The Great Critique! #SCBWIWWA

What an awesome evening. I spent it with five other aspiring authors and the one and only Janet Lee Carey, talented published author and all-around wonderful human being.

The event is called The Great Critique, and it takes place once a year, here at the Western Washington branch of SCBWI. Each of us were given 15 minutes to have our first five pages (kindly) critiqued by all.

Here is the biggest lesson I learned about my novel:

Head-jumping = bad.

Let me explain: point of view is such a tricky thing to get right, because as authors we know everything about the plot, every character, the setting...but when writing, the point of view needs to be respected. For example: you can describe a scene from an omniscient POV, but if you start describing how one of the characters is feeling of perceiving things, then you'd better stick to that person's view of the world.

Here's an excerpt where I fell into the pitfall:

Even though Mr. Yan Olsunn was a quiet, private man, he had taken it upon himself to teach his granddaughter Nara to read, write, and chant.  Nara was going to be only five in the fall, but, come her tenth birthday, she would have to show the rest of their clan that she was a worthy custodian of their story.

[...]

Nara loved her grandpa dearly...

See it? Even though I did not specifically start by saying "I am speaking from Yan Olsunn's POV. by stating what his motivation is to teach Nara I am pretty much taking sides...only to switch mid-scene with how Nara feels about him.

This is one of those things that once you know to look for them they stick out like a sore thumb. I have my work cut-out for tomorrow!

What are your biggest pitfalls? What kinds of writerly pet-peeves get under your skin?

#LA11SCBWI

I will be spending the next few days trying to put into words the plethora of things I learned at #LA11SCBWI.

I just needed a couple of days to let it all steep a bit...

Please stay tuned.

Ready, Set, SCBWI!!!

I am pumped up! Leaving in one week for #LA11SCBWI!

There will be a ton of new people and a few known faces. Caz, Can't wait to see you again! Ai-Lynn, you too :)

And Mr. Pizzoli, I look forward to finally meeting you in person (long live Twitter!)

Now back to printing those cards...

About the SCBWI Conference in L.A.

I was very lucky to be able to attend the SCBWI Summer Conference in L.A. this past weekend.

At the end of the four-day weekend I felt elated and exhausted at the same time. There is something to be said for people who create content for children. We do not regard each other as competitors, but rather, as one big, happy family. Illustrators, writers, even agents and editors from the big publishing houses were all there, shaking hands, making new friends, learning from each other.

By far the highlights were:

a) Ashley Bryan leading us all in reciting the poem "Things" by Eloise Greenfield. I still find myself reciting it while doing the dishes. My kids thought it was hysterical. I will never recite a poem the way I have been ever again.

b) Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett talking about their new project "Spaceheadz" and their fresh, smart, way-out-there view of the new shape the publishing industry is taking and our place in it as content providers. Also, their awesome website: http://guysread.com/ aimed at getting BOYS immersed in the world of books.

c) Lin Oliver and Sean Mooser. No matter what they say, it's always funny and sweet. I feel fortunate to have met them. (Lin is coming to Seattle soon! YEAH!)

d) Everyone there: attendees, published authors, wide-eyed wannabes...what an amazing group of people ( there were 1139 of us, from all over the world!)

By the way, next time your DJ asks you to punch the sky with him to the tune of Black-eyed Peas' "Tonight" just make sure there's nobody standing behind you. Especially if they happen to be the famous YA author M.T. Anderson and happen to tower a whole head above you. Their nose might get in the way of your fist. Just sayin'.