This week I read several blogs that got me thinking about my approach to exercise (I don't) and how to incorporate more fitness into my already packed day. If it comes to a choice between using my time for writing or taking a walk, writing usually wins. But since it's September and I'm working on my new fall goals, I've included getting more exercise.
My philosophy is that ANY amount of exercise is better than none. I don't plan on running marathons or anything. Although even I have to admit that playing Wii Fit is pretty feeble. (Hey, there are fitness benefits. I read a study.) And much as I'd like to point out that climbing stairs while carrying a full load of laundry is working my muscles, it's more part of ordinary activity than fitness.
What I have figured out is that I can connect exercise to writing. When I go for a walk (all the sane members of my family are watching TV), I bring along my ipod and listen to a favourite writerly podcast. I like Wordplay podcasts (James Dashner, Nathan Bransford and J Scott Savage) and The Creative Penn with Joanna Penn.
What do you do to stay fit? Any good podcast recommendations?
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
International Dot Day
I don't usually post on Thursdays, but I heard today was International Dot Day and I couldn't resist. The Dot by Peter Reynolds is one of my favourite picture books. To celebrate, I made my own dot:
For more about this book, check out Peter Reynold's website.
Do you have any creative dot ideas? Hmm...cupcakes with dots on them would be good, too.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Is Your Writing Quirky?
Sometimes, when I read descriptions of what agents are looking for, they say things like "middle grade novels with quirky characters". And sometimes books are described as "quirky". What exactly does that mean? I looked up quirky using define with Google:
Quirky: Characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits
When I think of quirky, I think of something you wouldn't find just anywhere. Something that's a little bit different, and special because it's different. It's a book with things you wouldn't normally think of together (but a middle grader might).
Quirky fits well with writing middle grade, because 9 to 12-year-olds are at an interesting place in their lives. They sometimes play like younger kids, creating intense imaginary worlds, but a few minutes later, they might be texting friends like a teenager. They can act all sophisticated by choosing the perfect school outfit and then come home and work on capturing more crickets for their collection. For me, quirkiness is one of the reason why I enjoy reading (and writing) books for middle grade readers.
What do you think "quirky" means? How can you capture "quirky" in your writing?
Quirky: Characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits
When I think of quirky, I think of something you wouldn't find just anywhere. Something that's a little bit different, and special because it's different. It's a book with things you wouldn't normally think of together (but a middle grader might).
Quirky fits well with writing middle grade, because 9 to 12-year-olds are at an interesting place in their lives. They sometimes play like younger kids, creating intense imaginary worlds, but a few minutes later, they might be texting friends like a teenager. They can act all sophisticated by choosing the perfect school outfit and then come home and work on capturing more crickets for their collection. For me, quirkiness is one of the reason why I enjoy reading (and writing) books for middle grade readers.
What do you think "quirky" means? How can you capture "quirky" in your writing?
Monday, September 12, 2011
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Finally 12
Since I read so many middle grade books (see my 100 book challenge) and I blog about writing middle grade books, I thought that from time to time I’d join in on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (aka MMGM), from a writer's perspective. The more I read MG, the more great books I’m finding. Some of them are courtesy of other bloggers doing MMGM.
Today’s pick: Finally 12 by Wendy Mass, published by Scholastic Press, March 2010
My take: If you want to write MG for girls, I definitely recommend reading this book. It taps into what 10- to 12-year-old girls are thinking about. Even though it’s got typical “girly” stuff like makeup, worrying about boys, and boy-girl parties (there’s even a couple of movie stars), Rory feels like a real kid with real parents (who are part of the story). I loved the humour and the voice in the book. Rory's story brought back many memories of what life was like for me at that age. I read through the book in one afternoon, and immediately passed it on to my daughter, who recently turned twelve.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (being made into a movie)
Today’s pick: Finally 12 by Wendy Mass, published by Scholastic Press, March 2010Summary: Rory has been waiting to turn 12 forever. Whenever she wanted something, like getting her ears pierced or getting a cell phone, her parents told her to wait until she was 12. So she’s kept a list of everything, big and small, that she wants to do. When her birthday finally comes, she starts work on getting the things she’s wanted – with funny and surprising results.
My take: If you want to write MG for girls, I definitely recommend reading this book. It taps into what 10- to 12-year-old girls are thinking about. Even though it’s got typical “girly” stuff like makeup, worrying about boys, and boy-girl parties (there’s even a couple of movie stars), Rory feels like a real kid with real parents (who are part of the story). I loved the humour and the voice in the book. Rory's story brought back many memories of what life was like for me at that age. I read through the book in one afternoon, and immediately passed it on to my daughter, who recently turned twelve.
Other info: This book is part of a series, which includes: 13 Gifts and 11 Birthdays. You don’t need to read the other books to understand this one, but if they are anything like Finally 12 I think they’d be worth a read. I'm going to look for them!
Other books by Wendy Mass:
Every Soul a Star
The Candy Makers
A Mango-Shaped SpaceJeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (being made into a movie)
For more, visit Wendy Mass’s website and blog.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Writing Through the Back-to-School Chaos
Yay, Friday! This first week back to school has been exhausting. But it feels good to get back into a routine. Every fall, there are new classes, new schedules, new things to shop for -- so much new it can feel overwhelming.
Since Wednesday, my goal for the week has been to actually use the writing time I blocked out for WRITING.
Three days isn't much but I did it. Getting back to writing feels comfortable and familiar, and it counteracts some of the beginning-of-the-school-year chaos. It's definitely something to feel good about.
Oh yeah, and I also treated myself to some expensive cheese and a new turquoise purse (my inner celebration of getting back on track).
What did you feel good about this week? Did you have any writing goals?
Since Wednesday, my goal for the week has been to actually use the writing time I blocked out for WRITING.
Three days isn't much but I did it. Getting back to writing feels comfortable and familiar, and it counteracts some of the beginning-of-the-school-year chaos. It's definitely something to feel good about.
Oh yeah, and I also treated myself to some expensive cheese and a new turquoise purse (my inner celebration of getting back on track).
What did you feel good about this week? Did you have any writing goals?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Why is Writing So Slow?
I'm lucky that writing isn't a race, because I'd come in dead last. I spend forever thinking about each little bit I write. What takes me so long is that I'm mentally living the moments with my main character and then deciding what I need to include to help my readers experience it too. (I'm also working on getting the words to sound right, but I'll leave my perfectionist tendencies out of this, I'm trying to ignore them.)
It struck me yesterday that the perspective-taking I do as a writer isn't so different from what I do as a teacher, especially at the beginning of the year. I think about the school day from a student perspective and the details a student needs to know to succeed (from "Where is the bathroom?" to "What should I do after I finish my work?") Then I decide which ones I need to explain or show them first and which I can leave for later.
The difference is that as a teacher, I need to explain or show pretty much everything. As a writer, I have to be more picky. My explanations need to be more artful and less explicit. Once I'm inside the the perspective of a character, I need to extract the essential and the unique and somehow capture that on the page. That's what takes me a long time.
What slows you down about the writing process?
It struck me yesterday that the perspective-taking I do as a writer isn't so different from what I do as a teacher, especially at the beginning of the year. I think about the school day from a student perspective and the details a student needs to know to succeed (from "Where is the bathroom?" to "What should I do after I finish my work?") Then I decide which ones I need to explain or show them first and which I can leave for later.
The difference is that as a teacher, I need to explain or show pretty much everything. As a writer, I have to be more picky. My explanations need to be more artful and less explicit. Once I'm inside the the perspective of a character, I need to extract the essential and the unique and somehow capture that on the page. That's what takes me a long time.
What slows you down about the writing process?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Two Awesome Things
Even though I was blogging while on vacation, I didn’t write much about what I was doing. Since Friday is kind of my “anything goes” day here on the blog, I’ll tell you about two awesome things.
Awesome thing #1: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, there are line ups. But it really shows how attention to detail can help to bring the world of a novel to life.
Even though we were overheated and surrounded by mobs of other tourists, the magic was still there. From the Butterbeer (okay, it’s $3 a cup but you have to try it) to the screaming mandrakes in the shop windows to Dumbledore’s office inside the Hogwart’s castle ride, it was amazing to soak it all in, especially when you’re there with two kids who have memorized so many of the details in the novels. It really was huge for them (even though it half of it was basically gift shops cleverly disguised as shops in Hogsmeade), so we ended up buying them their own wands.
Awesome thing #2:
I met one of my critique buddies in person!
Up until 2 weeks ago, I’d never met any of the other MiG Writers in person, even though we’ve known each other for years. We formed our group online and we live in many different places. It was so exciting to meet Christina Farley face to face! Since we knew about each other’s writing projects, we could talk about them without a lot of explanation. It was fun to fill in some of the bits and pieces about each other’s backgrounds that we didn’t know, chat about ordinary stuff, our writing, and of course Christy’s big news about getting an agent (if you haven’t seen her blog, check it out). The time went by too fast!!!
Have you ever gotten to know someone online and then met them in person?
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