Dear Frustrated-Almost-Published-and-Almost-Agented Writer, Happy New Year! I bet you are full of resolutions for 2012. That’s a very good thing. But you are still incredibly frustrated with what you feel was your lack of progress in 2011 to get an agent and get published because 2011 was going to be your year, right? Maybe you […]
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The Myracle Mistake: Did the National Book Award Do the Right Thing?
Today I was reading Publisher’s Lunch when I took a HUGE gasp. Lauren Myracle had been asked to withdraw her young adult novel, Shine, as a contender for the National Book Award. I remember just last week reading that Shine was one of the finalists, and now she’s got to pull it because it was […]
I’m in Love with the Pacific Northwest
Okay, I’m now officially in love with the Pacific Northwest. Sure, I knew it was beautiful. Puget Sound. Mount Hood. The Columbia Gorge. The islands off Seattle. But it’s also great reading land. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s not always sunny, maybe it’s because everyone has beautiful skin because it’s a little moist (okay, […]
Ten Rules to Surviving Writing Conferences and Publishing Conventions
Okay, I confess that I go through these phases where I’m seeking out writing conferences. And other times, I go cold turkey. Sure in my heart-of-hearts I really do love conferences. I often come away inspired and make a lot of new resolutions. Yes, now I’m going to spend more time doing research, or now […]
Interview with Social Media God Greg Pincus
Periodically, in this blog, I’ve decided to interview social media gurus. Why? Because I don’t completely understand it and I want to pick the brain of those who do and do it well. You might notice that I’ve taken somewhat of a social media break. Why? The truth is that I had to take a […]
Is Three Really A Crowd?
When I write about tween friendships, I often think about dynamics. In my last book, The Hot List, I wrote about best friends Sophie Fanuchi and Maddie Chen splitting apart as a third friend, Nia Tate, cycled into the mix. Can three work? It’s a good question. You know the adage. One’s lonely. Two’s company […]