Following SCBWI (Summer - Day 74)

Like I said last post, I am not attending the SCBWI conference this weekend. However, I am following the official blog and a lot of Twitter feeds. That way, I can live vicariously through my writer friends (or writer strangers whom I stalk).

I'm going to use this blog post to record any bits of wisdom I find online. Here are some highlights:

"As writers, how do we change the world? One reader at a time." & "Your work is never good enough, no matter how much you've been published." & "Most of the time, writing is banging your head against the wall. That isn't writer's block. That's the process." - Neal Shusterman

"What makes something successful is a very personal thing." - Laurent Linn

"Live your life like you're writing your own book."  - John Parra

"You have to be careful who you share your work with and at what stage" -- Barney Saltzberg

"A successful PB is about invention and knowing what you love and turning it on its head." & "We need to ask a picture book: what if? then what? so what" -- Susan Rich

"A premise is a promise that your manuscript will deliver on." - Carole Boston Weatherford

"The better the character, the worse the trouble, the better the story." - Bruce Coville

"Gorgeous writing doesn't have to be lyrical but must serve the story. Satire and humor can be gorgeous."  -- Tina Wexler

"The envy monster is incredibly destructive to the creative process—and it's difficult to tame. But a high tide lifts all boats." -- Marie Lu

"I consider writing time sacred. I've had to learn to say no to things." -- Marie Lu

""Secrets will draw a reader through a book like nothing else." - Bruce again...
                          

"Don't be afraid to write crap." -- Marie Lu (but this is also what I tell my students when  they are working on their first draft!)

 

"Get out of your own way. This thing that walked out of your limitations. It's all yours but entirely not yours" - Jon Klassen

 

"Being creative is not so much the desire to do something as the listening to that which wants to be done..." -Anni Albers

Missing SCBWI (Summer - Day 73)

For the past five years I have been attending the Los Angeles conference of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). Before that, I attended as often as I could, but had to miss a couple. I first went in 2007, and I thought I was just going to learn about the business. I did. But I also found my tribe.

The conference is three days of living and breathing children's literature. It's a time to connect with writers, both seasoned veterans and wide-eyed newcomers. And it's a place where you can learn more about your craft -- and in certain cases discover new pathways. Last year, I took myself way out of my comfort zone and decided to pose as an illustrator with my Duck Town pages. That personal challenge really forced me to put a lot of time and effort. It gave me a deadline -- more than that, it gave me a forum for others to see my work, and that terrified me (in a good way).

So, it's kind sad that I'm not in Los Angeles right now, mingling in my own awkward way with fellow writers, as well as artists, agents, and editors. But I keep imagining how excited I am going to be next year when I attend -- and I am DEFINITELY not missing 2017. My new book will be out, and I'll be showing off my new wares with the rest of the tribe.

Let's see... what else did we do today? We've started packing things up around Mom's house. We'll be leaving soon, and we don't want the house to be filthy! I will be sad to leave this weather and the green surroundings out Washington state. Due to the fires back in California, I am expecting that we will arrive to hillsides which look like piles of ash.

The coolest thing we did: We went bowling with my sister and my niece. Emily kicked our butts. Bowling has officially become a Bradford summer tradition. I think this was the third summer in a row in which we have bowled. Yep, that makes it official.

Now that I've received positive feedback from my agent about Duck Town, I've been focusing my thoughts on what I need to revise, and I've also been turning my creative attention to "Around the World in 80 Days." That's the show in which auditions happen on August 7th -- so I guess I better get my act together!

Duck Town News! (Summer - Day 72)

It's been a while since I hit send. If you're a writer, you know what that's like, to send off your creation (to an editor, agent, publisher, producer) and then you must play the waiting game It's slow and it's hard -- at least it is for those of us who have the patience of a three year old. Which I do.

My agent has been on hiatus (for an excellent reason -- she had her second baby boy!), so I've done my best to wait for about a month...

And the wait was worth it. She really likes what I've been doing with Duck Town. I'm going to add a bit more pathos to a couple scenes, and then it should be good to waddle out into the world.

I was a bit overwhelmed when I read her email. A flood of relief and happiness washed over me. That's what happens when you work on something for 13 months. You get invested -- and it's scary to think that your hard work might wind up in the drawer. (Of course, that's what happens to most of our stuff anyway! You'd think I'd be used to it.) But Duck Town is very special to me. And I am hoping to will be special to young readers somewhere out there right now. Hopefully Rainbow and her family will get the chance to share their story with the rest of the world.

That was the big, momentous thing that happened today. But I also had a wonderful little date around town with Cheri. We went to the Camano Market Place for the first time. It's this wonderfully homey community store that features lots of local gifts, locally made art, a bakery, a meat market, a sandwich shop and a candy store.

Take Me out to the Ball Game (Summer - Day 71)

After doing some writing and walking the dogs, I drove down to Everett, taking Mom along with me. We met Emily, Cheri and her family at the Aqua-Sox game. They are a minor league baseball team, and it was a much more pleasant experience than being at the Angel or Dodger stadium. With a minor league team, there's less people, better seats, close-up action, and popcorn is only a dollar.

The worst moment: a foul ball hit somebody... But later on I met a kid who said, " I Got hit in the head with a ball and they signed it for me," So I guess it turned out okay.

The best moment: In the final inning, the Aqua Sox were down by two. A lot of people left early, thinking that the Everett team had been vanquished by the Canadians. But then the stadium payed this montage of inspirational movie speeches (with the Henry V music in the background). It was awesome, and the Aquasox loaded up the bases and won!

Back on Camano, Cheri and Emily settled back into things. We have started packing for home. We still have a few days to enjoy Washington, but Cheri always wants to have an early start.

I have been revising the picture book version of Bug Scouts. I've been trying to come up with something better than the current ending. I think I might actually incorporate elements from my recent One-Act comedy. We'll see what works.

At night we watched a strange little movie called "The Lady in the Van." I was sleepy so I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have.

Picture Book Mode (Summer - Day 70)

Well, adapting the bug chapter book into a picture book has been a smooth process, so far. However, I'm not sure about the ending -- the final page turn -- the last line -- the pay off.

I've got to create an ending that satisfies, that makes the journey worth it.

Got a phone call from Mackenzie. She is loving Space Camp. Her simulation mission next week will be a Flight to Mars! Oh, and she's in a team of seventeen members, all of whom are female. So she's pretty stoked to be working with so many women scientists. She probably feels like she's in the new Ghostbusters.

My nephew Joe and his wife Trina paid us a visit on the island. We had a nice time catching up, whilst snacking on chips and drinking soda.

I met up with Cheri and her family at Ivar's... Definitely the best fish and chips you'll find, at least at a fast food establishment. Emily has returned to vlogging. She recently made a video about saying at Grandma Judy's, and how her bedroom features a rather creepy baby doll. I'll post a link soon.

Back on Camano, mom and I watched the latest James Bond movie.

Reconstruction Time ( Summer - Day 69)

July 24th... Since Cheri and Emily are visiting relatives (and Mack is at camp), I had all day to focus on writing. I made more ground with the chapter book, and I mapped out a path to 144 pages. But here's the thing... By the time I finished writing the scene I had been stuck on, I realized that a chapter book might not be the best vehicle. This might make a better picture book, after all. So, the evening ending with me trying to develop some of the existing material into PB form. We'll see how it goes... Either way, I've got a solid twenty pages of chapter hook material I can return to if I want to venture down that path again.

Aside from writing, I walked the dogs (of course). Mom and I talked quite a bit. We usually discuss family memories and current affairs, so it's a nice combination of the past and present. Somehow we got into a discussion of "Song of the South" -- and we eventually dug up as much as we could on YouTube.

Oh, and it was half price Monday at Sahara Pizza. Always a reason to eat and rejoice.

Making the Rounds (Summer - Day 68)

Sometimes Washington vacation are all about visiting others. I can't just hide out on Camano Island forever. We've got to people to see. So today Cheri -- the scheduling sorceress -- managed our time very wisely

Here's what we did:

• Visited Aunt Diane at her home on Vashon Island
• Took her to lunch at Sporty's (a great cheeseburger and fries)
• Met a Border Collie puppy (owned by Cheri's cousins) named Wesley
• Got peed on by Wesley because he was so excited to meet new people
• Took the very to Point Defiance
• Met up with my friend John and his family
• Talked about Star Wars with John's kids (ashamed that they are so much more proficient in the current Star Wars universe than I could ever hope to be)
• Went to a Sounders (minor league) soccer game
• Watched my nephew serve as a referee
• Dropped Cheri and Emily at Grandma Judy's condo
• Went back home to Camano by way of Taco Bell
• Read an old book about insects while watching the second half of this Tony Robbins documentary/puff-piece on Netflix.

A note about Tony Robbins. I remember cringing any time I would see him on those infomercial in the nineties. Watching the "Date with Destiny" segments, I didn't cringe. He's very good at captivating the audience. He reminds me of a tele-evangelist, except he's not claiming to have any religious authority to heal the crippled. He also seems to genuinely love his job -- and that's always inspiring.

He says at the beginning of it isn't for everyone. He says if you're not hungry, this isn't the program for you. But it seems like it's more than that... If you are "hungry" and lack direction or motivation, then it might be a good kick start for some people.

But for me.... not so much. Why? Well, to use a phrase I once heard from my daughter:

"I get shit done."