Today brought another glimpse into the world of illustration. Using slides of several illustrators’ work, Marla Frazee showed us what illustration can do both narratively and emotionally for a picture book. As far as I’m concerned, every writer should have to learn at least what we did this week about the illustration process. This is a collaboration after all. Just as the essence of a writer’s work deserves to be preserved when an illustrator brings it to life, so does an illustrator deserve a writer’s confidence and respect that they will do just that. Knowing what I know now, I think, will someday ease any trepidation I might feel when turning a manuscript “baby†I created and nurtured over to an illustrator to give birth to.
In “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Publishing,†Linda and Steve addressed those FAQ’s whose answers every writer needs to know. I jotted down several notes on cover letters and where to research publishers. Some of this was review for me, but I always pick up a few new tidbits to refine my understanding of this whole process. I also found it interesting observing the different styles of these two editors. Having been an editor for over 35 years, Linda seemed very much the firm, I-know-what-I-like, you’d better have read and followed my guidelines, New York editor most writers envision when sending off submissions. Steve is still early in his editing career compared to Linda, and seemed a bit more easy-going, not as “honed†by the demands of his profession as of yet. Don’t get me wrong, both came across as people very good at what they do, just with quite different styles.
After hearing her read during the “Faculty Readings†night, and having heard great things about her breakout session on writing for teens, I was eagerly anticipating Nancy’s presentation today. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come up to those expectations. Maybe it was just that she wasn’t as enthused about this “work for hire†book from which she pulled her example as she is about her bestseller “Cuba 15,†or maybe she just picked too long a sample to read and thus lost her audience’s focus on what she was trying to show us; but she did lose us. I think as she gains experience and reworks her approach to her topic, “Writing Who You Are,†it will eventually sing as her other talks did. (And with that crazy Cuban beat!) I hope so; she was a kick in the pants to get to know this week. She nicknamed me “The Dorm Police†after I always seemed to see her leave the building for her nightly walks. Can I help it if she always “reported†to me as she went out the door by the lounge where I hung out in the evenings?
The Mother Goose Rhyme/Poetry lesson with Ann Paul after lunch was both fun and frightening. Fifty minutes to write a poem? One you will have to share with the other 59 attendees? Yikes!
Ann handed out small, bright-colored, squishy, stretchy frog toys to use as a visual prompt. When she ran out of frogs, those who didn’t get one were told to use a penny or other small object they had in their possession. Oh, and by the way, she told us, even though we’ve been talking about how to do rhyme correctly, for this poem, no rhyming is allowed. She then gave us several minutes to brainstorm and jot down whatever thoughts came into our head about our prompt. Telling us to look over our lists, pick what jumped out at us, and write away; she turned us loose and told us to return in 50 minutes ready to share our poems.
Of course, after telling us no rhymes, that’s all my silly, addled brain could come up with. So I wrote most of a rhyming poem until I got stuck on a line and then made myself come up with some free verse. While I struggled with this exercise, others were pouring out pure magic. When we met back in the auditorium and started sharing our creations, it was amazing the quality and variation of poems that came from this exercise. Some were short and sassy; others were long, insightful glimpses into the souls of both the prompts and the writers. I just wish I had volunteered sooner to read mine. I was so nervous I kept getting distracted by running my own poem through my head over and over again. Not good for concentrating on what others are reading. There was talk off putting these into an anthology of sorts for attendees, but I haven’t heard anymore about it. Too bad.
Following the poetry readings, we had the rest of the afternoon off to regroup and restore. Or in my case, wrestle and rewrite. I’d spoken with my critique group leader earlier that day about my hesitation on where to begin on the revisions my beginning chapter book needed. I told her I felt she’d pointed out some specific things for others in the group to work on; did she have similar suggestions for me? She smiled and said what and how much I chose to work on was my decision, but she did expect to see some rewriting on my part by critique group tomorrow.
Author’s note: The more I think about it, the more I understand why she reminded me of the nuns one used to find in Catholic schools. Firm and exacting, but with a glimmer of humor under it all that let you know she knew exactly how much she was making you squirm. Just the kick in the pants I needed.
So, while the staff took off for a night on the town, as did a few of the dorm group, the rest of us stayed in and worked on our revisions. Weren’t we the dedicated little writers?! Fortunately, M, L, and I, who were all on the same floor, took a few breaks to talk and revive and encourage each other between our noses-to-the-grindstone sessions. Here’s hoping our dedication pays off.
Author’s Note: By this time, I’d gotten to know several of the other attendees, both commuters and dorm group. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people with common interests can bond, especially when you consider that those of us attending this conference could all be considered each other’s competition. And it made the conference that much more pleasant having friends to talk with between sessions, eat meals with, and just be there to encourage each other. I hope we keep in touch post-conference.
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