Conference Wrap-Up

Saturday's SCBWI Poughkeepsie conference was a rousing success!

Though I came down with a fever sometime Friday night/Saturday morning, I still had a wonderful time. It was lovely to see some old friends, meet some new editors, and to catch up with CB's own Linda Sue Park, who gave a wonderful keynote speech. (That said, if I said anything not-so-brilliant on the panel discussion, it was the fever talking. But if I said something brilliant, then of course, that's me all the time. ;) )

I was critiquing most of the day, so unfortunately I don't have any notes to share from the individual workshops, but if anybody out there has conference notes on their blog, please put the link in the comments and I'll share!

Manuscript Critiques (Take 2!)

Tomorrow I'll be at the SCBWI Poughkeepsie Conference, keynoted by CB's own Linda Sue Park! Huzzah!

So I thought I'd take this opportunity to talk about manuscript critiques. Those of you that have been with me for a while (hi!) might recognize this from my October 2008 post. But I thought it might be worthwhile to share again.

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Believe it or not, it's actually kind of intimidating to sit down with an author face-to-face and analyze their manuscript. You know that they've put their heart and soul into what they've just handed you. And, I know from sitting on the other end of the chair, what you want to hear as the author is "I love it! Here's your contract." As the critiquer, you want to give positive feedback and constructive criticism. You want the writer to feel like you understood what she was trying to do, and that she got some value out of sitting with you.

Here are some things to think about as a writer before you sit face to face with an editor/agent/author that's critiquing your work.

1.) Come prepared. If it's been a while since you handed in the work to be critiqued, give it another read so you can talk about it without having to flip through the pages. Think about a list of questions that are pertinent to that manuscript in particular, and your writing in general. Do you worry your characters aren't fully drawn? Do you usually have problems with setting -- is the setting clear in this piece? Do you keep hearing the same feedback in rejection letters that you don't understand?

2.) Listen. It is so hard to listen when someone is saying something that you construe as negative about your 'baby.' I remember how hard it was in a creative writing class not to try and defend your work when classmates were still giving feedback. This is the same thing. Listen first.

3.) Ask questions. Usually after feedback is given, the critiquer will ask if you have any questions for them. Here is where you can ask them to clarify their comments. If you felt like the critiquer didn't "get" your work, tell them what you were going for, and ask how you can make that more clear. Ask them the questions you prepared before. ** Do not pull out another manuscript and ask them to look at it. **

4.) Be courteous. If your time is wrapping up, and you see the next group of participants are waiting, end your session cordially. Say thank you, shake hands and give them a business card if they ask. Don't ask for "one last question" when the next participants are waiting. This is uncomfortable because the editor/agent/author has to keep their schedule, and doesn't want to shorten another persons critique because they're running long.

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Question: Any other tips from fellow critiquers, or perhaps stories from writers who have had their work critiqued?

When Should You Revise?

Yesterday, Nathan posted a revision checklist, and another colleague and I discussed (over Cosi) times when authors are over-eager to start revising. So, here are a few thoughts on when you should and shouldn't revise.

You just got your first rejection letter, it says this:

Dear Author,

I regret to inform you that your material does not meet our needs at this time. We wish you the best of luck.

Revise?

No. Alas, this is probably a form, and though it says that they're not interested, it doesn't really tell you very much about the quality of your work.

You just received your thirtieth rejection letter, and, like the twenty-nine before it, it says this:

Dear Author,

I regret to inform you that your material does not meet our needs at this time. We wish you the best of luck.

Revise?

Yes. If you have received 30 form rejections, there's a good chance that there is something about the manuscript (or your query letter) that is in serious need of revision. Ask somebody who will give you an honest opinion about your work to read it and give you some feedback.

You're agented and just received your first rejection letter. It says this:

Dear Agent,

Thank you so much for an opportunity to review TITLE by Author. Author is clearly talented, but I'm afraid I couldn't emotionally connect with the main character, so I feel it's best for me to stand aside.

Revise?

Your agent will (probably) forward this email with a note that tells you what house she's trying next and a little bit of encouragement.

Should you ask if you should revise? Probably not. This is just one editor's opinion, and since tastes vary, it seems too early to go back to the manuscript. Also, when an agent tells you they're going to try so-and-so next, it's a gentle way of telling you that they don't expect you to revise just yet.

You've received seven rejections, and five or six of them have said this:

Dear Author/Agent,

Thank you for sending me TITLE. Much as I like the writing, I didn't feel that there was enough tension to keep the reader interested. Best of luck finding a home for TITLE.

Revise?

It's probably time to revise. If five editors out of seven feel that the manuscript lacks tension or that the pacing is too slow, it's a good time to go back to the manuscript before making any further submissions.

You've received a few encouraging rejections, and you've just received this:

Dear Author,

Thank you so much for a chance to read TITLE. I love the characters (especially Brody), and was immediately sucked into the quest to find the missing amulet. I'm concerned that the dialogue can feel forced at times, and I worry that the ending is ultimately unsatisfying because we didn't have enough clues throughout the novel to warn us that the amulet was not an actual stone. That said, if you decide to revise, I'd love another look.

Revise?

Um, YES. When you do a revision based on an editor's suggestions, especially when they've written you a lengthy letter, it is expected that you'll submit the revision to them first. (It's a professional courtesy. They gave you feedback, and would like the first opportunity at the revision they helped shape.)

A note - be careful not to revise until you've killed your voice. If you decide to workshop it, remember to stay true to your story (despite the excitement of a revision request!)

Market My Words Interview is Up

I have the pleasure of being interviewed on Market My Words today.

Thanks Shelli for having me!

10 Ways Not To Get An Agent

Some of these may be obvious, but just in case...

10 Ways NOT To Get An Agent

10.) Query someone who doesn't represent the genre of your manuscript.

9.) Show up at the agency and demand to deliver your query/manuscript in person.

8.) Trash another agent in your query.

7.) Write from prison. (Sorry, but PR's job is hard enough when you're not incarcerated.)

6.) State a fact in your query that is obvious to people that work in publishing, i.e., "I've discovered that more girls read than boys." (Instead of highlighting what you know, stating facts like these actually does the opposite.)

5.) Tell the agent that "they'll be sorry they've missed out on this future best-seller with blockbuster movie potential." (It comes off as arrogant, and immediately throws up a flag that A.) This person doesn't understand how few books are bestsellers and movie blockbusters and B.) This person might be hard to work with.)

4.) Query the same book multiple times and hope that we won't notice.

3.) Send multiple revisions of partials. (This makes us feel like you aren't taking enough time to read and revise before you're sending out material.)

2.) Send something that hasn't been proofread, spell-checked, editted and shared with a beta reader (or two)...

1.) Stop at your first rejection. (Getting an agent, like getting your first book deal, takes perserverance!)

Unusual (possibly rabid) Antagonists

My friend, Antlers, is constantly harassed by wildlife. Usually it's deer, but a few weeks ago it was a potentially rabid squirrel (who, as it turned out, was actually just in heat.)

So I started thinking about unusual antagonists in literature. My favorite unusual antagonists are probably the children that need to be cured by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.
These children aren't as unusual as rabid squirrels, but what is unusual about them today is that the adult in the book is the protagonist, and it's the children that are the problem. I think if Betty MacDonald submitted this book today, she might hear from more than one editor or agent that the book focuses too much on the adult character, and that the children aren't really as developed -- can a child relate to the picky eater, who is drinking their milk from a thimble? Or the boy who refuses to bathe and is growing turnips in his own filth? That said, I'll defend the merits of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle until I'm so old that I believe I'm Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

I suppose it attests to the ever-changing tastes of today's young readers, but also to the way a true classic will continue to be loved by the successive generations.

What are your favorite unusual antagonists? Anybody know of any books where a deer or squirrel is the antagonist?

The Wedding (Part 3/3)

Effie has been stuck in the bathroom for a majority of Ophelia's reception...

*

Grandma started to cough again, while I could hear my Aunt tapping her heels. She was like one of those parachute-like blow-ups they put outside of car dealerships. She could never just sit still, she was always swaying, or frantically waving her arms, or tapping her feet. During family reunions, she was usually falling over, like one of the giant waving nylon tubes that had the fan on too low.

Aunt Rosie (who was recently single) cleared her throat.

“Yeah, beautiful. She’s the only one in the family that got good genes, huh mom? Think I’m still young enough to get me a doctor? Maybe a hot divorcé.”

Aunt Rosie was slurring so it came out as “hawwwwwt divorshay.”

“Well,” Grandma said, “you’ve got as good a chance as any of the rest of us.”

*

3 Reasons It Might Not Be Horrendous to Spend the Rest of the Night in the Bathroom

3.) I wouldn’t have to listen to my Aunt talk about “hawwwwt divorshay’s.”

2.) I could avoid my grandmother and mother.

1.) Nobody would see that the butt of my dress was now soaked from the toilet sweating.

1 a.) Sometimes I wonder – is this really my life?

1 b.) I think my business cards will one day read, “Effie Greene: Big Embarrassing Mess.”

*

“Effie?” I heard Ophelia calling from outside the door.

Grandma and Aunt Rosie had already left, a puff of smoke and a plethora of “hawwwwt’s” in their wake.

“Effie, are you in here?”

Ophelia pounded on the door, making it shake in the frame. I heard a small, mechanical click.

I reached up to unlock the door, and this time the deadbolt moved smoothly.

Figures.

Ophelia pushed open the door, and let out a gasp.

I’m sure I looked like the big mess that I felt - sugar from the coke crusted on my right arm and a giant stain set into the skirt, hair hanging limply around my face, and the big pink tulle skirt spread out around the bathroom stall like a cotton candy machine exploded.

“Effie,” she said, “what are you doing in there?”

I looked at her in her bridal gown – a beautiful white satin mermaid dress with little lace sleeves. Her auburn hair was pulled up into tight curls, and a diamond necklace, a wedding gift from George, hung from her neck.

“I’m just thinking, I guess,” I said.

Ophelia shook her head.

“Get out of the bathroom stall.”

I crossed my arms.

“Give me three reasons.”

Ophelia took a deep breath, and held up three fingers.

“Three, it’s starting to look like you live in there. Two, you’re missing the reception which I paid mucho dollars for, and one you’re my maid of honor. I need your help, otherwise I’m going to kill half of our relatives.”

I stepped up to the sink and washed the coke off my arm.

“Three reasons why I’ll be better off living in the bathroom. Three-“

Ophelia wrapped her arms around me before I could finish the first reason.

“No more lists, Effie. Not today. This is the biggest day of my life, I want you to be a part of it.”

Ophelia took a step back.

“Why is your ass wet? Did you sit in the toilet?”

“Gross!” I said.

*

Three Reasons I’m Glad I Didn’t Spend Ophelia’s Reception in the Bathroom

3.) I ate cake and there was nothing mom could say about it.

2.) I caught the bouquet, wrestling it away from Aunt Rosie. (Hey, she had her chance.)

1.) Ophelia and I made plans to resume our Friday “sister dinners” the first Friday she got back from her honeymoon. We will not be inviting George or my boy that is a friend, Robbie.