Writing, writing, writing... I've been doing a lot of that lately. And that's a good thing, although I've not written one word in my WIP this weekend. That tends to happen when I have LOTs of school work hanging over my head. It's that inevitable end-of-the quarter teacher pile-up that includes report cards, back-logged grading, and getting ready for conferences. You notice I'm not working on that right now either. No, I'll save that for later tonight, because you know, it's not due until tomorrow.
Instead, I'll share a few of my favorite links that I came across this week:
Marcia Hoehne, an Institute of Children's Literature Instructor, has a fabulous October critique giveaway. You can find out the details here!
Anna Staniszewski (say that name 10 times fast!) has posted another installment of "Letter to Myself." This time guest author Alisa Libby offers advice to herself as a writing major in college.
Nathan Bransford blogged "This Week in Publishing 10/22/10" -a list of happenings in the publishing world and more than a few chuckles. My favorites are the Nerd flowchart and the video from Sesame Street with Grover as the Old Spice Guy. No... I think I like Bookmans Does Book Dominoes best...
National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, begins November 1st and ends November 30th. If you are a glutton for punishment, goal oriented, can stay awake for hours on end, and can silence your inner editor for 30 days, this is the writing challenge for you. The goal is to write 50,000 new words during the month of November. Just to clarify -that would be FIFTY THOUSAND.
Hanna Howard, a Chautauqua friend, has decided to honor NaNoWriMo by posting on her blog EVERY day during the month of November. If today's post on creativity is any indication, it should be well worth your time to visit. Also, take a moment and click on "Story Links." There you'll find three of her short stories (my favorite is "Ruby Riding Hood"). You can find Hanna at "Luna the Typewriter."
If you've ever had a brush with rejection this post by literary agent, Rachelle Gardner, will give you a chuckle. Rants & Ramblings
Keep writing!
Nora
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Because it Made Me Laugh...
Hello my blogger friends!
I know. I've been playing blogosphere hooky, but it was for a good cause. I've been writing lots, and it feels right. Productivity is a good thing, right? I'll be blogging again soon. Promise.
In the meantime, here's another "Because it Made Me Laugh..." I have no idea who these guys are, or whatever possessed them to put this together. And I'm not saying they're heading for a record deal or anything close to that, but it DID make me laugh!
Keep Writing,
Nora
I know. I've been playing blogosphere hooky, but it was for a good cause. I've been writing lots, and it feels right. Productivity is a good thing, right? I'll be blogging again soon. Promise.
In the meantime, here's another "Because it Made Me Laugh..." I have no idea who these guys are, or whatever possessed them to put this together. And I'm not saying they're heading for a record deal or anything close to that, but it DID make me laugh!
Keep Writing,
Nora
Monday, July 26, 2010
They Had Me With the Gift Bag... Chautauqua!
I'm HOME! I wasn't sure I would make it back. Somewhere along the Pennsylvania/Ohio border my van began to hiccup and the engine light came on. Since the temperature light didn't show, I kept driving. Once I reached Columbus, the engine light started blinking, so I stopped and got some advice from a mechanic. He ran a diagnostic and announced that not all pistons were firing. That's not the first time someone has said that to me, although they weren't referring to my van... He thought I could make it home to Cincinnati, but advised me to drive under the speed limit. I followed his advice -much to the annoyance of every trucker on I-71 South.
How do I explain the Chautauqua Writer's Workshop?
Generous - I was greeted at the Hall of Christ by friendly faces and a Highlight's tote bag full of FREE BOOKS. That alone was enough to make me a happy gal. Every member of the faculty was friendly and helpful. Each person willingly took the time to answer questions. Any question, whether it was about books, writing, or finding the post office. No one ever made me feel that I was keeping them from someplace else they'd rather be.
Fun - Throw roughly 120 creative thinkers together for a week, and how could you not have fun? Especially when there is good food, ice cream and chocolate involved.
HOT - Holy moly was it hot! And humid. I thought I would melt and become one, big puddle of Nora somewhere along the brick road to the Atheneum Hotel. There was no air-conditioning except in the Hall of Christ, and that was to protect the pipe organ. I think the guest rooms at the Atheneum had air, but ceiling fans were the norm everywhere else. Whew!
Thought-Provoking - Every speaker gave me something to chew on. No word was wasted. Each piece of advice was rich.
Friendly - I met some nice people this week. They came from all over the world - Hong Kong, Spain, Thailand, Africa, Canada, and of course, from every corner of the USA. There are several people I know I'll keep in contact with. You can find two of them at Slushbusters. I'm sure Michelle and Sarah will also blog about their experiences. Hanna is another fun, new friend. You can find her at Luna the Typewriter. Yup. She named her typewriter after the moon.
I'm already packing for another workshop, so it might be another week before I return to the blog. I leave on Friday for George Washington's Mt. Vernon Teachers' Institute for one week of immersion in the life and times of George Washington. It should be interesting, and it will renew my teacher's license.
Before I go, I want to leave you with a list of some of the books the Highlight's presenters used as examples in their workshops. I know my to-be-read list has expanded. Hopefully you can find something helpful here too.
Patti Gauch - Conflict & Tension - turn the page power
*SPEAK, Laurie Halse-Anderson
*THE CHOCOLATE WAR, Robert Cormier
*THE HOBBIT, J. R. R. Tolkien
Patti Gauch - Books Examples With...
Voice: SAVVY, Ingrid Law
Narrative catch: HIGHWAY CATS, Janet Taylor Lisle
Transcendent moments: MOCKINGBIRD, Kathryn Erskine
Peter Jacobi - Beginnings
THE BLACK CLOUD, Fred Hoyle
A SUMMER TO DIE, Lois Lowry
THE HIGH KING, Lloyd Alexander
WIND IN THE WILLOWS, Kenneth Grahame
THE 13 CLOCKS, James Thurber
THE BAD BEGINNING, Lemony Snickett
BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWNUPS, Anne Tyler
FINNEGANS WAKE, James Joyce
Peter Jacobi - Endings
CHILDREN OF SANCHEZ, Oscar Lewis
Kim Griswell - A Sense of Place
THE HIGHEST TIDE, Jim Lynch
Kim Griswell - Mining Your Memories
Emotional Mining: HARRY POTTER, J.K. Rowling
Anecdotes and Events: PERPETUAL CHECK, Rich Wallace
FIREFLY MOUNTAIN, Patricia Thomas
People: THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY of a PART-TIME INDIAN, Sherman Alexie
TELLING TIME: ANGELS, ANCESTORS, AND STORIES, Nancy Willard
Specificity: THINGS INVISIBLE TO SEE, Nancy Willard
Donna Jo Napoli - Tension techniques
THE LOVELY BONES, Alice Sebold
I AM THE CHEESE, Robert Cormier
ZEL, Donna Jo Napoli
Rebecca Kai Dotlich - Creativity
A CELEBRATION OF BEES: ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INSPIRING CHILDREN TO WRITE POETRY, Barbara J. Esbensen
DONAVAN'S WORD JAR, Monalisa Degross and Cheryl Hanna
POEMCRAZY: FREEING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS, Susan Wooldridge
FOOLING WITH WORDS; A CELEBRATION OF POETS AND THEIR CRAFT, Bill Moyers
THE GLASS CASTLE: A MEMOIR, Jeanette Walls
PRINCE OF TIDES, Pat Conroy
Helen Hemphill - Writing for YA
HUNGER GAMES, Suzanne Collins
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, Mary Pearson
SHARK GIRL, Kelly L. Bingham
GOING BOVINE, Libba Bray
Patti Gauch - Fantasy
THE BOOK OF THREE, Lloyd Alexander
THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, Joseph Campbell
THE HOBBIT, J.R.R. Tolkien
HARRY POTTER, J.K. Rowling
WATERSHIP DOWN, Richard Adams
THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, Ursula K. Le Guin
There you have it. That should keep you busy. Happy reading!
How do I explain the Chautauqua Writer's Workshop?
Generous - I was greeted at the Hall of Christ by friendly faces and a Highlight's tote bag full of FREE BOOKS. That alone was enough to make me a happy gal. Every member of the faculty was friendly and helpful. Each person willingly took the time to answer questions. Any question, whether it was about books, writing, or finding the post office. No one ever made me feel that I was keeping them from someplace else they'd rather be.
Fun - Throw roughly 120 creative thinkers together for a week, and how could you not have fun? Especially when there is good food, ice cream and chocolate involved.
HOT - Holy moly was it hot! And humid. I thought I would melt and become one, big puddle of Nora somewhere along the brick road to the Atheneum Hotel. There was no air-conditioning except in the Hall of Christ, and that was to protect the pipe organ. I think the guest rooms at the Atheneum had air, but ceiling fans were the norm everywhere else. Whew!
Thought-Provoking - Every speaker gave me something to chew on. No word was wasted. Each piece of advice was rich.
Friendly - I met some nice people this week. They came from all over the world - Hong Kong, Spain, Thailand, Africa, Canada, and of course, from every corner of the USA. There are several people I know I'll keep in contact with. You can find two of them at Slushbusters. I'm sure Michelle and Sarah will also blog about their experiences. Hanna is another fun, new friend. You can find her at Luna the Typewriter. Yup. She named her typewriter after the moon.
I'm already packing for another workshop, so it might be another week before I return to the blog. I leave on Friday for George Washington's Mt. Vernon Teachers' Institute for one week of immersion in the life and times of George Washington. It should be interesting, and it will renew my teacher's license.
Before I go, I want to leave you with a list of some of the books the Highlight's presenters used as examples in their workshops. I know my to-be-read list has expanded. Hopefully you can find something helpful here too.
Patti Gauch - Conflict & Tension - turn the page power
*SPEAK, Laurie Halse-Anderson
*THE CHOCOLATE WAR, Robert Cormier
*THE HOBBIT, J. R. R. Tolkien
Patti Gauch - Books Examples With...
Voice: SAVVY, Ingrid Law
Narrative catch: HIGHWAY CATS, Janet Taylor Lisle
Transcendent moments: MOCKINGBIRD, Kathryn Erskine
Peter Jacobi - Beginnings
THE BLACK CLOUD, Fred Hoyle
A SUMMER TO DIE, Lois Lowry
THE HIGH KING, Lloyd Alexander
WIND IN THE WILLOWS, Kenneth Grahame
THE 13 CLOCKS, James Thurber
THE BAD BEGINNING, Lemony Snickett
BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWNUPS, Anne Tyler
FINNEGANS WAKE, James Joyce
Peter Jacobi - Endings
CHILDREN OF SANCHEZ, Oscar Lewis
Kim Griswell - A Sense of Place
THE HIGHEST TIDE, Jim Lynch
Kim Griswell - Mining Your Memories
Emotional Mining: HARRY POTTER, J.K. Rowling
Anecdotes and Events: PERPETUAL CHECK, Rich Wallace
FIREFLY MOUNTAIN, Patricia Thomas
People: THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY of a PART-TIME INDIAN, Sherman Alexie
TELLING TIME: ANGELS, ANCESTORS, AND STORIES, Nancy Willard
Specificity: THINGS INVISIBLE TO SEE, Nancy Willard
Donna Jo Napoli - Tension techniques
THE LOVELY BONES, Alice Sebold
I AM THE CHEESE, Robert Cormier
ZEL, Donna Jo Napoli
Rebecca Kai Dotlich - Creativity
A CELEBRATION OF BEES: ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR INSPIRING CHILDREN TO WRITE POETRY, Barbara J. Esbensen
DONAVAN'S WORD JAR, Monalisa Degross and Cheryl Hanna
POEMCRAZY: FREEING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS, Susan Wooldridge
FOOLING WITH WORDS; A CELEBRATION OF POETS AND THEIR CRAFT, Bill Moyers
THE GLASS CASTLE: A MEMOIR, Jeanette Walls
PRINCE OF TIDES, Pat Conroy
Helen Hemphill - Writing for YA
HUNGER GAMES, Suzanne Collins
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, Mary Pearson
SHARK GIRL, Kelly L. Bingham
GOING BOVINE, Libba Bray
Patti Gauch - Fantasy
THE BOOK OF THREE, Lloyd Alexander
THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, Joseph Campbell
THE HOBBIT, J.R.R. Tolkien
HARRY POTTER, J.K. Rowling
WATERSHIP DOWN, Richard Adams
THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, Ursula K. Le Guin
There you have it. That should keep you busy. Happy reading!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July Critique Giveaway...
Marcia Hoehne, an Institute of Children's Literature instructor, is giving away TWO manuscript critiques this month. You can enter to win HERE.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Chautauqua, Writer Stuff, and New Blog Bling!
Chautauqua Writer's Workshop starts Saturday. Bring it on, I'm ready!
Today I received an email from my workshop mentor, award-winning author, Donna Jo Napoli. She's giving us her written comments on our manuscripts after the Saturday opening banquet so we can have a look before our individual discussions. I've sent in my current WIP, a YA fantasy that is just shy of the half-way finished mark. I'm looking forward to this. I love critique sessions. I always come away feeling like I've had a creative power charge.
I'm hoping to blog my experience while I'm there, but several past attendees have told me not to make promises. The days are full, and when they're over I'll want to crash early. That's what they tell me, but I'm a SERIOUS night owl. Which probably means that come mid-week, I'll crash and burn from the early days. Never fear. I've planned ahead. Yup. I've worked a mid-week power nap into my schedule. If it turns out you don't hear from me during the week, I DO promise to blog my experience when I return.
I've been blog surfing again, and I'd like to share some of my favorites.
Alice Pope, former editor of Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, is the new SCBWI blogger. Here are a few things you can find on her blog:
Today I received an email from my workshop mentor, award-winning author, Donna Jo Napoli. She's giving us her written comments on our manuscripts after the Saturday opening banquet so we can have a look before our individual discussions. I've sent in my current WIP, a YA fantasy that is just shy of the half-way finished mark. I'm looking forward to this. I love critique sessions. I always come away feeling like I've had a creative power charge.
I'm hoping to blog my experience while I'm there, but several past attendees have told me not to make promises. The days are full, and when they're over I'll want to crash early. That's what they tell me, but I'm a SERIOUS night owl. Which probably means that come mid-week, I'll crash and burn from the early days. Never fear. I've planned ahead. Yup. I've worked a mid-week power nap into my schedule. If it turns out you don't hear from me during the week, I DO promise to blog my experience when I return.
I've been blog surfing again, and I'd like to share some of my favorites.
Alice Pope, former editor of Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, is the new SCBWI blogger. Here are a few things you can find on her blog:
- Interviewing editors and agents
- Featuring SCBWI success stories/debut authors and illustrators
- Highlighting great industry blogs
- Featuring markets/new markets/new imprints
- Getting your questions answered by industry experts
- Reporting on SCBWI news and events
- Hosting writers stopping by on blog tours
- Sharing my favorite tweets for children's writers
- Offering general publishing news
Mike Duran wrote a must-read post about The Craft Of Routine. He discusses why productivity matters in publishing, and productivity is about mastering a routine.
Harold Underdown has compiled a supplementary resource for the Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition. It includes guides to writing children's books, writers writing about writing, guides addressing a particular genre, topic, or problem, and guides to creativity.
Save the Words made me giggle, AND it's a challenge.
And finally (drumroll).... I've got new blog bling! (That's important, and reason to celebrate)
Alex Gartner has given me The Versatile Blogger Award (Thanks Alex!). I'm supposed to thank and link back to the person who gave this to me and share 7 things about myself (which I'll do in another post since this one is getting long...).
And Medeia Sharif gave me the Trendy Blog Award (Thank you, Medeia!).
Both awards require me to pass it along, and I will. But first I need to start packing for Chautauqua!
Keep Writing,
Nora
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Because It is FUN...
I promise to write a real, writerly-like post before I leave for Chautauqua. But today, this is how I procrastinate.
Try this. It's fun! I Write Like...
So far I write like:
James Joyce
Ian Fleming
Ray Bradbury
Chuck Palahniuk
Stephen King
Be sure to share who YOU write like!
Keep writing,
Nora
Try this. It's fun! I Write Like...
So far I write like:
James Joyce
Ian Fleming
Ray Bradbury
Chuck Palahniuk
Stephen King
Be sure to share who YOU write like!
Keep writing,
Nora
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Because It Gave Me Chills!!!
I love a good surprise.
Carlos Aponte, a 24-year-old from Puerto Rico, brought down the house during the America's Got Talent 2010, Chicago audition. Who would have thought that this unassuming, petite man would sport a knock-your-socks-off voice like this!
Fabulous performance, Carlos!
Carlos Aponte, a 24-year-old from Puerto Rico, brought down the house during the America's Got Talent 2010, Chicago audition. Who would have thought that this unassuming, petite man would sport a knock-your-socks-off voice like this!
Fabulous performance, Carlos!
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