Wow! The past year has flown past. Most of that year was spent teaching although I look back and can say I completed two manuscripts: Under the Influence, The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, and A Reader’s Guide to Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. I also started that Egg novel. I’m not sure where it’s going yet and that might be why I’ve been procrastinating. But I have it up on my computer screen and I WILL work on it this week, even if it leads me to a deadend or into the midst of a maze with too many exits. Speaking of which, that’s one of the writing lessons I give my students, one that I learned from a book by a master short story writer Damon Knight. He points out that it’s important to recognize that a character needs a certain number of constraints. If there aren’t enough, there are too many choices that the character needs to make.
This poor character is clueless. He has too many choices, too many places to go, too many people to see, too much!!!
If a character has too few choices, the door to the story closes and she has nowhere to go.
But if there are some constraints….money, love, hunger, a stubbed toe….., the character has to make choices within those contstraints. This means writing a story is setting up a maze and allowing your character to work his or her way through it. You’ll notice the maze below has two entries and some twists and turns, but with each choice the character makes, her view changes, she might come through to the other side or she might go out the same way she came in, but with a new understanding of the maze she just went through (a circle story structure). The end. Ta Da!
So, with that in mind, it’s time for me to get back to my maze and help my poor character through it. Happy writing!
This year promises many new projects including an anthology about teen sexuality and the choices teens make, an anthology that my daughter Amanda and I are editing for birthmothers, adoptive families and adoptees for Catalyst Book press, and a novel, with the working title Eggs, in the works. But life is not all about sitting in the chair and typing words on the screen. These photos illustrate just a few fall activities that kept me wildly busy….
You gotta give her mega-points for putting herself out there as a VP candidate – sorry, Sarah, despite my respect for your grit, I didn’t vote Republican this year — the greatest thing about Sarah Palin….her shoes. Here I am doing my own hallway dance while wearing my own Naughty Monkey Shoes.
Wisconsin children’s writers and illustrators, all members of the Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, banded together to design and donate this bookcase for Wisconsin Adoption Resources’ annual adoption celebration. The bookcase was illustrated by Sandra Ure Griffin. About 20 books, all donated by our well-published writers, were included in the case.
My writing life has been filled with teaching and time in the writing chair. Two books will be coming out with Enslow in 2009 and my biography of Janis Joplin, Under the Influence, The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, will hopefully debut at the end of the year or early in 2010.
My goals for 2009 are to start using this blog the way it was intended — to talk about the craft of writing and to talk about books that make a difference. Feel free to offer suggestions for topics you’d like to discuss.
This is the time of year when I wake up to the sound of grinding bus gears and it makes me so, so sad to think that summer’s over. Classes begin for me next Monday, and so, my rocking chair sits empty. I think I’ll wear my flip flops the first week of school though.
Okay folks, I’m on vacation until further notice. I have a HUGE stack of books and my laptop and I’m not answering my phone. I’ll catch you later………………………………
Toward the end of May, I visited a class at Roosevelt School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I talked about writing, especially writing my upcoming book, Under the Influence, The Life and Times of Janis Joplin, and I talked about how much fun it was to work with other writers to create SuchA Pretty Face, Short Stories About Beauty. Then I read my story, “The $5 Kiss,” aloud.
The students sent letters. Many liked seeing the manuscript I passed around full of cross outs and writing in different colored pens to show them that I really do have to write and rewrite and rewrite again. They hadn’t realized, they said, that writing is hard work. But they also commented that I seem to love my work. I do. It’s always such a reward to see the finished work and to feel as though I can fall into the story on each page.
Here are some more comments:
From Jacob — “I think the Janis Joplin book will sell good, (ch!ching! $) and someday I hope to be a writer.” I hope it sells well, Jacob.
From Jake — “I definitely think you should be paid more for all that work.” I’d like it if we got paid more, too. But even if I didn’t get any money, I’d probably still write.
From Olivia — “Could you ask Lauren Myracle if she is going to make a 14 book because I already have 13.” — Lauren? Are you?
From Rosie – ”It was really nice to hear about the life of an author of a book as well as hearing about the personalities of others.” Oh, oh. What did I say about my writer friends? All good things!
From Sarah — “Thank you for coming and telling us stories about Mrs. Murphy and you.” I’ve known Mrs. Murphy a long time and so I told on her.
From Noah — “I liked learning about all of your books you write. I didn’t know you were that famous.” – Sorry, Noah, I’m not that famous.
From Meredith — “I have visited your website and I noticed you have written about visiting us in your blog.” I have indeed.
From Charlie — “Thank you so much for telling us that embarassing story/personal story to us and thank you for telling us what you do for a living!” Anytime! If any of you readers want to read that embarrassing personal story, check out Such A Pretty Face at your local library or bookstore.
From Olivia O. — “I think that the intro., “The $5 Kiss,” was pretty funny. Thanks.” I think I’m lucky that I can laugh about it now.
I spent Friday afternoon in my friend Angie Murphy’s classroom. Rosie and Shawn carried my books and helped me find the room. Angie has wonderful students who asked lots of questions. I told them about doing the research for my upcoming books including Under the Influence, The Life and Times of Janis Joplin. Then I read the story of the $5 Kiss. They laughed and sighed and offered me some reading suggestions.
I forgot to mention that, on June 21, from 10 until 2:30, I’ll be at Martha Merrell’s Books with a bunch of my SCBWI friends. We’ll be part of the SUMMER READING CELEBRATION!
But before that, I’ll be spending tons of time with family. My dad and stepmom will be visiting on June 4. I’m looking forward to seeing them again. Did I mention that my dad just turned 80 and bought himself a new pair of roller blades? He did. I used to roller blade with him until I fell down and hurt my hand and my tailbone. But even before that I had trouble keeping up. My dad used to be a hockey player so I guess that accounts for his speed. His endurance is just plain old Irish tenacity.
Maybe I’ll get back on roller blades while they’re here. After all, it’s been a few years since I got hurt. You’d think I’d forget about the pain. But when you can’t sit down, it’s hard to forget.
I realize it’s been awhile since I’ve written. Now I have so much news, I really don’t know where to begin. Such A Pretty Face is out and receiving outstanding reviews. You can purchase a copy of the collection from your favorite local bookstore or from Amazon or other online sites.
In other news, I have an article on Bruce Black’s online web site about process. Just click on wordswimmer on this page and you’ll find it.
Over the summer, I’ll be signing books at the Brookfield Square Barnes & Noble and, along with some of the writers, at the Flying Pig in Burlington, Vermont — that’s on July 16 at 2 pm. I’ll also be at the Vermont College Writing for Children and Young Adult’s residency. If you’re there, you’ll have a chance to meet writers from the collection including Anita Riggio, Tim Wynne-Jones, Norma Fox Mazer, J. James Keels and possibly others. My anthology editor, Susan VanMetre will also be there. She’s one incredibly wonderful person to work with — some come on out and see us!
Announcing…… the first Such A Pretty Face radio interview! I was invited by Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Lake Effect” to talk about my reasons for collecting stories on teen beauty. The host, Mitch Teich, really seemed enthusiastic about the collection. I think all the writers in the book are stars myself. If you’d like to hear the interview, go to the link below and find the title Such A Pretty Face. I love the music that leads into and out of the interview. We are so beautiful! www.wuwm.com/view_le.php?articleid=142
I also announced that I’ll be posting stories and poems of beauty on a web page devoted the the topic. For now, you can send them to me here or via my email: aangel@aol.com. I can’t wait to hear your ideas……
This poor character is clueless. He has too many choices, too many places to go, too many people to see, too much!!!
Wisconsin children’s writers and illustrators, all members of the 
