Do's and Don'ts from Jon Scieszka

Alright, the first day of SCBWI-LA is over (sort of) and it was awesome! Let me just go on record as saying that children's books authors are some of the funniest and most awesome people on the planet. Srsly.

I learned a TON today, and I will be sharing a lot of it with YOU. Because I think you are awesome and many of you can't be here. I know a lot of you had questions about the nerdy boy comment I made below, and I promise to explain that all eventually in a whole post dedicated to MG boys. But today I'm going to give you some publishing DOs and DON'Ts from Jon Scieszka!

In case you're not familiar with the awesomeness of Jon Scieszka, here are some books he wrote that you should read right away, because they pretty much defined my childhood:

He also wrote some other fabulous books, but these are probably the two most well-known. (And here's a tip to the most fabulous of you out there! I bought a copy of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs to have signed and then giveaway here on the blog! So watch out for that when I get home :) And if you're not currently following me, you might want to clicky-click that little follow button, because you'll get extra points for being a current follower once the contest gets underway!)

Anyway, Jon was hilarious and had a lot to say about publishing. He offered the following do's and don'ts that he wished he knew when he started out:

DO

• Congratulate yourself for actually doing something. Because there are so many people (his dentist, his neighbor) who tell him they have so many ideas for children's books but never actually get to writing them. 
• Read every book you possibly can in your genre. Just go to the library and wander around in your section. If you're a picture book writer, he suggests the New York Library's list of 100 Best Picture Books (which, consequently, VCFA also sent me). 
• Read the worst books out there, because they're kind of educational. He thinks the best ones to look for are the celebrity books. 
• Read children's trade publications: School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and kidlit blogs such as Educating Alice and 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast.
• If you write picture books, cut it in half. It's called a picture book for a reason - leave room for the pictures. 

DON'T

• Once you start writing, don't let the stuff you read in the trade publications drive you crazy. It will make you wonder, "Should I be writing about pirates?" or "Who got translated into Korean this week?"
• Don’t beleive everything you hear.

Then he shared photos from his favorite picture books, which totally brought back memories from my childhood. Books like The Stupids and George and Martha were ones I just loved growing up!

He closed by talking a little about the creative process. He told the story about how he was inspired to write a book where trucks had the personalities of elementary school students. (This book would eventually be the Truck Town series) After meeting the kids, he gave all the trucks personalities based on the children he met. He described the personalities to the illustrators, who drew the trucks without having met the kids. But then he showed pictures of the kids next to the trucks they were matched to and the resemblance was uncanny. So, basically, illustrators are awesome.

In closing, Jon Scieszka had this to say: "Don’t listen to everything to everything you hear, including me. If you write write write, the spirit can move you and you might write the best vampire princess fart rhyming book ever.”

Posting Live from SCBWI-LA!

Woot! I'm posting live from SCBWI-LA! I only have a few minutes, but I hope to post a full update tonight! (Though I'm learning so much that I will have material for at least a week's worth of posts! Get excited, people.) So far, I've learned the following things:

• Jon Scieszka is hilarious.
• M.T. Anderson has a fabulous singing voice (I will be providing proof of this later.)
• MG boys don't like nerds, unless they are nerds, and then they like them just fine.
• Editors do read things in the slush pile, despite what their "official policy" says (well, their summer interns read it anyway).
• Don't be shy about saying something to the author who is staying TWO DOORS DOWN from your hotel room, because chances are she's actually really nice. 
• SCBWI is awesome.

So, just my quick update :) Hopefully I'll have time to post something more detailed tonight! Until then, get the latest from my tweets: @HeatherTrese

Book-Crush Wednesday (2)

Yay! It's Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I highlight a book I loved and want to share with my blog followers. Today's book crush is on an MG series by an author that everyone reading this blog has heard of...but I bet many of you haven't read this MG series (and you definitely should).

Today's book crush is on The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins! Yes, that's Suzanne Collins, of HUNGER GAMES fame! But before she wrote Hunger Games, Collins penned this fantastic five-book series about a boy who falls down a sewer in his laundry room and finds an incredible world full of giant rats, bats, roaches, spiders, and strange humans living under New York City.

I found the Underland Chronicles after finishing Catching Fire. I was dying for another dose of Collins, so I headed to Goodreads to see what else she had written. At first, this series didn't interest me much. But my library had it on the shelf, so I picked it up the next time I was in. And wow.

The main character in the books is Gregor. Gregor is a little bit funny, but most of all he's strong and pretty smart. He doesn't worry too much when he gets into dangerous situations (which happens constantly), and he always puts the safety of his little sister in front of his own.

And speaking of his little sister...her name is Boots, and she is THE BEST CHARACTER IN THESE BOOKS. Seriously, Boots makes these books awesome. She is wonderful and funny and so sweet. She has her own little storylines that are just fantastic, and add to the overall mystery. Since the books are spread out over a period of time, you get to see Boots grow up a little bit - both emotionally and mentally. Watching these small victories is really a testament to how far her character comes. She makes me smile every time she's on the page (particularly because I switched to audio for books 2-5, and the narrator did a fantastic job with her voice.) And since Gregor & Co.'s adventure occasionally put them in situations where they're low on food or other supplies, you see how difficult it is to have such a small child along. But you also see how the innocence of a child can help in tough situations.

The Underland Chronicles is a fantastic choice for MG boys. I know that there is a slight "boy problem" (more so in YA than with MG), and this is an excellent choice to combat that. There are giant insects, sword fights, battles, and a ton of mystery. (OMG THE MYSTERY!!! The suspense and drama in this will keep you guessing for sure. Collins does an incredible job weaving the riddles in this story throughout the plot.)

There's also a subtle romance in the books that develops beautifully. I won't give away how it plays out in the end, but it's perfect and uhm awesome and since it's MG it's all done in this very age-appropriate way.

The Underland Chronicles are awesome. There is fighting, loss, heartbreak, love, adventure, mystery, some kooky characters, and an awesome story about finding yourself and learning to accept who you are. In short, an awesome precursor to what we know Collins is capable of thanks to The Hunger Games series.


And, in case you were wondering, the order of the books is:
Gregor the Overlander
Gregor and the Prophecy of the Bane
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (probably my favorite, in terms of plot twisty-ness)
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Gregor and the Code of Claw (an absolutely perfect end for the series)

What to Do When You Find Out Your Book Has Been Written By Someone Else

So last night I was in my weekly writer chat. And in a slight lull in the conversation, I started gushing about how excited I was about my new project, about how I couldn't stop the ideas from coming to me, about how I had notes in my notebook, on my laptop, even in my phone because everywhere I went I was just getting smacked with scenes, dialogue, and whathaveyou.

Everyone said, "That's so great, Heather!" They know I am a freak of nature who likes first drafting more than revising, and since I am thisclose to finishing my current WIP, I am almost ready to start my next book.

Then someone in the group asked, ever-so-innocently, "What's your book about?" I told her, and she said,

"Oh. That sounds like a book SUPER-FAMOUS YA AUTHOR just sold. :("

And she was right. She pulled up the Publisher's Marketplace listing (of which she is a paid member and I only get the lame free emails) and, with the change of a minor detail, it was pretty much my book. The book I'd been sitting on and plotting, letting it simmer and researching for months.

Ughughugh.

So what's a girl to do? I had playlists started, scenes plotted, even the first 1,000 words written in a frenzy of inspiration I got a few months back. I felt pretty heartbroken.

But this, blog-readers, is why having a support system in place is awesome. Instead of letting me cry my sad tears, she immediately jumped into "Let's solve the problem" mode. Of course, the first thing she said was the writer's old favorite stand-by, "It's OK. Really, how many books with the same basic plot are out there? It's how you write the book, how you make it your own, that matters." She even brought up vampire boarding school novels and vamp romances, of which there are apx. 6 million.

Now, while I totally, 100% agree with this, I was being irrational. So I said, "That's normally true. But this is SUPER-FAMOUS AUTHOR, not no one's ever heard of them author. They're going to sell a MILLION COPIES and no one will buy my book!!!!" (Apparently I have never heard of Stephenie Meyer or any of the people who have managed to sell vampire romance books after her success. Then again, this isn't a genre, this is a pretty specific plot, so...)

So then we moved on to, "How can we salvage this plot?" We talked about new character motivations, other reasons the MC would behave that way, and in the end I have a NEW idea which has the opportunity for an AWESOME TWIST.

Am I still a little hurt over the loss of my original SNI? Yes. But I think this is the best way to deal. And I'm glad I found out now before I actually started writing.

The point is, when you find a book that is so similar to yours that it might as well BE yours, all hope is not lost. You can pick up the pieces. Think of a new plot twist, different motivations, or change a few key elements. Who knows? In the end, it might end up making your story even stronger.

Sunday Funday (34)

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. I spent today visiting my sister-in-law (it's her birthday! Or was a few days ago.) and eating the delicious food her boyfriend/life partner makes (OMG curry chickpea salad? YESPLEASEOMNOM) and reading The Sky is Everywhere, which is rocking my FACE OFF with the awesome writing. I don't know whether to laugh or cry thanks to all the awesome, but I do know that you should all read this book like yesterday. I also started packing for SCBWI-LA today, and wondered if five pairs of shoes was too many for a five-day trip. I decided it wasn't. 

Anyway, here are some great links from around the Interwebz this week!


Literary agent Jennifer Laughran asked (via Twitter) for the most common publishing myths, then debunked them in this fantastic blog post.

Hannah Moskowitz asks, "Why don't boys read YA?"


Many bloggers freak out about how many comments they get, analyze their Google analytics, and obsess over their Twitter followers and RTs, and Anne Riley explains why.

Jody Hedlund asks who deserves the title of writer, and who should be called an author?

Slush Pile Hell hosted a Twitter contest to find the worst children's book name. There were over 1,000 entries, and the winners were awesome.

With SCBWI coming up, I thought this post from Writer's Digest, on why writers should attend conferences and how to make the most of them, was especially timely.

Steph Bowe explained why real, living boys should never be compared to Edward Cullen.

Wondering how to write really, really, really bad fiction? Holly Lisle has you covered with her guide to writing suckitudinous fiction.

Have a great week everyone!

Vlog! What to Bring to a Writer's Conference

Hey! I made another vlog! It's a little on the long side (7 minutes!) because I ramble sometimes (though I cut a lot of the rambling out). And even though I'm wearing makeup this time it apparently wasn't enough because man those dark circles are kicking. But I think there's some good advice in there (and I added some amusing comments for those of you nice enough to actually watch the video and not surf the Internet while just listening...but frankly if you do either I think it's sweet.) Plus you get to see some of my wardrobe! So that's awesome. Anyway, here it is! (Links below are either mentioned in the video or just good general advice).





Links mentioned in the vlog:
My post on the importance of having a pitch, which includes links to other great posts (written by agents, authors, etc.)

Inexpensive business cards: www.vistaprint.com (May I suggest springing for the premium designs, otherwise you get a very non-professional logo on the back of your cards. If you sign up for their emails they will send you coupons often, including ones for free premium cards.)

Out of Print Clothing

Good advice:
Frankie's post on packing for a writer's weekend
Rachelle Gardner asks if you should even go to a writer's conference
Hey! WriteOnCon is FREE! And online so you can do it in your PJs and don't need business cards or need to travel :)

And since I forgot to ask in the vlog, feel free to share your tips and tricks in the comments!

Book-Crush Wednesday (1)

I'm starting a new feature on my blog! I know, I know, you're dying with excitement.

I think one of the most important things a writer can do to become better is read. Read any and everything they can get their hands on. They should especially read good books. That's where this feature comes in.

Often, I read a great book, but I don't have a space to talk about it. I might mention it on Twitter, or casually say I read a great book in my Sunday Funday post. Or, once in awhile, I might find something the book is a great example of, and highlight the book by talking about that aspect of writing - I did that after I read Hex Hall and discussed the importance of using an authentic teen voice.

But sometimes I just want to talk about a great book. And from now on, that's what I'll use Wednesdays for. I know Wednesdays are "Waiting on Wednesday" in the book blogging world, but I will only be highlighting books I've read and loved, and want to share with you. Because books are amazing, and the truly great ones make me want to be a better writer.

I'll be focusing on kidlit books - everything from chapter books right up through MG and YA - but it's possible that the occasional adult book might pop in. I can't be sure. It might happen. I'm not making any promises.

OK, down to business...or the fun stuff :)

My first book-crush is on a picture book! I started reading picture books in preparation for my master's program in creative writing, and let me tell you, they are awesome. While I was looking through the PB section in Borders the other day, a particular book cover caught my eye. The book wasn't on my list of 100 picture books, but something about the book spoke to me, so I pulled it off the shelf to read anyway. And I am so, so glad I did.

The book was The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems, and from the very first page I was totally sucked in. I couldn't take the smile off my face. The book is about a pigeon who wants a puppy, has dreamt of having one his whole life. He tries to convince you that it's the best thing for him, but what happens when he gets his wish? Hilarity.

I loved the book so much that I went back to the display and saw that there was a whole series of pigeon books - including a Caldecott for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! There's The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog and Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late! and The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! I enjoyed each book as much as I enjoyed the first, and in those few minutes spent reading the picture books, I became an instant Mo Willems fan. (And I knew what I would be getting for my brother, who is expecting his first son in a few months.)

The pigeon is sassy and fun and temperamental, but in the end he always does the right thing. He dreams big and is funny and tries to get his way. I love him.

And the artwork! It's deceptively simple. Don't let the thick black lines and clean background fool you - the emotion Willems puts into the drawings is incredible. Even if you took the words out of the books, I think it would still be perfectly clear exactly what the pigeon was trying to say. Take a look at this artwork from Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and you'll see exactly what I mean:

That conspiratorial whisper in the second panel, the pouting eyes in panel 5, the pleading look in the seventh picture - it's so simple and yet so effective. It communicates clearly to children and yet fills people like me, a 25-year-old childless woman, with joy.

So if you know any children, or even if you don't, I definitely suggest looking into the pigeon books. And the best part of all? The Pigeon is on Twitter. I mean, come on. All the cool kids are on Twitter, so the pigeon must be cool.