by Francine Puckly For a few years now, I’ve been contemplating hopping on the NaNoWriMo bandwagon. I’ve held off for a number of reasons. First, I compose my initial drafts longhand, pen to paper, which makes tracking word count a bit tricky. Second, it’s No-School-November, a month in which school administrators conspire against writers by slotting in numerous half days or complete days off for everything from parent-teacher conferences to elections to holidays. The final reason, not to be taken lightly, is that immersing myself in an international phenomenon with social media chats, blogs, and the like would most likely make me less productive when I hear that hundreds or thousands of other people are writing faster than I am. That said, I had been researching my next book on and off for six months and had muddled over the plots, subplots, characters and setting. I was ready to tackle the next novel, and I desperately wanted to have a large chunk of the book on paper before the holiday season hit. There were no good excuses not to dive in. I decided to customize a NaNoWriMo challenge. As a longhand writer, I determined how many pages I could write in one day. I created a monthly calendar with the goals written in, first by week then by day, with an overarching monthly goal as well. Those goals were all well and good, but I knew I couldn’t go it alone. I’ve tried that. When things get tough, I fall off the writing. First one day. Then another. Then another. Instead, enter my accountability partner. Now, I probably should have asked her first before I made her my partner, but since we’ve been having weekly phone chats and setting goals together for three or four years, she gladly accepted the appointed position. I asked nothing of her except to receive daily texts stating that I had completed that day’s goal. Only eight days into my challenge, her presence has saved my writing day three or four times already. My energy is flagging. Small (and big) crises that have hit my life this week would have been excuses to adjust my goals. But my accountability to her is priceless. She responds to every text, congratulating me, encouraging me to keep going. It’s a beautiful thing to be on this journey with her. If you have aggressive goals for a future project, don’t go it alone. Ask a trusted colleague to be your accountability partner. Everyone benefits from having a cheerleader who understands the game. And the flip side of that, offer to be someone else’s rock for their project. Hold someone’s hand. Or ask someone to hold yours. You’ll be amazed at the “impossible” things you will accomplish when someone’s waiting for you to check in. Francine
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By Francine Puckly Beginnings. Everyone loves a good beginning. And, no. I’m not talking about the beginning of your novel or picture book, the one the reader sees. I’m leaving that to Annie.(hook-em-into-your-book.html) I’m talking about when you begin anew: take on that new challenge, go after that dream or bucket list item that’s been nagging at you for months or years, or start that new manuscript that you know, deep in your soul, is what you’re supposed to be writing next. Launching a new project makes us both a little scared and dizzy with excitement. The energy is electrifying. For a little while, anyway. But when the meat of the work begins—when you take inventory of the skills you currently lack, but must acquire in order to bring the project or endeavor to fruition—the energy wanes and you are left with the sobering reality that you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. It takes courage to continue when we inevitably falter along the path. I began four new and intimidating projects all in the same week this fall. What fanfare! Bands played, banners waved, and confetti rained down on me as I sprinted toward my figurative playing fields. But that only lasted a few weeks. Because what I did was begin a new historical fiction novel (something I said I would never do because "I don’t know how to write historical fiction”); took on a sewing project for which I have no skills, no pattern and no training; started alto saxophone lessons which has included trying out various reeds and mouthpieces, none of which sound like music but rather just ear-piercing noise and squeaks; and signed up for a Ladies’ Tap dance class when I’ve never danced a jig in my life. The “good for you!” enthusiasm from family, friends and other spectators only carries you so far. At some point you realize, “I really stink.” And the next thought might be, “Maybe this was a bad idea.” Followed quickly by, “Maybe I should quit.” Energy ebbs and flows. And now that it has ebbed big time, I’ve pondered the following questions: How can we sustain projects when we’re fearful of the next steps and doubt our ability to finish? How do we stare down our fear and intimidation and increase our odds of sticking with a project when the going gets tough? Here are a few suggestions I’ve put into play. 1. Pull the fear into positive action. I’ve become an expert at recognizing my fear. It makes daily appearances in the form of procrastination, edginess or looking for a quick fix elsewhere such as social media, online shopping, chocolate or whatever else will take away what I’m feeling. One of the quickest ways for me to wrestle it to the ground is to set my timer. For 8, 10, 15 or 20 minutes or whatever, I say, “Don’t think. Just do.” I race toward one unsavory task that I’ve been kicking forward with the clock ticking. 2. Care for yourself. Wait. What did I just say? Yep, that’s right. Take proper care of yourself physically and mentally. You can’t continue a project if you run yourself into the ground with negative self-talk, or by skipping balanced meals, proper hydration, sleep and exercise. Because this is the first thing out the window for me, I have to track it daily in writing. If I stop tracking, I stop doing. “Have you been walking, Francine?” is the first thing my 24 Carrot family asks me when I’m in a mental and physical slump. It’s rhetorical, of course, because we all know the answer. 3. Seek out support from trusted sources. A shoulder to cry on is essential. Those cheerleaders in life must be sought out and embraced when you are tackling something new. Likewise, don’t trust a naysayer with what little energy you have left on a project. Pause before confiding. Will this person be helpful or just convince you to quit? 4. Sometimes it’s okay to quit. What?! Yes, it is okay as long as you quit for the right reasons. Sometimes this means quitting entirely, like I did with the afore-mentioned sewing project. After spending nearly 8 hours on it one day, I wasn’t even close to being done. It was going to be expensive from a financial standpoint, and even more importantly, it was going to be costly from a time standpoint. I decided I would rather write than sew. So I called my favorite seamstress and let her take over. Someday she’ll read my book, and someday I’ll happily sit on her cushions. It’s a win-win for both of us because we’re both doing what we love. Other times we only “sorta” quit. Like I did with a novel a few years back. I loved my characters but after three drafts, I hated the actual story. I knew the project didn’t hold enough joy for me to spend another year or more revising and rewriting until it was polished. So I lassoed those characters and superimposed them into a new plot! Problem solved. I kept what I loved and abandoned the rest. I’m by no means out of the woods with my three remaining projects. Days when my fear is front and center are exceptionally hard. That’s when I try my best to focus on the basics—respect myself mentally and physically, reach out to friends, and set the timer and force myself to complete something. Anything. Whatever new project you’re venturing into, take your fear with you but be sure to keep it on a short leash. Throw a few of these tools in your hip pocket and keep going! ~ Francine by Francine Puckly Two weeks ago I dropped my daughter off at NYU. Going from a small high school in Massachusetts to a university with a worldwide enrollment of 57,000 and a freshman class just shy of 6,000 students, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this is a huge adjustment. But it’s not the size of the school that’s disconcerting. It’s the feeling that she’s not quite sure she belongs. As I wrote her a letter this morning, I realized her journey into a film career mirrors mine as a writer. And I believe it’s important advice for me to remember everyday, as well as anyone else in a creative field. It ain’t easy, people. But there are two fundamental pieces of advice I gave my daughter that I believe we all should follow. First, in the big, bad world of anonymity, when you’re lost in the sea of humanity, when you find yourself in a business that feels large and impersonal, it’s very important we seek out mentors, friends and supporters who will validate our creativity, help us feel welcome, help us to trust our instincts, help us make good choices personally and professionally. The ironic piece of this is that we must step out of our comfort zone in order to step into our comfort zone. We have to knock on doors, attend workshops and socials where we know no one, introduce ourselves over and over until we find those three or five or fifty people who will be our professional family going forward. When I first set off into the publishing world, it was big and scary and I didn't know where to begin. I didn't know how to meet people, how to get started, where to find a critique group, or how to write a synopsis or a cover letter. I began this journey of building a community by attending an awards presentation and schmooze. After getting lost four or five times and circling on one-way streets, I arrived quite late. A bit frazzled and nervous, I dove into the swarm of strangers and proceeded to ask Lois Lowry if she had ever been published. (She had, in case you were wondering.) Having gotten the worst, most humiliating network experience out of the way, things took a turn for the better after that first night. I persisted meeting new people and, consequently, I turned the big, bad world of publishing into a smaller, family community through workshops, socials, SCBWI conferences, author signings and local bookstore events. I've met great people, made lifelong friends, and have found out that most people are just as scared as I am and are looking for friends and community too. As I told my daughter, we’re all looking for community. That’s the human experience, right? We’re all looking for reasons to get up in the morning and go to work. And the people I assumed would be the least approachable are the ones who were most approachable, and they have turned out to be trusted friends and mentors. The second piece of advice I gave her was to trust her instincts. It’s often the hardest thing to do. We must trust our instincts and never look back. We shouldn’t wish to be more like "X" unless we truly believe being a little more like "X" will make us better writers, better people. Just as she may think she’s supposed to be like another student in class who receives an abundance of praise for a film style that’s not comfortable to her, we writers are often guilty of the same second-guessing. The biggest mistake writers make (and I made it early on) is trying to follow the market or trying to be someone we're not. We hear what publishers are buying and what they're sinking huge marketing dollars in, and we think, "Crap. I don't write that." And then the next logical thought is, "Maybe I should write that instead." And we try to do that, and we fail. We fail because we don't follow our own voices. Not one publisher out there is publishing what I’m currently writing. Not one. And I'm pretty sure if you were to say to them, "Hey, how about a YA novel about XXX?” they'd spit their coffee out all over their desks. But I've never been prouder of something I've written (and I’m sure they just don’t know they’re looking for it yet!). I believe in this manuscript. I believe in the story. I believe in the characters. I believe in my voice. And I will ride this book to the end of my days, until I find the agent, the editor, the publisher who believes in it, too. My last piece of advice that went along with that is don't ever apologize for being different. Don't ever think that your voice isn't good enough, isn't polished enough, isn’t incorporating fancy words. Your voice, your vision, your perspective on a story (and life) is one of the most important things to trust. Hone it. Listen to it. Never, I repeat NEVER, apologize for it! Let other people do those other things that you think are more glamorous or sophisticated or whatever. You're not that person. You're something different. You're something better. Good advice, right? Now we have to follow it ourselves. If you haven’t found your community, the people who make your world feel smaller and more tangible, get out there and shake some hands and kiss some babies...you'll find your small comfort zone one hello at a time. And if you’re still questioning your worth, your voice, your instinct, to that I say, STOP. Believe in your voice and don’t look back. One of my favorite quotes is by Rabbi Zusya and his concern about his first conversation with God after he died. “When I die,” the Rabbi said, “I know God's not going to ask me 'Why weren't you more like Moses?' or 'Why weren't you more like King David?' But I'm afraid that God will ask 'Why weren't you more like Zusya?' And then what will I say?” Don’t let that be you. ~ Francine by Kelly Carey I’ve never been a patient person. Sometimes this works out great. I’ve completed school assignments days before their due dates. I’m usually very relaxed the day before a trip because I have impatiently packed days earlier. And my kids get a huge selection of back to school supplies to choose from because I make them buy their provisions the first week in August. (My kids would argue that this is a negative.) Other times, a lack of patience is a problem. Like when it comes to long car rides, lines for amusement park rides, and cookie dough (are we sure raw dough can really kill me, because I’ve tested this theory a lot and I’m still here?). And when it comes to a lack of patience and a writing career, waiting to hear back from agents and editors can be a BIG problem. You can try to wile away the time before you sign with an agent or sell your manuscript by diving into a draft of a new story. Or you can distract yourself with revisions, writing workshops, Netflix, chocolate and gardening. But sometimes that impatience demands more - an offering of some sort. I have found the answer for this impatient writing monster. Use Scrivener and Staples to take a sneak peek at your novel and you'll find your impatience soothed. Here's how it works: 1. In Scrivener under File, select Compile. 2. In the Compile screen, choose to Format As: Paperback Novel. 3. Now you have three routes you can take. You can either a) print the pages yourself (print them one-sided only and full 8 ½ x 11) OR b) you can download the compiled document onto a flash drive to take to Staples OR c) You can email the document to Staples and place your order with them electronically. 4. I’m a hands on gal, so I chose the first option and printed the pages. And this may satisfy the harping impatient writing imps in your soul. And maybe you happily three-hole punch the printed document, slide it into a binder and enjoy hugging this tangible evidence of your wonderful creative energy and your impatient writing self lies dormant for a bit.
This actual printed novel version of my manuscript is not only a balm for my impatience but a talisman that I can hold up to motivate my quest for publication and ward off the pitfalls of self-doubt that will come with even the most polite rejections. And my heart does a little satisfied sigh when I come across a family member reading my novel. So go ahead – be impatient and take a sneak peek at your novel.
~ by Amanda Smith In writing, there are things we call “weak words”. Words that hinder more than they help. Words that are flabby and unnecessary because they contribute nothing to the writing. If you have ever written anything longer than a grocery list, you know these words well: actually, basically, obviously, really, very, quite well. They jump into every sentence. We are blind to our own weak words. They often escape our edits until we mindfully weed them out. Here’s the thing, though, when we get out our red pens and purposefully cross out the weak words, our narrative becomes more interesting, more convincing. There is a weak word that has become the bee in the bonnet of 24 Carrot Writing. During our monthly follow-up meetings, the conversation often went like this: “This month I just finished my revision, and subbed to three agents, and went to a craft chat.” “I just wrote a new picture book manuscript and revised two others.” “I just finished the first draft of a new novel.” Wait. Say what? JUST?! We became acutely aware of how we are undermining our work and worth as writers by using that despicable word. We set our Just-o-meters to high alert and called each other out on it every time. We banned “just” from the meetings, along with his annoying twin, “only”. And we learned to celebrate each of our accomplishments, every goal met. Recently at a writers and illustrators event my super sensitive Just-o-meter beeped off the charts. “I just took that one course in illustrating.” “I just wrote one novel.” “I’m just researching agents.” “I just do a sketchbook challenge each day.” “I write for just an hour in the morning, because I have to go to work.” JUST STOP! Practice with me: “I wrote one novel.” “I took a course in illustrating.” Doesn’t that feel better? Much more affirming, right? “I do a sketchbook challenge each day, because I am a rock star!” “I write for an hour before I go to work, because I believe in my dream. Now hand me my superhero cape.” Now you get it! If you have plotted out a story, or put words to paper, or created a world, or thought up engaging characters, you have done something. If you have taken classes to learn and hone your craft, you have done something. If you have explored a new medium and made a delightful mess in your studio, even if it didn’t turn out the way you thought it would, you have done something. If you have spent a whole day chasing a story idea, only to discover at the end of the day that story isn’t yours to write, you have done something. If you have written a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, you have done something. If you have pulled that story apart in a gazillion different ways to make it better, you have done something. If you have drawn up a query letter; if you have pressed that send button; if you have boldly (quivering) sent your creation into this world, you have done something. Don’t just it. Don’t undermine it. Affirm it. Mindfully weed out the flabby, weak words from your vocabulary. They don’t contribute anything, but devalue your work. In your conversations, give your work a rightful place, then others will take it seriously too. Let your narrative of your work, your passion, and your accomplishments be engaging and convincing. By Annie Cronin Romano So, before I start, let me clarify that this blog post is for prepublished writers. If you’re published or even if you have an agent, STOP READING NOW! This post is not for you. This is for those still flailing around in the murky, treacherous depths of the query swamp, for those doggedly pushing forth against all obstacles to land that contract, for those passionately seeking that perfect match of an agent. All others, go peruse Facebook. Okay. Are they gone? Is it just us prepub folks? Good. (Published/agented writers, if you’re still reading, remember…you were warned.) So, my fine warriors (that’s what you are, you know, and don’t forget it), I’d like to speak about how to handle the success of others. You know…the critique partner who landed a publishing contract. Or the writer in the online group who is lamenting how he’s going to choose which of the five offers of representation he’ll go with. Those victories can be a stumbling block for those still struggling for that big break. I once wrote a blog post on celebrating the success of your fellow writers (see “Share Your Good News” from August 2015). Let me emphasize that every word of that post still holds true. So no crying “hypocrite” here. Writers should share good news without fear of making others feel badly. You should embrace the accomplishments of your writing peers. And the true writer must write because she’d die if she couldn’t pour words onto the parchment and share those stories blistering within. For the love of writing, not for glory. Blah. Blah. Blah. But please indulge me as I take a different (admittedly kind of wallowing) perspective, because witnessing others’ achievements can stir up insecurity in our own abilities. It’s a natural human response and we’re all human. (Except maybe for politicians and the occasional personal injury attorney.) Anyway, back to the issue: How best to handle the success of your fellow writers. If that golden ring has been dangled inches from grasp (I got a partial request!) and then is torn away with one email rejection (“It just didn’t grab me.”), that’s tough stuff. And if it's followed up by another’s good news? That can cause volatile emotions to gurgle up. Personally, I teeter on a thin wire over a cavernous ravine with one side of me proclaiming congratulations with utmost sincerity and the other side sprinting in self-pity to the cusp of the highest cliff, falling to my knees and screaming, “Why not me?” (Think Brando’s “Stellllaaa!” in A Streetcar Named Desire. I’d yell like that. Except angstier.) Yup. It’s called jealousy. No, wait. It’s called self-doubt. No…I’ve got it. It’s called failure. All those ideas flood our brains at the same time we feel happiness at the accomplishments of our peers. And that can unglue the confidence of the most talented of writers. So here are my three tips to find that balance between joy for others and, quite candidly, self-loathing: 1. Vodka. No, scratch that. 1. SEIZE THE HOPE. That’s right. Agents are always looking. Books continue to get published. Opportunities abound. When others who’ve been in that frigid query sea with us obtain an agent or get a contract, it gives us hope that there’s a chance for us. (If I was more tech savvy, I’d have added a sound effect here playing “There’s a Time for Us” from West Side Story. Instead, I’ll hum it. You’re a writer. Use your imagination.) 2. JUMP ON THE MOTIVATION TRAIN. Rather than doubting your literary abilities, let those successes drive you to keep writing. Keep revising. And keep submitting. No one ever got a book deal indulging their self-pity in bed. Bed sores, maybe. But no book. Remember, if they can do it, so can you! 2a. Cheesecake. 3. BE PATIENT. Hard work pays off. The majority of writers toil away for a long time, through draft after draft, critique after critique, manuscript after manuscript, before they finally hear that magnificent “Yes!” It takes time, and we all have dues to pay. Except perhaps a few Hollywood stars who decide they want to write a sweet little children’s book and then get a seven-figure contract and a hardcover on the shelves within a year. (Sorry, famous Hollywood writers. I adore you on the big screen. And your book may be good. But I want to tear out your vital organs and throw them in a Vitamix every time I walk by your NYT bestseller. No hard feelings. It’s not you. It's me.) 4. Wine. (I know I said three tips, but I’m feeling generous.) Number four is because it’s okay to feel frustration and need a boost. 5. Chocolate. (Five tips? Yup. I’m a giver.) I added chocolate because it’s also okay to need a hug, and let’s face it: chocolate is a hug in food form. I hear when writers get published, some go all fancy (hey, sales drop off, agents quit) and shift from Hershey’s to Ghirardelli or even Godiva. Is that true, published/agented writers? Probably not. But see? Caught ya! knew you’d read this even after I politely suggested Facebook. You’re a stubborn, nosy lot. So there you have it. Your conflicting feelings are justified. You inner turmoil is validated. You can feel joy for others’ successes and still want to curl up in a ball. But don’t do the latter. Have your drink and some sweets. Then grab onto the hope. Stay motivated. Be patient. Let any frustration you feel propel you forward. By the way, everyone in my writing group loves and supports each other unfailingly. But when I get to the point of having good news to share (I don’t use the word success because if you’ve set your mind on being a writer and you actually write something, you’ve succeeded. Don’t forget that.) As I was saying…when good news comes along, despite all my writing group’s “so proud of you” and “your success is our success,” oohing and aahing, they may really want to kick me in the shins and head for the liquor store. And I’ll buy them chocolate. Because I get it. We’re all in this together, prepublished friends. Forge ahead! You are warriors! To the published/agented writers who continued to read this despite my pleas for privacy, you need to work on your listening skills. And I love you. Keep on writing and inspiring your prepubbed friends to do the same. (Hey, I figure if you read this after I told you not to, you’ve been there and deserve a carrot for your compassion. I'll buy your book. There you go. Now scoot.) ~Annie Guest Blog by: Pat Zietlow Miller Readers who adored Pat Zeitlow Miller's debut picture book, Sophie’s Squash, will be running to the bookstore today (June 28, 2016) to pick up a copy of its sequel, Sophie's Squash Go To School. Writers who adore Pat's work will enjoy this behind the scenes look at her path to first time publication and the sometimes scary route to a sequel. When I first wrote and sold SOPHIE’S SQUASH, I never envisioned I would write a sequel. Why? Well, SOPHIE’S SQUASH was the very first book I had sold, and I was thrilled just to have that happen. And I knew that most books by debut authors glow quietly rather than burn brightly. My hope was that SOPHIE would sell enough copies to earn back the advance I’d received and to ensure Schwartz & Wade wasn’t sorry they’d taken a chance on an unknown author. Also, while I know some authors write a book and already have future sequels mapped out in their head, I didn’t. I had no other adventures planned for SOPHIE, as charming and quirky as I thought she was. But then, then … SOPHIE’S SQUASH started doing better than anyone had expected. It never reached bestseller status, but it did fine. More than fine. Quite well indeed. It got four starred reviews, won or was a runner-up for several very nice awards and became something of a book darling. I started getting pictures from parents of their children holding butternut squash. Schools read the book and planned units around squash. One school even added a butternut squash as an honorary classmate. The squash had a name, a nap mat and several outfits and accompanied the class everywhere. I heard from parents whose children planted their squash and grew new squash plants and from several people who read the book to their elderly parents suffering from dementia and found it calmed them. Interestingly enough, when the book first was published, I worried that it would be too quiet and not stand out enough to make an impact. I remember asking myself, “But what’s its hook?” I didn’t realize the squash itself would become the hook. So when Schwartz & Wade asked if I had any sequel ideas, I said I didn’t, but I would think about options. That ended up being a lot harder than I anticipated. The first SOPHIE’S SQUASH had – if you’ll pardon the gardening pun – grown organically from my youngest daughter’s real-life infatuation with a butternut squash. All the pieces of the story were there. I just had to take some literary license to put them together. My youngest daughter is, if I do say so myself, a very funny kid who has had a dry, offbeat way of looking at life from the very start. So I went back through our favorite family stories about her looking for another gem – and found it. When she was in preschool, she came home very distraught because of a little boy who repeatedly tried to hug her and told her he was going to marry her. Three-year-old Sonia wanted no part of this plan and described to me everything she’d do to prevent a wedding from happening. I knew I couldn’t write a picture book about preschoolers’ marriage plans. But what if the annoying classmate just wanted to be friends, but Sophie felt that she already had all the friends she needed with her two squash, Bonnie and Baxter and had no interest? That might work. First, I had the story set around Valentine’s Day, but it quickly became apparent that a first-day-of-school angle worked much better. While I’m extremely happy with how the final book, SOPHIE’S SQUASH GO TO SCHOOL, turned out, it was much harder to write than the first. Why? First, I was writing on a deadline with not as much of a fully formed idea as the first time. Second, there was pressure. When I wrote SOPHIE’S SQUASH, I was unpublished and not sure I ever would be. When I wrote SOPHIE’S SQUASH GO TO SCHOOL, the first book had done well and I felt an obligation to not let Sophie’s fans, Schwartz & Wade or myself down. There were times I wasn’t sure I would pull it off. But, fortunately, I loved Sophie and her family. I knew them. And getting back inside their world and remembering all the great things about it made it possible for me to write a story I like as much as the first one. Whether others feel the same way remains to be seen, but I hope they do. Pat Zietlow MIller has also published The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, Sharing the Bread, and Wherever You Go. To learn more about Pat, her new projects and upcoming publications please visit her website http://www.patzietlowmiller.com/my-books by clicking the link below.
A big 24 Carrot Writing thank you to Pat for being a guest blogger and sharing her wonderful insight. I'm off to my independent bookseller to pick up my copy of Sophie's Squash Go To School! by Francine Puckly I sit and write this blog, iced tea in hand, on the summer solstice. Another sacred season of idleness is ushered in with a rare Strawberry Moon to boot! My love for this season’s promise of idleness dates back to my carefree youth and the endless and languid summer days. I spent warm, breezy afternoons roaming the vast countryside and exploring my parents’ Pennsylvania farm, biking from house to house with bells dinging and streamers flying in the wind, and lying on the lawn, the sweet smell of fresh-cut grass intoxicating me as I gazed at the clouds passing by. Unfortunately, the past several summers have lacked this lackadaisical nature for me. I long for dolce far niente, an old Italian expression that translates literally to ‘sweet doing nothing.’ This summer I’m determined to take a break from crashing hard drives, unnecessary appointments, and requests on my time that can be ignored, or at the very least, postponed. We recently hosted my daughter’s high school graduation party. Seven hours of friends, family, laughter, tears and love. My phone had been set aside and I realized at the end of the party that I hadn’t taken one picture. It was, to be perfectly frank, refreshing. For the first time in weeks, I had lived in the moment without thought of recording, sharing or learning from it. All of us balance stress, juggle multiple demands, and manage tight schedules, and sometimes these rigid schedules help our writing. We are driven and focused, and we are extremely efficient with our creative time. But sometimes our normal pace puts a stranglehold on imagination. And that’s where idleness comes in handy. The astonishing thing about the recent graduation party is that the details flood to me with astounding clarity: word-for-word conversations and jokes are vivid, and moments when friends hugged me or held my hand are as if captured on a video in my mind. These crystal clear experiences are what bring my writing alive. It is through living and soaking in the moments of human interaction that we writers and illustrators fill the well and rediscover our hearts. It is only then we are capable of telling the story. So as the heat and humidity climb these next few weeks, shelve your to-do list. Be. Take time to welcome a sunrise, be cleansed by a warm rain, read a captivating book, share meaningful conversations with loved ones, or split a chilled bottle of wine while gazing at the Milky Way. Watch the clouds, lie in a hammock, and soak in the sun and details around you. We’ll be doing ourselves, and our readers, a great service! - Francine by Francine Puckly With a chill in the air and notoriously unpredictable weather, Opening Day is upon us. Hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts, new lineups, and impeccable turf await. A few years ago Ted Berg penned an article entitled, “The 10 Best Things about Opening Day” (http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/01/10-best-things-about-opening-day/2041583/). There’s nothing quite like a new baseball season, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of beginning a new project or novel. And here’s how Berg’s Top 10 applies to starting a brand new novel! 10. Fresh Looks In baseball, this means it’s time to sport new uniforms, but for me and my new novel, we’re showing off new software (Scrivener), flashy new composition notebooks, my favorite pens and Sharpies, and a multitude of jewel-toned post-its I purchased in the off season. My reusable foam plot-planning poster board is ready to take the field. This is the best my writing space will look for months and maybe years! And wait! What’s that sound? I think the organist is playing the first few bars of “Take Me Out to the Book Store.” 9. Ballpark favorites again available Berg said that, “opening day provides an opportunity to eat hot dogs without being judged.” And for writers, the first draft is our opportunity to slap down all of the crazy ideas that come to mind as we crank through the what-ifs of a new story littered with a cast of new characters. No limiting expectations, no reviews, no analyses. It might be the only time in our writing process we’re not worried about the agent or editor, the reader, the critic, missing story parts, or the dilemma of what stays and what goes. 8. Spring training is over So is your research. At least for now. It’s time to play ball…er, write the draft. That means don’t stop to research. Flag any missing pieces of information with those pretty little post-its you bought. 7. Bunting As MLB and various ballparks roll out elaborate décor, you might look to playlists with songs that suit your characters or intended plot, a collage of magazine clippings or photos that depict character and setting, or Pinterest files to inspire your writing. Adorn your workspace with helpful details. I have a collage of photos I’ve taken and/or downloaded from the Internet posted in my writing area. Whenever I feel stymied on plot, I study those for inspiration. 6. The pageantry First pitches, national anthems, and introductions of every player, coach and trainer. Writing pageantry is introducing each room, character and supporting character. We plunge into detail the way Milwaukee’s Bernie Brewer plunges into a huge mug of beer. We immerse ourselves in detail. The rooms of the house. The landscape. The shingles and siding. Every character. 5. Ridiculous “pace” stats “For one day in 1994,” Berg wrote, “Cubs outfielder Karl ‘Tuffy’ Rhodes was on pace to hit 486 home runs in a season after a three-homer opening day outburst.” Nobody hits 486 home runs in a season. And those 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo? That’s 600,000 words a year, or ten+ middle grade novels a year. Woo hoo! And those 41 ideas you had for PiBoIdMo last year? You’re going to write over 400 picture books this year! NOT. They’re impossible numbers to sustain, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rejoice in getting off to a ridiculously fast start as we leave our inner critic behind. 4. Skipping school or work Playing hooky to do what we love is easy at the beginning. At the start of a project we are willing to decline other opportunities so that we can take our laptops and notebooks off to write in seclusion. But eventually life’s demands creep in and the next thing we know we’ve missed four days (or maybe even four weeks!) straight. What we can learn from playing hooky or skipping other commitments is how to make our writing a priority year-round, not just at the launch or as we approach the finish line. Set some goals, people! And reward yourselves when you hit them! (http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/give-yourself-a-carrot). 3. All of the aces Who are the heavy hitters in your story? Make sure you have a great team of characters to support your plot. 2. Every team is undefeated. So is your project. No rejections. ’Nuff said. And the number one thing about Opening Day? 1. They play baseball. And we write novels. Or illustrate books. We have the coolest jobs on earth. Now get out there and throw the first pitch! by Annie Cronin Romano Like working jigsaw puzzles? White Mountain Puzzles has a few jigsaws with a literary flair. This book "Best Sellers" puzzle will keep you busy with 1000 pieces of literature's favorites. How many have you read? The bookplates below are just a few samples of the designs you'll find at Gone Reading, a web store for reading enthusiasts. Ever wished a perfume could capture the aroma of libraries, leather-bound books, and Mr. Darcy? Well, a few claim to have done it! Check out Sweet Tea Apothecary for their "Dead Writers" scent (hey, I didn't name it!) or head over to Demeter to discover "Paperback." Okay...do NOT tell me you wouldn't love walking into that next critique group meeting with your appetizer served on a book-shaped platter! I mean, how fun is this? You can see all the size options at Gone Reading. _ Wish you could wear a favorite book around your neck? Don't we all? Well, you can if you web surf your way over to Uncommon Goods. They've got scarves featuring passages from Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, and Wuthering Heights. I hope you enjoyed (and try) some of these suggestions for writing rewards.
Now, go treat yourself to that hard earned carrot! And keep striving to meet your upcoming goals. I'll share some more carrot ideas in a few months! ~Annie |
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