CHARACTERIZATION/Physical Description

HAIR

 The first question to ask is: does your character have any? You may laugh at this question (I did), but it’s important to know.  Old men aren’t the only people who are bald. Women go bald, as well as young men. Even children can have no hair.

If your character has no hair, why is that? Is it because of age or heredity? Disease? Radiation and/or chemo treatments?  Sports? Fad? Showing support for someone who has cancer? Was the character’s head shaved as a punishment or as a result of a dare or a lost bet? How does your character feel about not having hair?

Does your character wear a wig to cover thinning hair? A toupee to cover baldness? A wig to disguise herself? Does he do a comb-over and think that no one notices that he parts his hair just above his left ear?

And if your character does have hair, what color is it? Is it prematurely gray? Is it dyed? Is it an unusual color (for example, natural red-heads are actually rare). A friend of mine’s son is exceptionally tall and has bright red hair. She always told him that he needed to think twice before he did something wrong, because people may not remember his friends doing the same thing, but they would remember him. Does your character like her hair color, or does she not even think about it?

Is it clean or dirty? If dirty, why? Is it because your character is homeless or too poor to buy shampoo on a regular basis? Or is your character too busy, a mom with four young children or an overworked employee? Or maybe your character is absentminded and just forgets? Maybe he is physically or emotionally not able to wash it. Is your character obsessive about washing her hair, even when it doesn’t need it? Is she picky about which shampoo she uses or does she buy the store brand?

Is it thick or thin? Coarse or baby-fine? Straight or curly? Is it hard for him to find someone who can cut his hair so that it behaves and not stick out all over the place? Is it long or short? Is the length his choice or is it forced on him by his job or his school or his parents? I remember my great-grandmother had hair that almost reached her knees. She kept it twisted up in a bun, but she was very proud of her hair. It was thick and wavy, a beautiful black with very little gray, even though she was in her eighties. When she fell and broke her hip, she went to live with my grandmother. It became too hard for my grandmother to have to deal with all that hair, so she cut it off very short. I can still remember my great-grandmother crying over the loss of her hair, her identity.

What about hair elsewhere? Does your character have a beard or mustache? If so, what does it look like? Is it scraggy or trimmed regularly? Does he have a beard to hide a weak chin or to make himself look older? Does he have mustache because his father has one? What if she has a mustache? Is she embarrassed about it or does she even care? Does he have a hairy chest? A hairy back and arms? Does he have to shave twice a day? Or is his body hair very pale or not there? Does it bother him to be so hairy or so hair-less?

How does she wear her hair? Does she enjoy the freedom of a very short haircut, even if it looks mannish? Does she enjoy the variety of hairstyles that long hair gives her? Does she get her hair cut in one style every time, the same style she’s been wearing for the past twenty years? Is she daring with her hairstyles? Does she enjoy shocking people with the latest strange fad?

Hair is very much a part of our identity, how we see ourselves. It’s very important to know how your character feels about the hair on his head and elsewhere.

CHARACTERIZATION

When I start planning a book, the first thing I work on is my character sketches. And the first part of the character sketch I work on is my main character’s physical description.  I want to be able to picture him or her as I write. If it’s a short story, then I admit I don’t always write this down. Sometimes I find a picture in a magazine. Short stories don’t take long to write, so I can hold a lot of character information in my head.

However, if I’m writing a novel, then I have to write my character information down somewhere or I’ll forget. I may not remember on page 150 what color my character’s eyes are, but my reader will, so I definitely don’t want to get it wrong. I write character sketches for all my main characters in a novel, as well as some of the secondary characters, depending on the part they play in the plot.

 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

                AGE

                The age of your character is very important, and you as the writer need to know what it is, even if you never mention it in your book.

                If you’re writing for children, then the age of your main character will often be the determination of what category it’s placed in. Board books are for children from birth to around age 2 or 3. Young picture books are for children 3-5, and older picture books are for children 5-7 (or older). Middle-grade novels are usually for ages 9-12, and Young Adult novels are aimed at teens and early adult reader (early 20s).  Therefore, the age of your main character should be within those age ranges so you reader can easily identify with him or her.

                Characters in adult novels don’t always have specific ages, but it helps if you know. How a character reacts to certain situations may depend in part on how old they are. A twenty-six year old woman looking forward to having her first child probably won’t react the same way a sixty-five year old grandmother of ten would react. A twenty-two year old man might feel differently about his first job than a forty-five year old man in the same position for the past twenty years. A woman approaching her 30th birthday may feel differently about it than a woman approaching her 70^th birthday.

                And speaking of birthdays, how does your character feel about them?  Does he or she celebrate them happily each year? Does he or she try to avoid them? Does your character want to be older, younger, or is he happy with his age?

                You can see that the age of your character matters a great deal, so you need to take a little time in considering hold old to make him or her. This will figure into the plot and its obstacles either directly as part of the main problem to be solved or indirectly in choices your character makes.

More tomorrow.

National Novel Writing Month

It's that time of year again!  November 1st is the start of National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo to "those in the know").  Don't know what this is?  Well, let me tell you -- it's a month of frenzied writing.  Participants try to "win" the event by writing 50,000 words in 30 days.  Can it be done?  Yes, as many winners will tell you.

Have I ever won?  No.  But, then again, I've never tried to win.  I love NaNo, but since I write for kids, 50,000 words is like 2 middle-grade novels in one month.  Instead, I use NaNo as a kick-start for whatever I'm working on.  There's tons of encouragement from other writers, lots of excitement as you add up your word count, plenty of write-ins (both virtual and in person), and many chances to ask for help and support from other participants (whether in person or on one of the many threads and chatrooms).

Am I participating again this year?  You betcha!  One of these days I might try my hand at writing 50,000 words, because I do have some adult novels I'd like to write.  But, for this year, I'm going to work on a middle-grade novel.

I'll let you know how I do.

Want to participate too?  Go to www.nanowrimo.org and sign up!

Calling Cards for Writers

Yes, writers do need "calling cards."

Today, no one today feels obliged to call you (whether in person or on the phone), email you, or even visit your website.  So why have one?

1)  It's puts a name to your face.
2)  It tells the recipient that you're a writer (and what type of writer you are:  fiction, nonfiction, short stories, books, articles, etc.)
3)  It tells how to contact you, just in case the receiver of your cards wants to.  You never know!
4)  It shows that you're professional, that you take your work seriously.
5)  It's easier to exchange information with someone, especially a fellow writer or editor or agent.

What needs to be on your business card?

1) Your name (obviously), as well as any pen names you use.
2)  Phone number (cell or home or both -- you can also set up a Google voice mail account that has a separate phone number for free)
3)  Email address (You can set up one just for your writing business so that your personal email isn't overwhelmed or your writing business emails get lost amid your personal ones.)
4) Website and/or blog

You can also include:

1)  Your photo (This makes it even easier for the receiver of  your business card to put your name and face together and remember you.)
2)  Your address (However, I recommend getting a post office box instead of listing your home address. P.O. boxes don't cost that much.  I've used one for years.)
3)  Your books or articles (If you have many, perhaps just list the most recent ones.)
4)  Your services (Do you ghost write?  Edit or proofread? Research?)

What to do when you get a business card from an editor or agent or fellow writer:

1)  Write on the back of the card when and where you met them.  It helps to remember who they are. You'll also need that information if or when you decide to contact them so they can also remember who you are.
2)  Keep it in a place where you can find it again.  Some people use business card albums (like photo albums, but with little slots that fit business cards) to organize and file the cards they receive.  You can get these at places like Office Max or Staples.  You can keep them in "recipe" boxes.  You can staple or tape them in notebooks.  The idea is to be able to find them when you need them.
3)  Write a short note or send a brief email (or visit their website and leave a comment) not long after meeting them.  It will keep you in their mind and provide a way to network.

A writer's business cards provide a way to network with others, both socially as well as professionally.

Victorian Calling Cards

Back in the 1800s, both men and women of middle and upper classes used calling cards.  These cards had their names printed on them and were the size of today's business cards.

You would present the card to the servant who answered the door as a way of introducing yourself.  When you called on someone, you visited them in their homes, spending a large part of the day with them.  If you called and that person wasn't home, then you'd leave your calling card to show that you'd come by to see them.  Sometimes a very short note was jotted on the card in the corner or on the back.  Sometimes the calling card would list the days and times when you were available for a social visit.

A calling card tray was in the entrance and a servant would leave your card there.  It was considered polite for the absent person to return the social call within one week.  You would have had a case to hold your cards to keep them nice-looking, and it would have been made out of sterling silver or ivory or something similar.

Change "calling card" to "business card" and it sounds somewhat like what we do today.  When a businessman visits a company or meets someone, he hands out one of his business cards.  The card will list the businessman's name and contact information, and maybe even a tiny bit about the company.  While "calling" today can mean a personal visit, it often means a phone call or email or visiting a website.

Do writers need business cards?  Find out in tomorrow's post.

Good Intentions and Passionate Subjects

I really do have good intentions when it comes to blogging.  And, yes, I do know where good intentions lead.  LOL!  Edie Melson always inspires me to get back to blogging, and she's right.  It's a great way to connect with people.

Perhaps I'm trying too hard to make blogging work.

I think I'm trying to make it like writing an essay for class, instead of making it a conversation.  So I'm trying to change that.  Some of my blogs may turn out like essays, but some may be more like this one...a conversation about what's going on in my life.

I should blog about my passions, and, of course, one of my passions is writing.  That's one reason I chose "Hurt the Bunnies" as this blog's name.  I love to write, to create stories about fun and interesting characters (that grow into people I love), as well as to research and learn new facts, and then relate them in a fun and interesting way to readers.  I love to teach others how to write, to share my knowledge and see the articles and stories that my students write.  I love to edit, to help shape an article or story into something that will sell. I love to sell books, sharing my favorites with customers.  I love to read!

Another passion of mine is animals.  I love all of God's creatures...with the exception of roaches.  I absolutely can't stand cockroaches.  They have no redeeming quality that I can see, and I think it would take an almost impossible amount of convincing to change my mind.  Nope.  Nothing will change my mind about roaches.

Kids are another passion.  I really enjoy them, whether I'm teaching them, writing for them, or just playing with them.  I thoroughly enjoyed my boys when they were growing up (okay, I still enjoy them!).  But I've discovered an incredible new love...that love I have for my grandchildren.  It's so hard to explain why I have such a tremendous amount of love for them, so I won't.  I'll just enjoy them.

I have a passion for Jesus and am so thankful that He gave His life so that I can live mine, knowing that I'll have eternal life in Heaven with Him.  It's another hard to explain passion and love.  I want to learn more and more about Jesus, about God, and I want to share what I've learned with others.

Man, I have lots of passions, don't I?

What are you passionate about?

FUNNY FRIDAYS

Black Friday and Black Saturday

I didn't venture out at the crack of dawn in search of specials yesterday.  Instead, I ventured out at the crack of dawn to work at LifeWay behind the counter.  I got up at 4 a.m., got to work at 6 a.m., and we opened the doors to a hoarde of people who swarmed in, grabbing up specially marked items.

The nice thing about working in a Christian bookstore is that everyone behaved.  No one fought over copies of Jesus Today (and that was one of the "hot" items) or $10 Study Bibles.  And we did something different this year that our store didn't figure out until well into the Early Bird Specials time of 7 a.m. until Noon (it was probably around 8:30 or 9 a.m. before we figured it out).  Some of our specials weren't ringing up correctly...and that was because they were supposed to be Early Bird Specials for Black Saturday...not Black Friday.  We'd never had that before and I've been working for LifeWay for six years in Greenville and four years before that in Houston.  The ad was very confusing.  So we had to pull the signage and go around and tell all our customers in the hour-long line that what they thought were specials didn't happen until the next day.  They actually were all forgiving!

Out of the hundreds of customers I waited on, I had only one grumpy customers.  Mr. GrumpyPants didn't say anything rude, but his body language screamed "I don't want to be here!"  He drummed his fingers, stamped his feet, frowned, snorted, rolled his eyes while I checked him out at the register.  For a moment, I thought I was dealing with my sons when they were teenagers.  But Mr. GrumpyPants was probably in his late 40s or early 50s...and probably in need of a nap.  Not bad, not bad at all for Black Friday.  I have gotten much ruder customers on a regular workday.

While I don't love Black Friday because of all the craziness, I do love working in a bookstore.  I love seeing what sells and what doesn't.  I often can predict correctly.  We had a bunch of books on sale for crazy prices...$1.99 for a Karen Kingsbury double book, for example.  I usually wait all year to buy some books and movies, because I'm pretty sure they'll be offered super cheap on Black Friday.  So, after my shift was over at 3 p.m., I picked up some excellent deals on books that I've been wanting to read for a very long time.

With the busy Christmas season on us, I may have to wait until January to read them.  Now *that* is really hurting my personal bunny.

Make a wish!

All that's left.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY

I spent today getting LifeWay ready for Black Friday and Black Saturday.  It, of course, took way longer than we expected.  After work -- even though it was late -- I went over to my son's home and we sampled the smoked ham and fried turkey that we're having for tomorrow.  It was awesome!!!

This year we decided to have both ham and turkey.  My son had voted on the smoked ham, and it definitely is incredible.  But, I just couldn't stand the thought of not having turkey.  My whole family loves turkey and everything about Thanksgiving dinner.  So we decided on having both.  Did I mention that we also love Thanksgiving dinner leftovers?  They're even better the next day.

I can't wait to have the official Thanksgiving dinner!

What are you having for Thanksgiving?

Writing Patterns

When I look back on my writing career, I noticed a pattern.  I don't know if this pattern is true with others, but it made me smile how my writing follows my life.

Before I had children, I wrote mainly nonfiction for newspapers and magazines.  I enjoyed interviewing people and doing research.  I had a Canon camera and turned my nose up at automatic settings.  Even though I was also working full-time as a technical editor for Boeing, I still found time to write.

Then I tried my hand at romance when my children were very young.  Perhaps I wanted more romance in my life because I was a stay-at-home mom with two toddlers.  It seemed to me that there was an awful lot of messes to clean up...from poop to vomit, from blood to shampoo poured out onto the carpet, from spilled milk to toys everywhere.  My husband and I were worn out from hard work and little sleep.  Romance?  Ha!  I tried writing, but I have to admit that it was very frustrating.  I'd been used to having lots of time to write, but now I wrote as soon as my two boys fell asleep for their naps.  I'd have about an hour or two at my typewriter.  I'd given up on trying to write nonfiction, because I didn't have a way to go out and interview people or spend much time at the library.  Remember, now, this was in the early 80s and before computers and internet.

As my boys got a little older, I started really looking at the books I was reading to them.  Picture books?  Yeah, those seemed pretty easy to write.  So I tried my hand at them.  By this time (late 80s), I had a computer and more time.  The internet was just starting and I joined some writing groups online.  I wrote a lot of "picture books" that didn't sell.  Then I got a wild idea and submitted some of my "picture books" to kids magazines.  And, wow!  They sold!  It turned out that my picture books were really short stories.  I sold so many that I got a nickname:  the magazine queen.

Then an editor told me that I had a good middle-grade voice and I should try writing a novel.  So I did.  My boys were in upper elementary and middle-school when I wrote my first one...which didn't sell.  Change that.  It hasn't sold yet.  So I wrote short stories and nonficiton articles for kids magazines during most of the 90s.  I sold my first middle-grade novel when my boys were in high school.  I've sold 40 children's books since then, some fiction, some nonfiction, some picture books, some middle-grade novels, and one nonficiton YA biography.

My boys grew up, went to college, and got married.  I continued writing kids stories, but a couple of years ago, I decided to try my hand at writing for adults again.  I wrote a devotion for Gary Chapman's Love is a Verb collection and a true story for James Stewart Bell's collection.  After 30 years of marriage, I'm now divorced and maybe looking for romance again, because that's what I'm reading again, and I'm trying my hand at writing it.  My queries have led to editors asking for proposals. Oh happy day!

My boys have given me grandchildren:  3 girls.  One is 3 1/2, one is almost 6 months, and one will be born in February.  I'm reading picture books again.  I've got ideas for stories.

Hmmm.  Anyone else see a pattern here?

Kelly Bennett's Newest Picture Book: One Day I Went Rambling

Kelly is a good friend of mine and I want y'all to know more about her.

Kelly Bennett writes books for children--both fiction and non-fiction. Her work also has appeared in national magazines and newspapers.

"I write what I know about--friendship, pets, family life," says Kelly, "But I also write about things I want to know about. While I'm writing, every story is a mystery--a mystery waiting to be solved. And who doesn't love a good mystery?"

Sometimes, the real mystery is what name will Kelly use on this book? Some of the names Kelly has written under are Kelly Goldman, Kelly Goldman Bennett, Patty McAndrews, Kate Donelly, and Jill Max, the pseudonym used for work co-written with Ronnie Davidson. (For more about "Jill Max" go to www.jillmax.com)

A native of California, Kelly graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1976. Upon receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Fullerton College, she continued her education at the University of California at Fullerton and California State University at San Jose. Kelly is a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adult Program.

As a child, Kelly wrote her feelings rather than speak them aloud--a practice which led to the writing life she enjoys today. Her greatest inspiration springs from adventures with her children, Max and Alexis, and her husband, Curtis. Kelly divides her time between her home in Jakarta, Indonesia and Houston, Texas.

You can get Kelly's latest book here:  http://www.amazon.com/One-Day-I-Went-Rambling/dp/1936474069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339645916&sr=8-1

Where to Find Research Material for Your Manuscript

Your article or book should contain information that a child or adult cannot find for himself by casually consulting an encyclopedia or surfing the net or going to the library.

1)      Encyclopedia, almanac, or dictionary – Use as a starting point in your research of a topic.

2)      Internet – Be careful of your sources here.  Incorrect information is often repeated word-for-word on many websites.  Generally speaking, the information found on a college/university website (.edu) or those sponsored by a museum or historical/professional society (.org) or the government (.gov) are usually reliable.

3)      Children’s books – Use these first to better understand your subject; however, don’t use these exclusively.  Children’s books give clear, concise information about a subject, but you will need to know more detailed, complex information before you can write your article or book.

4)      Newspapers and magazines – These may give you more up-to-date information on your subject that hasn’t been published in books yet.  They will also show you different slants and approaches to your subject that you might not have thought of before.

5)      Government documents, public records, reports from organizations or companies – These may have statistics you can use.  They may also help you spot trends or attitudes of the public and private sectors.

6)      Classical books – These are books that have been used as references because of their accuracy and/or subject matter.

7)      Current books on the topic – Use the most up-to-date adult books you can find on your subject.

8)      Your local librarian – He or she can be a wealth of information.

9)      Interviews – Talk to people who work in the field of your topic.  Be sure to use interesting quotes and anecdotes from them.  These people have an in-depth knowledge about your subject.

10)  Expert reviews – The expert may be one of the people you’ve already interviewed, or else it’s someone from a college or university, from a museum, or perhaps from a professional or historical organization.  Ask this person to read your article for accuracy.  You can also ask this person for quotes and/or anecdotes to include in your article.  (Try www.profnet.com for experts who don’t charge.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

All my bunny punchers can take today off and be thankful that they are writers.  Now, if you think of a plot twist while munching on a turkey leg and feel the urge to write it down, please try to restrain yourself until after dessert.  If you just can't, then discretely jot the idea on a napkin...but only if it's paper.  And if it's Great Aunt Margaret's fine lace napkins only used once a year at Thanksgiving, then write your idea on your hand.  Be sure to transfer that idea as soon as possible to a notebook for safe keeping.  Otherwise the idea will be lost as soon as you wash your hands.  And all that turkey and dressing and pie will make you sleepy and you'll have forgotten the idea by tomorrow in your rush to beat everyone for the Black Friday sales.

Just What Do Those Stars on Amazon Really Mean?

This morning I was checking out the free (and almost free) Kindle books suggested by ireader review (booksummit@ymail.com) and I stumbled across these comments:


"Next, some kindle book deals.
BrainRush, a Thriller by Richard Bard. Price: $1. Genre: Thriller, Action & Adventure. Rated 5 stars on 85 reviews. The author has a contest or something where you can email him the receipt of this book to get his next book for free. 584 kb in size.
It’s interesting, isn’t it – an author who is selling his 5-star rated book for $1 also has to run a contest and give away his next book for free. You’re probably tired of me writing this – Soon we will have authors paying readers to read their books (except for the top 2% of authors). Authors’ desire to be read (for 98% of authors) is far greater than readers’ desire to read their books."

Someone left a comment in response to this:

“'Soon we will have authors paying readers to read their books'
Actually, they’re already doing that…  Some authors will pay you $5 (!) for reading their book and leaving a 5-star review on Amazon. That system has been around for about a year now…"


I'm surprised (and I guess, a little naive) that some people pay readers to post positive comments on Amazon.  I've asked my family and friends to add their positive comments, but all they've ever gotten from me is my undying love.  (By the way, I'm NOT suggesting that Richard Bard pays for 5 star comments.  I am impressed, though, that he got 85 positive comments!)


I've wondered before about books that will have several 5 star ratings and about as many 1 star ratings, with nothing much in between.  In the past I'd figured that the book must be controversial in some way, that it was one of those books you either love or hate.  Maybe that's still true, but after discovering that people pay for readers, it will just make me doubt those 5 star ratings in the future.


So, if I'm now doubting the 5 star ratings, does that mean that the ratings mean anything any more?  If the system has been compromised, is it of any value any more?  What do you think?  Do you trust the 5 start ratings on Amazon?  How do you choose a book?

Interview with Edie Melson, speaker at AnAuthor World's Writing Conference

Edie Melson will be a speaker at AnAuthor World's 3rd annual writing conference, The Story Continues. She's a freelance writer and editor with over 16 years experience in the publishing industry. Edie’s a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles in 2010. She also has a popular writing blog (www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com) and is a frequent contributor to many others. In keeping up with the leading edge of all things digital Edie has become known as one of the go-to experts on Twitter, Facebook, and social media for writers wanting to learn how to plug in. Her bestselling eBook on this subject, Social Media Marketing for Writers, is available on Kindle and Nook.

AnAuthor World: Why did you decide to be a writer?

Edie: I’ve always told stories and I actually wrote my first book—long-hand—in 8th grade. It’s funny, I was looking back through some of my old year books and several kids commented about me becoming a bestselling writer.

AAW: How did you learn to write?

Edie: I’ve learned through taking classes, reading books and ACTUALLY WRITING. So many wanna-be writers avoid the last one. Also, I’m still learning, I always have at least one book on writing that I’m studying and I try to read at least one blog post about writing every day.

AAW: How did you first get published?

Edie: I guess officially my first published writing was with my technical writing. But my first freelance article was one I sold through a contact at a writers conference. I sold a short article to Focus on the Family at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (www.my-cwc.com)

AAW: How many published books do you have?

Edie: I have one bestselling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers and another book due out by the end of the year, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home when Your Soldier Leaves for War. (www.christiandevotionsbooks.com)

AAW: What else have you written?

Edie: In 2010 I published over 700 articles. In truth, if it’s not illegal or immoral, I’ll write about it. I have a life-long love affair with words.

AAW: What are you working on now?

Edie: I manage and/or write for over 27 blogs and websites. I’m also working on a Science Fiction Novel.

AAW: Do you teach writing? If so, where do you teach and what subjects?

Edie: I do teach writing. I teach freelancing, blogging, writing for the Internet, and writing devotions. I’m a frequent teacher with AnAuthor World and I teach at writing conferences around the country. I’m also the Co-Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (www.my-cwc.com) and Southwest Christian Writers Studio (www.my-cwc.com).

AAW: Have you been rejected? If so, how do you handle rejections?

Edie: Absolutely I’ve been rejected! But I learned getting published on a regular basis is a numbers game. Starting out, the ratio tends to be about 10 queries to every 2 acceptances. The numbers do improve with experience. I actually set a goal of how many rejections I want to get within a month. That insures I’ll get the acceptances as well and makes the rejections a little less painful. But trust me, they always hurt.

AAW: Who are your favorite authors?

Edie: I have so many. Alton Gansky, Ted Dekker, Susan May Warren, Lynette Eason, Pam Zollman, Carolyn G. Hart, Anne McCaffrey, Jody Lynn Nye . . . I could go on and on and on!

AAW: What advice do you have for new writers?

Edie: Write every day. Concentrate on learning your craft and publication will come.

The Story Continues Writing Conference

Date: October 15, 2011

Place: Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC

Time: 8:00-8:30 a.m. -- Walk-in Registration; pick up folders

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. -- Conference

4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Autographing

Price: $100 general; $90 AAW Community Members; $65 students

Early Bird Special (until August 15): $85 general; $75 AAWC members; $50 students

Manuscript critiques available: deadline for manuscripts is September 1, 2011

Speakers: Ann Ross, Lynette Eason, Ellis Vidler, Patricia Thomas, Edie Melson, Pam Zollman, two editors from Peachtree Books

Teen Track: Carol Baldwin, instructor

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Teachers: You will receive in-service hours for attending.

Register on-line at www.anauthorworld.com and click on the "Events" button.

The Story Continues -- AnAuthor World's 3rd Annual Writing Conference

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! AnAuthor World’s third annual writing conference will be Saturday, October 15, 2011, at Furman University.

Here are our confirmed speakers:

• Ann B. Ross, author of the popular Miss Julia series, will be our keynote speaker http://www.missjulia.com/
• Lynette Eason, author of 14 books; her most recent book is A Killer Among Us (Book 3 of her Women of Justice series) http://www.lynetteeason.com/
• Ellis Vidler, author of Haunting Refrain and co-author of The Peeper with Jim Christopher http://www.ellisvidler.com/
• Edie Melson, author of ebook Social Media Marketing for Writers; has a devotional book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home, due out this fall http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html
• Patricia Thomas, author of picture book, “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, I’m Going to Sneeze” (an Amazon Best-Seller and has been in print since 1990); recent pictures are Red Sled, Nature’s Paintbox, and Firefly Mountain http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Thomas/e/B001IGHP4O/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1310542550&sr=8-1
• Carol Baldwin, author of Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8; she will teach a Teen Writing Track http://carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com/
• Pam Zollman, author of 40 children’s books, former Highlights Magazine editor, writing instructor, founder of AnAuthor World http://www.pamzollman.com/ and http://www.anauthorworld.com/
• Katya Jenson, Editorial and Sub-rights Coordinator, Peachtree Books
• Jessica Alexander, Peachtree Books Editor, Peachtree Books

The Story Continues, AnAuthor World’s third writing conference
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Place: Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613
Time: 8:00 (registration); 8:30-4:30 (conference); 4:30-5:30 (autographing)
Cost: $90 AAWC members; $100 non-members; $65 students

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL (until August 15, 2011): $75 AAWC members; $85 general; $50 students

Register on-line at www.anauthorworld.com.

Teachers will get in-service credits.

Manuscript Critiques:
• $40 for the first 10 pages
• 15 minute one-on-one critique with author, editor or agent during the conference
• Please include your name and contact information
• Please state what genre your manuscript is (examples: picture book, short story, memoir, article, romantic suspense novel, YA, nonfiction book, etc.)
• Mail check and manuscript to: Pam Zollman, 406 Plano Drive, Greenville, SC 29617
• Deadline: September 1, 2011

BUNNIES!

What are bunnies famous for doing?

Nope, not eating carrots.

Nope, not being cute and furry.

Yep...for being good at math. Multiplying, specifically.

So, how do you make multiplying bunnies work for you? What if those multiplying bunnies were books instead of rabbits?

1) Writing lots of books.

You've got more than one book in you. In fact, you're probably brimming with ideas for stories. There's a trick to writing lots of books...and that is that you have to actually write them. You can't just talk about them. You can't just jot down notes, although this is an important part of it. You have to sit down at your computer and write.

2) Writing sequels.

When you write your books, don't aim first for writing series. Most editors don't want series from first-time authors. You'll have to prove yourself with your first book. But make sure that your main character, your bunny, is developed enough to produce another book or two or three. That way, when your readers -- and editor -- start asking for more books, you'll have a character waiting for another problem to solve in a sequel. Your first book, though, has to stand on its own merits. If it doesn't attract enough readership, then a sequel won't either.

3) Writing series.

Readers adore series! They invest time and energy in your book and come to love your main character. And they want to spend more time with him or her in more books. However, your main character will have to be developed enough to sustain long series. In stand-alone books, the character grows a lot from the beginning to the end. But in a series, your main character grows slowly...but he does grow and change, just at a different pace.

4) Writing every day.

In order to get lots of books written, whether stand-alones or sequels or series, you'll have to plan time every day to write. If you don't plan to write, then there will always be something that claims to be more important that will take that spot of time from you. Make your writing time important. Remember, you have future readers waiting for your book.

Okay, go write and make those bunnies multiply.

Five Things to Look For In a Critique Group

I think critique groups are great! But I think they are also like a pair of jeans. You have to try a few on before you find the right fit. And maybe after a few years, you might have to find a new pair because you've outgrown the ones you own. So how do you find the right fit? What do you look for in a critique group?

1) People who are actually writing.

If no one (or only one or two) is turning in pages to critique, then it becomes a social group. You may talk about writing, but that doesn't make you a writer. Actual writing makes you a writer. Your group members don't have to be published, just writing. I guarantee that if you and your critique group keep writing consistently, you all will be published. How do I know this? I've seen it happen too many times over my forty years of writing.

2) People who have goals.

If your group's goal is NOT publishing, first and foremost, then you're in the wrong group. I would also question a group who is only interested in self-publishing. Too many things that are poorly written and poorly edited have been self-published. Sometimes there's a need for self-publishing, but that shouldn't be the group's goal. You can have the goal of turning in a certain number of pages for each meeting. Your goal could be to finish your manuscript by a certain date and your critique group should help motivate you to meet that self-imposed deadline. Your goal could be to write a certain number of short stories or articles or books. Your goal could be to win writing awards. Whatever your goal is, it should be shared by your critique group.

3) People who will motivate you to write, sympathize you when you fail, and celebrate when you succeed.

If your critique group does not do these things, then it's not right for you. These people will be with you throughout the whole writing process. They should be cheering you on. They should not be envious of any successes you have, nor should they be smug when you get rejected.

4) People who will be honest with you about your work, without being harsh.

Sometimes you'll find that a critique group loves everything you write. While that feels wonderful, you'll also wonder why your work isn't selling. You need people in your group who will tell you when your manuscript stinks like a wet dog, but then also offer suggestions on how to fix that odor problem. You also need people telling you the truth when your work sparkles like polished silver and that it's time to submit it. If a critique group is too harsh on a regular basis, run away! They will not help you grow as a writer any more than the group who loves everything you do.

5) People who want to work hard at writing and who want to learn and grow as writers.

If your critique group isn't taking steps to grow as writers, then you need to rethink this group. If they do things because it's the way it's always been done, they may not be best for you. The world of publishing is changing and you have to be willing to change with it.

Advice from the Past

I found a notebook from my college days at the University of Houston. It's from a creative writing class I took in the fall of 1971 from Dr. Karchmer, my favorite professor. The notebook is filled with lots of basic -- but still good -- advice, as well as short story ideas and first drafts.

Here are some of my notes from my first class 40 years ago:

• Learn to PROOFREAD! Make it neat -- 1" margins; make it look professional.
• Write as many short stories as you can. Read as many short stories as you can. Develop your own insights. Read for your own pleasure.
• Cultivate regular writing habits. Set aside 1-2 hours every day for writing, a time when you are relatively composed. (I laughed at this one -- composed? A play on words?)
• Write whether you are inspired or not. You must force yourself to write; must discipline yourself. Work every day.
• Get the first draft down before starting over. Believe in what you're writing. Don't let the critical part of your mind over-rule the creative part.
• "Emotion remembered in tranquility"
• Keep a notebook and work in it every day. Keep a journal of your observations and impressions. Character analysis, feelings, emotions, ideas for stories. Can pour out feelings of hostility, bitterness, love, happiness, etc. in journal to clear your system. Vast depository of your thoughts. A storehouse of knowledge for future use. (I had put a big star by this one in my notebook...and this notebook proves that I took his advice. I've been doing this for the past 40 years.)
• Write letters. Use lots of description in them. (Obviously, this was before email and text messages, but I still love to write letters and send cards.)
• "Memory is the one paradise from which the writer cannot be driven."
• "Time destroys; memory preserves." (I'm not sure if what I have in quotation marks are quotes from Dr. Karchmer or from someone else.)

I'll share some more of my notes later. Right now I have to go write.