Monday, January 31, 2011

FREE TO SPEAK?

Today's blah, blah, post is more for me than anyone who may trip upon my blog and read it.

I want to write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper regarding Religious Freedom Day, but can't quite come up with the right words. 

In a previous blog I mentioned RFD and wanted to write something then, but...what?...I wasn't sure of the approach I should use. Then, there was an editorial of today's Naples Daily News - see http://www.naplesnews.com/.

I know why the school system put on a day like this in spite of the "separation" issue. It stems from a lawsuit that they lost over distribution of bibles in the schools. But, for the life of me, I wonder how some organizations were able to participate.

My questions are these:

1. In the previous article reporting on RFD, the only organizations mention were a Muslim sect, PFLAG and the ACLU. Why weren't other organizations mentioned. Was it for the shock value. Christian and Jewish religions are not going to sell newspapers like the above mentioned? 

2. PFLAG and the ACLU are not religions. Why were they included?

3. Our school system thrives on publicity (good publicity), so why was the newspaper banned from this event.  This tells me something is amiss.

Will I write the letter to the editor. Most likely not. I will know I will say something "politically incorrect." God forbid, I offend someone.

To me political correctness stomps on our freedom of speech making a mockery of it.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

THE HIDDEN POET

Well, well, well, I just may have a poet lurking in my soul after all. She made a surprise visit yesterday at a most unusual time.

I was sitting in our church hall ready (and not so eager) to hear an hour long lecture. Since I have the attention span of a five year old, my mind started to wander after the first sentence was spoken. Ideas popped into the fertile ground and titillated my writers synapses. OMG, I couldn't speak into my recorder and I didn't have my pad and pencil at the ready. Now what?

I looked at the information neatly typed on handouts that I was suppose to take home and turned it over. Yea! Fresh white paper - untouched by type -- ripe for my thoughts.

I dug discretely through my purse and voila -- a pen. I looked around at all the attentive people. No one suspected a thing. Am I the only one who wiggles through these boring lectures? I guess so.

I placed the virgin paper in my lap and let my words flow. And, flow the did -- like a river after a winter melt. I filled a legal sized piece with words -- poetic words. How very cool is that!!!

And, after the poet muse left, the common sense muse arrived. And other ideas began to grab me. Ideas for my local newspaper. Ideas for a column on common sense. Twelve titles for articles I could write.

You must understand that in my community common sense is as fleeting as a flea on a dog. I wonder if it is something in the water here that makes people do crazy things. Take joggers for instance. Like the ones that run in the road -- in the dark -- without flashing lights. Void of common sense. I even saw one with a two babies in a jogging stroller -- yep, you guessed it -- no lights. God, talk about stupid. But, I digress.

I can't write adult stuff -- not now. I have a marathon to prep for...two days and it's typing mania. Okay, so, I have already started. But, come on, I'm older than most of the participants and need a head start. OOOH, I'm already running with 14 ideas started and saved in my picture book folder. No fair, you say. Possibly, but I don't care. When the ideas spark I need to strike the match.

As they say all's fair in love and writing marathons. Wish me luck. I just may come out of this a poet!!!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

JUST BE YOURSELF

Isn't it funny -- those expressions your parents used that helped form who you are today.

In the early years of my life -- when I was worried about how someone would perceive me -- my mother would say, "Just be yourself."

Who was I? What did that mean? As I was growing up, I wasn't really sure what "being myself" meant.

How does that relate today? I do know myself and, as a writer, am finding my "author's voice."

Well, I am reading an awesome YA novel. I mean AWESOME -- New York Times best seller awesome.

So, I say to myself, "Why can't I write like that?" And that's when my mother's words come back to me. "Just be yourself."

I can only be in my head, write my words...how do I know they won't be N.Y. Times ready. I don't. But, I do know that if I try to be someone else, write someone else's words...well, it just doesn't work.

To thine own self be true.

Friday, January 28, 2011

WARMING UP

Puff, puff.

Pant, pant.

I'm warming up for that tough picture book marathon.

Push ups and sprints and jumping jacks.

Not with my body, of course. With my brain.

The first thing I did yesterday in my quest for endurance was talk to four year old children. I listened to them, watched them interact and got ideas. Way to go, Rocky!!!

Now let's run up those stairs...

Chug, chug. I went to Barnes and Noble and scoured their juvenile section for the latest picture books. I read them and studied them and I made a discovery.

Now I know why I have such a difficult time writing them. Picture books are poetry. AND POETRY IS MY DOWNFALL. Geez, now I have to train a bit harder.

Puff, puff, puff.

Pant, pant, pant.

And, you know what - I wrote the beginning of three yesterday. Count them: THREE. Haven't got that poetry thing down yet, but I have a start...a great idea.

I refuse to be defeated. I refuse to say "I can't." So I'm off...

Puff, puff, puff...push ups and sprints and jumping jacks...pant, pant, pant.

Go, brain, go.

AND, GO, PACK, GO!!!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

THE MARATHON

Here we go again.

Tune up with Aretha:

R*E*J*E*C*T

Find out what it means to me...

R*E*J*E*C*T

Take Care, TCB (what the heck does TCB stand for anyway?)

Yep, you guessed it - another rejection.

Am I bummed out? Not really.

It's one of my picture book manuscripts. And, as I have said in a previous blah, blah, blog, I have difficulty writing this genre of children's literature.

What do I do now?

I am not sure if I should send it out to another publisher, re-write it, or just trash it. So, I'm going to let it sit and steep for a while. In the meantime I am going to practice, practice, practice. That's the way one is suppose to get to Carnegie Hall...or at least the publishing house next door.

How will I do this?

I'm entering the Picture Book Marathon.

Sharpen those pencils. Warm up those fingers. Find a clean page in the journal. Ready, set, go...

It starts in February. All one is required to do is write 26 picture books...one each day for 26 days in February.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Au contere, my friend. Pictures books may have few words. The challenge is finding those perfect words.

I cheated a little. I started yesterday. Yes, in January. OMG, do you think they will throw me out of the race. I doubt it. I am doing my warm-ups. Just like one does when preparing for the Boston Marathon.

Wish me luck. Perhaps, just perhaps, one of my 26 will actually be good enough to jump into the editing, revision portion.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

BAD WRITING -- GOOD ADVICE

Yesterday I attended my critique group with the suckiest manuscript ever!!! I knew it was bad but I didn't hesitate to hand it out and sit back as it was read.

Why would I give them my worst?

Because it was my absolute poorest writing? And, I needed their help.

After it was read everyone looked at me with that -- "You've got to be kidding!!!" look. And then they started to speak. Did they call it awful? No, of course, not. They didn't have to.

They each started to speak, in turn, asking me questions and giving suggestions. "Why did you do this?" or "Perhaps you should expand on that."

Did I go home and whine? No. It's not my style.

Instead I went home and opened a bottle of wine.

Today I awoke refreshed. (No hangover, I don't drink that much). I re-read that sucky chapter and started writing. And writing. And writing. In fact I re-wrote the entire chapter and it is 100% better than the original one.

My critique group is like a marriage. We are together for better or for worse. We help and encourage each other. We aren't afraid to speak up if something isn't working. What a blessing!!!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

POLITICIANS AND COMMON SENSE

HB 255 is a bill that will be introduced in the Florida House -- and-- if passed, would require teachers in grades K-3 to "grade" parents on their involvement in their child's education. A parental grade would be placed on the child's report card -- satisfactory, needs improvement, unsatisfactory.

Where in the world is common sense. This is wrong on so many levels...

First and foremost, it is invasion of privacy and the parent’s right to make decisions for their own children. It is government inference at its most basic level.

Secondly, it is putting unnecessary burden on the teachers. One more thing for them to do. And, blindly, I might add. What criteria are teachers going to be given to assess parents? Can one actually make a judgment on what happens in the home by what is observed in school?

And, think about the grade. Instead of creating a bond between teachers and parents this bill (and if passed into law) is going to do just the opposite and create animosity. Teachers know their families. They create lasting ties with the parents of their children. They work hard to form positive relationships. Grading parents is a great way to sever that bond and put parents at odds with teachers.

In an effort to improvement education our government (state and federal) continues to make laws. It’s as if  they’re saying, “Look at us. We’re improving education with this law and that law. We are making our schools better, safer, smarter…” When in reality all that is being done is creating more and more unnecessary work for our teachers who are already burdened.

The author of this bill states, "If at the end of the day, all we have is the conversation that makes parents want to be more involved and recognize that involvement, I feel like we've been successful."

A grade given by a teacher is not going to make parents become more involved. Instead it will place a wedge between a relationship that is forged from mutual respect and positive interaction.


When laws like this are made it is not a “trickle down” effect from (federal to) state to county. It is a tsunami crashing over the classroom teacher’s desk washing away precious academic learning time.

Our teachers need to be unshackled from the chains on inane laws and given the freedom to do what they know how to do best. And, that is TEACH.


Thursday, January 20, 2011

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING

Something must happen to people when they are elected to public office - be it local, state or federal. I think they leave their brains and common sense behind once they open the door of power.

Take Florida, for instance. A new bill (HB255) was just introduced in the house requiring teachers to GRADE parents on their involvement in their child's educational life. If this bill is passed, there will be a section on report cards specifically designated to inform parents of their "accountability" - satisfactory, needs improvement or unsatisfactory.

Our overworked teachers will now be reaching into the home and making decisions on parenting skills?

You've got to be freakin' kidding me. This is wrong on so many levels I don't even know how to begin writing about it. And, trust me I will be writing about it to my state representatives and governor.

Any thoughts and suggestions from you would be totally appreciated.

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On the local scene it gets crazier...I'm not sure if it falls under the banner of political correctness...or what, but...

Yesterday was "Religious Freedom" Day in our high schools.

What happened to all the flagging waving ... separation of church and state ... people?

But, once you see who was invited to "Religious Freedom" Day, you will understand...

PFLAG and the ACLU.

OMG - I didn't know these were religions.

It's a scary world out there in public education land. I'm glad I'm not longer a part of it.


                                            

Monday, January 17, 2011

THE CONFERENCE,THE LIE, THE MEA CULPA

It's over - the dreaded conference. I told you I would report back on Monday the results, the misery, the disappointment.

Well, well, well -- mea culpa -- I lied!! The conference was fabulous. Full of inspiring, informative, positive people--the cheerleaders--waving their pom-poms of enthusiasm.

Expecting to hear how many publishing doors were slamming shut, I learned, instead, that the electronic era of the Kindle, Nook and other various devices were crashing down those doors and opening new arenas for authors.  Rah, rah, rah, where are my pom-poms?

                                                  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I don't know about you, but for me I still harbor doubts of my writing ability. Intellectually, I know I can write, but remember the longest distance in the world is from the head to the heart. I need affirmation. And, even when I get it, I have a hard time accepting it?

I wonder why.

Could it be the rejection letters? Possibly, but I'm pretty good at rationalising.

Could it be low self-esteem? I don't think so -- it's such an overused phrase...a catchall excuse.

But, I have to tell you -- after the conference -- my heart is still feeling the love and my confidence is soaring upward. Why?

Shake those pom-poms!!!

I sent in the first ten pages of my latest YA novel to be critiqued. It was, what I thought, my best writing. And the person critiquing those pages raved about it. Yes, you heard it right - RAVED.

I would do a cartwheel here, but I'd probably wind up in the hospital with a broken something. Where are those darn pom-poms anyway???

She gave me the greatest gift I could have received - HOPE and CONFIDENCE. I CAN write. and I have a great story to tell. How cool is that!!

Now comes the fun part. She gave me permission to put bad words in the story (really bad words) -- and a little sex. Oh, so unlike me, but it's going to be fun to be bad. I may not keep them in, but...as the song goes...girls just want to have fun.

The next conference is in June. I can already see those cheerleaders on the sidelines. Rah, rah, rah!!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Today I leave for my writing conference. As I previously blah, blah, blogged, I'm not looking forward to it. Instead of coming back energized, I usually return home with a sort of melancholy aura.

Why is that? Well, I think it is because I had great expectations from other conferences and was disappointed. One thing I have learned in life is that expectations are really premeditated resentments.

I do, however, have moderate expectations of this conference. Why would I put out the big bucks to go? I expect to meet some nice people - and they don't get better than children's book writers and illustrators. I expect to learn something - that is the real reason I attend - to learn more about writing and the industry.

I enjoy watching people. I should be more aggressive when it comes to presenting myself (to editors, to agents), but I am  not an in-your-face type. There are many "iyf" people...they are the ones running around with a manuscript waving it in front of anyone who is interested, or the self-publishers who want you to look at their book.

I stay on the side lines. Maybe it's a safety thing. Maybe I don't want to look desperate. But, that's who I am.

So I prepare to go. And this time with expectations, but not too many.

Stay tuned and I will let you know how it goes on Monday.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Anyone interested in the education of our children needs to click onto this link and read  the January 2011 edition of The School Administrator entitled, Kindergarten Boot Camp? About Face!, by Edward Miller and Joan Almon.
http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorIssue.aspx?id=17428

Friday, January 7, 2011

CONFERENCES – CONFIDENCE BUILDER OR CAREER CRUSHER


In less than two weeks I will be hitting Alligator Alley headed to a writer’s conference in Miami. Conferences are vital for anyone who desires publishing. They are full of agents, publishers, workshops, the latest inside scoop on the industry. They are the pep rally before the big game. Everyone loves them, anticipates them and is uber charged to attend.

Everyone but me.

I am dreading the upcoming conference like the swine flu.

Will I meet a lot of writers struggling like me?  Yes.

Will I exchange ideas?  Yes

Will I get great food? (Always a plus in my book)  YES

A nice room?  You bet!

A great roommate? Definitely!!

Will I hear all the things I need or want to here?  Need to hear:  Yes. Want to here:  Questionable.

The workshop facilitators are as enthusiastic as cheerleaders shouting the praises of their team, vigorously shaking their pom-poms of optimism and whipping the crowd into a writing frenzy.

Everyone but me.

I sit up front, I listen, I take notes, I really like the advice given. Then I hear it – those dreaded words from the publishers and agents. “We get millions of manuscripts a year and are only able to publish five.”

That, I say, is the pin in the balloon of enthusiasm.

Do I sound jaded? Yes. I shouldn’t because, one big “benny” from these conferences is the opportunity to send a manuscript into a publishing company that will not accept unsolicited or unagented manuscripts.

Sounds good – but last year was a bust for me. I sent in my best manuscript to an editor that was represented at that particular conference. I followed all their submission guidelines like they were carried down the mountain by Moses.

 So far, so good.

 Then nothing – I heard nothing, but I understand that waiting is part of the game.

 So far, so good.

A few months into the wait I read in one of my writers’ magazines that this particular editor had quit the company and had not moved to another as of that printing.

 So far, not so good.

I contacted the company. They had no record of my manuscript.

So much for that benefit!!!

Even though I am not as impressed as I once was with these conferences, I do meet great people. I receive great ideas and information about the writing profession. And, I continue to hold onto the hope that perhaps, just perhaps, I may be one of those lucky five in a million.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

CRITIQUE GROUPS - A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

I attend two critique groups. One is made up of writers of children's books. The other is made up of various genres - people who are writing memoirs to share with their families, playwrights, Ph.D's up-dating books they once published, poets--even an actress from England is among us. It is a humbling experience -- so many voices --  all writing from the heart and head...using their pencils, pens, computers to retell, teach, relate experiences I can only imagine from words on a page.

I love listening to the others. I am transported into another time, involved in another life. Their stories are amazing--the places they have been--the adventures they have had...their triumphs, their sorrows...all documented for others.

The poets write deep, meaningful, spiritual poems. I don't often understand them, but I appreciate the lilt of the words.

I read my stories. I learn much from their constructive criticism, I gain confidence to continue from their encouraging words. It's funny how many little things I can overlook in a manuscript. Take yesterday, for instance. One of the women in my group pointed out how many times I used a particular word in one of my chapters. OMG, I never saw it. If not for a critique group - this error would have gone unchecked.

If you are a writer -- a serious writer trying to get published -- do you belong to a critique group? If not, it's well worth the time. It's a humbling experience, but the help you will receive is priceless!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real

I learned many years ago that fear was my enemy.  Like a dementor from a Harry Potter book, it sucked out all the happiness from my life. It robbed me of joy and filled my soul with worry. WHAT A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!

The media today is full of doom and gloom. It would make the most optimistic people want to curl up and throw a blanket over their heads. A sort of "make the world go away" mentality.

I learned many years ago to conquer fear...to sweep it away like unwanted cobwebs in the corners of my mind. How? Faith!! Faith is the opposite of fear.

Take, for example, submitting manuscripts. In the past, I kept all my stories locked away in silent file folders on my computer...never to see the light of day or an editors desk. Why? Fear of rejection. How crazy is that??

Just think about it - they were already rejected -- 100% of the time -- by me. Okay, okay, I know, I know -- now they are rejected 100% of the time -- by editors, but at least I have a chance...of someday...seeing my text in print. I have FAITH that this will happen.

Remember:  Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. So I keep writing and sending and waiting and hoping...

Monday, January 3, 2011

WAITING FOR INSPIRATION

I'm still waiting for the inspiration - that "aha" moment - to give me just what I need for the picture book contest I would like to enter. I have until February to come up with a masterfully worded, never before seen in print, earth shattering manuscript for the world of publishing.

To tell you the truth, I don't like writing picture books. Some people think they are easy to pen because so few words are needed. That is precisely what makes them tricky. Even Sherlock Holmes would have difficulty discovering the right words for a pb manuscript.

In addition, they are impossible to sell. Publishers receive thousands of pb manuscripts a year and only publish a handful. They are expensive to produce and in today's ecomony, parents aren't exactly beating a path to Barnes and Noble to buy them.

God helps those who help themselves. So, instead of sitting in the lotus position and chanting some inane mantra all day, I decided the only way to get inspiration is to get busy.

I plunked down in front of my computer, took a deep breath and  let my fingers scurry across the keyboard. Did I come up with anything noteworthy? For the contest...no. But, I do have five ideas down on paper. And, for me that's a grand start. I will re-visit my attemps daily and let the thoughts simmer in my mind when I walk. Eventually something will pop.

Inspiration is there - somewhere - faith, courage and and hard work are all it takes to find it.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

READING IS WRITING - RIGHT??

My, my, my - I keep getting further and further (or is it farther and farther?) behind in my blog writing. But, I've been reading lately. Reading is writing, right?

I read for a number of reasons.

1. Enjoyment.
2. To study the market.
3. To get ideas.
4. To "listen" to the lilt of words.
5. To see how other authors write - the qualities that make their books page turners.

I find reading a good way to kick start my brain when it is asleep and the words aren't pouring out like an afternoon rain. I like to sit with a pad and pencil and capture action verbs - why didn't I think of that one, I say to myself, when I come upon a particularly good phrase.

I even keep a book full of action verbs. Full of adjectives. Full of color words. I even read that book now and then.

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Today I am totally frustrated. There is a contest I would like to enter. Easy - peasy. They want books written for kindergartners. My field. My love. My area of expertise. When I taught I could write a million books for my class. Guess what - today nothing is coming to mind. NOTHING. How crazy is that??

I've learned in life not for force things. So I wait. I wait for an idea, for a theme, for anything to get me started.

Until then I read. Reading is writing - right??

Happy New Year everyone. May this year be filled with wonder and love and good health for you!!!