What a Week!

The last few days have been truly amazing and full of outstanding literary inspiration. 

Last night, I went to see the movie, The Help, an incredibly moving story about injustice and perseverance, written by Kathryn Stocketts. This afternoon, I watched the J. K. Rowling story, about the famous author's life. Both movies were phenomenal, but what amazed me the most were the back stories. 

J. K. Rowling is best known for her Harry Potter series, and anything she now writes is most likely transported right to the store front window displays. But when she first started submitting her manuscript, she was faced with rejection after rejection. It took 12 rejects before her first book was accepted, and even then, her agent advised her not to quit her day job because children's books don't make money. Last I heard, she is now richer than the Queen of England. 

Kathryn Stocketts became obsessed with her manuscript, as each rejection only fueled her determination to get The Help publicized. Her book was infamously turned down 60 times before becoming a best seller. And last night I sat in a darkened theatre watching the big screen version. Incredible. (I have attached a link from a fellow blogger where an interview with the author should inspire any writers that feeling down on themselves: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com/2011/08/kathryn-stocketts-help-turned-down-60.html"

It is common to hear trends and wishlists from the literary powerhouses, but it's hard to ignore the potential for hidden gems that set themselves away from the pack. One can only hope to create that type of magical jewel. 

What's In a Title?

I recently finished writing a new picture book story.  The details of the story came to me out of the blue, and I pretty much wrote the first draft in about twenty minutes (if only it could always be this easy!)

I spent some time editing it, and even had some trusty little ones do the proofreading (thanks M & G!). But when I started thinking about the title, I couldn't quite pick the right one.

First impressions are everything, and a title is a story's first chance to impress. It has to intrigue readers to pick up your book, or in my case, entice a publisher to put my ideas to print. It also needs to be memorable, so that when you're done reading, you'll remember it long after putting it down.

The trick to creating a great title is to reveal a little of what the story is about, letting your reader both anticipate and expect an engaging story. Even though it's popular to say that you can't judge a book by its cover, many do — myself included.

I can't deny that a good book involves an incredible plot with a captivating ending. But, in my opinion, the real secret to picking a great title is to make you want to pick up that book and start reading.

It Can Happen Anywhere!

It is no secret that I have been experiencing some serious writer’s block. I knew I was thinking about it too hard because no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t think of anything to write. I tried writing exercises, word play, you name it; I was blocked.

Fast forward to yesterday: I had just given Luca a bath and couldn’t get over how long his hair had gotten...again! It seemed that I couldn’t cut it fast enough! I laughed to myself, thinking how his hair was going to be very high maintenance (much like mine was at his age –and still is!).

I don’t know how but I then started thinking of a fictional character and here’s what I came up with:

Its picture day and (character) has a problem. Her hair is uncontrollable and refuses to be tamed. With the help of her family, they attempt to contain and fasten her hair to make her camera ready. Her hair strains and whines against the elastic bows and ties, but stays put..... Or does it?  A story for anyone who has had to deal with their own unruly ‘do and eventually give up and accept their hairy situation.

Bestseller? Maybe....maybe not!

Onwards and Upwards!

I attended my first Webinar yesterday held through Writers Digest. It was an intense and interesting 90-minute session on the craft of writing picture books. 

During this webinar, I learned about technique and structure, and what the industry is currently looking for. It was a great course, and one that I would definitely recommend to any aspiring children's writer. But as the speaker kept talking, and clicked through each slide, I quickly began to realize that the stories that I have written have managed to break all or most of the industry "do's and don't's". 

Well...isn't that just great?

I can admit that I was feeling pretty down on myself throughout the day (my husband can attest to my crankiness!). All my hard work and time spent editing, and money spent on professional proofreading, it seemed like such a waste. The picture book industry's editorial calls have changed, and unfortunately, not in my favor.

But then I remembered that the type of books that have become staples in my house mainly rhyme, or have no central character, or even a conflict. They venture a little off the beaten path, and seperate themselves from the standard beginning-middle-end type of books. They are quirky classics.

My ego is not that big, and I know that if I want to be published, I will have to go back to my stories and revise, revise, revise (if not scrap and begin again). But when my son handed me my "dummy" book containing one of my stories, and asked me to read it to him (again), I felt my spirits rise.

After all, I had at least one fan.

Hello to me!

It's ironic that I begin my blog with a serious case of writer's block. As an "A-type" individual, I don't begin my writing process without proper research, planning and organization. But now that I have all that out of the way, all my ideas seemed to have flown out the window. Could it be a creative block, or just plain p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n? I think in my case, it's probably the latter. So rather than make this a long note, I think I'll just sign off and get back to my pen and paper. Ciao ciao.