Off to the Oregon Coast Children's Writer's Workshop

(A diagonal ocean view?)

From Sunday through Friday of this coming week I'll be in Oceanside Oregon at teh Oregon Coast Children's Writer's Workshop. I'm looking forward to
comiserating with other writers and learnign from more experienced folks in the field! And the fact that the conference center is within sight of the pacific ocean -- well, it doesn't get any better than that! I grew up here -- on the Oregon Coast. And it seems like a perfect place to come back to to get in touch with my children's writing Muse!

I've come a week early to visit my old childhood haunts. Here are a few of them.

These are the very same yellow, hardback Nancy Drew mysteries that my friends and I all read as kids! We found them today on the shelf in the library of the little town where we spent our elementary school days. Though the old library building has been torn down and a new bigger one built in it's place, our old favorites are still on the shelves! It reminds me that a good book can inspire the imagination of children for generations!

And the Beautiful Pacific Ocean, along Hwy 101 on the Oregon Coast.

I'll be sans internet access during the workshop. My cell phone doesn't work where I am now either. : )But I'll post tips I've learned at the workshops once I leave the beach, next week!

A Home on the Field

Here's a post about a GREAT NEW BOOK.

The other week I was privileged to be asked to speak at a large conference about Latino issues in North Carolina. Though I speak Spanish at my `day job,' and work with many Latinos, I’m not of Latino background myself. Thus it was great to be immersed in an environment where each of the presenters was bi-lingual and had personal experience growing up Latino.

Though I went there as a presenter, I was still a writer underneath. So I sat at the Latino conference with my writers’ notebook, writing down phrases, cultural notes, and brainstorm ideas that I picked up from the other speakers’ presentations. You see – I’ve been plotting-out a YA novel about a teen girl from Latin America for the past few months, and here I was surrounded by people who are experts on what it is like to be a girl (or boy) from Latin America. So I came home with lots of notes to buoy my own experiences and to strengthen my plot (which truthfully needs a lot of strengthening).

The Keynote speaker at the event was Paul Cuadros, a journalism professor from the University of North Carolina (UNC,) who also coaches soccer at a North Carolina high school. He shared some great stories about the hardships that Latino teens face trying to balance and combine the culture of their home countries with the culture of the U.S. These teens walk the line between their parents’ strong feelings that family needs are the most important things in life, and the conflicting expectations of the teens’ U.S-raised peers who believe that individuality and reaching for your own dreams are the most important things, even if your parents don’t always approve.

For those of us who spend time with Latino teens, or who write for them, it's important to understand their struggles.

So, I want to recommend a book.

Paul Cuadros has written "A Home on the Field." It's the true story of the teens on his soccer team, their families, and their struggles. It’s a great example of nonfiction writing about teens and their community – a community that during the time of this book’s writing was in conflict with itself.

Here is the back cover blurb: For more than ten years, the small town of Siler City, North Carolina, has been at the front lines of immigration, drawing workers from Latin America as well as from traditional Latino enclaves across the United States. When reporter Paul Cuadros moved south to study the impact of the burgeoning Latino community, he encountered a volatile culture clash between longtime residents and the newcomers, one that eventually boiled over into an anti-immigrant rally featuring ex-Klansman David Duke. The bitter struggle imbued Cuadros with a new purpose: to show the growing numbers of Latino youth that their lives could be more than menial work at the local poultry plant. Soccer could be the key to helping these boys find a better place in this world.

`A Home on the Field’ is Paul Cuadros’ unforgettable account of his three seasons coaching `Los Jets’ of Jordan-Matthews High School, a team of underappreciated young Latino soccer players in an all-football town who overcame prejudice, poverty, and the odds to become champions.

Sometimes a book about real teens comes along that is a must read. I recommend
A Home on the Field” as just such a book.

Raleigh Schmooze a Wet Success!

At starting time it was pouring down rain and only a few children's writers were milling around the food tables at Quail Ridge Books and Music. The chairs, set in semi-circular rows amidst the bookshelves, were basically empty. The book table, ignored.

My stomach cramped with the beginning of nerves. Had the rain drenched the spirits of Raleigh's children's writers enough to keep them home today? Would the wet and muck make this annual event a complete wash? The whole downpour thing was beginning to dampen my spirits...

But then the question came. "Can I join you? Is this the children's writer event?"

I said. "Of course, please sit anywhere! Do you write for children or teens?" The answer, "No, but I would like to."

And then everyone started paddling in, shaking off umbrellas as they hurried through the door. We were wet, but we were ready. Nothing could drown our enthusiasm -- afterall!

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We ended up with approximately 30 attendees, exactly what we had hoped for. And with snacks and pens in hand we settled enthusiastically into our seats to listen as our speaker Kelly Starling Lyons shared about her books, her childhood, and how the two are intertwined.

It was another great paring of Raleigh's children's writers and the helpful staff at Quail Ridge Books.

Quite a few new people came, including one who sadly arrived after the event was over and wanted more info. about the SCBWI and how she could join. We look forward to seeing you at the Fall Conference in September, Jill!
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Today, Kelly reminded us to "tell the story only you can tell." She encouraged us to remember the emotions that we had during important experiences in our own lives, and to "give those emotions to your main characters."

She shared the following tips to help us find emotion-laden experiences in our childhoods that can provide story ideas:

Write down the following:

1.) Your best family memory

2.) Your worst school memory

3.) Your biggest struggle or fear

4.) An experience or relationship that changed you.

Then - write down the emotions you felt next to each one.

Then - "create a child character that's centered around a situation you've faced," or "invent a new story that's informed by your feelings, thoughts, beliefs, experiences -- your life."

We had an excellent discussion. Hooraah for those brave souls who shared their Junior High experiences with the group!

Thanks to Kelly and everyone who braved the weather to come and talk about their writing, their dreams, and the emotions and stories they experienced during childhood! It was great to meet several new folks and to chat with writer and illustrator friends who we don't see often enough between conferences.

Now we look forward to seeing you all again at the September 2009 Fall event! I dare each of you to submit something before then, and to tell me about it there.

Remember, as Kelly said, "write from the heart" and "trust that the story you're writing matters."

Writers/Illustrators: Come SCHMOOZE with us!

We're breaking out the wine, cheese, and chocolate. It's that time of year again!

Time for my writing critique group (the Goalies) to host Raleigh's annual SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators) networking event at Quail Ridge books!

All local childrens'/YA authors and Illustrators are encouraged to attend. So are new people interested in learning more about the writing craft.

We'd love to see YOU there!

Wake County's own Kelly Starling Lyons will be this year's guest speaker. She's written several childrens/middle grade books, including "One Million Men and Me," a wonderful picture book about a little girl attending the 1990s' "Million Men March" on Washington -- an event that Kelly covered, as a reporter.

Kelly will share how she pulls her stories from actual life, and will give guidance on how other writers can do the same.

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Come meet your fellow Triangle North Carolina authors/illustrators -- those with multiple works on bookstore shelves, and those who are just beginning to fall in love with our craft!

2pm, Sunday, May 17th, 2009. Quail Ridge Books and Music. Raleigh, NC.

See you there! Bring a friend and come early. Seats go fast.

Falling in Love with Edward Cullen... What Writers can learn from Twilight.

It’s taken me awhile to get around to reading Twilight. Jealousy? Aw – probably. Plus, I’ve never been super big on vampire books. But love for Twilight seems to keep growing and growing among the females of our species (females of all ages, mind you, not just teenaged girls). So finally I decided I should read it and see what all the fuss is about.

And you guessed it. Now I am a fan too. I borrowed the first book from a 9th grader friend of mine, and sat down to read it one evening before bed. Bad decision. I should have waited until the house didn’t need cleaning, no laundry needed doing, and there was no job to go to… Because by two days later, (thanks to staying up until 4am, reading in bed on the night before a workday,) I had finished that first book and run to the bookstore after work to buy the next one, and the next one. Of course I knew that a number of my friends owned the books, and would gladly lend them to me. I just didn’t want to wait a couple of days to see what became of Bella and Edward’s prohibited and dangerous love…

Now, several weeks later, I own all 4 of the books and have read some of them twice – trying to figure out what’s so addictive about them. (And nope, ya’ll, I’m not in high school anymore!) I’ve also gotten several of my friends to read them – friends in their teens, in their 30s, in their 40s… mothers and teen daughters who are now eagerly sharing the books… And, what the hey, I bought the movie too…

Clearly, this is a book for females, as author Stephen King (who apparently is not so infatuated with Twilight,) has pointed out. But what can writers learn? What is it that draws women to this book? Is it the plot? I don’t think so. Sure, there’s some drama – a near assault, a lot of secrets that people are keeping, a mystery to be sorted through – I mean, who are these Cullens, anyway? And why are they so different?

But no… I think the thing that draws readers most to twilight is the emotionality of the story. The most important scenes in these books are not the action scenes. Nope – they are the scenes where Bella and Edward, the Cullens, Jacob, or some other character is feeling strong emotion – and quite often these characters are just sitting around talking about it.

Usually, it seems, many of us writers want to describe physical movements to show emotion (“She fiddled with her hair…” to show boredom or nervousness. “He sighed…” to show sorrow, frustration, or longing…) And of course we’ve heard writer after writer (excellent, well-published ones,) indicate that this is the best way to show emotion. (Show don’t tell… remember?) : )

But sometimes I struggle to describe the emotions I’m trying to portray clearly enough through showing. Sometimes I feel that I’m saying “he sighed, she giggled, I raised an eyebrow in shock…” over and over again. Yuck! God help me! How can I describe these people’s actions in a way that more clearly shows that that I am really describinge emotional re-actions?

And now along comes Stephanie Meyer, with books whose primary strength is emotion -- (the longing for something that the characters cannot have and cannot live without, and the passion and fear and confusion that goes along with that).

So I looked at how she describe their emotion so convincingly to my heart, and the hearts of all these women -- she did it so effectively that we cannot put the books down. We’re right there in the story too. And so, what did I see? Lots and lots of lines like these:

Telling and Adverbs?
1.) He gave a sarcastic smile that matched his tone.
2.) It was a self-congratulatory smile
3.) “It’s all right,” he answered, unimpressed
4.) He chuckled. Even his laugh sounded exhausted.
5.) “You’re early,” I said, elated
6.) “You were listening again?” I was horror-struck. All traces of my sudden good humor vanished.
7.) I kept my expression polite as I waited.
8.) “How’s your head?” he asked, innocently.

Of course there are examples of “showing” too.

Showing?
1.) “It’s a BMW,” he rolled his eyes.
2.) “You’re unbelievable,” I turned, stomping away in the general direction of the parking lot.
3.) He sighed. “Will you forgive me if I apologize?”
4.) “Bella, I think you should go inside now.” His low voice was rough, his eyes on the clouds again.

The combination of the two?
1. “Really?” He was unconvinced. His eyes shifted their focus slightly, looking over my shoulder and narrowing.
2. “That was the plan.” I grimaced, wishing he hadn’t brought it up so I wouldn’t have to compose careful half-truths…

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Hmmm...
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So, whether this is helpful to anyone else, or just to me, I am not sure. But Twilight has been a good reminder to me. “Everything in moderation” seems to be the best rule when writing descriptions of emotion. Thanks to Stephanie Meyer for creating a book full of emotions to give me that reminder.

A Street Called Hope: Writing Can Change the World.

Writing can change the world. So, I've entered a contest. It's the Lenovo Computer Group's "Dream Assignment" competition. And I need your vote. The winner of the contest will be sent by Lenovo computers on a trip outlined in their contest proposal.

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I want to use my writing to help change the world. (No pressure, I know!)

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Some of my favorite writers (Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Dr. Suess, and many more,) have used their writing to teach us important things, and their lives to change the world. I think they've got the right idea.
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So I've proposed to Lenovo that they send me to India, Russia, and several places in the U.S. to interview street children and teens (homeless kids); And to interview the people who are working with them. I'll then post their stories (about their lives, their struggles, their hopes and dreams,) with photos of where they live, on the blog arranged by Lenovo. It will be a blogumentary to raise awareness, and to get the rest of us involved.
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I hope to sit down with some of the homeless teens to help them write their own stories too --

to give them the opportunity to share their OWN writing, about their own lives, on the blog.

I happen to really like teens, you see. That's why I write for them.

But to win the contest, (so I can do this stuff,) I need hundreds of people to vote for my idea between now and April 2nd! And if you're reading this blog I'd love your vote (and the votes of your friends, as well)!

So, if you catch my vision, PLEASE VOTE! at http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/jbiti/a-street-called-hope-homeless-kids-in-3-countries-finding-a-future/

Stories really can change the world.

Mystery Books that Stand the Test of Time

Sorry All. I fell into a time-warped alternate universe at the end of December, and have only now been able to escape. Darn time-travel machine! Luckily I had my P.O.C.L novel revisions with me, so I have been working on those and making great progress. But now I’m back in real time here at Writermorphosis. Sorry for my absence during January.

While I was away I went used-bookstore shopping to feed my addiction for antique books. And in one used clothing store I came upon a treasure! For $2.00 I acquired a 1939 first edition hardback of “The Clue of the Tapping Heals” (A Nancy Drew Mystery, written by a ghost writer – most likely Mildred A. Wirt Benson, the first writer of the Nancy Drews). As a collector of old books, and a huge childhood fan of Nancy Drew, I snagged it immediately. Even though the back cover is splotched with water marks from where someone clearly left it in a puddle or a flood, I'm so thrilled to have it.

In my opinion, the Nancy Drew books have stood the test of time. And as a writer, currently slogging through my own mystery manuscript for young people, I had to wonder how they did it. What do these books have that is still relevant to readers today.

A quick peek within the thick, yellowed pages, answered my questions.

1.) A great first line, dialogue no less, that throws us right into the action: “Land sakes, Nancy, there’s so much commotion in this house a body can’t even think!”

2.) Action in every chapter that moves the plot forward. For example, in the “middle” of the book, where many stories tend to slow and sag, the chapter titles are these:
Ch 14. A mysterious disappearance
Ch 15. Hidden Money
Ch 16. A threatening message
Ch 17. Travelers
Ch 18. The Unpleasant Interview…

3.) Great last lines in every chapter with a “hook” that makes you want to keep reading.
Ch 3. “Someone was watching us from behind the foliage,” she said tensely. “As we came up the walk I distinctly saw a dark figure slip around behind the house!”
Ch 5. “Before Nancy could stop him he had pushed open the screen door and walked boldly into the living room.”

Ch 25. The girl gazed steadily at the woman. “That’s exactly what I mean to do—“ Nancy began, and then her voice trailed off.
In the doorway of the cabin stood Chief Officer Murray.

4.) Surprises and “red herrings.”
Ch 9 Hurriedly the girls moved into a nearby bedroom, but did not have time
to close the door. A man, whose face they could not see, crept noiselessly down
the hallway. Warned by some slight sound which Nancy and her chums were
unaware that they had made, he whirled toward them, whipping out a revolver.
“Hands up!” he ordered sharply.
The chums obeyed, then Nancy began to laugh. “Detective Keely!” She
exclaimed. “My, but you frightened us.”
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Big thanks to Mildred A. Wirt Benson who, being a ghost writer, got little credit for her work. Thank you! Thanks for writing mysteries that writers today can still learn from. And thanks to Russell H. Tandy for great illustrations, and to Grosset and Dunlap for publishing it.

For those who want to know more about the unofficial history of the Nancy Drew Mysteries, check out the Nancy Drew pages at wikipedia.(http://en.wikipedia.org/–NancyDrew).