It’s spring and I don’t care what anybody says, even the weatherman who’s still predicting more storms this week. Forget it. I’m moving on to spring and that’s that.
This morning about five, the moon confirmed my belief that spring is truly here by giving me a forest brushed with its silver light and only a few whispers of clouds. If only I could paint, I thought, I’d try my hand at that moon and those trees and that perfect light.
But I’m not a painter. I’m a person who tries to infuse words with pictures, and so I went back to my art of choice and some ability and wrote some scenes for my WIP.
Last Friday I was very pleased to visit Carlmont High in Belmont, CA. Keplers (that wonderful Indie that supports all writers, great and small) arranged to have several combined English classes come to hear me rattle on about me, about writing, specifically, about what it’s like to take an idea and somehow wrestle it into a body of work that others will read.
Yes, this is me, trying to look like I know what I’m talking about. The screen behind me is a bit intimidating, isn’t it? I did a slide show with a couple of writerly images of me, and when I saw how big I came out, I about croaked.
- They asked lots of questions. Here are some:
- How much do you make?
- How do you feel when your editor changes something in your story?
- Where do you get your ideas?
- Did you like Twilight?
That last question brought me up short. If I said no, were they going to hurl sharp pencils at me? My motto is tell the truth even if it’s going to hurt, so I said, “No.”
They applauded!
So I said, “Gee, now that I know you’re not going to go hostile on me, I’d like to tell you why.” And I did. What did I say?
Something, like, I can’t imagine any of my female characters having to depend on a some guy–a dead one at that–to make her complete. And they applauded again.
Still you can’t argue with success, and I said you have to give anyone credit for being able to capture enough readers to sell that many books.
So wrapping up my MM post of the week, here are a couple of sites writers might take a look at for some ideas to kick start your spring.
For some super help with characterization visit, Imagining Ourselves. Lots of great stories and personal essays from around the world.
Are you one of those eavesdropping writers who like to capture smatterings of dialogue to tuck away for that next novel? Well then Overheard in New York is a place to check out.
I’m checking out a few more to share next week. If you have some to share, share ’em here and thanks for doing that you wonderful writers, you!