Apples and Oranges and Kiwis

Comparing ourselves, and especially our writing, to others is an exercise in futility. Why? Because it's like comparing apples and oranges and kiwis. Yes, we're all fruit...I mean writers...but that's where the comparison ends. I'm an apple, you're an orange, and you -- yes, you, over there -- you're a kiwi. Our life experiences may be similiar, but they're not identical, so we each bring something different to our writing. I can't write your story and you can't write mine.

Instead of comparing our writing to each other or trying to compete with each other, we should try to improve our own writing every day. We should compare our writing today to what we wrote last year and the year before that. Has it noticeably improved? If not, why not? We should only compete with ourselves, striving to write more than we did last year and the year before.

And since we're all fruit...I mean writers...that means we're all in this publishing world together. The normal world doesn't understand us writers, so we need to support each other, lift each other up, help each other.

One way to do this is to take part in Darcy Pattison's Random Acts of Publicity, a week (September 7-10) where we take the time to post reviews of our friends' books (actually they don't even have to be someone you know). You can join on Facebook -- Random Acts of Publicity or go to Darcy's blog (which is wonderful, by the way) at www.darcypattison.com.

Laptop or Pen and Paper?

When you go to a writers conference, do you prefer to use a laptop or old-fashioned pen and paper to take notes?

I type faster than I can write, but sometimes a laptop is harder to tote around. I may have to invest in one of those cute little netbooks. My son loves his.

So if I don't take a laptop, I use notebooks. Some people like to use loose-leaf paper and then collect their notes in a binder.

What do you do?

Thought for the Day

Are you writing? Remember, a writer writes. Make a goal of writing at least a page a day. A page is 20-22 lines and between 250-300 words. That's all. That's not much to ask of a writer.

Just think! In a year of only writing one page a day, you'll have 365 pages. It's true that this will be a first draft. But until you put it on paper, you won't have anything.

So make that your goal: At least a page a day.

CAMP MYOWNBOOK

Ages: 6-12

Dates: June 21-25 & July 26-30

Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon

Location: Michael's, 20 Haywood Road (corner of Haywood and Laurens), Greenville, SC

Cost: $60 for one week

Camp MyOwnBook will teach the process of how stories are written. Each child will illustrate his or her own storis and bind them in a book. Camp instructors will also read stories to the children, both as entertainment and as inspiration for their own stories. Other activities will include learning how to draw hidden pictures, making bookmarks, and pesonalizing book bags.

Camp Instructors:

PAM ZOLLMAN is an award-winning author of 40 children's books and former editor at Highlights for Children Magazine. For more than 15 years, she has been speaking at schools and writers conferences, sharing her tips on how to write stories. She's been teaching writing classes for both adults and children for the past ten years in Houston, Scranton, and now in Greenville. She is the co-founder of AnAuthor World with Tim Davis.

CAROLINE ESCHENBERG is a published writer and taught elementary school for 14 years at Pelham Road Elementary School. She has a MA in elementary education and tutors children when she's not working on her middle-grade fantasy.

TIM DAVIS is a published author and professional illustrator. His hidden pictures often appear in Highlights Magazine, and his art is featured on the cover of the June Highlights. He's also a regular instructor of continuing education courses in writing and illustrating at Greenville Technical College and Furman University.

To hold your place for Camp MyOwnBook, email me at pam.zollman@gmail.com or register online at http://www.anauthorworld.com/. Please tell me your children's names and ages and which week you'd like them to attend.

AnAuthor World

http://www.anauthorworld.com/

475 Haywood Road, Sutite 8

Greenville, SC 29607

Hi y'all!

I wanted to let you know that AnAuthor World's fall classes will be starting in September. You can go to http://www.anauthorworld.com/ to view them and to sign up. All classes will be held at AnAuthor World studio (475 Haywood Road, Suite 8, Greenville, SC 29607, inside Hargis Art Services, which is in the same shopping center as the Melting Pot Restaurant).

Send a Friend Discounts: If you have a friend sign up for one of our classes (doesn't have to be the same class you're taking), then you'll get 20% off of your class price. So that means that if you send 5 friends, you'd get the class for free! How cool is that?

"Basics of Writing Fiction 1" -- Pam Zollman, instructor

4 weeks -- Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.September 3-24th

Cost: $95

This course will explore the basics of character development, setting, plot, and point of view to help beginning writers get their story on paper. Students will write a first draft of their story as homework. Pam will help you understand the critiquing process and introduce you to the world of publishing.

"Basics of Writing Fiction 2" -- Pam Zollman and Tim Davis, instructors
4 weeks -- Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

October 1-22nd

Cost: $95

This course is designed for writers with a manuscript in first draft form, ready for revision. Pam will work thorugh the editorial process with chapter-book authors, while Tim will help picture-book authors work thorugh the dummying stage and discuss the relationship of illustration to the text. Specific strageies for submission will prepare students for publication.

"Principles of Illustration" -- Tim Davis, instructor

6 weeks -- Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

September 1-October 6th

Cost: $145

This course is for prospective illustrators. It will not teach students how to draw, but will rather guide talented artists to a better understanding of what makes good illustration. Tim will discuss a full range of topics, including composition, line, style, and color. He will assign correlating projects to be critiqued in class. Students should bring samles of their artwork and drawing materials to the first session.

"Overview of Creative Writing" -- Pam Zollman, instructor

3 weeks -- Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

September 14-28th
Cost: $75

This course will give an overview of writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for beginning writers. In-class assignments will help students find their writing niche.

"Characterization, Plot, and Structure" -- Pam Zollman, instructor

8 weeks -- Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

October 5-November 23rd

Cost: $195

This advanced course is designed for writers working thorugh the revision process for their manuscripts. Pam wil provide specific help for authors to help their writing reach its full potential.

"Digital Illustration" -- Tim Davis, instructor

4 weeks -- Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

January 5-February 2nd

Cost: $95

This coure is specifically designed to help students learn the basics of illustration using Adobe products, especially Illustrator and Photoshop. Tim will discuss practical strategies for the creation of digital illustrations and assign correlating projects to be critiqued in class. Students will need to have their own computers with Photoshop and/or Illustrator.

I hope that you can join one of our classes!

Don't forget the "Send a Friend Discount Program."

Check our website (http://www.anauthorworld.com/) for more information. Also check the website for upcoming events!

AnAuthor World's first conference

Well, I am exhausted, but inspired and excited, all at the same time!

Our "Write at the StART" conference was very successful -- only a few very minor glitches that no one noticed. We filled the Hargis Art Services gallery with writers and illustrators hungry for knowledge, and then we gave them what they wanted. Plus, we had fun and made new friends! What a great Saturday!

"Hurt the Bunnies" Workshop Session offered at AnAuthor World conference

I will be presenting a workshop on "Hurt the Bunnies: How Characterization and Plot Work Together" at the second break-out session during "Write at the StART" writing and illustrating conference hosted by AnAuthor World (http://www.anauthorworld.com/ ).

I coined the phrase "hurt the bunnies" after reading so many stories where there was no problem to be solved, no conflict -- nothing happened. It started when I judged a contest and every single entry was a picture book/short story about bunnies...except one that was about groundhogs (and this one actually had a problem to solve). The bunnies basically hopped around all day holding hands, picking flowers, and remarking on what a wonderful world they lived in. I have to admit that after reading dozens of stories like that, I really did have an urge to hurt those bunnies. But the phrase "hurt the bunnies" actually is for the writers, to remind them that stories aren't interesting unless we can in some way identify with the main character -- or main bunny -- and feel sympathy for him. We have to care what happens to him. If nothing happens, then we feel as if we've wasted the time we invested in that character/bunny. So the writer needs to "hurt" that character/bunny in some way. The "hurt" doesn't have to be physical. It can be a need, a desire, a wish, a goal...but it can also be a physical or emotional "hurt." A "bunny" without a problem is a boring bunny, and no one wants to read about boring bunnies.

Sign up for the conference (http://www.anauthorworld.com/ ) and for my workshop to learn ways to "hurt your bunnies."