We've been having a heat wave in the Seattle Area, which suffers from a serious lack of home air conditioning. Therefore, the Writerbe has been hanging out in lots of public spaces with air! I've been writing and reading in the library, coffee shops, malls, and the gym.
The write progress report: I've added another 3000 words to the YA modern fairytale.
On the reading list, I'm finishing a cool horrific adventure called Skuldiggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.
I've also been working on Analyzing Success. What's that you ask? First, read book A for pleasure. Then read another book (B). Next, go back and think about what part of book A really worked for you as a reader. Read book C. Finally, pick up book A again and analyze the parts that you still remember and really worked for you. Maybe, the book had colorful alive characters that popped off the page or a unique setting or lively dialog or a just right tempo. I jot notes about these things in my Analyzing Success notebook and they serve as reminders to me to work on these things in my own writing.
Until next time, read and write on!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Advancing the Craft
Today, the WriterBe worked on advancing the craft. Advancing the craft is all the stuff a writer-to-be does to learn the skills of writing and the business of writing. This afternoon, I went to a writer's open house, featuring local authors in our area with newly published children's and young adult books. One of the authors was a former writing teacher of mine, Mary Jane Beaufrand, with her YA novel Primavera. I saw books about paranormal romance, stories of interracial friendship, poems for young children, and alternative universes. So how did this advance the craft? It gave me a chance to see what's getting grabbed for publication and to chat with the other authors about upcoming classes and workshops.
Later in the day, I went to our local used bookshop for a couple of reference books for background material for 2 in progress stories.
Until next time, read and write on.
Later in the day, I went to our local used bookshop for a couple of reference books for background material for 2 in progress stories.
Until next time, read and write on.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Welcome to WriterBe!
Hello Readers & Writers,
Welcome to WriterBe,
A writer's journey.
Some introductory background:
I love to write! I've been doing it since I was old enough to hold a crayon. (I still have my very first 'story'. It was about a bird. I was four.) As a kid, I wrote stories about my neighborhood.
During my teen angst, I wrote poetry, lots and lots of poetry! In high school, I won a national essay contest and went to university on an English scholarship.
A few years later, I changed my major to molecular biology and had a career as a biologist on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, followed by biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time, I wrote mostly nonfiction; long and boring scholarly articles for research.
Now, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and I'm writing for the pure love of story again!
What to expect:
I'll share the progress of my writing and what I'm reading.
First the write progress:
Since June, I've sent 3 short stories, 2 poems, and 2 children's book proposals out to editors. I'm currently writing on 7 more stories across 3 genre. I'm never sure which story I'll write on on any given day. It just depends which story and character are speaking to me at that time. My favorite stories to write are modern fairy tales, but I also enjoy concocting humorous sci-fi stories, relationship tales with unique twists, and nonfiction green articles.
Last night, I wrote a new chapter on my latest modern fairytale. Tonight, I'm working on a nonfiction piece.
Now the reading list:
Why the reading info? It's simple, if you want to write, you must read! So, I consume lots and lots of story in books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and tv.
Today, I finished reading a great young adult novel, Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner. I loved the way the author constructed her world in this one. I also finished Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. This one ties a Celtic myth to modern vignettes - terrific!
Tonight, I treated myself to a trip to our local independent bookshop. Here are the titles for future reads: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups, Fairy-Tale Psychology by Sue and Allen Gallehugh, Tooth & Tongue, 15 Fairy Tales, by Bret Fetzer, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I also found 3 books by Michael Chabon; The Mysteries of Pittsburg, Werewolves in Their Youth, and A Model World. Finally to satisfy the eco-geek in me, I picked up Orion, Permaculture, and Communities magazines.
Next week, I'll be frequenting the library!
Until next time, read and write on!
Julie Ann
Welcome to WriterBe,
A writer's journey.
Some introductory background:
I love to write! I've been doing it since I was old enough to hold a crayon. (I still have my very first 'story'. It was about a bird. I was four.) As a kid, I wrote stories about my neighborhood.
During my teen angst, I wrote poetry, lots and lots of poetry! In high school, I won a national essay contest and went to university on an English scholarship.
A few years later, I changed my major to molecular biology and had a career as a biologist on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, followed by biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time, I wrote mostly nonfiction; long and boring scholarly articles for research.
Now, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and I'm writing for the pure love of story again!
What to expect:
I'll share the progress of my writing and what I'm reading.
First the write progress:
Since June, I've sent 3 short stories, 2 poems, and 2 children's book proposals out to editors. I'm currently writing on 7 more stories across 3 genre. I'm never sure which story I'll write on on any given day. It just depends which story and character are speaking to me at that time. My favorite stories to write are modern fairy tales, but I also enjoy concocting humorous sci-fi stories, relationship tales with unique twists, and nonfiction green articles.
Last night, I wrote a new chapter on my latest modern fairytale. Tonight, I'm working on a nonfiction piece.
Now the reading list:
Why the reading info? It's simple, if you want to write, you must read! So, I consume lots and lots of story in books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and tv.
Today, I finished reading a great young adult novel, Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner. I loved the way the author constructed her world in this one. I also finished Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. This one ties a Celtic myth to modern vignettes - terrific!
Tonight, I treated myself to a trip to our local independent bookshop. Here are the titles for future reads: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups, Fairy-Tale Psychology by Sue and Allen Gallehugh, Tooth & Tongue, 15 Fairy Tales, by Bret Fetzer, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I also found 3 books by Michael Chabon; The Mysteries of Pittsburg, Werewolves in Their Youth, and A Model World. Finally to satisfy the eco-geek in me, I picked up Orion, Permaculture, and Communities magazines.
Next week, I'll be frequenting the library!
Until next time, read and write on!
Julie Ann
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