I'm out of town this week, so apologies if anything goes haywire.
I'm thinking about summer reading. What are the summer's hot books? Anything spectacular that you've found? Classics? Debuts? Books that I've read, am reading or have heard about are...
2007 Women's Best Travel Writing
The Debs by Susan McBride
King Henry IV by... Shakespeare... I think...
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris
Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell
Viking Warrior by Judson Roberts
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
I'm looking for excellent travel writing books. Recommendations?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
WORD: Keeping Track of Submissions
by Gabrielle Linnell
After three years of freelancing, I've succumbed to Freelance Fake Deja Vu Syndrome. This strange neurosis shows itself when I stare at an essay or article and think... have I written this before? Or worse, have I submitted this before? Plagiarism against yourself is awkward. Once you start sending your work out to magazines, how do you keep track of them all?
Whatever system you use, always identify name of submission, name of magazine, name of editor sent to, date submitted and date (expected response.) Other stuff, such as notes from a rejection letter, type of submission or specific addresses/emails, is a good idea.
The Flashcard Way. Do you like 3D, non-computer organization? Invest in 3x5 flashcards and a box to hold them in. This way, you can literally pull out the card when you need to follow-up on a story or article.
Make Me a Table. I used this for about two years and it worked wonderfully. Set up a Microsoft Word document Table, with columns of all the required information and blanks for response dates, payment or editorial notes. The benefit of the blanks is that when you look over your submissions table, you can easily see who hasn't emailed you back.
Write It Down. My current system is on my "Writing Whiteboard" (a Microsoft Word document I have on my desktop that keeps track of all my projects.) I write it like this:
"The Origin of the Alphabet" for Dandy Andy at ABC MAGAZINE submitted 1.1.01. [Received, accepted, published] Fool around with different formats that make the most sense to you.
Even if you're only sending out a poem a month, don't trust your memory! There are one million benefits to keeping track of your submissions, so start or update today.
Gabrielle Linnell enjoys public speaking, reading Mark Haddon and watching The Apartment. Talk about funny writing!
After three years of freelancing, I've succumbed to Freelance Fake Deja Vu Syndrome. This strange neurosis shows itself when I stare at an essay or article and think... have I written this before? Or worse, have I submitted this before? Plagiarism against yourself is awkward. Once you start sending your work out to magazines, how do you keep track of them all?
Whatever system you use, always identify name of submission, name of magazine, name of editor sent to, date submitted and date (expected response.) Other stuff, such as notes from a rejection letter, type of submission or specific addresses/emails, is a good idea.
The Flashcard Way. Do you like 3D, non-computer organization? Invest in 3x5 flashcards and a box to hold them in. This way, you can literally pull out the card when you need to follow-up on a story or article.
Make Me a Table. I used this for about two years and it worked wonderfully. Set up a Microsoft Word document Table, with columns of all the required information and blanks for response dates, payment or editorial notes. The benefit of the blanks is that when you look over your submissions table, you can easily see who hasn't emailed you back.
Write It Down. My current system is on my "Writing Whiteboard" (a Microsoft Word document I have on my desktop that keeps track of all my projects.) I write it like this:
"The Origin of the Alphabet" for Dandy Andy at ABC MAGAZINE submitted 1.1.01. [Received, accepted, published] Fool around with different formats that make the most sense to you.
Even if you're only sending out a poem a month, don't trust your memory! There are one million benefits to keeping track of your submissions, so start or update today.
Gabrielle Linnell enjoys public speaking, reading Mark Haddon and watching The Apartment. Talk about funny writing!
Bookshelf: How I Fell in Love and Learned to Shoot Free Throws
How I Fell in Love and Learned to Shoot Free Throws by Jon Ripslinger was on my reading list this week and I fell in love. Ripslinger's short, poignant novel is about Danny Hardman, a big football & basketball player who has got to be the sweetest guy in literature, barring Jerome P. Foxworthy. Having said that, this is a boy-friendly book and in fact has lots of sports references and manlike things.
Danny is sweet on Angel McPherson, the stony blonde star of the girls' basketball team who won't open up to any one. The story of how he falls in love with her, and the secrets that keep her quiet, are moving. This books covers sports, romance, prejudice, secrets and growing up in a realistic, simple way.
It's a keeper!
Next Week: Meet Paula Yoo!
Next week, our Bookshelf interviewee is Paula Yoo! Paula has written several picture books and this year, a young adult novel about a Korean-American girl with too many college applications! Good Enough is rocking the literary world, so save the date as Paula talks about her music, her books and her excellent advice for teen writers.
Welcome to Funds for Writers Folk
If you've trotted over here because of the article in Funds for Writers: Small Markets, welcome! This is a place for every teen who likes to write and any reader who likes YA lit and teen writing, whether you're a librarian or just a totally cool adult.
We have done interviews with authors like Mark Peter Hughes, E. Lockhart, Melissa Walker, Steve Kluger (and a bunch more!) as well as posts on selling your work and staying inspired.
Have fun scrolling around and please drop a comment or an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com if you'd like to chat. We're always looking for guest posters, book recommendations and interview possibilities.
We have done interviews with authors like Mark Peter Hughes, E. Lockhart, Melissa Walker, Steve Kluger (and a bunch more!) as well as posts on selling your work and staying inspired.
Have fun scrolling around and please drop a comment or an email at innovativeteen@gmail.com if you'd like to chat. We're always looking for guest posters, book recommendations and interview possibilities.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Save Our Spelling
(If You Want to Write...)
I love emailing with other teen writers (if I didn't, what would I be doing here?) But what breaks my e-heart as I read their questions and suggestions is not their content (which is always good) but their spelling.
Why is this such a big deal? Publishing is a business about words. We string words, make words, invent words, play with words, sell words and buy words. And spelling is as fundamental to good word usage as running is to any sport. Can't run, can't play. Can't spell, can't write.
Now, spelling should never get in the way of a fantastic story; don't stop writing just because "necessity" makes your head spin. But make plans to improve your spelling before you aim for publication. Always use Spell Check and another reader if spelling is a problem.
You can have the greatest idea in the world but if you can't spell, no editor will ever read your stuff. What if Ian McEwan didn't learn how to spell? I wouldn't have just watched the incredible Atonement movie... and realized I missed a huge plot twist when reading the same story...
I love emailing with other teen writers (if I didn't, what would I be doing here?) But what breaks my e-heart as I read their questions and suggestions is not their content (which is always good) but their spelling.
Why is this such a big deal? Publishing is a business about words. We string words, make words, invent words, play with words, sell words and buy words. And spelling is as fundamental to good word usage as running is to any sport. Can't run, can't play. Can't spell, can't write.
Now, spelling should never get in the way of a fantastic story; don't stop writing just because "necessity" makes your head spin. But make plans to improve your spelling before you aim for publication. Always use Spell Check and another reader if spelling is a problem.
You can have the greatest idea in the world but if you can't spell, no editor will ever read your stuff. What if Ian McEwan didn't learn how to spell? I wouldn't have just watched the incredible Atonement movie... and realized I missed a huge plot twist when reading the same story...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Curious Incident of the Common Application
... Notes from the Battlefront ...
Surviving a college interview takes a good pair of flats (men have already won half the battle) and asking yourself, "What's the worst that could happen?" I was wearing my favorite pair of shoes (Antonio Melani heels, beautiful but deadly) but I did ask myself The Big Question and the answer was... "Spill Chocolate Jello All Over Yourself." Seeing as there is no Chocolate Jello in the interviewer's office, and seeing as I would make a joke out of it if it did materialize and spill, I figured I was fine. I was, and it was great.
Make a big deal out of your writing. Plant orange cones and scruffy construction workers around it. Most interviewers don't have a background in writing, so when you say "published" they say "awesome!!!" Mention that you plan on being involved in literary magazines on campus. Bring your writing resume if it is appropriate.
Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is beyond belief. I read it in 1-2 hours. Fabulous. Moving. Heartbreaking. Wow. The last passage especially. Gee. My goodness.
The Common Application (http://www.commonapp.org/) makes me feel like I'm filing for Medicare instead of applying to college, but it will save me countless hours of time needed for The Writing. Have you noticed that cool people capitalize Important Things? Nathan Bransford's capitalizing Imprint of the Future; Francesca over at http://www.manolobig.com/ has perfected The Art of The Capitalization.
Talk about pizazz.
Regular programming scheduled for tomorrow. Probably a deep, meaningful post on either spelling errors or developing writing style. The Common Applicant is tired and needs to recover from genius works and great college interviews.
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