Thanksgiving is almost here, and while I’m getting excited to see my family but dreading cooking all that food, I will make time to READ.  Because that is, after all, one of my 10 Commandments for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The rest are:

2. Thou shall not whine

3. Thou shall not obey any other cooks but me and shall lay at my feet compliments and hostess gifts

4. Discussions regarding politics, the national health debate especially, and anything to do with “crazy young people these days” are expressly forbidden

5. Commentary on how the cook chooses to roast, brine, grill, blacken or microwave the turkey are not allowed

6. Thou shall assist heartily in helping cook to clean up.  Tasks may or may not include mopping the floor, taking the dog out and letting the cat in, cleaning out the recyclables, massaging the cook’s feet (hot stone massage is optional), and keeping cook’s wine glass handy and filled at all times.

7. Thou shall promise to listen to cook’s three year old tell the story of Cinderella (again and without correcting her version) with rapt attention and appropriate nods. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a while since I last posted here, and that’s because I’ve been in writing mode.  Seriously writing.  And revising.  And writing.

So I thought I’d blog about how I write, and I’d love to hear comments from other writers about their own odd perks. 

Before I write anything, I fill out a character analysis sheet for each person I’ll be writing about — even the minor characters.  This involves creating details about the character that may never come into the story — their middle name or favorite book for example, but it also forces me to dissect each character’s essential details — what he wants most, her greatest fear.  I write down all sorts of information about them — their car, hair color, pets – if they have   any -, pet peeves – we all have those, hobbies, interests, favorite music . . . you get the point. 

Then I go to iTunes and download music that my main characters would listen to.  I usually put about 20 songs on, and this is all I listen to while I write.  It helps me to jump right back in night after night.

I always write at night.  This is my time, when the world quiet downs, and I can hear myself think.  Read the rest of this entry »

Susan Meyers is a children’s writer and the author of Callie and the Stepmother. She’s had several works published in children’s anthologies; she also loves writing Haiku, and has a new book coming out this fall.

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I’m always fascinated by people who claim to have writer’s block. For me, there are stories everywhere from the couple I saw tonight at a restaurant who never said a word to each other to the homeless man cradling a dog in the rain this evening. See what I mean?  There are stories everywhere.

I just finished teaching a summer class at the local community college, and every one of those students had an amazing story.  Nineteen-year-old Jamal’s mom has been in prison since he was 14, and he’s never known his dad.  His older brother raised him, and now that brother is serving 15 -20 for manslaughter and “other things.”  Jamal is in college now hoping to be an inspiration to his little brother, who is the first person in his family NOT to have ever been arrested.  Read the rest of this entry »

I gave my students an usual writing assignment.  Practice a random act of kindness and write about it.  Here’s what they came up with:

Read the rest of this entry »

As I mentioned before, Jill Corcoran is my amazingly terrific agent, and I’m lucky to be a member of the Corkers.  There is so much talent, humor and writing experience among her clients that I thought it would be fun to interview them.  This week, we get to hear from writer Angela Ackerman who has written a terrific book that will ignite imaginations and create quite a stir in the MG world. To read more about Angela, click here http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

Welcome Angela!  Briefly tell us a bit about your writing background.

 When I was four, I wrote my first story: 

I have a cat.

It lives in a dish.

I wish I lived in a dish! 

Since then some education, various writer’s groups and fantastic critique partners have helped me to become a stronger writer. Trust me, if I rewrote that story now, well, that dish would be so freaking cool you’d want to live in it too.

 (Oh and my work has been published in Spider Magazine, Calgary area newsletters and online with Wee Ones Magazine.)

 How did you know your manuscript was ready for you to begin pursuing an agent? Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve just learned a new word from a new Australian friend.  Chuffed means being proud of oneself.  And as I sat around trying to use this word in a sentence, my tongue kept getting stuck on the word.  Can you ever use “writer” and “proud” (or “chuffed”) in the same sentence?  Is a writer ever proud of her work ? I doubt it.  I’ll never forget the feeling when I hit send on the final draft of my manuscript.  It was a mixture of anticipation, fear and dread but pride didn’t even enter the flury of emotions spinning in my stomach. 

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I’m still waiting to hear good news from several editors, and since the holiday weekend is upon us, it looks like I’ll be waiting for a bit longer.  Oh well.  I find comfort and solace in the fact that I have the best agent.  Jill is such a cheerleader for her clients.  We call ourselves The Corkers and keep in touch frequently through email and Facebook.  She’s always telling us how brilliant we are and how great our writing is.  And since I’ve never met a secure writer, I can honestly tell you that her words are like a balm to my soul. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, several editors could, at this very moment, be reading my manuscript.  I’m waiting for good news from just one editor.  That’s all I need. I keep reminding myself it just takes one yes.  But how can I distract myself from this waiting when my life long dream is about to come true?  This is nerve wracking, teeth nashing, nail biting stuff.  Ralph Waldo Emerson asked, “How much of human life is lost in waiting?” Read the rest of this entry »

A few thoughts to inspire fellow writers out there waiting to hear good news from editors and agents:

Killer Angels was rejected 15 times before a publisher finally took it on.

John Grisham’s first novel A Time to Kill was rejected by 15 publishers and over 30 agents.

Mary Higgens Clark went through 40 rejections before seeing her name in print.

Jack London saved the 600 rejection letters he received before getting his first story published.

Megan Cabot keeps a bag of rejection letters under her bed.

And don’t forget the wisdom of Anita Shreve:  “The only difference between a published writer and an unpublished writer is the published writer never gave up.”

Happy Writing!