Steve Geck’s talk this morning on “What’s Ahead for Middle Readers†left me with another list to add to my lists of books I need to read. I may never write a chapter book for this reader level, but I do like to read them and see how other writers approach their chosen subject. Steve included books published by a variety of publishing houses, not just Green Willow, in his talk. Hearing an editor’s take on which books were award winners and why, or those he thought should have been and why, or just why some books hang-in there on the sales charts for years and years made for another absorbing look at the publishing world.
Author’s Note: It became even more interesting to me when I got home and read the library’s copy of one of those titles supposed to be “going places.†I loved the book and went out to buy it, only to be told by the local bookseller they had returned almost all the copies they ordered. It wasn’t selling. In talking with the bookseller, we both came to the conclusion this was the type of gentle, down to earth story that might not appeal at first glance to young readers whose tastes have been dulled by the glitter and glamour of media and marketing tie-ins. Yet, with the right introduction (book talk) by a parent, teacher, or librarian, a book like this could be another classic like “Charlotte’ Web†or “Black Beauty.†Now I know why publishers often send new writers out there stumping their own books. If you want to improve your chances of getting that second book published, the first better have decent sales. Okay, climbing off my soapbox now.
Breakout sessions today faced me with a hard choice. I would have liked to attend a presentation by as many, if not all, the staff members as possible. Unfortunately, that wasn’t realistic if I wanted topics pertinent to what I write and to where I am in my writing. I decided on Ann Paul’s two part workshop for those of us with finished picture book manuscripts. It was a good decision. I got some very practical editing/revising techniques that can be used on any manuscript—not just picture books. Of course the big lesson in this workshop was discovering our manuscripts aren’t really “finished†at all. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
The nuts and bolts of the illustration process (a session for all attendees) given by Elsa Warnick was a real eye opener. If you didn’t know it before, after this presentation you unquestionably now knew illustrators work just as hard and put in just as much time and effort as a book’s author. But what fun to see the process from thumbnail sketches, to storyboard type layouts, to final artwork. (In her example, “Hugs on the Wind,†these were watercolor paintings.) Elsa even showed us a couple of paintings that didn’t work at first until she (or the editor) discovered just the right, often very simple, change to make so they did. No wonder they rarely let authors in on that process. Who needs one more opinion gumming up the works?!
After lunch and the second part of Ann Paul’s workshop, it was critique group time again. Did I say yesterday David made me feel good about my story? Well, now that I’ve had some time after group to digest all the comments, put them in perspective, and compare them to what David and I had already discussed, the sag in my spirits isn’t as close to the floor as it was, but, good grief, it’s amazing how many different opinions you can get from a group.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, it was all constructive criticism and our staff leader made sure everyone pointed out what they liked before moving on to what needed work just as we had with previous stories. Still, I found if several people in the group said the same thing needed work, it was easier to absorb and say: Okay, I can see that. However, you do get some comments where you just want to shake your head and go: Huh?? In fact, I truly believe one person in our group didn’t “get†my story at all. What I need to do is let all this feedback sit for a bit and then look at it with fresher eyes. I know my story needs revision, but I’ve always been the type who likes to mull these things over and take my time planning my course of attack. You know, procrastinate a bit.
More importantly, I need to remind myself of all the positive things said—and by more than one person. If I can hold fast to those strengths and work on turning my weaknesses (ability challenged techniques?) around, I CAN do this. Hone, hone, hone your craft, hone it every day. Writing is a lot of work; but, oh, the joy it pays!
Author’s Note: You’ll have to excuse the frowzy poetry. It leaks out in times of stress.
This evening’s highly anticipated “Faculty Readings†session rounded out today’s events. What fun listening to all of the writer’s on staff read aloud from their work. (Oh boy, more books I want to buy.) And best of all . . . these folks do indeed know of what they speak. Amazing, huh?!
Author’s Note: I particularly fell in love with Marla Frazee’s “Walk On! A Guide for Babies of All Ages.†It’s the perfect gift for my back to college for a second career bound daughter. I encourage you to check it out.
I should also note that while everyone’s reading was entertaining, Nancy Osa’s performance of her book, “Cuba 15,†deserves a “Best in Show†rating. The small circle of new friends of which I’d become a part didn’t miss a chance during the rest of the week to hound her into bugging Random House to let her do the book-on-tape narration of her book.
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