Writers' Conference

Last month I attended the SCBWI-NE conference. The first year I went, I came home so revved up with editors' names and I sent out so many manuscripts. This year, there were so few editors/agents who were interested in picture books, I just want to cry.
Actually, I don't. But I either need to seriously do this or move on.
I'm going to start leading a story time at the B&G Club library. Maybe I'll read one of my stories and have the craft be drawing pictures of the story. These are kids who don't know me and they can say whatever they want about the story. Maybe they'll give me some good ideas.

Working --- not.

I wish I were working. It would be easier to get the words out. I am so stuck on this middle-grade fantasy. Actually, I want to just get to the end. Also, the j on my keyboard is stuck. I might have to change one of the characters names.

Okay...so I have a thought. Mrs. J can be the wicked witch leading the children falsely to their mother and they get captured by the same evil spirits that have their mom. But why? Why is she captured? Why is she still alive? How did they get out? This is what baffles me. The text is so complex and detailed in the beginning, yet, now that they are in the world, it's simple. Less detail, fewer descriptions. Am I bored with this story? I'm not sure. Even the hazards are not overly compelling.

Does Chris get entrapped each time b/c he hasn't listened? I'm not sure. Is the story about him or about Cass? So many questions. And now that I've read Going Bovine, the whole snow globe thing seems passe--but I thought of it before I read it--really.

Inspiration--and a bit of a ramble

Since the radiologist gave me a clean bill of health (it's not as if I expected anything else and if I'd been told anything else, I would have been mad), I should be able to concentrate now.

I'm not sure why I have this YA horror story in my head. I need to just get it out and move on. Horror is not really my genre and it's blocking all other things.

Maybe I should try to channel some more dragons and their pizza. Obviously dragons love pizza (because who wouldn't?), but what else do dragons love and how can they get it?
I love Olympia. I can picture her in my head. She's a beautiful dragon--red, like the pizza sauce--with a talented tail. But what about Rocky? Is he red? Should all the dragons be red? Is this something I should leave to the illustrator?

I hope I hear from PEN New England soon. That would be awesome--if it were good news, of course.

To agent or not to agent?

I've started submitting stories (well, just one, really, Dragon Double Dare) to literary agents. The word on the street is definitely mixed about agents. Some people say, "Yes, yes, yes, you definitely need one." Others say, "They just take your money."
Well, I say they can't take what I don't have. And, if they can make me some money, they are welcome to take a cut because, dammit, they deserve it.
An agent might force me to write better--or at least be more focused. That would be a good thing. I know I concentrate better when I have a deadline. The way things stand now I can't really concentrate--too much time on my hands.

Looking out/Looking in

It's difficult not to judge people, sometimes--especially if you don't know their personal situations. Just looking from the outside, you only know what you think you see. It's amazing how personal convictions change when you know the whole story--or when it becomes personal.

But this also works if someone you know is having a certain issue, and (provided they don't object), you can give an outsider's view of the situation. When you're too close to something, it's tough to be objective or even think outside the box.

Like with editing. There have been times where I think something is PERFECT, absolutely I couldn't change anything, but when my critique group points out the flaws, suddenly they are obvious. It also depends who gives the suggestions. I was in a critique group where one of the members just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know why, but everything she said made me want to dig in my heels. This critique group is so much better.

Cap'n Bluebeard

It seems time to revamp Old MacDonald. The song itself is not especially rhythmic--you've got sheep or chickens or cows and their sounds don't rhyme--nor do they necessarily make a great beat.
So if I change it into something that would be a book, does it have to have a good rhythm or rhyme?
Captain Bluebeard had a ship --okay, so that part is suited. Yo ho ho ho ho.
Immediately, we know it is a pirate story/song. Is it okay to give that away? If it's a book/story, can it go on for more than 3 or four items on the ship? I know that Old MacDonald can get old pretty fast.
And not all pirate items would make a great sound.
Map (what sort of sounds?)
Treasure (I tried tinkle--like the sound of bits o' eight, but it was too much like a little kid's word for pee)
sword
plank (ya gotta walk it!)
Matey
Parrot ("Polly wants a cracker!" definitely wouldn't suit the rhythm.)
These are definitely things to be explored. I will send it to my next writers group....

Inspiration or perspiration?

Was it Thomas Edison who said invention was 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration? It's definitely the same for writing. A great idea only gets you so far.
I obviously haven't perspired enough.