Saturday, October 30, 2010

Writing Multi-Cultural Characters

So... while I was at the writers conference, I went to a class titled: "The Beauty of Voice: Discovering Multi-cultrual voices in all writing."

I thought it sounded interesting. I figured as a writer, it would be a good thing to know how to include "multi-cultural voices" into my writing. Well, the class ended up being more about "what is voice" rather than multi-cultural. Oh well.

But, then... haha... I had a lay-over in the Minneapolis airport coming home, and I was hungry. So, I headed to one of the food courts, grabbed some food, and sat down. The music playing through the sound system was Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream."

From behind me, the girls working one of the food court counters start belting out the lyrics "...get your heart racing in my skin tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight, let you put your hands on me in my skin tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight..."

So, of course I had to turn around and sneek a peek at these girls having a blast singing at the top of their lungs.

Multi-cultural voices.

I only caught a glimpse of one of the girls (the others had moved out of sight) laughing at themselves, and she was wearing a burqa. Mighta been a hijab. I'm not well versed in the correct terms. But, she appeared to be from India, and she was laughing very hard.

So, anyway... I found it quite interesting (and had to laugh at myself) how that multi-cultural voice sounded a lot like the white teenage girls from Idaho.

Just sayin' ...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

LOVED IT!

If you enjoy historical novels - this one is for you! It was formatted like "Water for Elephants" in the fact that there are chapters from the OLDER main character's perspective and chapters from the YOUNGER main character's perspective.

The book takes a look into the way Asian-Americans were treated during World War II in the U.S. Set in the Seattle area, the story gave me new insight into the local landscape. I had no idea the Puyallup fairgrounds were used to house Japanese-Americans.

The story also gives great insight into the relationship between parents and children. Parents want the best for their children, but often times, children don't see this until many years later, and also, often times the way parents go about trying to do the best for their children... they screw it up.

A great book for everyone of all ages.
 
Read more about it on GOODREADS.  And, while you're there, send me a friend request! It's a fun website if you love books.
 
What's the best book you've read lately?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

What I brought home from the Writers Conference...

Well, I brought home a terrible chest cold! Blech. So, I spent most of the day Monday in an airplane, and I've spent the last two days coughing. I'm trying to shake it off, but it is hanging on tight.

However, there were more benefitial things I brought home from the conference as well. :) I will have a few more posts in days to come, but today, I thought I'd list some of the most valuable things I brought home from the conference.

1. A better understanding of the relationship between agent and author. I know it's been said a million times that an author shouldn't be so anxious to get published that they just jump at the first agent offer that comes their way. Now granted, some of those relationships go on to work out beautifully. However, after attending this conference, I wonder how I could have ever imagined an agent/author relationship WITHOUT meeting the agent first. This was probably the hugest thing I brought back from the conference with me, an understanding that I need to "click" with the agent.

2. Writer relationships. I am so excited to followup with some of the new friendships I made with other writers at this conference. It's interesting how we are naturally drawn to like-minded people. But frankly, I was really impressed with the out-going friendly nature of the writers at the conference.

3. Vision. I've said before that sometimes this journey feels like I'm putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but the pieces and the picture keep changing. It can be frustrating. However, after this conference, I feel like I can *almost* grasp the vision. Getting published the traditional route takes more than great writing and more than a great concept. It takes: a great concept that fits within an identifiable genre written extremely well queried with a fantastic letter to the right agent on the right day in the right time frame for the concept to be accepted by and editor for a publisher's list that has space for that idea now.

Finally. I think I get it. (Please don't tell me I'm wrong. Just let me live in my cold-medicine-cloud-induced-fantasy-world for a day or two.)

Check back tomorrow for notes from more conference classes.

What the best thing you've brought back from a writers conference?

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Writers Conference: Pitching, Real-Time Queries, and Critique Appointments

Deep Breath. Ha.

Since this was my first experience at a writers conference, I had no idea what to expect from these one-on-one appointments with agents; however, I had several goals in mind.

Goals:
1. Speak less and listen more
2. Don't be defensive about my writing
3. Smile and breathe

This goals served me very well during each of my appointments.

I highly recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to meet one-on-one with agents. This was a very valuable experience for me.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Day One (Pre-Conference Travel Day)

Okay, I know you've been sitting on the edge of your seat hoping to hear the details of this writers conference... so here you go:

Day One: Travel Day. Luggage Lost. Bummer.

So, if you see my luggage sitting in a baggage claim near you - please grab it and get it to me asap. I need my hair products. Seriously! And clean socks. :)

Good news? I met my critique partner Melissa Dean in person! YAY ME!! I like her even MORE now! So, we talked about the agents we're pitching to, and we talked about our projects, and we talked about our characters. SO FUN!

If you're luggage was lost what would you miss the MOST?! Seriously, it's the hair products (*my* shampoo, conditioner, mousse, paste, and hairspray) that I'm missing, but only because I actually packed an extra pair of clean undies in my carry-on. HAHA.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

And... I'm off!

YAY! Heading out tomorrow for South Carolina for my first writer's conference. PLUS, I will get to meet one of my fabulous critique partners in person, Melissa. Double YAY!

Finished a significant revision of THE EDUCATION OF THIA. It felt like a massive group effort, but I'm really pleased with the current version. Hopefully, agents will be as well.

Took my mom to the doctor for the results of her bone marrow biopsy and the doctor basically said she was miraculously (sp? - I'm too tired to get that one!) healed. Her red blood count is back to normal and there is no cancer in her bone marrow (there was the last time it was checked, fourteen years ago!). So, the doctor has ordered more tests to see if all of her cancer is gone. Weird! She's had stage four lymphoma for fourteen years, but she has eaten very organically and even eats raw garlic daily. So, I'm still doing a head-shake on that one. It certainly wasn't the news my brother and I were prepared for.

So, now I'm off to get an agent and maybe even learn how to become a better writer. :)

See you when I get back next week!

While I'm gone, feel free to discuss writing topics amongst yourselves in the comments area!! HA.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Change the Ending?

The last three (non-agent) people to read the full ms for THE EDUCATION OF THIA have all agreed that the ending needs to be changed. I liked the ending. Didn't want to change it.

But my pal Natalie asked me today, "Do you want to leave your readers frustrated?" I had to think about it. She spoke again before I answered, and said, "Just because you're frustrated doesn't mean you should leave your readers frustrated."

Okay. Fair point. But I said to her, ***spoiler alert*** "But the bad guy wasn't caught in real life. Why should he be caught in the book, just to make everyone happy?"

Natalie, my straight talking pal, replied, "Margo, the attack at the end didn't happen in real life either. Why did you write that?"

Finally, I got it. She was right. I added quite a few things to the ms to make it more dramatic (real life can be so stinking boring sometimes). So, if I could do that, I *suppose* I could change the ending to create more resolution for my readers. HOWEVER, if I do that, I am DEFINITELY adding an "Author's Note" to the end of the ms explaining the major things I altered for the novel. Maybe. Probably. Ack.

An agent rejection my query today. I sent her a query letter, fifteen pages, and a synopsis. Her personalized rejection said that THE EDUCATION OF THIA wasn't fresh enough to stand out.

Just keep writing. Just keep writing. Just keep writing.

Do you think books should always have a pretty bow at the end? Why or why not?

Friday, October 15, 2010

First Ever Writer's Conference!

A week from now, I will be attending my first writer's conference! YAY!

I have three one-on-one appointments scheduled with agents to discuss my current project: THE EDUCATION OF THIA

click here to read a description and the first chapter

Have you attended a writer's conference? What was the most helpful part of the conference? Any advice for the new girl?

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Money Making Opportunities

Another job offer just came my way. I should be excited. Right?

No.

Because the only job offer I want is from an agent and a publisher. I want to be a traditionally published author. I don't need a six-figure offer. I'd be happy with a much smaller advance enabling me to do what I really want to do: write.

But, I was just offered a job that has huge money making potential. Working full-time (maybe more). If I accepted it, I would need to quit my other fourteen-gazillion part-time jobs and it would cut into my mom-time with my teenagers.

And it would cut into my writing time.

Yesterday, I received another rejection on a full manuscript. She said she just didn't love it as much as she hoped she would.

Do you work full-time? When do you find time to write? Do you have kids, work full-time, and write? How do you balance it?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Invest your time in people...??

Hey - blog silence the last several days. I was out of town, enjoying a fantastic retreat in McCall, Idaho.

I'm an observer of human nature (as previously mentioned). So, of course, all weekend I observed people's body language, word choice, and actions. I often wonder what makes people tick, but I also wonder what makes one person generous and another selfish.

Between these thoughts and thoughts about taking my mother in tomorrow for her bone marrow biopsy, are more thoughts (ha). I am pondering the people in my life. Here are the questions I'm asking:

1. Who are the people in my life that I'd miss and I'd be sad if they died tomorrow?
2. Who are the people that I give the most time/energy to in my life?
3. Does the second list match the first list?

So, today (as soon as I'm done with this post) I'm going to:
1. Make a list of the most important people in my life. (for example: Rachel Thompson)
2. Think of something kind I can do for each person. (for example: take Rachel a jar of salsa, maybe with a bag of tortilla chips)
3. Post this list in a visible place so that I can remember to acknowledge these people in my life.

Recently I heard a speaker comment, "Being grateful but not saying thanks is like wrapping a Christmas present but never giving it."  We need to let the important people in our lives know how we feel about them.

**stepping off soap box now**

Who is someone important in your life? What act of kindness can you do for them today?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Attitude is Everything

The way we look at life greatly influences the quality of our life. I think as a writer, I'm always looking at the life around me and analyzing it. Probably over-analyzing. I just find it all so stinkin' interesting.

So... my mom's health is not getting better. She's fought a valiant battle against stage four lymphoma for fourteen years. It's a miracle (and a lot of hard work on her part) that she's had these last fourteen years. She eats raw garlic, eats organically (is that a word?), and does yoga. But, her health is taking a turn now. The doctor has decided she needs another bone marrow biopsy.

I think her doctor told her something that she isn't telling me. Why do I think this? Because of my mom's tone of voice... and because my mom wants me to come over to her house and review the paperwork for her financials, funeral, and what-not.

What does this have to do with attitude and analyzing life?

Let me tell you:

I worked at Quilt Crossing today selling Berninas and two things struck me as ?coincidence?...

1. A sweet sweet little old lady (maybe 75-85 years old) came in to have her $8500 machine serviced. She told me how she viewed the machine as a gift from her mother who'd passed in 2004. This lady told me how she'd struggled financially her whole life and "made-do" with an inexpensive basic machine, but when her mother passed and left her quite a bit of money, she decided to treat herself to this machine. So, everytime she uses it, she feels closer to her mother. She started to cry just retelling the situation. She made me cry. We hugged. She's a lovely woman with a great attitude.

2. A bitter adult daughter (maybe 50 years old) brought in her 80 year old mother who needed a new sewing machine because she dropped hers and it busted. I asked the mother what type of sewing she liked to do, and the daughter seemed offended that I would ask her mother and not her. The daughter tried to answer for her mother. Based on the mother's answers, I showed her an entry level machine that does automatic buttonholes. The daughter had a fit when she saw the $2000 price tag and said there's no way they were spending that much money. So, I showed them the $149 machine. The daughter was short and belitting toward her mother. The mother physically shrunk. I felt so badly for her.

A lot goes into our lives. Many different variables, trials, and blessings, but how do we react? Or better yet, ACT.

My fifteen-year-old son said the other day, "I want to be a man of ACTION, not REaction."

Attitude is everything.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Reading Fiction to Improve Writing

I'm a true believer that writers should be reading... a lot! I've been so busy with life lately, I haven't been able to read as much as I'd like to, but what I have read lately has been inspiring as far as writing goes.

For example:

From Scott Westerfeld's THE LAST DAYS:
"Though her long arms were thin and wiry, her muscles were almost as defined as mine...Her movements were slow and pointy, articulated in the wrong spots. I couldn't take my eyes off her: it was like watching a stick insect walk along a branch" (page 78).

Now... while this breaks a couple of "rules" that aspiring writers are *told* to follow, notice what it does very well: describe.

While this is not my favorite book of all times, I did find several passages that I HAD to mark - because of the writing.

Here's another (a simple sentence, and it I felt compelled to mark it):
"I couldn't remember why being miserable had seemed so important" (page 91).

Another thing I learned from reading this book:
Repeated phrases can get pretty annoying. I understand Westerfeld was probably trying to create separate identities for the characters, but by the fifth time a phrase, such as: "That was kind of lateral" (page 98), came along, I found it very irritating.

Anyhow, taking a break to read a book in between revisions could be a very helpful and insightful process. Mark pages while you're reading, because if you're anything like me, you'll forget the inspiration by the time you reach the end of the book.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Revision-Fried

Story ideas come to me all the time... really.  The problem is, I don't have enough hours in the day to sit and write them out.  Plus, one of my critique partners tells me I should NOT start writing the next book. She thinks I've got a winner with THE EDUCATION OF THIA, and she wants me to keep working on revisions so I can snag an agent with this one.

So... okay. But, my brain feels revision-fried-out. And, I haven't written a word (other than this blog, emails, and ebay postings) in a couple of weeks now. Fried. Short-circuited.

I need to climb back on the revision wagon. Any advice? Any chocolate (as motivation)?

It's easy to write in my head. I do that all the time.

And, let me tell you - I'm awesome...in my head.

Revision. Polishing. I like doing it - the first three times through the ms.

I. Need. Motivation.

Got any? Share some? What do you do to motivate yourself or to find more hours in the day? Let me know!