Bits of Wisdom & other tiddlywinks from SCBWI NY

I was going through my notes from the recent, chilly & energizing winter conference, and here are some goodies, picked up here and there like you'd pick things up at a farmer's market. These are much juicier, though, and can sustain you much longer. I'll post a few each day. Happy munching!

Aaron Hartzler, who MC'd the Writer's Intensive, passed on a metaphor he'd heard from Alvina Ling (Little Brown) about critiques. Pointing out the flaws in a manuscript is like telling a friend with great teeth that they have a bit of spinach stuck between them. The person telling you knows how great your teeth are, and they don't want anything there that will take away from them.

Some post-critique suggestions from the panel:
Arianne Lewin (Hyperion): wait & think before revising
Wendy Loggia (Delacorte): watch American Idol: work at your craft & be true to yourself
Allyn Johnston (Beach Lane): don't take yourself too seriously & get exercize to clear your head

Digest well, and look for more your next time back!

News from SCBWI-LA

Hi, soggy Angelinos!

Just a reminder to check in with www.scbwisocal.org In March, the one, the only Greg Pincus will challenge our brains with the world of cyberocity and how we can use it well.

In April (the official month of showers - oh, no!) we have an amazing line-up at Writer's Day, including new Printz winner Libba Bray and sooo much more!

I'll be at the NY conference next week, so will bring back a few juicy nuggets for always-hungry creative minds.

Fun Congrats

Congratulations Katherine Paterson, now leading the worldwild helm of children's literature! We couldn't be sailing on a better vessel.

A belated thank you to Arthur Levine, for reminding us all at SCBWI's Working Writers Retreat that the catch phrase "as you know, Bob" is insider lingo when your character or narrator tells us much more backstory than we need to know, all in a tidy blob of dialogue - ick!

Since I finally "graduated" from physical therapy, I'm hoping to blog more - be on the lookout for juicy tidbits from writers, illustrators, agents & editors!

Happy New Year!!

unlike the baby birds...

It's been a while since I posted. And I've been reminded of the fact that, unlike my feathered friends, I cannot fly. Not that I tried (I didn't!). I merely had an up close and personal conversation with my local sidewalk, following an attempt to walk and do something else at the same time. The good news? I yanked the family Klutz Queen crown back from my daughter, AND I have a nifty (although heavy) purple fiberglass cast. How cool? Take a peek!

Inspiration

From the mouths of babes

My 7 year old was making pretzel art yesterday...chewing designs out of pretzels. Besides the typical glasses, he had things like a ballgown, a duck, etc. I asked him how he did it. He answered, "you just see what it is you want, then get rid of everything else."

I've been feeling annoyed recently, by the ridiculously early morning chirping of the birds. Sure, the early ones get the worms (who wants to eat those slimey things?!), but do they have to get up at 4:30? And when they do, can't they be quieter? I mean, if they have their beaks full of ground-up worms, you'd think that would muffle the sound.

But a few minutes ago, my kids came in saying, "Mommy! We just saw the baby birds in our garage! Their fuzzy little heads poked out, and they were so cute!" To catch you up, birds make a nest year after year in the vent near our garage roof. They can only access it from the outside, so whenever I write, I see purple finches flitter in and out.

THEY LAID EGGS AND THE EGGS HATCHED! I'M AN AUNT! Awww, let the little buggers chirp at 4:30 - they're hungry!

Sometimes all we need to do is change our perspective.