A is for Agents

The past year or so, I've thought a lot about the relationship between writers and their agents. Never working with an agent for my non-fiction books, I've reconsidered for children's fiction. 

The publishing world is changing daily and I've  recognized the need for a professional in my corner. This person/agency is different from family, friends, and other writers who often refrain from tough comments on your work.

As they say in the South, they don't have a horse in that race (i.e. your publishing success). Your agent does. Your success is key to their success. 

So, it's time for me to kick start my efforts to find the right agent who will nag, help me grow, praise, edit, cut, advise, redirect, nag some more and commit for the long haul. For my part, I will work on my craft, read, get better at marketing, and follow his/her advice. Wish me luck!
-Q

Revisions Rule

When I was in high school I competed in speech and debate. I preferred expository speaking, but our coach insisted we try different events. In extemporaneous speaking you get a topic and then speak on it for about 5 minutes or so with only a minute or less to prepare. Depending on the topic, a sensible and non-rambling delivery can be tough to achieve. 

Sometimes, I feel like the first draft of a children's story is like that. An idea pops into your head, you process the various tacks the story can take, and then you deliver your ideas on a blank page. If it rambles too much, you want to throw out the whole idea. Fortunately, writing gives you plenty of "do overs" (i.e. revisions) to harness your creativity and hone a great story. The trick is remembering you have that capability. The first draft is never the last (at least for 99.999% of writers).

And let me know how the elf and dragon work out the cupcake sharing...
-Q

In the Black

For years, I thought Black Friday was named for the rudeness and misbehavior of day after Thanksgiving shoppers. I didn't realize it was for shop owners who were now solvent and "in the black" after 11 months of being in the red. 

It's a lot like writing. The majority of the time you use a red pen to hone a story to a fine edge. Then, after many revisions there is only black ink, no more rude red; the piece is polished to perfection. It becomes Black Friday or Black Tuesday or whatever.

Like finding a great sale, satisfaction reigns. Send it to an editor and hope for green.
-Q

Shards or Puzzle Pieces?

The summer's heat is receding and waves of fresh-faced school children are rolling toward the start of school. If you're like me, you have been dutifully working on your latest writing project(s) all summer only to realize that your writing, family, and social workload will explode exponentially as the school schedule kicks in. 

The question is: Will the pieces of your writing life look like fractured shards of a dropped vase or scattered puzzle pieces coming together into a satisfying whole? Both begin in disarray, but one has a greater chance of forming the intended pattern.

Now you're probably thinking I've fallen into a zen ditch and can't get up, but here's a late summer tip that thousands have followed successfully. Keep Calm and Carry On. Attend the writer's conference, keep participating in your critique group, research that agency or editor's needs and submit. Even if you have to do your editing and researching in the after school pickup line, the bank line, or waiting for the casserole to cook. Keep Calm and Carry On. Let me know how you are doing and I'll do the same. 

-Q  

Asparagus & Editing

I love asparagus! Growing up in Nevada, I roamed our property and nearby riverbanks hunting asparagus all during March and April. At the height of the growing season, I could fill a paper grocery sack in about 20 minutes. Cutting an inch above ground level, I always left a few stalks to go to seed for the next year.

Recently, when editing a picture book manuscript, I realized my asparagus hunting had trained me from an early age to accept change. I've learned to cut excess without overdoing and return to cull more when a story gets overgrown.

As with asparagus, a story and all its edited parts stay with you long past the pruning, but those are the things that make it stronger for years to come.
-Q

Mind Time

I read something a while back that mentioned the writer's life and how hard it is to get motivated. With so many fun, family, and work parts of the pie that is a writer's life pulling us away from writing, slow forward motion can be a downer.

I don't have the answer, but I have tried a variety of methods to keep my writing moving. They usually depend on how close a deadline looms. But I've started giving myself credit for the writing I do in my head (some non-writers call this daydreaming). 


I've found that if I don't allow a story enough time to percolate a bit and be mulled over, my time at the computer is not particularly productive. So give yourself a star! Count the standing in line at the bank, waiting for your engine oil to be changed, or being stuck in traffic as part of your writing process. You'll feel much more productive. It works for me!
-Q