Foxy Friday: Music

Mary Ann Fraser

Masha D'yans

Diane Browning

 

 

Teri Sloat

Rosalinde Bonnet

Click this link to see the animation!

Lea Lyons

Marty Kelley

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Red Fox Literary

Rosalinde Bonnet

Masha D'yans

Diane Browning

Resources for Authors During the Revising Process

by Jennifer Simms

I've been to several writing conferences where an attendee asks a member of the industry, "What makes good writing?" and I hold my breath, waiting to learn what will make my novel truly shine. Instead, I find myself sighing along with the audience because the  answer, "I know it when I see it," makes it sound like good writing is illusive, impossible for mere mortals to define. However, after completing the Writer’s Digest University course A Master Class in Plotting and Structure, taught by editor and self-professed “narrative nerd” Cheryl Klein, I now believe that good writing, or at least good plotting, can be quantified (though, in fairness to the industry panel, it may take eight weeks to do so). For months (or years, honestly) I’ve been trying to shape my first novel into a story editors will clamor to buy, but I lacked a concrete revision strategy besides trying my best, crossing my fingers, and sending it out again. Now, thanks to Ms. Klein, I have specific, definable strategies I can use to create a satisfying plot, which is, of course, the foundation of good writing.


The online course was presented through eight easy-to-read lectures, each with questions and/or an analytical assignment designed to help participants dig into our novels. Much of the work was done with the lens zoomed out, answering big picture questions about our intention and tone, and looking at how the entire plot worked (or didn’t). I used Ms. Klein’s directions for analyzing subplots to consider how well each contributed to my main action and emotional plots. She also provided tools for evaluating the structure of each individual scene, which helped me better define why certain sections of my novel dragged or fell flat. In addition, she supported the course material with great online resources and anecdotes about editing Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork. By far my favorite feature of the course was the ability to ask Ms. Klein questions in the class forum, which was like an eight-week backstage pass to the brain of an editor! I highly recommend this course to anyone who’s trying to figure out why your plot isn’t working or why your novel keeps generating rejections. Though her March class is already sold out, Writer’s Digest suggests you email them to learn when it will be offered later this year. (WDWOWAdmin@fwmedia.com)

Meanwhile, if you’re seeking a new perspective on your manuscript, pick up Ms. Klein’s book Second Sight: An Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing for Young Adults, which is a compilation of her conference lectures and blog posts. It covers some of the material from the course, and provides additional insights on many topics, including picture book manuscripts and character development.

Another great resource is Writing Irresistible KidLit, by agent Mary Kole. Her straightforward style tells you exactly what you should and shouldn’t do when crafting MG and YA novels that will sell.

Thanks to Ms. Klein, I now have a roadmap to lead me through the (hopefully final?!) revision of my novel. What about you? Is there a writing course, book, or conference that’s taught you the qualities of good writing? If so, let us know about it!

Free Downloadable Gift Tags Featuring Art by Sarah Watts

I Found My Agent at the Mall or How Christmas Came Twice in One Year

by Michelle Houts

I’m really not much of a mall shopper. I tend to gravitate toward small shops and neighborhood stores. But there’s something so wonderful, so magical about the mall – any mall – at Christmastime, I could spend hours there. From Santa’s house to a Winter Wonderland to the massive ornaments and decorations, I don’t need to spend a dime. I’m happy just gawking at the glitz!

Recently, I was at the mall with my oldest daughter on her 19th birthday. I’d arranged to make a very important telephone call in the middle of the day. It was one of those calls every author waits for: an agent wanted to speak with me about my submission! So, the first order of business after arriving at the mall was to scope out a quiet spot to make this potentially life-changing phone call. But finding a quiet place in the midst of this…

…wasn’t going to be easy. There were people everywhere. There were children everywhere. There were elves everywhere! And, most of all, music everywhere. Now, I adore Christmas music. But how could I risk not hearing that all-important phrase, “I love your manuscript!” just because Jingle Bells was playing too loud?

Finally, my daughter had a brilliant idea.

Have you seen the ladies room at Von Maur? Von Maur’s restroom looks more like a Hilton lobby than a restroom. Nicely appointed with comfortable furniture, soft lighting, and best of all – delicate, classical piano music piped in from above, it was the perfect place for me to settle in, take a few deep breaths and get my thoughts together before my shaking fingers made THE call.

So, that’s how I found Karen Grencik at the mall.

I felt like Santa came early when Karen offered to represent me. She’s smart, sweet, and she believed in the middle grade manuscript I sent her. What more could an author want?

Oh, a book deal, you say?

Well, Christmas came again in May.  This time, no malls or restrooms were involved. Just an early morning phone call in which Karen announced we had an offer from Candlewick.  Sold! And guess what? It’s a Christmas story. 

I told you the mall is a magical place at Christmastime.

Happy Halloween!

Welcome to a special Halloween edition of Foxy Friday (on a Wednesday). Our illustrators have outdone themselves this time with some deliciously spooky Halloween art. Make way for bat garlands, Day of the Dead Nutcrackers, Frankenfairies, and more! Plus, an eerie excerpt from Tom Llewellyn's middle-grade novel about a 13 year old boy who writes letters to his dead dad--who writes him back. . . best read in the dark, with a flashlight.

Here's to some good, juicy scares today.  

Rosalinde Bonnet

Masha D'yans

Elizabeth Haidle

Adam Gustavson

S.britt

Hannah Harrison

Catherine Stock

Elizabeth Haidle

Diane Browning

Stacy Dressen McQueen

Mary Ann Fraser

Marty Kelley

Michael Wertz

Jed Alexander

Shelley Rotner

Marty Kelley

Oliver Dominguez

Sarah Watts

Martian Chronicles

Foxy Friday is a little late this week since yours truly was away at the SCBWI Montana writing retreat this past weekend in Big Sky. Michele Corriel graciously dealt with the challenges of hosting a new mama away from her three month old infant for the first time and showed Simon & Schuster editor, Ruta Rimas, and I the wonders of Yellowstone, where we shared the road with lumbering bison and spied on regal elks. Ruta was determined to spot a moose but, alas, the probably moose factor (PMF) was low this weekend and they hid from us during our brief hike into the hills. The Montana SCBWI chapter is small but highly talented and everyone was very kind and tolerant as I foisted photos of Tristan at them. A big thanks to everyone at SCBWI Montana for helping me survive my first time away from the little guy.

And now, without further ado, here is this week's Foxy Friday. We were inspired this time by the recent landing of NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, the fourth US rover to reach Mars since 1997. This photograph, taken by Curiosity just a few weeks ago, gave me the chills:

Something that we built, something touched by human hands, is now on the surface of Mars, roaming its red hills, pushing through its alien atmosphere, exploring its hills and valleys. It just gets the imagination going. What if one of those brave canine space pioneers actually made it to the red planet?

 

Mary Ann Fraser

What if Martians made their homes below the surface?

Rosalinde Bonnet

What would it be like to float among the stars?

Diane Browning