Talking about writing and illustrating with Quinlan Lee of Adams Literary on my right and Katie Wools, Illustrator Coordinator for MoSCBWI.

The current dilemma is whether to continue a nonfiction manuscript, which gave me fits for months because I kept writing like a  professor.  Translation:  BORING.   My critique group spoke more kindly than that, but that's the gist of the thing.  Or, I can fictionalize the story as suggested by Heather Alexander of Dial Books for Young Readers.

When I experiment with fictionalizing the story, the dialog flows.  It is fun to write.  The story arc remains the same but with much more action and more about the characters.  All I need is to keep the language appropriate for today's YA audience.  That's all.

Easy, right? 

SCBWI-Missouri conference for writers and illustrators

Our Keynote Speakers Saturday November 5, 2011 were author Suzanne Morgan Williams, agent Quinlan Lee, editor Heather Alexander, and illustrator Rich Davis.  Super faculty.  I can not find enough positive adjectives and adverbs for these amazing, talented, brilliant professionals.   
November 5^th was my first conference as Missouri RA (Regional Advisor), the first for Assistant RA Janet Lloyd Weber, and the first for IC (Illustrator Coordinator) Katie Wools.  Thankfully, we had RAEmeritus Sue Bradford Edwards for consultation throughout the conference.  Janet and I live in Springfield and we had conference helpers from around the state, with the metro St. Louis area contributing the most (locals).  All of us involved in SCBWI-Missouri leadership roles are volunteers.  The collegiality is priceless!
My critique from Heather Alexander of Dial Books for Young Readers provides new levels of thought, new challenges, but perhaps more opportunities.  She suggested that I think about fictionalizing my book about the Conway High Robotics Club and their national championship with Fred, the robot.  Hmmmm

 

a writing dilemma

I thought it would be easy to write a narrative nonfiction book about my small, rural high school's national robotics championship.  "This story will tell itself," I told my critique group.  I wrote and proudly shared chapters with my  crit pals.  They, however, told me that my writing too often sounded like a professor's lecture.  Ouch.  But-but-but. . . They were right.  I fussed and re-wrote.  The writing got better, but still "lacked a clear narrative voice" said Paula Morrow at last summer's OWAIC conference.  *BIG SIGH*  I fussed and re-wrote but although the writing got better, it still did not flow well.  Still, I pressed on.  Must write each day, even when it is work and not fun, I told myself.
     After an amazing week at last summer's SCBWI conference, I returned home energized, needing to write, excited to tell the against-all-odds story.  These kids deserve to have their story told, and told well.  The writing still, too often, was stilted.  After more than one 3 am think session, I got up early one morning - about 5:30 - and started re-writing first person, speaking as the voice of the robot.  It is a technique that Ann Angel advised against, and I likely will have to re-write as the semi-omniscient observer but for now. the writing flows.  It is finally, fun to write this story.  Fred, the robot, can be the feisty, smart mouthed, told-you-so, you-did-not voice of the teens who collectively created the amazing story.   *BIG SIGH*

SCBWI 2011 Reflections

The 40th International Conference remains a highlight for this writer and new Regional Advisor.  The amount of high quality writers and illustrators inspires and intimidates.  The bar is very high for new writers, my potential colleagues.  Your potential colleagues.  I say potential because the keynote and breakout session faculty for writers include the brilliant Laurie Halse Anderson, Lisa Yee, Bruce Coville, Gary Paulsen, Judy Blume, Ellen Hopkins, Richard Peck - whose presence leaves me tongue tied and babbling.  There are more amazing faculty writers.  Go to the SCBWI.org main web site for a full listing, and if you are serious about your own writing, budget for attendance and immersion at the next conference.  Seriously!  You must believe in yourself, invest in yourself and talk with this calibre of published author - those whom you admire and seek to emulate.  Plan now for SCBWI 2012.  You deserve the experience.  

posts in my nfp site

Of late, I've been posting entries in "Joyce's Ella Journal"section of my NFP site at http://www.EllaRaglandArt.org.  You are invited to read and comment there - or here.  Thank you!

Springfield OWAIC

Many of the Springfield, MO Ozarks Writers And Illustrators for Children [OWAIC] members are also SCBWI members.  It shows.  They have a great one-day conference planned for July 30th, 2011 featuring authors Judy Young, Vickie Grove and Paula Morrow, former editor with Highlights.  For registration information, go to www.owaic.org.  

Writers Retreat MO-SCBWI March 2011

Writers at the 2011
MoSCBWIWriters Retreat

We gathered at the Trout Lodge -Y outside Ptosi, MO and revised our writings.  Talked, dined, wrote more. Intermingled, we received critques masterfully crafted and presented by Jennifer Mattson, agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.  She gave the most insightful and detailed critiques of any I've received and for that, "Thank you!"  My crit partner and I have been writing and revising each week since that excellent weekend.

Jennifer Mattson

Front row left, me - the new RA; next to me is Stephanie Bearce, immediate past RA and behind Stephanie on the very back row, is Sue Bradford-Edwards, RAE- great mentors.  Front row center is Lynn Rubright, inspirational coach who stimulated much creativity through her storytelling that weekend.  She is amazing - a great person, writer, coach.