by Roseanna White | Jul 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
I know I’ve talked about this in a couple ways before, but I can’t really dive into the new Friday format without including it. =)
Today I’d like to talk a bit about
Stephanie Morrill and, in turn, Shellie Neumeier, who go above and beyond to make the life of writing understandable and accessible to teens who dream of being a part of it.
I’ll be focusing mainly on Stephanie solely because I know her better, given that she’s my best friend. =) Stephanie (much like me) has been writing books since she was a teenager. Rather than attend college, she made the decision to work for her father’s company out of high school so she would have more time to focus on her writing. She began learning about the industry, the business. Attending writers conferences, seeking agents, learning how to pitch and sell.
It ain’t easy–not for anyone.
But Stephanie, after years of hard work, landed a three-book deal with Revell for a young adult series. Why young adult? Because that’s where her passion lies. And as she got feedback from her readers, she detected a common thread. Many of them would email her saying, “I’m a writer too–do you have any advice for me?” After getting these emails for a while, Stephanie came up with the idea for
Go Teen Writers.
I’ve mentioned before how much I love this site. It’s a fabulous meeting place for young writers, a place for them to ask their questions about writing and get informed, considered answers. It’s a place of encouragement and support. It’s a place that gives hope that maybe these dreams aren’t so far out there.
Having been beside Stephanie throughout her journey (metaphorically speaking–we live 1,000 miles apart. And only since we met in 2007 . . .), I can tell you that for a while she felt like blogging took from her without giving anything back. But once she hit upon
Go Teen Writers, there was a definite change. Because all of a sudden she knew she wasn’t just writing a blog to say, “Hey, pay attention to me!” She was writing a blog to help others. To make a difference. To give.
As a former teen writer, I can’t tell you enough how awesome I find this–and how I wish it had been around ten years ago!
Today’s a good day for me to talk about the teen-writers ministry, because the
NextGen Online Writers Conference begins on Monday (which
I blogged about a little while ago). Shellie Neumeier is the genius behind this fun opportunity for young writers, and Stephanie has joined forces with her to bring some fabulous writers together to offer their expertise. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a contributor. 😉
If you know teens who are often at their computer or hunched over a notebook, scribbling their ideas onto the page, then you can’t do better than to direct them to
Go Teen Writers and the
NextGen Writers Conference. Because you’re never too young to have a dream–or to chase after it.
I invite everyone to (a) leave a message of encouragement for Stephanie and Shellie and their amazing work with teens and (b) check out these sites and direct young writers their way. If you leave a comment on today’s post (or
last Friday’s, or any other Friday’s coming up in August), you’ll be entered to win a fabulous selection of books that will soon be making their appearance in my sidebar. 😉 Please be sure you’re a follower! And for an extra entry, follow Stephanie’s blog.
by Roseanna White | Jul 28, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Confession time: I am not, by nature, the type to accept critique. Maybe (and I’m guess here) it has to do with the fact that back in grade school I was always the one at the top of the class. The one who was always right, who the teachers used as an example. I got accustomed to being the best. And when you think you’re the best, it’s pretty easy to ignore advice from lesser mortals. 😉
In high school, I remember when my AP English teacher was talking to us about constructive criticism. I understood the theory, obviously, but I recall thinking something like, “Yeah, but it never feels constructive. It feels like you saying you’re right and I’m wrong.” Have I mentioned I didn’t like being wrong? LOL.
When it came to my writing, I tended to do it for myself. I had eight books completed by the time I finished college, and only let close friends and family read them. There were quite a few times when I’d ask for advice about a certain aspect of the story, or on where to cut to get my word count down.
And nearly every one of those times, I’d ignore whatever advice came in. Think something along the lines of, “What do you know? This isn’t your story.” And do it my way.
I’m not sure when it happened exactly, but I finally realize that, in fact, it is the reader’s story. And so I need to write it for them, not for me. Which means I need to know what they need. What they think. What needs to be changed. And so I consider myself blessed to have critique partners and editors who offer criticism–the kind that really is constructive.
Last Tuesday afternoon, I got my second round of edits on
Annapolis. The editor, in her email, called it “pristine,” and said she barely got to do her job. Naturally, this made my day. And naturally, when I opened the document, I saw that there was still
some work to do. I paged through it as I was making dinner and getting ready to run out for an evening appointment, and when I saw that some of the suggestions required actual thought, my reaction was something like this: “You’re kidding me, right?”
Yep, the same reaction I’ve always had. Here’s the difference–I used to leave it at that thought. When I first joined a critique group, it would sometimes take me days to heed good advice. Now it’s the same process of acceptance on my part–but it only takes a few seconds. Sometimes part of a second. After that first, “But, but, but . . .” I go, “Yeah, I see your point. Okay.” And I get down to making it better.
Occasionally my work with other writers, many of them new to the business and still working on that first manuscript, proves that I’m not the only one with this problem with criticism. I’ve heard excuses, I’ve heard exasperation, I’ve heard outright denial that there’s a problem with their book. And I’ve thought, “If you don’t want honest advice, why did you ask me to read this??”
Then I realize they’re no different than me, and I make sure to offer my criticism along with the hammer and nails they need to incorporate it–because I don’t want to tear anyone down with my words, I want to build them up.
I know myself well enough to realize that I’ll probably always have that half-a-second argument when I get criticism. But I’m so glad that I’m to the point now where I can so quickly see the wisdom behind it. As I’m working regularly now with editors and agents, I keep thinking of the kind of author I want to be–and I don’t mean defining myself by what I write. Rather, I’m talking about being an easy author to work with. One they know they can depend on to deliver the best manuscript I can, to accept advice graciously, to work hard and quickly to give them what they ask for.
Yeah, a little pride sneaks in when an editor tells me my book is in great shape–pride quickly checked when they follow the praise with constructive criticism. But when I click “send” on a manuscript, it’s not with the thought of, “There, perfect.” these days. It’s with the hope that I gave them what they wanted. That they read through it and think, not that Roseanna is the best author ever, but that Roseanna is a great author to work with.
I have no doubt this will be an ongoing process–and I’m grateful the Lord didn’t bless me with a contract until I was to the point where I could accept all the work required for it with grace.
by Roseanna White | Jul 27, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Okay, metaphorically. 😉 And this isn’t my post. But fellow Colonial Quiller Jennifer Hudson Taylor posted such a fascinating look into early American taverns over at the Quill today that I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you:
If Colonial Tavern Walls Could Talk
That, and after being sick yesterday and just kind of tired today, but still writing and entertaining the wee ones, I have no brain power left, LOL.
So, hop over to the Colonial Quill and take a fresh look at these age-old establishments–I know you’ll find it as intriguing as I did!
by Roseanna White | Jul 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
On Saturday I picked up a book I’ve been waiting a long time to read–an advanced copy of Yahshua’s Bridge by Sandi Rog, sequel to her Amazon Best-selling The Master’s Wall. I got about 90 pages into it this weekend, and for me the experience began on the very first page, before the story even started. It began for me when I read the foreword.
Most of you probably know that on the very day Sandi’s first novel released, she was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. In the last seven months, when this precious sister ought to have been celebrating her first book and joyously working on her second, she has been battling for survival, undergoing treatments that often felt as devastating as the illness itself. And in the foreword, Sandi’s best friend and editor, Wendy Cheroot, brings this battle home for the reader.
Once in a while a book moves me to tears–but I gotta say, it’s not often it happens before I even start reading the story. This time though . . . Sandi’s struggle has hit me hard. She’s such a light, such a
Joy to know–honest, open, full of faith even when full of fear. I am honored to be her friend and thank the Lord that I can support her with my prayers and encouragement.
And so, yes, I opened Yahshua’s Bridge already knowing I would love it. I’ll tell you up front that I’m biased. 😉 But then, I’m biased on behalf of a lot of authors, and I can still differential between okay and great books.
Thus far, this is a great book. Following Alexander, whom we met in The Master’s Wall as a toddler, Yahshua’s Bridge takes the reader on a journey to unlock the past and discover the future–all the while learning to trust God’s promises even when He asks the seemingly impossible. Something I think few could show us as Sandi can. (Okay, fighting tears again here.)
According to Wendy’s foreword, working on this book has been a balm, a coping method for Sandi, as she had to live the very lessons she had already written about. It shows, even only 90 pages in, in the depth of feeling her characters experience.
I’ll keep y’all updated as I read more. The book doesn’t release until November, but I hope everyone will preorder a copy just as soon as you can (no fears, I’ll let you know when it’s up on Amazon!!). You won’t regret it!
by Roseanna White | Jul 25, 2011 | Word of the Week
I’m in the process of putting a book proposal together . . . which naturally gets me to thinking about the word. As a kid, I had no idea the family of “propose” words could mean anything other than asking someone to marry them–until, of course, I read or watched something where their was a comedy of errors around this very thing.
But in fact, marriage didn’t get attached to the word until the mid 1700s. Propose, however, dates from the 14th century with pretty clear etymology: pro (forth) + poser (put, place) = propose (to put forth).
Proposal itself didn’t get tacked on until the 1650s, but at that point it still had that more general meaning of something put forth. Like, say, a book idea sent out to publishers. 😉
But in 1749 this idea-put-forth came to mean “an offer of marriage.” And in 1764 the verb caught up with the noun, and propose became the act of offering a proposal of marriage. (Funny that it took 15 years for that, isn’t it? LOL)
So there you have it–unlike with some words that completely surprise me with their order, in this case the more general idea came about well before the specific one that has become most popular. And now off I go to get my proposal of literary genius (ahem) finished up!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.