September 24, 2007
I just returned from the PNBA show in Washington, and I am so excited about the new books I saw. I'll have some reviews soon!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Madeleine L'Engle
September 10, 2007
Madeleine L'Engle passed away last week, but fortunately leaves as with this inspiring idea:
Why does anyone tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith, faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.
Quoted in New York Times obituary, Saturday, September 8, 2007
Madeleine L'Engle passed away last week, but fortunately leaves as with this inspiring idea:
Why does anyone tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith, faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.
Quoted in New York Times obituary, Saturday, September 8, 2007
Willamette Writers Conference
August 3-5, 2007
This was my first year at the Willamette Writers Conference, and I had a blast. Thanks to Charity at The Mighty Pen, I found out about volunteering in the Manuscript ER booth, where authors attending the conference could have a free fifteen minute consultation with a professional editor.
At first I was a little nervous—this would be editing on the spot, editing without actually reading the manuscript—editing in fifteen minutes.
Yikes.
I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to come up with any useful advice in such a short amount of time. What if I just blanked out? How can I edit without my trusty Chicago Manual by my side?
I started to panic.
Amazingly enough, my fears were totally unjustified. While obviously not performing a detailed, traditional edit, I found that just listening to an author’s description of their work could actually provoke some useful advice out of me.
A lot of the authors had a specific problem they wanted help with: How do I write a query letter? Is this an exciting first page? What’s missing? Why do I keep getting rejection letters?
So I helped re-work query letters. I read some great first pages. I read some not-so-great first pages and offered suggestions. The ideas and comments poured out, seemingly from nowhere, confirming the usefulness of having spent so much of my life reading. I was having fun and feeling helpful—feeling like an editor, someone who knows what she’s talking about.
One question stuck in my mind, and it bothered me because I heard it from so many different authors. They’d ask: Is my book worth publishing? Should I even bother?
My answer was yes—yes, it is worth the time, the trouble, heck, it’s even worth the heartbreaking rejection letter. Ideas and dreams are always worth fighting for.
So while everyone has great book ideas, ideas are unfortunately subject, to, well, subjectivity. Whether or not someone else likes your idea doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the idea itself. If you are interested in your topic, chances are pretty good that there are other people out there who would love to read your book.
Writers need to remember that.
We also need to remember that grammar can be fixed by an editor, but an editor can’t create your beautiful idea. So just because your manuscript isn’t perfect (yet!) doesn’t mean your book isn’t worth publishing. We can work on the writing, so don’t give up!
I left the conference inspired by all the authors I met and the workshops I attended. The 2008 conference starts August 1st, and you can bet you’ll see me there in Manuscript ER, having a wonderful time.
Be sure to join me!
This was my first year at the Willamette Writers Conference, and I had a blast. Thanks to Charity at The Mighty Pen, I found out about volunteering in the Manuscript ER booth, where authors attending the conference could have a free fifteen minute consultation with a professional editor.
At first I was a little nervous—this would be editing on the spot, editing without actually reading the manuscript—editing in fifteen minutes.
Yikes.
I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to come up with any useful advice in such a short amount of time. What if I just blanked out? How can I edit without my trusty Chicago Manual by my side?
I started to panic.
Amazingly enough, my fears were totally unjustified. While obviously not performing a detailed, traditional edit, I found that just listening to an author’s description of their work could actually provoke some useful advice out of me.
A lot of the authors had a specific problem they wanted help with: How do I write a query letter? Is this an exciting first page? What’s missing? Why do I keep getting rejection letters?
So I helped re-work query letters. I read some great first pages. I read some not-so-great first pages and offered suggestions. The ideas and comments poured out, seemingly from nowhere, confirming the usefulness of having spent so much of my life reading. I was having fun and feeling helpful—feeling like an editor, someone who knows what she’s talking about.
One question stuck in my mind, and it bothered me because I heard it from so many different authors. They’d ask: Is my book worth publishing? Should I even bother?
My answer was yes—yes, it is worth the time, the trouble, heck, it’s even worth the heartbreaking rejection letter. Ideas and dreams are always worth fighting for.
So while everyone has great book ideas, ideas are unfortunately subject, to, well, subjectivity. Whether or not someone else likes your idea doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with the idea itself. If you are interested in your topic, chances are pretty good that there are other people out there who would love to read your book.
Writers need to remember that.
We also need to remember that grammar can be fixed by an editor, but an editor can’t create your beautiful idea. So just because your manuscript isn’t perfect (yet!) doesn’t mean your book isn’t worth publishing. We can work on the writing, so don’t give up!
I left the conference inspired by all the authors I met and the workshops I attended. The 2008 conference starts August 1st, and you can bet you’ll see me there in Manuscript ER, having a wonderful time.
Be sure to join me!
St. Helens Book Shop Celebrates Release of 7th Potter Book
July 21, 2007
Last weekend I stepped into the flames of the Floo network and found myself in the midst of Diagon Ally. The real Diagon Ally, thanks to the efforts of the St. Helens Bookshop (SHBS) and volunteers.
Diagon Ally was packed with Harrys and Hermiones; Rons and witches; Hagrids and Dumbledores; even a few muggles showed up, all waiting for the seventh and final Harry Potter book to be released. According to Luanne Kreutzer, owner of SHBS, over 200 people showed up. St. Helen-ites weren’t the only people celebrating that night; eight-point-something-or-other million people bought Deathly Hallows within the first 24 hours of its release.
Do you detect some sorcery going on here? I do—nothing but magic could sell so many books!
But before we tip off the Ministry’s Improper Use of Magic Department, remember that there were many adult witches and wizards there as well. In fact, I think some of us “adults” were more excited about the release of Deathly Hallows than the kids, which is the beauty of J.K. Rowling’s epic: it appeals to all ages, allowing underage wizards to challenge their reading skills, while letting the fully grown to dabble in their imagination.
Inside Flourish and Blotts (a.k.a. SHBS), Potter fans were treated to fantastic visions from the book: Hedwig, Harry’s delivery owl, the Weasley’s clock, and even a glimpse of Hogwarts itself. Professor Trelawny was there telling fortunes to the curious.
At TinkerTime Preschool, wizards could make their own wands with Ollivander, and first-year students visited the Sorting Hat to find their house at Hogwarts.
Quidditch fans were not to be disappointed: brooms in hand, they competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, battling bludgers, throwing quaffles, and finally, catching the golden snitch.
The Leaky Cauldron (a.k.a. Fresh Start Café), dispensed drinks all night, and at the Daily Prophet’s office next door, front-page photos were taken, courtesy of Creekside Studios.
Remember to donate socks to S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare). Bring them to the Bookshop, and Dobby will take care to distribute them to elves in need.
With so many parties to choose from that night, I’m glad to have celebrated with our very own St. Helens Bookshop. The bookstore and community members did a fantastic job, and truly made it a night to remember.
Last weekend I stepped into the flames of the Floo network and found myself in the midst of Diagon Ally. The real Diagon Ally, thanks to the efforts of the St. Helens Bookshop (SHBS) and volunteers.
Diagon Ally was packed with Harrys and Hermiones; Rons and witches; Hagrids and Dumbledores; even a few muggles showed up, all waiting for the seventh and final Harry Potter book to be released. According to Luanne Kreutzer, owner of SHBS, over 200 people showed up. St. Helen-ites weren’t the only people celebrating that night; eight-point-something-or-other million people bought Deathly Hallows within the first 24 hours of its release.
Do you detect some sorcery going on here? I do—nothing but magic could sell so many books!
But before we tip off the Ministry’s Improper Use of Magic Department, remember that there were many adult witches and wizards there as well. In fact, I think some of us “adults” were more excited about the release of Deathly Hallows than the kids, which is the beauty of J.K. Rowling’s epic: it appeals to all ages, allowing underage wizards to challenge their reading skills, while letting the fully grown to dabble in their imagination.
Inside Flourish and Blotts (a.k.a. SHBS), Potter fans were treated to fantastic visions from the book: Hedwig, Harry’s delivery owl, the Weasley’s clock, and even a glimpse of Hogwarts itself. Professor Trelawny was there telling fortunes to the curious.
At TinkerTime Preschool, wizards could make their own wands with Ollivander, and first-year students visited the Sorting Hat to find their house at Hogwarts.
Quidditch fans were not to be disappointed: brooms in hand, they competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, battling bludgers, throwing quaffles, and finally, catching the golden snitch.
The Leaky Cauldron (a.k.a. Fresh Start Café), dispensed drinks all night, and at the Daily Prophet’s office next door, front-page photos were taken, courtesy of Creekside Studios.
Remember to donate socks to S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare). Bring them to the Bookshop, and Dobby will take care to distribute them to elves in need.
With so many parties to choose from that night, I’m glad to have celebrated with our very own St. Helens Bookshop. The bookstore and community members did a fantastic job, and truly made it a night to remember.
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