A discovery in writing

I'm still working through Nanowrimo with my students, and we are all finding the end of the month slowing down.   Some of my students know they are only in the middle of their stories and push to write more. Some of us are stuck.

I've been switching back and forth between a  young adult novel and another Baxter children's book.  I struggled with Baxter's story until today.  I went to read the first book I wrote, Merry Christmouse, and discovered I had been writing the new story in a very different voice and style.  Most importantly, I was writing in a different verb tense.  

Once I went back to make changes in the new draft, I noticed how I relaxed and slid right into the story again.  Who knew - the story wants to be told in a certain tense and style.

Nanowrimo - how are you doing?

As many writers are ended with Nanowrimo this month, I've takes my students to write with the Young Writers Program.  They are doing GREAT! I have one student who knows ALL of the tricks to pounding out more worse - adding description, writing out contractions, fights between characters, etc.  She's ROCKING. 

I'm not doing as well.  I'm getting stuck in the middle of my stories again. I have two stories going right now. I'm writing a paranormal YA book and another installment of my Baxter books. I can come up with strong beginnings and strong endings, but I've probably said it before - I've got a problem with mushy minutes. I thought I had plot lines developed, but something dissolved right after the rising action started. 

I've heard many writers and authors talk about "winning" Nanowrimo, but I think that winning isn't the prize for me.  I typically have the end of a six weeks where I am grading and the start of a new six weeks that I need to plan out. I wish I could write more when they write.  I can be pretty competitive, but as I've grown older, I've realized just what is to gain (or lose) if I compete. 

Nano is different for me. Nano is a time where I do write more than usual. I stay just a little more focused.  Whatever I create during Nano is more than I had before. Maybe one day, I'll work out my grading schedule and have weeks of planning completed in advance.  Until then, I'll just be grateful for the work count I didn't have before. 

Let's have a party!!!

I am very excited about all of my young authors. The anthology, Lost Tales from the Mountain published by Mountain Springs House, is a nice looking book and filled with spooky stories and poems.  Five of my students were published in the anthology, and we are going to plan for a SIGNING PARTY!  

I can't wait to get the details ready and let these kids feel the excitement of signing their autographs in books they were part of.

Life keeps getting better in the writing department!

After my publishing house announced that my poem would be published in their anthology, the business manager contacted me to let me know that FIVE of my students who submitted pieces would also be published. My kids will be published in a couple of weeks!

I encourage my students to try. It really doesn't matter if you win or lose, but you need to get used to trying and trying. Persistence has been the most successful character trait I've developed.

So, I also encourage my kids to sign up with Goodreads.com. They can keep track of books, and every book that I share with them after I read, I post a review to Goodreads. I also let my kids know that I frequently go into the giveaways and enter the contests.  I've won twice!

This last week, I received a copy of Wonder Light by author R.R. Russell. It was totally sweet and delightful; a wonderful book for young readers. Naturally, I wrote a review on Goodreads and Amazon.  Next thing I know, RR Russell has contacted me to offer a 15 minute Skype with my creative writing students. How about that awesomeness?

I think I've found my happy spot!

So you, dear reader, go out there and be persistent.  Keep trying!

Another acceptance for publication!

I am pleased to announce that Mountain Springs House is pleased to announce that a poem I submitted will be published in their Halloween anthology!

I didn't realize it I hadn't been posting!!!

I came back to my blog today shocked to find that I hadn't posted an update to it since the end of August!  I KNOW I've been writing like crazy, and even though I have pulled a few irons out of the fire, so to speak, I've stoked the writing iron. 

www.valleyartsstudio.com

That's been very nice. Igot my script finished and to a couple of reviewers. I also wrote a submission for an anthology and judged a young author writing contest. Plus, my classes keep me busy:  three sections of gifted/talented 7th and 8th graders in language arts humanities and two sections of 7th and 8th graders in creative writing classes.  - Total writing joy!

I've also been reading at least two books each week; I'm a bit of a binge reader. One of the latest reading delights has been The Reluctant Cowboy by author Elizabeth A. Garcia. I can't wait to read more of her books!    https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAGarciaAuthor

NaNoWriMo is almost upon us, so October is full of preparation.  With two classes of creative writing, I may actually attempt two different writing projects.  Why not?  I write with the kids, and that's two hours a day/5 days a week of writing.

In other news, my children's book, Merry Christmouse, will not be published this November as planned. My publishing house had some challenges, so we have a new plan.  Since it is a Christmas book, we'll have to wait until next year. Actually, I have a new plan, which may be 1000% times better than the original plan to try to get published.    That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!  Honestly, I had no plan before. I just submitted my book and hoped for the best.

Now that I am involved with an active publishing house, I am creating a plan for my writing career.  Mountain Springs House Publishing offers several anthologies during the year, and I will be submitting pieces to be published. That will get my name out to a wider audience before my book every comes out. There may be as many as three diverse anthologies put out in the next 7 months, so the scatter and spread for my name looks good.

I'm also very interested in my protagonist, Baxter, from Merry Christmouse, so what would have been the second book will be publish first....maybe summer 2014?  I'm working on that book now. It's about sunflowers, so my brain is very into gardening right now, hence the seed reference: scatter and spread.

What's on your list, your horizon, and your plan?  Nothing will happen until you make the first step.

Getting ready for a new school year - sharing a great article

I'm getting ready to begin my 8th year in teaching.  This year, I will have a new journey: teaching a GT 7th/8th grade mix of students in the language arts section of a blended humanities course.  I'm also co-chair of our language arts department with another wonderful teacher. I think having two teachers to share the responsibilities will allow us to do more and be more!

I will have two sections of creative writing, so I will be really reading and writing along with the students.

Here's a great article I wanted to share for anyone who wants to write.


10 Things Emerging Writers Need To Learn

Have a super week!