Encore and Writers' Salons

Oh, I wanted to let people know about two wonderful SCBWI New England events coming up. (I'm helping out with both.) You can find out more about these events at http://www.nescbwi.org

Encore Details: On Saturday, September 12, SCBWI in Southern New England will host ENCORE 2009, a day of four workshops by faculty from recent past regional conferences. Workshops include: "Choices in Narrative Voices" given by author and editor J. L. Bell, "What's so Funny and Why" given by award winning author Ellen Wittlinger, "Writing the Middle Grade Series" given by editor and author Lisa Papademetriou, and "Before and After" given by Houghton editor, Erica Zappy.

For this event, SCBWI New England is teaming with the Alliance for the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature (ASTAL) at Rhode Island College in Providence. The registration fee of $50 includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch.

For information and a simple registration form, download this PDF file, print it, fill it out, and mail it in. Additional information on the workshops and presenters is below. The registration deadline is September 1st.

Writers' Salon details:

Taking Your School Visits to the Next Level: Q&A with Two School Visit Coordinators

AND

Passion and Process vs. Product and Promotion: A Group Discussion

Saturday, September 19, 2009, 10:00 - 2:30, in Acton, Massachusetts

An event for published authors and illustrators of books for children

SCBWI Salons are gatherings for published authors and illustrators of children's books...

• To share ideas, triumphs, and struggles
• To discuss what SCBWI-NE can do to help us as published members
• To grow as artists
• To be inspired by experts in the field
• To get connected

The topics for the 19 September Salon are--

Taking Your School Visits to the Next Level: Q&A with Two School Visit Coordinators

Two experienced school visit coordinators describe their idea of the perfect author/illustrator visit and offer advice for making your programs better than ever.

Passion and Process vs. Product and Promotion: A Group Discussion

Passion led us to become authors and illustrators and we spend hours of time creating our works, but sending them out into the world is a job most of us weren't expecting. We will discuss how to balance time spent making books and time spent marketing them.

Schedule:
10:00-10:30 Registration and Networking
10:30-12:00 Presentation and Group Discussion
12:00-1:00 Lunch and Networking
1:00-2:30 Presentation and Group Discussion

Location:
Faulkner Room, Acton Town Hall
472 Main St., Acton, MA (directions below)

It's done!

It's been a while since I posted, but my middle grade novel, Paper Doll Ghosts, is done and on the agent's desk!
Ta-da!
Now I have to get to work on revising my School Visit fliers and getting them in the mail.

The Art of Knowing

I just finished reading the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Julia Gillian and the Art of Knowing by Alison McGhee. Geared for kids aged 9-12, it is deceptively simple and childlike, following Julia Gillian's everyday life with her two caring parents and beloved dog. But then Julia picks up a book she thinks she'll like, until she gets midway through and decides she doesn't want to read the ending. She throws the book out on the fire escape, but she knows it's there, so she hides it with a tower of toys...
this is a profound book on facing our greatest fears.

Beginner's Mind

Yesterday I gave the workshop, Reaching Your Audience: Writing for Magazines, at RIC's Summer Writing Institute. A dynamic group of students of all ages attended. They had exciting ideas and projects to share.
Part of the joy of being on faculty was getting to hear the other speakers. Patricia McCormick was our luncheon speaker. She talked about how blessed the students were to have "beginner's mind" as yet unsullied by the experts' rules on writing. Then this morning, I was reading Writing from the Heart by Nancy Slonim Aronie. She writes about trying to return to the place before the judging and labeling and narrowing of vision. She has a great line-Don't should on me!
My bible study for today curiously echoed this idea, in opening one's life to the Holy Spirit.
So for today, I'm going to practice being and seeing with fresh eyes.

Summer Institute at RIC

I'll be part of the faculty for this year's Summer Writing Institute at Rhode Island College. Here are the details:

“Calling All Writers!”
Putting Your Talent To Work!

3rd Annual ASTAL Summer Institute Writing for Young People
June 24, 25, 26, 27, 29 & 30, 2009

Once again this summer the Alliance for the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature (ASTAL) at Rhode Island College is offering an institute for people who are interested in learning to write for young people. Participants will write and interact for six days of working with award-winning authors who serve as their instructor/mentors; they will also attend presentations about book publishing featuring editors and publishers and they will meet and hear from guest authors. The instructor/mentor to student ratio will not exceed 1:8 to provide maximum opportunities for individualized instruction and feedback during work sessions. Enrollment will be limited and students will be accepted in the order that we receive the applications by the strand indicated.


HOW CAN I PARTICIAPTE?
Option 1 Full registration
Participants will enjoy everything the Institute has to offer!
Cost: $894 for credit $750 for non-credit

Option 2 "Cashing in on Your Imagination: Becoming a Freelance Writer," June 27, one day workshops
Participants will join Institute participants for a day long program exploring aspects of freelance writing to turn talent into cash in these difficult economic times. Cost: $100

Option 3 Speakers Only
Participants will have the opportunity to attend the author presentations from 9-10 on June 24, 25, 26, & 29 and Luncheon on June 27. Cost: $70

Option 4 Luncheon, June 27
Participants will get to enjoy a luncheon with speaker and book fair with discounted prices. Cost: $30

For more information or to register for this event please visit
www.astal-ric.org/summerinstitute.htm

Novel Writing

I've been reading up on novel writing, in preparation for leading a workshop for my critique group. We all seem to struggle with how to structure such and long, unwieldy beast.
One helpful hint that I've found is to launch the book with an "inciting incident," one that threatens the MC's basic sense of self. Then craft "set pieces," or scenes with high emotional impact, turning points along your character's path to the "inner cave," crisis point, and resolution. Jot these all scenes down on index cards that you can shuffle, remove, or add to until your plot line makes sense.

Jane again

My big brother Chris said my last post was rude.
So... what are your hobbies?
I collect gravestones.
Jane