I know, I know. Long time no post. I could have been posting daily but do you really want to hear me whine, still, about how I am not adjusting to the move? I didn’t think so. So I’ve been quiet. Happy to answer emails but don’t feel like I should shout to the world in electronic format that will long outlive me about my frustrations with everything.
Funny thing, I read other writer’s blogs about their day to day lives and I’m fascinated but I figure I’m too boring to keep people mesmorized that way. On top of that, I started this blog to talk about my writing life and while moving and getting settled informs my writing life I’m not doing much writing. Hence, the silence.
Plus I am tired. So very very tired. All the time. But I am trying to poke my head up a bit. I have a couple of speaking events coming up for the end of the school year and then I am going to feel a bit more free. The last event is 5/21 and I’m taking the whole week off from work. Maybe then I can finally get caught up on some rest, if even for the short term.
In any event, anticipating my upcoming time off I need, want to read. I am actually feeling like I could read fiction again and focus and enjoy it but I’ve been so out of it that I have no idea what is new and is out that I should be reading. Okay, the Newbery and Printz books. I have those on the list but what else, especially middle grade fiction (NOT fantasy/sci fi).
Tell me what I should be reading, please?
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill
Glad to see you again! Are you going to the LA conference? I finally get to go this year!!
Enjoy your vacation!
Me personally, I wouldn’t mind hearing you vent about the move. At least I’d know it wasn;t bottled up.
OK, reading-wise and NOT fantasy/sci-fi? [minor pout]
I’d be happy to send you my ARC of THE EYES OF VAN GOGH [July release from Candlewick/ girl title about self-esteem] when I’m done with it. Drop me an e-mail at booksellerbynight at yahoo dot com with your snail mail addy.
Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Ann Sandell
Don’t worry about the posting. When life is full… it’s full.
More lyrical prose:
Lisa Ann’s debut novel is a YA coming of age, age 16, taking place on a Kibbutz in Israel. Very touching. I read it in a glup.
Ellen’s third book, Impulse, is also is prose. In five different perspective, all kids who have tried to kill themselves and their recovery through an in-patient center. Very good. Intense.
All the best,
Bettina
The Zibby Payne books by Alison Bell
You’ve read Reaching for Sun, yes? Have we already discussed this? If not, it’s right up your alley.
Tall Tales and Call Me Hope, also.
Still in reading “infancy”
Yeah, moving is like that. I remember a few weeks after the move, Mark turned to me and said “Will we ever be able to just relax and
in our house?”. It seems never-ending, but someday you’ll probably forget about all the frustrations … which is why you should probably blog about it now.
I wish I could suggest some good MG books for you, but, as you know, it’s not really my area. Currently I’m enjoying “Goodnight Gorilla” and “But Not the Hippopotamus”. Can you believe that both books feature an armadillo? I guess the dogs and monkeys of my day are just too boring for these young whippersnappers!
This one is completely dissimilair to anything else you’re reading:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
It’s a novel in words and pictures and it is brilliant. I saw Brian Selznick do a speech and he showed it as a partial slide show, partial reading with a theme from horror movies in the background. Simply amazing.
Not middle grade, but YA and had me laughing out loud on almost every page:
I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Can’t wait for the sequel.
Reads
Susan,
Here are a few of my recent favorites:
Kenneth Oppel’s AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER
Sue Stauffacher’S DONUTHEAD and DONUTHEART
Amy Timberlake’s THAT GIRL LUCY MOON
Jill Wolfson’s WHAT I CALL LIFE and HOME, AND OTHER BIG, FAT, LIES
Enjoy your break. Sounds like you’ve earned it!
Becky
Bestselling Author’s Secrets for Writing Scenes: Tip #2
Hi,
Here’s Secret #2 of 12 tips for fiction writers from bestselling author Bonnie Hearn Hill on how to create, link and focus better scenes. Be sure you’ve added yourself as a friend to receive Bonnie’s next important step! Also, check out Bonnie’s online writing class at http://www.authorlink.com/classroom/classroom.php
SCENE CHECKLIST
The Big Twelve
Once you learn to create and link focused scenes, you will be well on your way to writing marketable fiction. Keep this list close to your computer to guide you through the process.
Tip 2. What does your protagonist want in the story?
This is what Jack Bickham calls the story question. It is your external plot, and it is as simple as: Will Jane find the killer? It is not something like: Will Jane find true happiness? That is internal conflict and may even be a subplot.
Doris Booth
Editor-in-Chief Authorlink.com
Manager, Authorlink Literary Group
dbooth@authorlink.com
(972) 650-1986
http://www.authorlink.com
http://www.authorlink.blogspot.com
Think of it as fodder or research for an upcoming story. Take notes.
Don
http://devast.blogspot.com
Bestselling Author’s Secrets for Writing Scenes: Tip #3
Hi,
Here’s Secret #3 of 12 tips for fiction writers from bestselling author Bonnie Hearn Hill on how to create, link and focus better scenes. Be sure you’ve added yourself as a friend to receive Bonnie’s next important step! Also, check out Bonnie’s online writing class at http://www.authorlink.com/classroom/classroom.php
SCENE CHECKLIST
The Big Twelve
Once you learn to create and link focused scenes, you will be well on your way to writing marketable fiction. Keep this list close to your computer to guide you through the process.
3. What does your POV character want in this scene; what is his/her scene goal?
Without a clear scene goal, you will not have a scene; you will have an event. “I want to give the reader some insight into my character,” may be the author’s scene goal, but it is certain to lead you to an event, not a scene. This is not about what you want but what your character wants.
Doris Booth
Editor-in-Chief Authorlink.com
Manager, Authorlink Literary Group
dbooth@authorlink.com
(972) 650-1986
http://www.authorlink.com
http://www.authorlink.blogspot.com
Bestselling Author’s Secrets for Writing Scenes: Tip #4
Hi,
Here’s Secret #4 of 12 tips for fiction writers from bestselling author Bonnie Hearn Hill on how to create, link and focus better scenes. Be sure you’ve added yourself as a friend to receive Bonnie’s next important step! Also, check out Bonnie’s online writing class at http://www.authorlink.com/classroom/classroom.php
SCENE CHECKLIST
The Big Twelve
Once you learn to create and link focused scenes, you will be well on your way to writing marketable fiction. Keep this list close to your computer to guide you through the process.
4. What’s at stake? What will happen if the character doesn’t reach the desired scene goal?
A good way to up the tension in a scene is to up the stakes.
Doris Booth
Editor-in-Chief Authorlink.com
Manager, Authorlink Literary Group
dbooth@authorlink.com
(972) 650-1986
http://www.authorlink.com
http://www.authorlink.blogspot.com
I Miss Hearing You Write {}
Tag, you’re it.
Here are the rules:
Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
p.s. Hope all is well with the Big Move. I hate change.
pps. I’m exhausted all the time as well. And I moved almost 4 years ago. {}
ppps. I’m reading LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Pfeffer. It is frigtening me like nobody’s business. But well-written. Very. {}
Miss you– Pamela
Bestselling Author’s Secrets for Writing Scenes: Tip #5
Hi,
Here’s Secret #5 of 12 tips for fiction writers from bestselling author Bonnie Hearn Hill on how to create, link and focus better scenes. Be sure you’ve added yourself as a friend to receive Bonnie’s next important step! Also, check out Bonnie’s online writing class at http://www.authorlink.com/classroom/classroom.php
SCENE CHECKLIST
The Big Twelve
Once you learn to create and link focused scenes, you will be well on your way to writing marketable fiction. Keep this list close to your computer to guide you through the process.
5. Where is the scene taking place?
Scenes on the telephone are weak, although it’s almost impossible to omit them. Scenes in most coffee shops and bars are weak. Take that scene in the bar and put it on a ski slope, a sailboat or in a factory that manufactures frozen enchiladas.
Doris Booth
Editor-in-Chief Authorlink.com
Manager, Authorlink Literary Group
dbooth@authorlink.com
(972) 650-1986
http://www.authorlink.com
http://www.authorlink.blogspot.com