You Can't Kill the Undead: Or, Paranormal Romance Isn't Going Anywhere by Kiersten White from Kiersten Writes. Peek: "This agony, this feeling that truly connecting with your crush was impossible, stemmed from the idolization of the Other. That person was so foreign, such a mystery, it made you want them even more and terrified you that it was impossible to ever get them." See also Jennifer R. Hubbard on Romance with Friction from AuthorsNow!Business vs. Art by Mary Kole from Kidlit.com. Peek: "As much as writers and agents and editors want it to be all about the art, they need to make money for themselves, for their agency, for their house. As much as people like paying their rent and putting their kids through school, they also want to create something meaningful and fulfilling…." Read a Cynsations interview with Mary.
20 Tips for Attending SCBWI Conferences by Linda Joy Singleton from The Spectacle. Peek: "After receiving a business card or bookmark, make a note on it to remind you about the person you just met. When I get home after a conference and have a bunch of cards, it’s easier to remember clearer with helpful notes to remind me of new friends." Read a Cynsations interview with Linda.
Seven Power Twitter Tips and Why I Like Them by Michael from IHEARTEdTech. Peek: "Retweet the good stuff from others. Sharing is caring. Somewhat related to the above, you’ll find that retweeting helps you build relationships with those you retweet."
10 Things My Creative Writing MFA Taught Me Not to Do by Kate Monahan from Writer's Digest. Peek: [Don't] "Assume you have to save every piece of work. Some stories are worth letting go. Some stories are 'practice' stories, building blocks. They help us grow as writers." Source: April Henry.
Read-a-Likes: Zombies: a reading round up by Karin from Karin's Book Nook. Note: look for Brains for Lunch: A Zombie Novel in Haiku?! by K.A. Holt, illustrated by Gahan Wilson (Roaring Brook, Aug. 17, 2010).Life Gets in the Way by Ann Aguirre from Writer Unboxed: About the Craft and Business of Genre Fiction. Peek: "Without fresh experiences, your work withers and becomes frail." Source: Elizabeth Scott.
Cynsational Author Tip: you do not own the copyright to reviews of your book and should not publish them without permission. Keep any quotes short, attribute, and if online, it's gracious to include a link to the review source.
Jane Fitch's 10 Rules for Writers from the Los Angeles Times. Peek: "Try to become stretchy–if you generally write 8 words, throw a 20 word sentence in there, and a few three-word shorties. If you’re generally a 20 word writer, make sure you throw in some threes, fivers and sevens, just to keep the reader from going crosseyed." Source: Lisa Schroeder.
Marriage for Writers by Peni R. Griffin from Idea Garage Sale. Peek: "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer - who you marry will affect what you write, when you write, how you write. I recommend that every writer who is contemplating marriage read a few biographies with that in mind, and consider how this person fits in with your writing life." Read a Cynsations interview with Peni.
Cover Stories: The Blood Coven Series by Mari Mancusi from Melissa Walker. Peek: "They even changed the original jokey back cover copy to something darker and more mysterious to emphasize the angsty romance in the books, rather than the humor." See Mari on "Kids Don't Read Like They Used To...And That's a Good Thing."What are Your Favorite Blogs? by Alice Pope from SCBWI Children's Market Blog. Peek: "There are just so many good industry blogs to choose from, and the task of creating the lists is a tad on the tedious side. It's kind of like cleaning out my closet. It's not awesome while I'm doing it, but I'm always very happy with the results when it's finished."
An Interview with Literary Agent Lauren MacLeod by Jeff Rivera from GalleyCat. Peek: "In addition to a great voice, I'm always looking for funny books in any of the YA or MG sub-genres. Funny is very hard to pull off, but it is a real sweet spot for me. I'd also love to see more YA or MG horror in my slush pile."
Tweet Roundup by Alice Pope from Alice's SCBWI Children's Market Blog. Peek: "Today's tweet soup: a stock of tips and advice, heaping spoonfuls of craft and vampire, a dash of this, a dash of that, topped off with a couple crispy conference croutons."
A Novelist's Storyboard by Tami Lewis Brown from Through the Tollbooth. Peek: "There's a block for an image, and underneath, lines for text. So how do you fill it in--- what goes in those blocks? I have some recommendations, but ultimately it's up to you."
In the Harry Potter Era, An American Fantasy by Rebecca Serle from The Huffington Post. Peek: "Both The Underneath (2008) and Keeper (2010) [by Kathi Appelt (both Atheneum)] are fantasies but they are also deeply rooted in America. Just when we think we're in some faraway land you remind us--nope, still Texas!"Eight Ways to Enrich Your Character by Darcy Pattison from Fiction Notes. Peek: "What would your character never say or do? Of course, they must say or do this very thing. And do it with memorable lines. One of my characters knows his place in his world and it’s a humble place. So, when he says he’d be Emperor some day, it enlarges his characterization."
Cynsational Screening Room
Tenner Debuts for July to December:
Tenner Trailer Group 3 from tye murphy on Vimeo.
Check out the book trailer for Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus (Egmont, 2010), and see an interview with Anastasia from Denise Jaden.
More Personally
Much of this week was spent working on the Eternal graphic novel in the dining room. The gray-and-white blanket on the chair beside mine was knitted by one of my very favorite people, Rita Williams-Garcia. I'd resolved to keep the cats off of it. I did. However, Mercury has his own opinion on the matter. In fairness, he has been quite respectful. I've never seen him demonstrate such a love of natural fibers.
Thanks to editor Alvina Ling and co-anthologists Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci for organizing Monday night's twitter chat in honor of the paperback release of Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd (Little, Brown, 2010). Thanks also to everyone who tweeted by!
Spooky Events
The launch party for Brains for Lunch: A Zombie Novel in Haiku?! by K.A. Holt, illustrated by Gahan Wilson (Roaring Brook, Aug. 2010) will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at BookPeople in Austin.
Southwest Texas SCBWI Fall Editor Day will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Featured speakers are Sarah Shumway, HarperCollins editor; Julie Ham, Charlesbridge associate editor, and Carmen Tafolla, award-winning author. See more information.
