I had to laugh during the week-end conference. I knew I was very happy with listening to Les Roberts and learning from his years of experience.
I also knew my opinion of him would probably change once he critiqued my piece.
I sent the first 20 pages of 'Blue' to Les before the conference. He read them and we met on Saturday. (Before that, while in the kitchen getting a glass of water, I heard him tell another writer - don't quite your day job. I was worried!)
Les spent ten minutes with me. He said he liked my writing style. Then - the **** hit the fan, so to speak. He said that he hadn't a clue, after the 20 pages, as to what the story was about. It took him quite some time to realize that it was a fantasy tale.
Mind you - the first two paragraphs of chapter one are all about the green sky, the yellow dirt, the purple grass, the pink water. I sat before him, dumbfounded that he thought that it was anything BUT a fantasy.
Secondly, he said he thought I had the perfect opportunity to really hit my readers with the humor of the situation - this 14-year old abused princess who magically transforms into a boy in order to save her world. I failed to understand what part of this story was humorous. I must admit, some of the situations she faces as a boy are humorous, but to take the whole thing and make it a comedy? Boggles my mind.c
A writer friend of mine tsk tsk'd. She said I always seem to pick the wrong reviewer for my stuff. Les is an adult mystery writer. My story is a YA fantasy. She's probably right.
Enough said. I do value Les' comments and especially his sharing.
Life is good - if a bit flummoxing.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Les Roberts Rocks
The headliner for this past week-ends conference was world-renowned myster writer, Les Roberts. He's written (I hope this is correct) 25 books. A new one is coming out as we speak. And another one is due out this fall. The man is prolific. Check out his website: http://www.lesroberts.com/index.html
Spent a lot of Friday evening talking with him. It was great talking to a 'real' author - one who didn't mind spending time with a fan who just ooh'd and aah'd over what it must be like to be published and successful. A good man all the way around.
1) An important thought - hang in there! He said it took the guy who wrote the Hannibal Lector book 27 tries to get it published.
2) Write about what you're interested in. Not so much about what you know. You can always learn new stuff.
3) Carry a notebook or a tape recorder and write down everything. Thoughts about characters, overheard conversations at the local coffee shop, what people look like, etc.
Too much going on lately. But I'll be posting again tomorrow with some more stuff from the week-end. I know it's not appropriate to tell all, but a few sharings shouldn't be a problem - besides that - they jog my memory! And I could use memory jogging. *g*
Life is good.
Spent a lot of Friday evening talking with him. It was great talking to a 'real' author - one who didn't mind spending time with a fan who just ooh'd and aah'd over what it must be like to be published and successful. A good man all the way around.
1) An important thought - hang in there! He said it took the guy who wrote the Hannibal Lector book 27 tries to get it published.
2) Write about what you're interested in. Not so much about what you know. You can always learn new stuff.
3) Carry a notebook or a tape recorder and write down everything. Thoughts about characters, overheard conversations at the local coffee shop, what people look like, etc.
Too much going on lately. But I'll be posting again tomorrow with some more stuff from the week-end. I know it's not appropriate to tell all, but a few sharings shouldn't be a problem - besides that - they jog my memory! And I could use memory jogging. *g*
Life is good.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Productive Week-end
Went to a conference and had 'Blue' looked at by an established author.
Able to spend about five hours on my writing.
Made some changes to 'Sorrysorrysorry.' Got some feedback at the conference on the picture book.
Lots of things happening. Looking forward to sharing some of the stuff I learned this week-end.
Life is hectic.
Able to spend about five hours on my writing.
Made some changes to 'Sorrysorrysorry.' Got some feedback at the conference on the picture book.
Lots of things happening. Looking forward to sharing some of the stuff I learned this week-end.
Life is hectic.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Finally
Oh - I can't wait to have 'Finally' be a tittle that means the book (any one of them!) is published!
But for now
I got responses for the childrens' book and they are all positive and filled with exclamation marks! My daughter read it to my G daughter and the whole family was just entranced.
I really hope the publisher will get an illustrator that I like. I am thinking washed out watercolors... but who knows. The librarian thought cartoon characters would be great. I think the Babar characters are good. We'll see. Since I can't draw stick figures, I'm stuck with my publisher's choice.
As for Blue - I've committted to spend twelve hours writing it this weekend. I got some info on a man's 'thing' and so I can go back and enhance the chapters where it makes an impact.
Life is incredibly interesting. Bizarre - but interesting!
But for now
I got responses for the childrens' book and they are all positive and filled with exclamation marks! My daughter read it to my G daughter and the whole family was just entranced.
I really hope the publisher will get an illustrator that I like. I am thinking washed out watercolors... but who knows. The librarian thought cartoon characters would be great. I think the Babar characters are good. We'll see. Since I can't draw stick figures, I'm stuck with my publisher's choice.
As for Blue - I've committted to spend twelve hours writing it this weekend. I got some info on a man's 'thing' and so I can go back and enhance the chapters where it makes an impact.
Life is incredibly interesting. Bizarre - but interesting!
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