Susan Uhlig

If you would not be forgotten

2010-03-08T06:01:00Z

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are gone, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.
Benjamin Franklin

Book 1 - glad more is coming

2010-03-05T15:53:21Z

Shiver (Scholastic, 2009) by Maggie Stiefvater

Grace was attacked by the wolves when she was small, but "her" wolf saved her from the others.

When it gets cold Sam is a wolf. He's been staying a wolf longer and longer and this may be the last time he's a human.

The story is told from both Grace's and Sam's viewpoints.

You don't want to miss this story of love, betrayal, and reconciliation. Neither do you want to miss the book trailer on Maggie's site.

And wait! A sequel, Linger, is coming this summer! A third book, Forever, is also planned.

Good Books from Harper Teen

2010-03-05T15:52:38Z

The Heart is Not a Size (2010) by Beth Kephart

Georgia talks her friend Riley into going on a humanitarian trip to Juarez, Mexico to the squatter village of Anapra where they work on building a home. How is Georgia going to deal with her anxiety attacks in another country and culture?

This book was so good - really had the feel of what it is like visiting a 3rd world country.

Read about the author here at her publisher's site and check out her blog where she recently talked about having to "kill her darlings."

* * *

The Life of Glass (2010) by Jillian Cantor deals with grief, growing up changes, and changes and adjustments within a family.

Melissa's father has died, her best friend Ryan is falling for the new girl, she's jealous of her older sister's beauty and boyfriend, and now Mom is beginning to date. Will looking at her father's journal be enough to keep him "there" for her?

Read about Jillian on her website and listen to a reading of her book on the February 28th entry on her blog.

Organizations and Groups

2010-03-03T20:48:45Z

Writing is such a solitary event that it can feel as if you're all alone. But you don't have to be. There are writer groups for a variety of genres. Organizations may have instructional events, guest speakers, workshops, retreats, conferences. They're a good place to learn AND to network with others who "get" what you're doing. For me the best thing I did for my writing was being involved with some groups, and along the way I've made great friends, too.

Here is a sampling of groups and organizations, with some focus on Kansas, since that's where I currently live. I strongly believe every children's writer should check out the first one!

Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - an international organization that offers conferences world-wide, publications, discussion boards, grants.
www.scbwi.org

Kansas Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - a local chapter, who has an annual conference, quarterly newsletters, quarterly events, an announcement list-serve, critique groups.
www.Kansas-SCBWI.org

Institute of Children's Literature - a school that offers correspondence courses with published authors as instructors, plus they have chats, web articles, a great newsletter called "The Children's Writer," and an e-newsletter.
www.institutechildrenslit.com

Christian Children's Writers List - an online group where you can meet others writing for the Christian children's market.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CCWL

Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens - a local Kansas City group with a renowned Wednesday critique group.
http://heartlandwriters.com

Heart of America Christian Writers Network - a local Christian group who offers monthly meetings and an annual conference.
http://home.earthlink.net/~hacwn/index.html

Kansas Author's Club - welcomes creative, technical, academic and journalistic writers.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kac/

The Kansas City Writers Group - a local group that meets in Shawnee, Kansas and offers workshops and critique groups.
http://www.kansascitywriters.com/kcwritersgroup.htm

Missouri Writer's Guild - a statewide group that offers annual conferences.
http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/

The Writer's Place - a local Kansas City group who offers workshops, speakers, and does art displays.
http://www.writersplace.org/

Association of Authors' Representatives - has information on questions to ask an agent, a member's list, and more.
http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do

The Author's Guild - a national organization open to published authors writing for adults and children.
http://www.authorsguild.org/

The Children's Book Council - a trade association for children's publishers. They create a lot of useful publications. Also, includes meet the author/illustrator pieces.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/

Good fiction writing is

2010-03-01T06:01:00Z

Good fiction writing is a matter of losing one's identity and finding a kinship with the person, place, or situation we are writing about. Otherwise, if we are aware of ourselves and don't identify with the person or situation, we risk being self-conscious writers, and there is no worse kind.
Arturo Vivante

Talent made a poor appearance.

2010-02-22T06:01:00Z

Talent made a poor appearance. Until he married Perseverance.
Arthur Guiterman

Steampunk and Darwin

2010-02-18T02:49:37Z

The concepts in Leviathan (Simon Pulse, 2009) are interesting and felt real. I cared about the two main characters from opposing camps in this alternate world. It's funny, too. And had wonderful illustrations by Keith Thompson. This is another one of those books where I'm waiting not very patiently for the sequel (Behemoth coming out in October 2010).

Okay, you have to watch the book trailer on Scott Westerfeld's site for Leviathan. The ending of it made me laugh.

This book is an early YA and like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate deals with issues of evolution, plus both are set in the early 1900s.

Newbery honor book

2010-02-18T02:24:04Z

In The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Henry Holt and Company, 2009) 11 year old Callie Vee is the middle child between 3 older brothers and 3 younger brothers. She's also caught in the middle of wanting to learn about nature with her grandfather and her mother's desire for her to learn womanly pursuits. This historical novel by Jacqueline Kelly is funny, interesting, touching. I love the relationship between Callie and her grandfather, her struggles in the kitchen, the music she likes to play, her conversations with Viola their cook, her misunderstandings of what the future might be, the excitement and interests as new things like the phone and automobiles begin to affect their lives.

I believe the Newbery honor award for this book was well deserved.

And it's Jacqueline's first book! Read about Jackie at her publisher's site or on her own website. There's also a fan page on Facebook.

Don't tell me the moon is shining

2010-02-15T06:01:00Z

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
Anton Chekhov

Writing a Novel? Where Does It Fit?

2010-02-10T15:03:41Z

A few years back another writer and I did a novel writing retreat. These questions are ones I developed for attendees to consider about their novels. Perhaps the updated version will be helpful for you, too.

Where will your novel be shelved after it has been published? Not just shelf, but picture what authors you will be placed between. If you don't know, take a field trip to the bookstore and see.

What is the genre and subgenre of your novel?

Middle Grade

• Adventure
• Animal
• Biographical
• Contemporary
• Early Middle Grade
• Fantasy
• Graphic
• Historical
• Horror
• Humor
• Multicultural
• Mystery
• Problem
• Religious
• School
• Science Fiction
• Sports
• Tweens

Young Adult

• Adventure
• Biographical
• Chick Lit
• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Dystopian
• Edgy
• Fantasy
• Graphic
• Hi-Lo
• Historical
• Horror
• Humor
• Multicultural
• Mystery/Suspense
• Novel in Verse
• Paranormal
• Problem
• Religious
• Romance
• Science Fiction
• Sports
• Steam Punk
• Urban
• Western

I doubt these are exhaustive lists, but they should help you think about what type of novel you're writing.

What three stories are similar in some way to yours? The first 3 books or movies that come to mind when you think of your story are? What makes them similar? What is different?

Think about the books you most enjoy reading. What subgenre(s) are they? Don't know? Check out reviews, talk to booksellers and librarians.

Does what your writing fit one of the areas you love to read? If yes, keep reading those subgenres. If no, consider writing in a different subgenre--something you love to read. If you never read, how can you know what today's kids are reading?

Feel free to comment on these lists and questions. (Click on the title of the entry and it will take you to a page where you can comment.)

To be a successful children’s writer

2010-02-08T06:01:00Z

To be a successful children’s writer you will need to get in touch with your inner child, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that inner children are all sweetness and light. They can be argumentative, unreasonable, uncontrollable and highly irritating. You will need to embrace these qualities of your child as well … invoke the forces of anarchy, chaos, silliness, danger and magic.
Andy Griffiths

Emotional Book

2010-02-04T01:31:25Z

What do you do when your little brother gets sick and dies? Grieve of course. And remember how he was before. But Kit also reinvents herself. Kit is a likeable character and her grief is realistically presented.

Rubber Houses (Little, Brown 2007) by Ellen Yeomans is written in verse.

Read more about the author at her website: http://www.ellenyeomans.com/index.html

A Sweetheart of a Book

2010-02-04T00:55:15Z

15 year old Austin Gray is tired of being stuck on the curb during the No-Jesus Christmas parade when attractive girls like Sundi get to ride on the hood of a truck. And being on the curb is where Dean Ottmer can make fun of her. Since Daddy died at the bridge, Mamma doesn't let her have a bit of freedom either. What's a girl without confidence to do? Austin joins the Future Farmers of America and gets a show chicken, which of course provides more material for Dean.

Author Jill S. Alexander has created a whole town of great characters in the sweetheart of prosper county (Feiwel and Friends, 2009). And it's not just the people, like Dean's "spit-and-scratch so-called friends" or tuba player Lewis Fortenberry (Elvis), but also the critters. You'll meet Charles Dickens, Austin's rooster, and WhizBang, the cat, to name a few.

Read more about Jill and her book that has been receiving nominations for awards at http://www.jillsalexander.com/. Or check out her blog here: http://jillalex.livejournal.com/

The role of a writer

2010-02-01T06:01:00Z

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.
Anaïs Nin

Meeting Editors and Agents - In Person

2010-01-27T03:26:32Z

Nothing is better than actually meeting an agent or editor in person. (Although long term following of someone on twitter is close.) By listening to an editor or agent talk at a conference, not only do I learn about their house, their agency, their tastes, and perhaps how they work with authors, I discover something of their personality. I've gone away with "Wow, I'd love to work with __________." I've also experienced, "We just wouldn't mesh." They've also taught me about craft, given me insights into my own weaknesses in writing, made me think, inspired me, encouraged me, and challenged me. Whew!

This past year I was privileged to meet quite a number of editors and agents--all at SCBWI conferences. (If you've never gone to one, I really encourage you to do so.) Two agents that pop to mind with no reference to notes from the LA conference last August are: Marietta B. Zacker, Nancy Gault Literary Agency, and Sarah Davies (pronounced Davis), The Greenhouse Literary Agency.

I loved Marietta's straight forward, no nonsense approach--this was especially noticeable in the Q&A time. She's passionate about what she does. She advised when writers are looking for an agent that they consider these questions: "Who will share your vision? Who will share your passion?" Marietta recommends writers find the passion that each has - whatever that may be.

At the beginning of her speech Sarah answered the questions on everyone's minds. She also told her audience that writing is like being a violin player. "Would you expect to be on a world stage when you just learned to play scales?" she asked. Sarah finds it thrilling as an agent to have the opportunity to change someone's life and help them reach their dreams.

At the Iowa and Illinois SCBWI Conferences I met Candlewick Editor, Yolanda Roy, who besides being a good editor is also a singer! Which reminds me, Ted Malawer at Upstart Crow Agency, used to sing opera (Kansas SCBWI conference.) Back to Yolanda who reminded us, she and other editors do what they do because they love it. She wants to know we've checked out her publishing house when we submit.

I've heard lots of agent talks, but in Kansas Ted gave some very practical advice about what we should be asking agents. He also advised, "Think about the query letter as the bait." He believes comparisons--i.e. your manuscript to other books--are his job, not yours, which is different than what I've heard others say. (Again, why we should be out listening to these professionals speak!)

In Illinois I met Alisha Niehaus from Dial Books for Young Readers. She did a fantastic and fascinating workshop using Savvy by Ingrid Law. With permission of Ingrid she gave us insights into how the book changed--wow! When talking about middle grade readers in another session, Alisha said, "Though they wish they could make out with a vampire, they are still trying to figure out how to fasten their training bra."

I met other editors and agents in 2009, but this post is growing too long to mention them all. Over the years my knowledge of the publishing world has grown by listening to agent and editor talks, panels, critiques. I've learned how dedicated these professionals are. Best yet, I've improved my odds of finding the right home for my manuscripts.