apparently, he's quite the junk food addict...ahem...
not like any of the Operation Awesome ladies...)

Katrina: Christy, what inspired you to send Critter out into the world, and what does he represent?

Christy: At first Critter started out as an interactive way to connect with my writing blog-buddies . . . like a Flat Stanley for writers.  When his travels were over I intended to use him as an inspirational muse-like decoration piece for my writing space.

It wasn’t until after the Haiti earthquake that Critter’s purpose changed.  It touched me deeply to see authors and illustrators auctioning their services and personal items (like shoes) to help those in need.  I wanted to do something, too, but I didn’t have the money or the influence to bring in the type of money that’s needed to make a real difference. Certainly no one was going to pay good money to buy my stinky shoes on e-bay.

Finally, it hit me!  I may not have fame or mucho-millions but I do have Critter.  At the time of the Haiti earthquake he had just started his journey, but already he had met so many interesting people and traveled so far.  My conscience wouldn’t allow Critter to be merely a muse on my desk.  I knew he could do some good in the world. 

Haiti had an obvious need, but since Critter still had a long way to go until his travels were complete, I decided to choose a charity that would always have needs.  Everyone who has hosted Critter is related to children’s literature. A children’s charity seemed a natural fit. Coupled with the fact that I have a daughter with a chronic kidney problem that will most likely require a transplant one day, I have a special empathy for families that deal with issues related to sick children.  I learned that St. Jude has a daily (let me say it again) DAILY operating budge of 1.5 million dollars. Most, if not all of it, comes through donations. 

Critter represents a thread that unites people around the globe, and the fact that you don’t need to be rich and famous to make a difference. Sometimes you just need to be a little creative in learning how to leverage the resources within your grasp.  Not to mention, he’s a good reminder of what can be done when people work together for a common goal. 

Katrina: Wow. This silly little cow has a serious purpose! We’ve been following his adventures on facebook and throughout the writerly blogosphere, but what do you think has been his greatest adventure thus far?

Christy: He has traveled to South Korea, been chased by dinosaurs, outrun a tsunami, crowd surfed at a concert, boated in the Virgin Islands, had his own maximum security in Vegas, been interviewed by the Texas Sweetheart’s... He did so many things and met so many people.  It’s hard to choose!

Katrina: Is Critter a he or a she? LOL. I had to ask because of the giant udder in front. ;) 

Christy: That is a good question.  The udder would naturally make one think “female” however the blue color and fangs makes “him” look more male-ish.  Though we tend to call Critter a “him” I don’t really know for sure. You see, Ian Sands created his critters to be mixed up animal creations.  He calls them “newimals”.   So, honestly, I think Critter is a mixture of all sorts and represents all mankind (and animal kind :0D )

Katrina: Ah, and now I am intrigued about Ian Sands' Critter Cube Book! Is the date of the auction to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital set? How long will we be able to bid on Critter, or how will the auction be run?

Christy: My aim is to auction Critter sometime in the first part of December. (just in time to buy the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person) The exact date is yet TBD. 

He will be auctioned on e-bay and it will run for approximately one week. 

Katrina: What is Critter up to right now at this moment? And where should we look for him in the future?

Christy: Angela, at The Bookshelf Muse, still has some fun things in store for Critter. He’ll stay with her during Critterpalooza.  After that he will return to me sometime after Thanksgiving.  

You can follow Critter on my blog at: http://ChristysCreativeSpace.blogspot.com

Become a fan of Critter on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Childrens-Lit-Helps-Critter-Help-Kids/103354106367110

If you’d like to hear about Critter’s experience through Critter’s eyes, you can visit the Texas Sweethearts interview at: 

http://texassweethearts.blogspot.com/2010/06/featured-sweetheart-critter.html

Thank you, Christy, for answering our questions, and for extending your creativity to make a tangible difference for children in need.

Operation Awesome peeps, you'll want to click on that top link for a collection of amazing literary giveaways (through tomorrow), including a Skype chat with some pretty freakin' special authors. 

Good luck to everyone who enters. May the real winners be the children at St. Jude's. :)