WORDY WEDNESDAY: How can you "win" at writing?

I am not much of a television watcher but I have become a total "Gleek" (along with my husband, which is a serious part of his charm, and my kids because we're raising them right--as musical theatre buffs). While every episode is not equally strong, I enjoy watching each effort. Glee is unabashedly theatrical, full of sudden coincidences (accompanists are "always around"), interested in the interplay between performer and material (form and content), and hey, nobody loves a good show tune more than me.

With their music program on the brink of extinction, last night's season finale brought the kids of "Vocal Adrenaline" to the regional show choir competition where they performed with great heart.  Watching, I felt I was celebrating not only awesome medleys of Journey and Queen and satisfying dramatic moments, but also the season's journey of the actors, writers and everyone else involved this unique and delightful series. You could see in the performers' faces, hear in every written line and artfully arranged song, that these people had been changed on so many levels. Success? Yes, but I felt that their joy also came from the knowledge that, to a medium laden with reality, celebrity and depressing "news," they have brought something fresh, special and creatively ambitious.

I turned off the tube with a satisfied sigh and this thought: Winning is only really satisfying when YOU feel it in the deepest part of your heart. I think it's the same place your stories come from.

Back-to-Business Monday: SUMMER SEND-OFF

Well, June is here and the kids are wriggling in their desk chairs waiting for vacation to begin. Teachers are frantically wrapping up units, completing testing, and writing up final report cards. Authors may be noticing a slow-down in appearance requests and school-library correspondence in general. Before you take your own break, consider one of the following promotional ideas:


1. Send a "Wishing You a Super Summer" newsletter/note to your "e-mailing list" or add a Summertime page to your website. Make your letter/page link sunny and fun. Include a book-themed summer recipe or craft, a vacation plan based on your book's setting, your own summer reading list, or some good book-biz gossip about friends and colleagues with new titles being published in the coming months. ASK FOR FEEDBACK on a question such as, "What is your #1 wish for your students this summer?" (Offer a signed book or other prize to be awarded to one or more feedback respondents.)

2. Offer a discount or other incentive (e.g., extra 30-minute writing workshop for up to 20 students) for 2010-2011 school year appearances booked before, say, August 15, 2010. Post the special on your website, blog and note in your newsletter, above, if you're sending one.

3. Support summer reading programs. Offer to stop by libraries, bookstores, museums, or other appropriate venues near your hometown (or perhaps locales where you'll be vacationing) to do a free book talk, signing or other special event in support of their summer programs. If you set these up, make sure once again to note the dates on your blog, website, Facebook page, etc.

Summer is also a great time to create some of those value-added elements for your website or author appearance programs, such as reading and activity guides and tips for preparing for an author visit.  And, spend a couple of beach blanket hours thinking about fall promotions, such as contests. Speaking of which, next month I'll be posting information on my own first BLOG CONTEST. Get ready...!

FICTION FRIDAY: PICTURE BOOK CHOICES AND FUTURE PERSONALITIES

Last night, at my critique group, the amazing Conrad Wesselhoeft whose first novel, ADIOS NIRVANAcomes out this fall  passed along his arc of Holly Cupala's TELL ME A SECRET.  Having loved the first few chapters, I can't wait to read the rest.  It's my "present to me" this weekend.  This will be especially fun because I've been spending a lot of time reading about superheroes to my four-year-old, "Batman."  No easy reader is too dull or simple for my son as long as it's got a guy wearing cape and little black bat ears (or a dude in Spandex with a big red "S" on his chest, or a buxom brunette with a golden lasso for that matter) on the cover. 

After we re-read these beloved books, we move directly to pretend mode. He is Batman. I am Bat Girl. His brothers become the Commissioner (his boss), Robin (his assistant) and the Joker (being cast as the Joker on a given day is kind of an insult). As Bat Girl, I am always on call to help him protect Gotham City. And there are frequent stops to read another book.

While I read (practically recite) these epic stories of beating back villains with superpowers and great gadgets, I recall with some nostalgia favorite books chosens by my other sons.  My eldest (runner, jazz saxaphonist, future engineer) loved the LITTLE BEAR books and would sit on my lap to have novels read to him from the time he was eighteen months old.  My second boy (lacrosse and football player and definitely future stand-up comedian) could not get enough of BIG JOE'S TRAILER TRUCK by Joseph Mathieu.  The third one down (actor, poet, skier and all-around gentle spirit) favored Donald Hall's elegant OX CART MAN (got him a signed copy for Christmas one year-was his favorite gift).

While it's not scientific or absolute, I see a sort of connection between these early reading favorites and the personalities of my kids.  The heroes they chose, the sense of order they appreciated, even the language and colors that appealed to them all foreshadowed, in some small way, the kind of readers and people into which they are evolving.  And so, as I sometimes rather unenthusiastically reread I AM BATMAN to my youngest, I watch his eyes take in the words and images and wonder what dream he is dreaming inside--what this story is inspiring him to become.

WORDY WEDNESDAY: THE TROUBLE WITH THINKING

After a couple of good writing weeks, I've begun to wriggle in the chair upon which I dutifully sit to write each day. I have been THINKING (yeah, I know) about how my new story relates to AUDITION and wondering, do I dare stick with verse or should I tell it in prose? What is the best form for this particular character and her unique narrative? Should I take a quick break and go thaw some chicken so my kids can eat tonight? So many questions were tangled in my head this morning that even the prospect of watching my DVR recording of GLEE later on did not cheer me (and yes, I like the picture because I kind of do feel like Coach Sue is pounding on my skull).

Luckily, midmorning on Wednesdays, I have to leave my computer to teach "Literary Magazine" to a third-grade class. Admittedly, I was dragging my feet today, feeling like I have nothing to teach anyone about writing today. But they were waiting for me.

We've been writing all year. The last few weeks, the kids selected and revised their best stories and poems. Today, they became editors, choosing a title, organizational structure and look for their magazine. I let them take charge and the kids leapt into gear. Leaders emerged. Brainstorm sessions took place, followed by lots of voting! They were working so hard they literally ignored the ringing lunch bell. 

I couldn't stop grinning. The kids were so empowered, so excited to be close to seeing their words in print, that their joy was contagious. And I realized something. I have been so anxious about sticking to my writing schedule, about getting my work done and not letting myself be distracted, that I'm not sure I've allowed myself enough time to just relax and enjoy the prospect of seeing AUDITION between covers. To be happy. To feel and not THINK.

The kids named their magazine, "Stories Off the Page." And, right now, I'm just going to feel proud of them for a little while!