AT GREEN GULCH WRITING RETREAT

Aah...Green Gulch retreat! I love, no, LOVE this SCBWI writing retreat! It's in this fabulous zen setting—peaceful, quiet, you can hear birds singing in the trees and inhale the wonderful scent of Eucalyptus. I get a lot of writing done here. Over the years, I've written a 10 min. play (which was produced in Ukiah and Los Angeles), worked  on my Young Adult novel (still in progress), and revised two picture books, including Goldy Luck and the Three Chans (soon to be published by Tricycle Press/Random House). 


This time, I'm working on Cixi, the Dragon Empress (the last empress of China) for Goosebottom Books. It's a non-fiction biography for their The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Dastardly Dames series. I've completed the research, and now it's time to pull all the facts together, and write it in such a way that's not a dry, chronology of information—that's the real challenge. I've spent all day writing though, and have made some headway, although it's fairly slow at this point. I think I'll write it chronologically, then figure out how to embellish the interesting details later.


My sister, Shirin Yim Bridges, publisher of Goosebottom Books and my friend, Gretchen Maurer, are also at the retreat. It is inspirational to be all working on the same thing at the same time (books for the Dastardly Dames series). We conducted our own mini-critique group to review each other's work and provide guidance/support. Another big plus at the retreat this time around? Internet access!! When you're writing non-fiction, it makes it so much easier to have that if you need to look up something on the web.


At home, I'm trying to snatch bits and pieces of writing time between running kids to school, fixing lunches, and soccer games, so it's nice to have a chunk of uninterrupted time. Plus, no cooking and cleaning (all vegetarian meals are provided for)—you an't beat that!

ON THE OTHER SIDE!

Well, I crossed that bridge, and got to the other side. And I survived my first contract negotiation! I did get a higher advance—not as much as I had asked for, but a higher one at any rate; I got to keep some of my subsidiary rights; didn't get royalties on cover price, but two out of three ain't bad! The question for me was: how much back and forth does one do in a contract negotiation? Do you just accept the counter? Or try to negotiate more? I decided that for my first time in this realm, once was good enough, and successfully navigating the negotiations and getting some of what I asked for is a coup d'etat in itself. There's so much else to look forward to—finding the illustrator, final revisions of the manuscript, marketing and publicity (not my forte, but it means the book's out!). So, onwards and forwards!

STANDING ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF

Okay, I'm going it alone. I sent a query to Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and received no response which means she's either really busy or not interested in representing me. So, after going through agent Kristin Nelson's very informative "Agenting 101" blogs—a must-read for all writers negotiating their own contracts—I've submitted my counter to the publishing terms Joanne Taylor offered me. I've always believed in the motto, "If you don't ask, you don't get"—well, not always. There was a time in my very shy high school years, when I didn't ask for anything—and got left behind in the dust. Let's just say, if you weren't born into the world a really assertive person, becoming a really assertive person is no easy task! It's doable though. I've learned to be a much more assertive person, especially when it comes to marketing my own books and writing—but that's a whole other blog.


Anyway, back to negotiating contracts. It's like standing on the edge of a very steep cliff, and you have to cross the swaying, rickety wooden suspension bridge to get to the other side. Why? That's not important. You could be chased by a tribe of cannibals, searching for hidden treasure, running from your ex-husband, whatever. You just have to get to the other side. Stepping on that rickety wooden bridge is terrifying. Are those wooden planks going to hold? Will you fall through and plunge headlong into the abyss? But if you don't at least make an attempt, you won't get anywhere. 


If you've never negotiated a publishing contract before, how much can/should you ask for? What's reasonable? There's a difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness. One can get you what you want, the other might lose you the contract altogether. There's no simple answer. A lot depends on the relationship you have with your editor, your publishing history (obviously writers with many books under their belts have more clout), and your own personal style.


I can tell you what I did though. I asked for a higher advance, to keep some of the subsidiary rights, and whether I can get royalties based on cover price rather than net price. Stay tuned to find out how that went!

TO GET AN AGENT, OR NOT TO GET AN AGENT

Got my contract in my inbox today! I now feel legitimate! If I can only decipher the gobbledy gook!! This is where agents come in handy. But I've had contradictory advise on that front.


PROS:

1. They can handle all contract negotiations, taking on the "bad guy" role and getting you a better contract while you, the writer, can be the "good guy" and play nicey-nicey with the editor while you both happily revise your masterpiece.
2. They can represent you on future projects, making submissions and contacting publishing houses on your behalf, thus saving you countless amount of time researching markets.
3. They can bypass the slush pile.
4. They probably get faster responses.
5. Many publishers are closing their doors to unsolicited submissions.

CONS:

1. They take 15% of what is usually not a whole lot of pay to begin with.
2. In children's books, an agent is not a requirement to getting published.
3. According to Harold Underdown, in Five Reasons Why You Don't Need to get an Agent , not many agents specialize in picture books.

However, just because my first published book and this current one are picture books, and I'm working on a picture book project for Goosebottom Books, doesn't mean I specialize in them either. I have a multicultural Young Adult novel in progress and a couple of middle-grade fiction ideas/manuscripts sitting on the back burner. I'm definitely looking towards completing longer works. Which makes getting an agent more worthwhile.

The question is this: should I get one now? Would having an offer on the table make it easier for me to interest an agent? Agent Kristin Nelson said on her blog that she doesn't just accept a writer because he/she has an offer; she has to love that author's work. So, this reasoning is no guarantee I'll land an agent. At least not in time to negotiate this contract.

Should I go it alone? An editor friend of mine suggested that since I've waited so long and done all the work in getting the contract, I should keep the commission and try to negotiate this myself.

I have been waffling on this issue the past couple of days, doing all the research I can on publishing contract negotiations. Incidentally, anyone in this position MUST check out Kriston Nelson's Agenting 101 series on her blog where she breaks down the terms and terminology, what they mean, what to watch out for, danger signals, and tips for negotiations. It is great! Informative, helpful, and puts the legalese in words you can understand.

I've already spent two whole days on trying to figure out all this contract language and what terms they are actually offering me instead of finishing up the research on my Last Empress of China book. Which is making me lean towards the side of seeking an agent.

However, since I already have a contract, should I save the agent for my YA?

Anyone with comments or suggestions on this can contact me.

In the meantime, I should make a decision by Monday. Will let y'all know.

PERSISTENCE DOES PAY OFF!

Woo Hoo! Just got back from vacation and got a voice mail message from Joanne Taylor. She's making me an offer on my picture book! Words cannot describe how jazzed I am. After three and a half years, three editors, multiple story transformations, and a gazillion revisions, I finally have an offer. For all you writers out there, this is a good example of persistence, hard work, and never giving up—it really does pay off.


When I was driving to Sacramento airport (about three hours from my town) at 3 am., on my way to Montana, I was relishing the quiet and solitude while my husband and kids were snoozing in the car when a flash of light streaked across the night sky. A shooting star!, I thought. I'll have to make a wish.


And I did.


Guess what it was?


Yes!!! That Goldy Luck and the Three Chans will be published.


A happy coincidence? Or maybe there's some truth to this old superstition ...

ONE STEP CLOSER...

Got an email from Joanne Taylor of Tricycle Press today. Her boss has finally given her the green light to move forward with my picture book. Yay! But because Random House bought out Tricycle's parent company Ten Speed Press last year, they have the final say. So, she's sending an acquisitions package to the New York Director.

Phew! No wonder this business is so slow—there are so many hoops to jump through. 

Thank God, I'm on vacation with my family in Montana and visiting Yellowstone National Park—so much to see and do—so no time to wait by the phone with bated breath!

This huge guy can certainly make you forget about writing for awhile...

A FASCINATING READ

I just finished reading Sterling Seagrave's book, Dragon Lady, the Life and Legend of the Last Empress of China. I really enjoyed it. I have to say it's one of the best biographies I've read with clearly drawn characters and visual descriptions of the time period and the traditions and etiquettes of the Manchu court. He makes a convincing case of why Cixi, the last Empress of China, has been unjustly villified over the years.


For anyone interested in the history of China and biographies, I highly recommend this book. It's quite a tome at 560+ pages, but a fascinating read.

GREEN GULCH FARM WRITER'S RETREAT STILL HAS OPENINGS

There are still some openings at the SCBWI Kitteridge Retreat at Green  Gulch Farm in Marin County, north of San Francisco.

Space is still available! Kittridge Retreat  Green Gulch Farm Sept. 17 to 19 Optional SUNDAY night stay on Sept. 20

Creative Get-away Retreat Green Gulch Farm, Sept. 17  to Sept. 19 (Friday and Saturday nights, departing on Sunday Sept. 20, 2010) Optional SUNDAY night stay, Sept. 20 The April 2010 retreat sold out, so please register early! No speakers, no programs, just time to write or draw surrounded by the beautiful scenery of West Marin, plus informal evening readings and critiques.

Green Gulch Farm is part of the San Francisco Zen Center. The farm is located off of Highway 1 north of the Golden Gate Bridge, in a valley that opens out onto the Pacific Ocean. The accommodations for the retreat are at the Lindisfarne Guest House. The Guest House is a distinctive octagonal building with twelve rooms on two floors surrounding a 30-foot skylit atrium. The atrium provides a relaxing skylit sitting area where guests often gather to read or sit with a cup of tea by the fire. The building is constructed in a traditional Japanese style and heated with a central wood-burning stove and passive solar system. The guest rooms are simply, yet comfortably furnished, with large windows opening onto landscaped grounds. Each pair of rooms shares a bathroom and there is a centrally located shower. Snacks are always available in the guest house kitchen. Vegetarian meals are included in the price of the retreat. Single rooms, including meals, are $279.  Optional Sunday night, Sept. 20, is $100. There is limited availability for this night. Please check with Margaret before you sign up for it. Refunds will only be made if a substitute can be found. This retreat is available only to SCBWI members. Note: The retreat begins at 3 PM Friday, and ends at 1 PM Sunday. The optional Sunday night ends after lunch on Monday. Directions to Green Gulch Farm: Take Highway 101 to the Highway 1/Stinson Beach exit. Turn left at the Arco station onto Highway 1 (Shoreline Highway). Follow the green signs for Highway 1/Stinson Beach. After 2.5 miles the road forks - bear left towards Muir Beach. Go 2 more miles and you'll see a eucalyptus grove and large sign on the left indicating the driveway, "Zen Center/Green Gulch Farm/Wheelwright Center."  Questions? E-mail Margaret Speaker Yuan at books4women(at)yahoo.com (replace (at) with @)  Be sure to check with Margaret before you register for the Optional Sunday night. Availability is limited. Fall Retreat / $279  Fall Retreat / Sunday night $100

KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED

Just got an email from Joanne Taylor. Her boss is still on the fence about my picture book, but they'll be meeting on Aug. 12 to talk about acquisitions. Joanne says, "I'm  doing my best. I promise!" When an editor goes to bat for you or your manuscript, that's half the battle!
Still keeping my fingers crossed.

GREEN GULCH FARM RETREAT

Another Kittridge Writer's Retreat has been scheduled for Green Gulch Farm in Marin County just North of San Francisco for Sept. 17 - 19. It's coming at a good time—two weeks before the Cixi manuscript is due—so, I'll need all the uninterrupted work time I can get to finish writing and polishing the first draft to submit to Goosebottom Books by Oct. 1. 

I love this retreat! It's in the lush, beautiful surroundings of Green Gulch farm where we get three great vegetarian meals served to us, all the coffee and tea we can handle to propel us through a flurry of creativity, cozy accommodations, and the company of other writers with whom we can share our work, publishing successes and woes. 


My sister has also signed up for the retreat, and my friend and fellow writer and co-member of the Ukiah Writers' Salon, Gretchen Maurer, will also be attending. Gretchen is also working on a book for  The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Dastardly Dames. Her project is on Bloody Mary, Mary I of England, so it will be fun and inspiring to be able to discuss and dissect our manuscripts in a supportive and relaxing setting.


Anyone interested in signing up for this retreat, can contact Margaret Speaker Yuan at books4women@yahoo.com. There are only slots for 15 writers, so sign up quickly. It's a retreat you won't forget! However, it's only open to SCBWI members. For more information about joining SCBWI, go to the Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators website.

NO NEWS IS STILL GOOD NEWS...I GUESS

No word from Tricycle Press yet. It's been a month since the manuscript went to acquisitions, and three weeks since I sent the editor an email inquiring about the status of the manuscript. In publishing, there's a fine line between follow-up and stalking. So for now, I'll be busy working on my other projects, and let this sleeping dog lie.


No News is still Good News.

QUERY AND PLOT TIPS FROM JILL CORCORAN AND MARTHA ALDERSON

Here are some Query letters Do's and Don'ts from Jill Corcoran of the Herman Agency:

• Research agents
• Send query ONLY to agents who represent what you write
• DO NOT query on a book that's not complete
• DO NOT write every agent you are querying in the TO line
• DO NOT say that your kids/grandkids/parent/neighbor love your book
• DON'T say which agents/editors have turned you down and quote their rejections. Even if they are glowing, they're still rejections.

Query Letter Formula:
    1st paragraph—Some agents want you to jump right into the synopsis of your story. Jill prefers to know why you are querying her upfront, so include short, precise and true reasons why you are querying her. This is where researching agents come in.
    2nd (and possibly 3rd) paragraph—write 2 - 10 sentence synopsis of your story. Agents want to know:

• Title of your manuscript
• Is it a picture book, middle grade, chapter book, young adult?
• Genre: fantasy, contemporary, romance, historical 
• Age of your main character
• What is your protagonist's problem
• If important, the setting

    Paragraph about you:

• Mention any previously published work, include name of publisher and year of publication. Don't mention self-pubished books unless you have sold 10,000 copies or more.
• Well-known and respected magazines like Highlights or Cricket mags. count. Little known e-zines don't make much difference
• Mention legitimate awards and honors
• If you have an MFA, mention it.
• Include any expertise that relate to your book ie. if you're writing a book on Greece and you're an anthropologist who's worked in Greece etc.
• Any membership info. such as SCBWI.

    Final paragraph—Keep it simple: "Thank you for your time and consideration."


Martha Alderson's Definition of Plot:
    Plot is a series of scenes deliberately arranged by cause and effect to create Dramatic Action. These scenes are filled with conflict that furthers the Character Emotional Development toward transformation. When the dramatic actions changes the character at depth over time, the story means something or becomes Thematically Significant.


Some important terms:

• Protagonist—defined by who is changed by the dramatic action
• Antagonist—Anyone or anything impeding the protagonist reaching his/her goal
• Goal—something tangible, concrete, measurable
• Climax—protagonist can do whatever he/she wasn't able to do before. It's the part where the protagonist finally triumphs over the antagonist

The middle, where writers often gets bogged down, is the territory of the antagonist. It's where the protagonist is stopped from reaching his/her goal. This is where you challenge your character and show who your character really is.


Flaws, hates, and fears are good plot builders. If your story drags, put your character in a situation where he is confronted by his flaws, hates and fears.


I have Martha's DVD, Blockbuster Plots, and find it extremely helpful in breaking down the plotting process. She also explains the different plot points in a clear, visual manner using Gennifer Choldenko's middle grade, Al Capone Does my Shirts, as an example.




                                  

SUMMER CONFERENCE AT DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

On July 16, I headed to my alma mater, Dominican University, for the SCBWI Summer Conference. Despite some new buildings and physical reorganization, much of the campus remained the same, and it was wonderful to take a walk through memory lane on Dominican's bucolic grounds. I could only attend one day of this three day conference and retreat, but it was great to re-c0nnect with writing friends, Eve Aldridge, Andrea McAfee, Pat Khan, Louise Hendrikson, and others.


The two speakers, agent Jill Corcoran from the Herman Agency and Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots, were informative and enlightening. Jill spoke on the do's and don'ts of queries and synopses and the power of Voice. Martha presented her famous breakdown of effective plotting.

Lunch in Calaruega Dining Hall also brought back memories of my college days. I wish I had both the time and the money to have stayed the whole weekend, but my girls had a horse show presentation on July 17 that I didn't want to miss. 


At the end of the day, I received my manuscript critique from Jill Corcoran. On the whole, it was very positive and encouraging. She thought the manuscript sample I submitted was beautifully written, but slow from pages 3 - 10 and suggested I re-work the pacing. She was interested enough in the story that she asked to see the full manuscript when it was done, and gave me her business card. Being the slow writer that I am, I'm really going to have to work hard on establishing a routine of writing a certain amount of pages or words a day to complete the manuscript, even as I'm focusing on my biography of Cixi, the last Empress of China, for Goosebottom books. That manuscript is due on October 1!

I'M A GOOSE!

My sister, children's book author Shirin Yim Bridges (Ruby's Wish, Chronicle Books, 2002; The Umbrella Queen, Greenwillow Books, 2008) just started a new small press, Goosebottom Books. Goosebottom will be launching its debut series, The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Real Princesses, this October. The series, for ages 9-13, includes books about Hatshepsut of Egypt, Artemisia of Caria, Sorghaghtani of Mongolia, Qutlugh Terkan Khatun of Kirman, Isabella of Castile, and Nur Jahan of India. (For obvious reasons, each book will include a pronunciation guide!) Richly illustrated and narrated with touches of irreverent humor, these books bring to life the stories of real and remarkable princesses who overcame barriers to make a mark in history.

 Shirin wrote all six books in the first series. The Real Princesses books will be available on Amazon.com in September, and in bookstores in October.

Goosebottom has several additional series planned, the second of which will be The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Dastardly Dames. Each book in this 6 book series will be written by a different author. For this project, a call for submissions went out to writers known to Shirin (me included) and consulting editor Amy Novesky, a former editor at Chronicle Books. You'd think, being Shirin's sister that I'd be a shoo-in right? Nope. I had to submit a writing sample just like everyone else. It's all for the best though because Amy Novesky reviewed the manuscripts, so I can be assured that my selection as one of the writers of the second series is based on the merit of my submission, and not on any familial connection. The dastardly dames of the second series include Mary I of England; Marie Antoinette, Austrian-born French Queen; Cixi, the last Empress of China; Agrippina, Roman Empress; Catherine de Medici, Italian-born Queen of France; and Cleopatra VII, the last Pharoah of Egypt. I'll be writing the biography of Cixi, the last Empress of China.


Goosebottom Books does accept unsolicited submissions from new and published writers alike. They are planning two or three more series. Writers wishing to be considered for a future series, can send a writing sample of no more than 1000 words to submissions@goosebottombooks.com. Goosebottom Books is also looking for illustrators. For consistency of artistic styles, one illustrator will be selected to illustrate all the books in a series. Interested illustrators can send a link to their portfolio to shirin.bridges@goosebottombooks.com. You can also follow Goosebottom Books on Facebook.


Currently, Goosebottom Books is planning its book tour (locations to be announced). One definite booking is the Sonoma County Book Festival on Sept. 25. Shirin and I will both be there at the Goosebottom booth, so do stop by and say "hello".

HOPING GOLDY LUCK IS LUCKY

After three and a half years and a million edits, my picture book manuscript, Goldy Luck and the Three Chans, is finally going to an acquisitions meeting at Tricycle Press. I've been working with editor Joanne Taylor who's been wonderfully encouraging and helpful, but it's now up to the publisher. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that good news will come my way soon. If this saga ends up positively, it will be a great example of perseverance!

HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN'S ARTICLE, PCCWW, AND OTHER WRITING NOTES

 

My friend, Gretchen, called me the other day to inform me that my article, "Dragons Race on Water" about the Dragon Boat Festival, finally appeared in the current (June) issue of Highlights for Children magazine. It's on page 10 for those of you who have this month's issue. I'm waiting for my complimentary copies, but glad to finally see it in print (it's been a long five year wait!)

Other writing notes:

• The play review I wrote for the Ukiah Players Theatre's production of Godspell appeared in the Thurs., June 20, issue of the Ukiah Daily Journal. This weekend, May 27 - 30, is the last weekend to see the play. Tickets can be purchased online.

• My long-suffering picture book manuscript, "Go Dil Lok and the Three Chans" has been sitting with Tricycle Press for 3 years now. It's been through 3 different editors who all have expressed an interest in it. After a 7 months gap of no contact, editor Joanne Taylor contacted me in November to tell me that they've misplaced my manuscript, and would I please send another one. Then in March, she emailed again to say that the publisher wasn't convinced it was the right project for them, but she would like to call me to discuss it. The long and short of that conversation was that the story had too many themes and she suggested keeping it to the basic Goldilocks and the 3 Bears structure. The revisions were emailed back to her 3 weeks ago, but there's been no word yet. I just realized that there's a pattern of 3's here. Maybe that's significant in some way? In either case, it hasn't been outright rejected yet, so there's still a little hope.

• The Pacific Coast Children's Writers Workshop (PCCWW) is now on Facebook and LinkedIn. It's a wonderful workshop for writers of middle grade and young adult novels on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA. with beach front accommodations available at the bucolic Pajaro Dunes resort. This year's event will be on Aug. 20 - 22. The faculty includes literary agent Ted Malawer, Upstart Crow Agency; senior editor Kate Harrison, Dial Book for Young Readers; and editor and publisher Laura Backes, Children's Book Insider. For an early-bird discount, mention you saw the announcement on LinkedIn by May 31 and receive a $25 discount on full enrollment. Other discounts can be located on the PCCWW website. Keep checking back for further discount announcements and information. I'll post them as I get them.

ANOTHER EXHILIRATING NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL AT MENDO. COLLEGE

The New Plays Festival was a blast as usual! Ten 10 min. plays by ten different playwrights. Playing with Knives received a good audience response, which is gratifying. The cast included: Justin Briggs as Harvey Crenshaw; Jan Michele as Muriel Crenshaw; Mikael Tadeo as Mugger #1, Tony; and Jake Stoepler as Mugger #2, Marco. They all did a fabulous job! Justin was particularly hilarious in the lead role. I also enjoyed Night Class by Don Samson and Corinna Rogers' Perfect Results. I'll be purchasing the DVD of the productions when it's available, so will post Playing with Knives either here or on my website.

Check back in to watch it.

PLAYING WITH KNIVES AT MENDOCINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

OPENING NIGHT for Mendocino College's New Plays Festival! My ten minute play, "Playing with Knives", performed earlier this year in Los Angeles by Fire Rose Productions, is in the line-up for the 8th Annual New Plays Festival at Mendocino College. It's always a fun evening of 8 - 10 short plays by different local playwrights. The cast is great, and I'm looking forward to seeing their performances tonight and tomorrow night. Check out the description of the plays on Facebook.

CALL OF THE WILD

Ahhh...another heavenly writer's retreat at Green Gulch Farm in Marin County. There's nothing like a little Zen-ness to inspire your muse. I worked on Chapter 6 of my Young Adult novel, but really struggled with making certain concepts work. Of course, the bucolic surroundings, gorgeous sunshine, and call of Muir beach just a 20 min. walk away threatened to distract. However, I reached deep and followed author Jane Yolen's advice: Butt In Chair, and by the end of the retreat had finally completed that Chapter and begun the next. What a feeling of accomplishment that is!

The vegetarian food was delicious, as usual, and the opportunity to commiserate with other writers about writing and re-connect with old friends was priceless.

The Kitteridge Writer's Retreat at Green Gulch Farm is open to SCBWI (Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators) members only, but is truly worth the drive and the membership. The next retreat at Green Gulch is scheduled for September (date to be announced). If you can't wait that long, North Coast SCBWI is hosting a retreat and workshop at Dominican College in San Rafael, July 15 - 18. The retreat is a no-program, no-pressure writing time for attendees. The workshop features agent Jill Corcoran from the Herman Agency, Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots, Kathleen Duey, author of Skin Hunger and Sacred Scars, editor Andrea Welch from Beach Lane Books, and for an additional fee, a manuscript critique from one of the faculty.

10 MIN. PLAYS—SUBMISSIONS, FESTIVALS AND MORE

I mentioned in my last blog that Fire Rose Productions is looking for submissions for their 8th Annual Ten Minute Play contest. For those of you who have thought of writing a play, but found the process a little daunting, the 10 min. play format is a good place to start. Here are some sites I've found with useful information on how to write a 10 min. play:

http://www.10-minute-plays.com/how_to_write_a_10_minute_play.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2102436_write-ten-minute-play.html

In addition to Fire Rose Productions, other places that offer 10 min. play festivals where you can submit your play are:

http://www.10minuteplays.com/

http://www.shortandsweet.org/

http://www.inspiratofestival.ca/write-a-play.php

http://www.fusionabq.org/TheSevenSubmissions.htm

http://www.actorstheatre.org/humana_contest.htm

and the Festival of New Plays at Mendocino Community College where I got my start writing Ten Minute plays. Their annual deadline is Feb. 14.

Here's another great writing site that is chock full of useful information and resources:

http://www.burryman.com

Look under play submissions, and you'll find a list of places that publish plays, contests, festivals, plus submission guidelines.

Happy Writing!

"PLAYING WITH KNIVES" GOES HOLLYWOOD!

I just returned from a fun weekend in Los Angeles where my ten minute play, "Playing with Knives" was performed as part of Fire Rose Production's 7th Annual Ten-minute Play Festival. Last year, they had moved the performances to a larger theatre in Santa Monica, but this year, the plays were performed at their home theatre, the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood. The 60-seat theatre was so packed that they had to place some throw cushions on the floor to accommodate the overflow. The younger, more supple of the audience members, my brother, Jason, included, gamely gave up their seats to get front-row floor seating. Well, at least Jason's tush was adequately padded!

The festival was divided into two groups (Group A & B) of 6 plays each. Group A performed on Jan. 7, 8 & 9, and Group B, which included "Playing with Knives", performed on Jan. 14, 15, & 16. The top 3 plays in each group (chosen by audience vote) got to perform in the "Best of ..." show on Sunday, Jan. 17. I was honored that "Playing with Knives" was selected as one of 6 for the "Best of ..." show. "Match Point", a very funny play written by Chris Widney, won the Mercer Award this year. Congratulations, Chris!

Thank you to Kaz Matamura, co-founder of the Secret Rose Theatre and Fire Rose Productions, and director of "Playing with Knives", and a talented cast who brought the play to life and made it so much fun: Michael Judson Pratt, Ellen Bienenfeld, Kevin Marshall Pinkney, and Stephen Katz.

Fire Rose Productions is currently seeking submissions for the 8th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival. Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2010. For more information, click here.

DRIVING IN THE FOG

I'm into collecting quotes lately, especially ones related to writing. Here's one of my faves. I find it particularly inspiring:

Writing is like driving in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way — E.L. Doctorow

Hear, hear! If you get overwhelmed or intimidated by the thought of planning out or writing the whole book, like I often am, break it down into a chapter at a time. Works for me.

I attended the Northern SCBWI Fall Conference at Mills College in Oakland on Oct. 24. It's a beautiful campus. I enjoyed seeing writing friends and acquaintances, and the conference offered interesting tracks on picture books and marketing. I did get to talk to Abigail Samoun of Tricycle Press about my picture book manuscript that has gone through 3 editors, and has now disappeared into the Black Hole of publishing. She encouraged me to keep contacting Joanne Taylor, the editor who had it last, but other than that, offered no new insights as to its status. As Ms. Taylor hasn't returned my last couple of emails, I'm not holding out much hope that anything will happen with Tricycle. Oh well, onwards and forwards.

INSPIRE YOUR SOUL, INSPIRE YOUR WRITING

I just came back from yet another SCBWI Green Gulch Writing Retreat (they're having it twice a year now - in Spring and in Fall). I tell you, I'm hooked! I'll have to bring a camera next time, so I can post some pictures. I arrived about 4 pm. on Friday, Sept. 18. I found my assigned room, set up my computer, and looked out the large windows overlooking the lush hillside to see not one, but two baby deer munching on leaves and grass just a few feet from me! Ahhh ... if that doesn't inspire your writing, it should inspire the Soul, or at the very least, your oneness with Nature.

I spent the weekend working on my Young Adult novel which I had just started. Chapters one and Two have been very slow going, but by Sunday morning, Chapter Three was flowing much more fluidly. It was an all-women group this time, some of whom I had met and known at previous Green Gulch retreats and other writing conferences, some I got to meet and know for the first time. A small intimate retreat like this is such a great place to make new writing friends. I'm looking forward to seeing a few of these women again at the SCBWI Fall Conference in Oakland, October 24. I also really enjoyed the informal critique groups in the evenings. Usually attended by just a small handful of us, the Saturday night one attracted almost the whole group and it took us close to 3 hours to get around to everybody! But what a treat to hear some of the wonderful pieces the other writers are working on, and to get good insight and some direction about your own work.

The food was delicious as usual, especially this delectable potato salad and an out-of-this-world spinach fettucine dish. The next Green Gulch Retreat is in April, and you can bet my Macintosh laptop I'll be there!

By the way, my friend, Elizabeth Shreeve's new picture book, Oliver at the Window, just came out from Front Street/Boyds Mill Press. Check it out on her website, www.elizabethshreeve.com. Elizabeth also has a Book Party planned to launch the publication of this book at the Book Passage in Corte Madera, on Sat., Oct. 3rd, at 2 pm. Do come by, say 'Hi', get a signed copy of the book, and tell her I sent you.

AND YOU THOUGHT BOOK PUBLISHING WAS SLOW ...

I just got an email from Carolyn Yoder from Highlights for Children magazine. The article I sold to them in 2005 on the Dragon Boat Festival is slated to be published in the June 2010 issue. That's 5 years after they purchased it! Oh well, Better Late than Never, I say. I'm just happy to finally see it in print. Of course, a few things had to be changed and added to make the article a little more contemporary. So, for those of you who have a subscription to Highlights, look for it in June.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since my last post! I had decided to take a short break from blogging to focus on Mom duties and other writing projects, and before I can say "Jack London", a whole year has passed! So, just a brief catch up:

Oct. 2008 - went to L.A. to see my 10 min. play, "Elevator" performed at the Miles Theatre in Santa Monica. Nice job, acting and directing-wise.

Feb. 2009 - Attended the SCBWI Writer's Retreat at Green Gulch Farm. This has easily become one of my favorite writing events - a weekend in a lovely, peaceful setting to focus on my writing, a chance to commiserate with other writers and get feedback on my work, and I don't have to cook and clean up! Plus, the vegetarian food is healthy, and delicious. I also attended the Asilomar Writers' Conference. Workshopped my picture book manuscript, Armadillo Soup and got some possible agent interest, but he wants me to cut it down to 600 - 650 words. So, I'll need to get back to that - soon!

June 2009 - participated in the 24 Hour play festival, this time as a solo writer, which was scary, but I got a great sense of accomplishment when I finished the play in 7 hours! And had a blast watching it performed the next night at Ukiah Player's Theatre. Of course, having a great team of actors to bring it to Life doesn't hurt.

June 2009 - Went with my family to Provence, France. Fantastic trip! But not much chance for writing.

Sept. 2009 - Submitted my picture book manuscript Go Dil Lok and the Three Chans to Bookstop Literary Agency.

So, that's it in a nutshell. My goal for this upcoming year -

a) write more consistently, which I can only do if I ...

b) Did not LIVE at my kids' school. Volunteerism is great; the school needs it, and my kids like seeing me there. But boy, can it wreak havoc with your writing career if you don't set some limits.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'D BUMP INTO AT A WRITERS' CONFERENCE

I'm a big believer in Fate. If something is meant to happen, it'll happen--like getting a certain someone to propose to you, or getting hired for the job of your dreams, or getting a book published ...

And so it was that as luck, or Fate would have it, I ran into Susan McCombs of Tricycle Press at the Book Passage Children's Writers' Conference in July. Those of you who have read my previous blogs might remember that Tricycle has been sitting on one of my picture book manuscripts for quite awhile (a year and a half as a matter of fact, by the time I fortuitously bumped into Susan at the conference). I had received no word from Susan since October of 2007 when I sent her my revisions, and after not getting any responses to follow up e-mails, a phone call, and a letter, I had written the manuscript off as a lost cause with Tricycle Press.

I had already signed up for the conference when the week before I left, I found out that Susan was a last minute addition to the faculty. So, it was with great anticipation, and more than a little trepidation, that I prepared myself for a literary showdown of sorts (something akin to the Gunfight at the OK Corral, but with paper, pen, great wit, and barbed tongue). Okay, so this was merely played out in my head. In reality, I was readying for the inevitable, "Sorry, your revisions sucked, and we just discovered that you can't write to save your Life".

Thursday evening and all day Friday, there was no Susan sightings. Of course, not knowing what she looked like made the prospect of finding her a little more challenging. However, at lunch on Friday, I sat at a table with a woman who works in an office next to Ten Speed Press (Tricycle's parent company), and she said she knew Susan and would introduce her to me. Aaah--the Sixth Degree of Separation theory coming into play. So, at Saturday lunch, I looked for this woman without success. And then Fate stepped in.

A very friendly woman approached and asked if she could sit at my lunch table. I looked at her name tag, and lo and behold--Susan McCombs in the flesh! I quickly introduced myself, but before I could even blurt out the name of my manuscript, she said, "You're the one who sent me Go Dil Lok and the Three Chans! I want to talk to you."

So, to make a long story short:

• Susan is a lovely woman, not the cool, aloof editor with the "you're-just-a-lowly-writer" attitude I had expected.

• The manuscript was given to a young editor, Jo, at Tricycle who really wanted to work on it, but had to leave on emergency maternity leave, and the ball got dropped.

• Susan and I had a very productive chat about the story. She gave me a lot of encouraging feedback and helped me brainstorm and line edit the manuscript.

• She told me that they were still very interested in the manuscript and wanted me to send it to her directly when I was done with revisions.

• She will try and get it on the fast track when she receives it.

I'm happy to say that Go Dil Lok and the Three Chans hasn't died a slow, agonizing death underneath a mound of slush on some editor's desk. I'm currently working on revisions and hope to get the manuscript back to Susan by the end of this month or early November. By that time, Tricycle Press would have had this story for two years! Two years--sigh!--and still no contract. The good news is, they haven't rejected it yet either. 

So, it's back to revising ... perservering ... and hoping ...

ELEVATOR IN ACTOBERFEST

I'm going to Hollywood! Okay, so Fire Rose Productions is located in Hollywood, and this may be the closest I'll ever get to the big 'H' professionally, but still it's exciting. Elevator 

has been selected as one of 16 plays to be produced for Fire Rose Production's ACToberfest ten-minute play festival. Yay! It's the first time one of my plays has been performed and produced outside of Mendocino County.

In previous years, the plays were performed at the Secret Rose Theater in Hollywood, but this 60-seat venue sold out every year, and they've decided to move the performances to the Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica for 2008. Which is great, because my brother, Jason, Creative Director of Trigger lives there, so I can visit him--and get him to throw me a pre-play party. Hint, hint, Jase.

Elevator will be performed on Oct. 16 - 19. 

DEATH SUCKS!

This year's 24 hour play festival at the Ukiah Players Theatre was a blast! My co-writer from last year and fellow Ukiah Writers' Salon member, Paul Kubin, was unavailable this time due to the fact that he had to meet a long lost cousin or some such thing (... yeah, yeah, yeah ... and the dog ate his script ...) But fortunately, I was able to convince Terena Scott, a friend and playwright (she penned the play Choices for the New Plays Festival) to join me. Terena is the publisher of the small press Medusa's Muse, and a talented writer in her own right. 

Since Terena is a member of the writing group, The Vaguerants, our team became The Vaguerant Salon. We rounded up a great cast of actors: Tommy McFadden, Brittani Ray, Jason Briseno, and Jan Michele. I had worked with all of them before except Jan, with whom I was quite impressed after seeing her performance at the New Plays Festival. Doug Hundley signed on as the director. Unfortunately, Doug had to pull out two days before the event because his house was in the path of a forest fire and he had to ready himself for evacuation. After a mad (unsuccesful) scramble to find a replacement, in which I briefly (and nervously--because that meant I had to stay up for 24 hours) considered directing myself, Tommy bravely stepped forward to save the day!

We met at UPT at 6:30 pm. on June 27 (which happened to be my birthday) for drinks and appetizers, generously provided by Applebee's. Then the teams (7 in all) gathered in the theater for instructions and rules, one theme from each team was thrown into a hat, and a theme was drawn at random. This year's theme was: Death. The teams dispersed at 8:00 pm. and writers were left at the mercies of their imaginations for the next 12 hours.

Terena was great to collaborate with. It's hard, sometimes, to figure out what role each person plays in a collaboration. But we seemed to find the right groove. We had a subject matter that fit the theme: vampires (I always wanted to do a vampire spoof), and by 9 pm., had completed the first 3 pages. By midnight--Death Sucks! was born--and the final draft completed by 3 am. (which was a lot better than last year--I could at least sneak in a few hours sleep before returning to UPT to deliver the script to the director and actors).

The performances on Sat., June 28, were a riot! It's amazing what derangement can come out of the brains of writers pumped full of caffeine and pure adrenaline.

There are 24 hour play festivals cropping up all over the nation, with variations in rules. Here are a few:

http://www.fayettevilledowntown.org/faf/play/index.html

http://www.ashlandnewplays.org/our-events/247-project.html
http://www.24hourplays.com/

If you haven't yet participated in a 24 hour play festival, I highly recommend it. It's an experience like no other. Besides, what have you got to lose? 

Except a little sleep, of course.

AN AFFAIR -- OR TWO -- AND THE BELLY BUTTON THING

Who had an affair with whom and what is the belly button thing? For those of you who missed seeing my play, Elevator (and the answers to these questions), live on stage, click on the link. It was part of a great line-up of ten-minute plays in Mendocino College's 6th Annual New Plays Festival on May 9 & 10. This is my third involvement in this festival and it's always such a fun event. I loved my cast! They were wonderful to work with and very talented. Also, many thanks to my director, Maria Monti, who has such a great creative eye and truly has a knack for comedic timing. Plus, she gets my humor! The response from the audience was gratifying, and after some disappointments in the book world (see my blog, "Into the Black Hole"), it's nice to have my ego stroked a little.

For those of you who have been thinking of or are writing a ten-minute play, check out these resources:

http://www.10-minute-plays.com/how_to_write_a_10_minute_play.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2102436_write-ten-minute-play.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2102436_write-ten-minute-play.html

What do you do after you've written a ten-minute play? The increasing popularity of the ten-minute play format (cheap to produce because of minimal sets, lighting etc., gives the audience a sample of several plays in one night) has seen ten-minute play festivals crop up all over the world.

Here are a few:

http://www.10minuteplays.com/
http://www.shortandsweet.org/
http://www.inspiratofestival.ca/write-a-play.php
http://www.fusionabq.org/TheSevenSubmissions.htm

And the granddaddy of the ten-minute play festival: 

http://www.actorstheatre.org/humana_contest.htm

Here's another great writing site that is chock full of useful information and resources:

http://www.burryman.com

Look under play submissions, and you'll find a list of places that publish plays, contests, festivals, plus submission guidelines.

"ELEVATOR", A NEW 10-MIN. PLAY

My new ten minute play, "Elevator" has been chosen to be part of this year's New Plays Festival at Mendocino Community College. I've always loved this event and the close collaboration of the play production process. The director is Maria Monti, who directed my first play, "Flavor of the Month" in 2004.

Here's the synopsis: Amy just found out that her husband, Rob, had a one night stand. When they are stuck in an elevator with a divorce attorney, a marriage and family therapist, a forty-something divorcee, and a blonde bimbo, their marital woes become an open book and EVERYONE has an opinion on the subject! Will the attorney get a new client? Will the therapist save Amy and Rob’s marriage? What do the middle-aged divorcee and the blonde bimbo have in common? And what the hell is the belly-button thing? You’ll find out in this fun comedy about betrayal, forgiveness and the art of seduction.

It's always fun to go to auditions and get a first look at the actors who might inhabit the characters in my creation, and I'm very excited about the cast this year. We have a great group of actors who, I'm sure, will be wonderful in this play. I'm truly looking forward to rehearsals -- there's something magical about seeing the people you've created in your head come to Life on stage.

INTO THE BLACK HOLE

Somewhere earlier in my blogging career, I excitedly mentioned that an editor at Tricycle Press had taken one of my picture book manuscripts to an editorial meeting, and expressed interest and enthusiasm for the story. She asked for revisions which I then submitted to her. She then said she'd get back to me after meeting her deadlines. That was October of 2007. I have not heard from her, or anyone else at Tricycle Press since then. My e-mails, to which this editor responded fairly quickly in the beginning of our correspondence, have gone unanswered and there has been no response to my follow-up letter of enquiry regarding the status of my manuscript. The latter, it seems, has been sucked into publishing's Black Hole.

This is the maddeningly frustrating thing about navigating the publishing world, especially without an agent. Actually, this is the first time this has happened to me when an editor initiated communication then dropped off the face of the earth. Usually, I get a yay or nay, but total avoidance?

So, it's back to the drawing board -- agonizing research on which publishing houses I should submit to, plus a couple of agents (why not? I've decided that there are definite advantages to having one). A friend of mine attended a writing conference, where one of the keynote speakers mentioned that she had received 150 rejection letters on one manuscript. Depending on whether you tend to see the glass as half full or half empty, that can be completely disheartening or entirely uplifting. In either case, Tricycle Press makes it the 4th or 5th rejection for this manuscript, so I have 145 to go before I should label this manuscript a lost cause and abandon it.

So, my writer friends, keep writing, keep submitting, and May the Muse Be with You.

GREEN GULCH FARM RETREAT

The SCBWI-sponsored writer's retreat at Green Gulch Farm in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, on Feb. 1 - 3 was just what I needed. A whole weekend of writing -- with NO interruptions. Heavenly! Set amidst a grove of Eucalyptus trees, a mere 20 min. walk from Muir Beach, the tranquility of this Zen retreat was the place to nurse your muse. The price of the retreat included healthy vegetarian meals served in the main dining hall. Most of the writers' rooms were housed in an octagonal building with a common kitchen and sitting area, perfect for commiserating with your fellow writers. The simplicity of the rooms (one bed, a writng desk and a corner chair), offered little distraction from our tasks at hand--writing--except for a large window opening onto the lush, untamed beauty of Green Gulch farm. If it wasn't for the raging storm that descended upon us that weekend, I might have been sorely tempted to commune with Nature instead of my Muse.

During the retreat, I got to re-connect with a couple of writers I had met previously at other writers' conferences and workshops (Anne Marie Turner and Elizabeth Shreeve), and met new ones. Informal evening critique groups, delicious vegetarian meals, water-cooler conversations in the kitchen on all things writing, and infinite supplies of coffee and snacks -- who could ask for anything more?

All day Saturday, slashing rain pelted the windows of my little room, and winds whipped the Eucalyptus trees into a frenzied hula dance. Nothing to do really, but write. And write I did! There's something so freeing about letting the words flow, and immersing yourself in something creative for hours at a time. Ahhh ... this is what it feels like to be a full time writer.

I didn't walk away from the retreat with the Great American Novel, but I did completely revise a picture book manuscript, crafted a skeletal outline of a 10 min. play I'm planning on submitting to the New Plays Festival at Mendocino College, and with my writing soul completely refreshed.

I am soooo coming back next year!

CHILDREN'S BOOK INSIDER'S NEW E-BOOK

I've just figured out how to embed hyperlinks into the body of my blog, thanks to my web programmer, Marc Carson, (see? I did it, Marc!). It' so cool! Now, all I have to do is resist the temptation to link to everything!

Speaking of links, Children's Book Insider, has come out with a new e-book, "I Wish Someone Had Told Me That!", a compilation of words of wisdom and advice from 64 published children's book authors. And I'm on page 108! More than 60 authors opened up and shared their thoughts about literary lessons learned during the writing and publishing process. Jon Bard, Managing Editor of Children's Book Insider, and the editor of this e-book says in his introduction, "Some are touching, some are funny, some are true nuts & bolts. But all of the responses are truly inspirational."

You can purchase the e-book, by clicking on the above link.

FOR THE DIRECTION-CHALLENGED

Here's the thing I learned (the hard way) about GPS:

• It works great when you have no other directions to go on
• When you have a sense of direction (or lack thereof) like mine, it's better than fumbling around in the car for your map, pulling over at every gas station, or trying to call for help on your cell phone
• It DOES NOT always give you the most direct route

I discovered this last point when, on Nov. 7, I drove 2 hours from my home in Northern California to a social event at Chronicle Books in San Francisco commemorating their move to a new location. The worry-wart in me decided to cover my basis so I printed directions from Map Quest and programmed Chronicle's address into the GPS in my car. The Map Quest directions actually looked fairly simple--3 lefts from Van Ness, and you were there. But for reasons that are unclear to me now, just as I pulled off Highway 101 onto Lombard, I decided that my GPS had never failed me before--and hey, why have one in the car when you don't use it?

I wonder if GPS devices have a mind of their own, and mine decided to mess around with me--just for the fun of it. It sent me on a convoluted path, criss-crossing the city in downtown S.F. during rush hour traffic. Now, you have to understand that I live in a small, rural town where "traffic" constitutes 3 cars ahead of you at the stop sign. I'm not used to this bumper to bumper stuff with people weaving in and out of lanes and honking at you if you didn't start revving your engine before the light turns green.

Finally, relief seemed to be in sight. I spotted the name of the parking lot I had picked out from Map Quest, supposedly just behind the Chronicle offices, and I was only 15 mins. late. I pulled in, parked and paid my parking fees. As I headed down the street in my black pencil skirt and high heel pumps (the instructions from the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators SCBWI said to dress professionally, so I had to abandon my usual Mommy-sweats and tennis shoes), I realized that this wasn't the parking lot on my Map Quest directions. No, this parking lot was about seven blocks away from my intended destination! They have parking lot chains? Who'd have thought? Needless to say, by the time I walked there, stood around for an hour and a half mingling with my fellow writers and Chronicle editors, and walked back, my feet were ready for a Body Shop Peppermint foot soak.

On the plus side, I met some lovely writers and re-connected with my writing friend, Anthea Brown whom I met at the Big Sur Children's Writers' Workshop in December 2006. She's a wonderful, funny writer, and a terrific artist, so check out her website.