writing through the fragile stage

over at my other blog, writeatyourownrisk.com, i've written a post about writing, especially when you're just beginning a new story or novel and you're sooo uncertain about, well, everything!

i call this the fragile stage.

you can read more about it here!
:-)

a quote for monday 5.7.12

"the biggest blessing and gift you can have is to get to work hard on something you like."

--merlin mann, back to work (podcast)

race and young adult literature

i was recently interviewed for an article in the atlantic called "the ongoing problem of race in y.a." written by jen doll.

here's an excerpt:

There's also the rather unfair expectation put upon writers of books featuring non-white characters that they still have to make a statement, or that they're speaking for all people of that race. "It does get frustrating when your book comes out and other people think you’re making a statement about all black people," says Booth. "There are so few books featuring black characters, with the one or five that come out, there's so much pressure to represent all of this particular race." That's not a problem white writers have. People in the industry "need to open up the thinking about what a book by a person of color is supposed to do," she adds. "It’s not an education; why do books by authors of color have to have that much more responsibility? It’s just supposed to be a book. As writers start realizing that, and publishers and teachers and librarians start embracing that, more books will become available.

you can read the whole article here.

i'm really glad this kind of dialogue is taking place. open and honest discussions of race within the book world is important, even if it's not easy. let's hope there will be a lot more talk like this!

photo by lucy nicholson/reuters

hey, where did january go?

seriously, this year is moving too fast!

i spent part of january teaching at vermont college of fine arts. this was my second winter residency and, again, the campus looked absolutely beautiful covered in all that snow... and ice! these residencies are so inspiring; they're just what a writer needs to recharge the creative battery (so to speak!)

after the residency, i had a short trip and some school visits, and now it's february 1st and it's time for me to turn my attention back to my middle-grade-novel-in-progress. because time is flying and my deadline is fast approaching!

which reminds me of my favorite quote from douglas adams:

"i love deadlines. i like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

:-)

2012

happy new year!!!

making the commitment

my most recent post on the vermont college of fine arts' faculty blog, write at your own risk, is all about making a commitment to writing, if that's what you want to do. it's about claiming the time in your life every single day to do what you know is important.

i compare it to meditation, something i take very seriously. for me, meditation and writing go hand in hand. and the discipline i need for one is what i need for the other.

check out the blog post here!

a quote for monday 11.7.11

"i'm glad i want everything in the world — good and bad — bitter and sweet — i want it all."

— georgia o'keefe

a morning ritual

today, over at my other blog write at your own risk, i discuss my feelings for morning pages. these are three pages you're supposed to write every morning in order to boost creativity. so check out my post — and subscribe to the blog while you're there! :-)

write at your own risk

earlier this month, my colleagues at vermont college of fine arts started a new blog called write at your own risk.  i'm very excited about this blog because the faculty at vcfa is fantastic!  we always have a lot to say about the world of children's books, writing, and just about everything else!  :-) 

so please check out our new blog (www.writeatyourownrisk.com), and leave us a comment when you can!  

i posted my first entry last week.  it's called creative procrastination.  To read it, click here.

a quote for monday 8.1.11

"worry often gives a small thing a big shadow."

—swedish proverb