COSCBWI Meetings: September 2014

 

This month's COSCBWI meetings were full of great advice for writers and illustrators! 

The Illustrator Meeting was a critique meeting for artists participating in the 2nd Annual Member Exhibition.  Members brought in their work-in-process pieces for a group critique.  It's been wonderful to see each illustrator's art process, from sketch to color to finished illustration.  Illustrator Coordinator, Stella Hickman, offered a lot of great illustration tips including:

 

-When designing a two-page spread, be mindful of the gutter.  (The space in the middle where a book creases.)  You don't want any important elements of your illustration to fall in the gutter--like your main character's face!

 

-Think about the movement and action in your piece.  An illustration full of stiff figures isn't as interesting as one with active, engaging characters.

 

-Be careful with details.  It's important to add meaningful details that add to the unwritten story.  But don't go overboard, or your illustration can become cluttered.  Try to strike a nice balance between the two.

 

The Writer Meeting featured a presentation by YA author Susan "S. X." Bradley.  Bradley was the former Regional Advisor for COSCBWI and is the author of Unraveled and Uncovered.  She talked to the group about "GMC: Goal, Motivation, & Conflict."  Goal, motivation, and conflict are three very important elements of storytelling.  They involve: 

 

Goal: What does your character want or need? 

 

Motivation: What drives your character to achieve his or her goal? 

 

Conflict:  Who or what is standing in the way of them achieving their goal?

 

A story that lacks GMC usually feels flat and hollow, and makes readers think, "What was the point of that book?" after they turn the last page.  A well-rounded story needs to have a plot (goal), a force that drives the main character (motivation), and challenges they need to overcome (conflict) in order to get what they want and ultimately grow over the course of the story.  Bradley recommended using a "GMC Grid" to consider these elements in your own story, and how you can make them stronger.  She used Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as an example: 

 

Harry's Goal: He wants to defeat Voldemort (external goal) and feel accepted (internal goal) 

 

Harry's Motivation: Voldemort killed his parents and he was brought up in an abusive family 

 

Harry's Conflict:  All the challenges he faces at school and in the wizarding world that lead to his big showdown with Professor Quirrell/Voldemort 

 

Bradley pointed out that Harry's GMC rings true to the entire series, with each story expanding on these elements as Harry grows.  If you're having trouble applying this technique to your own manuscript, she suggested trying the grid exercise with other published books so you can study how the pros use GMC to craft satisfying stories. 

 

A big thanks to Bradley for sharing this technique with us!  She highly recommends checking out author Debra Dixon's website (www.debradixon.com) for more information on GMC and other writing tips.  Be sure to check out Bradley's website, too, at www.sxbradley.com.

 

If you want to learn more about COSCBWI, please visit ohiocensouth.scbwi.org  or "like" the group on Facebook.  I hope to see you at the October meetings!     

Tornado Wrangling

Sorry for the few weeks of quiet around here!  Sometimes I think there should be an extreme sport called "Tornado Wrangling."  Essentially, competitors would walk up to an F5 tornado, lasso its tail, and hold on for dear life.  It'd be like professional bull riding, only the bull could throw you across several football fields.  Whoever didn't end up in the hospital would be declared a winner.

That pretty much summarizes my whirlwind September.

This has been a fun, exhausting, stressful, exhilarating month full of too many deadlines converging at the same time.  Much of it consisted of me running around like a maniac trying to get all of my materials ready for the 2014 Northern Ohio SCBWI conference.  The conference was this weekend, and it was AWESOME!

I'm not going to go into the conference details now, but I met so many wonderful people and had such an enjoyable, encouraging experience.  The conference is always a treat, and I'm thrilled that this was the seventh year in a row I've been able to attend.

Now I'm back home and facing the aftermath of my tornado.  And that aftermath is ugly.

The cleaning fairies didn't tidy up while I was gone.

But I can't rest yet, because I've still got that tornado by its tail for another few weeks.  So today I'm catching up on a humongous mail pile, making sure I've got clean underwear, and putting those scissors away before someone pokes their eye out.  (At least I remembered to put the cap back on my X-Acto knife!)  Just a couple more weeks of hard work, and then I can show you all what I've been up to over the last month!

And then I will nap.  I think I need a nap.  :)

COSCBWI Meeting August 2014: New Website Overview

This month's COSCBWI meeting combined both the writer and illustrator meetings into one group session.  We started off the meeting with an overview of the new SCBWI website.

The new SCBWI website can be found at http://www.scbwi.org/.  It has a wealth of helpful and informative features for SCBWI members.  When you sign in, you can view and update your own profile.  Your profile can contain as much or as little information as you'd like, such as your contact info, artist statement, bio, and publications.  There is even a feature to upload pictures to your own little illustration gallery. 

Beyond the member profile, the SCBWI website offers many great resources for writers and illustrators in the "Resource Library."  Some of the features include past issues of the SCBWI Bulletin, FAQs about publishing, and discussion boards.  If you take a look at the purple menu bar, you'll find links to other membership benefits including award and grant opportunities, a bookstore, and a calendar of events.  And if you get lost, there's even a handy-dandy help section.  There are so many wonderful things to learn and find on the new SCBWI website, so have fun discovering them all!

The new SCBWI website also contains the new chapter site for Central and Southern Ohio SCBWI.  It can be found at http://ohiocensouth.scbwi.org/ or by choosing "My Region" from your profile.  If you don't want to sign in, you can also access it by clicking on "Your Regional Chapter" on the front page of the main SCBWI website, then choosing "Ohio: Central and South" from the list of regional chapters.  The members of the COSCBWI admin board (myself included) are still becoming acquainted with all the features of our new site, but we're working hard to make it user-friendly and informative for the COSCBWI members.  The purple side bar contains links to information on meetings, workshops, and COSCBWI projects.  A calendar of events can also be found on the page, as well as an email link.  Be sure to acquaint yourself with the new COSCBWI website, and stay tuned for more updates!

After the overview of the new SCBWI and COSCBWI websites, the group split for critiques.  Writers had a first page critique session, while Illustrator Coordinator, Stella Hickman, critiqued the work-in-process illustrations for the 2nd Annual Member Exhibition.  Everyone got great feedback on their work, and I can't wait to see how the finished illustrations turn out.

If you want to learn more about SCBWI or COSCBWI, remember to check out http://www.scbwi.org/ and http://ohiocensouth.scbwi.org/.  And if you know any writers or illustrators who may want to join, please pass the information along to them.  I hope to see you at the September meetings! 

Note: Screencaps of the SCBWI and COSCBWI websites were compiled by me, Kathryn Powers.

Home from Highlights

There's nothing like a cozy cabin, tasty food, and good friends to get you in the writing spirit! 

I'm back from my "Unworkshop" at the Highlights Foundation and it was just what I needed to reconnect with my writing.  This was my third visit to the retreat center in Pennsylvania, but my first "Unworkshop."  As I mentioned in my last post, I became writing buddies with the other participants at the prior Highlights workshops I attended.  A few of us decided the "Unworkshop" would be the perfect opportunity for a mini-reunion.  We weren't quite sure what to expect, but we found the "Unworkshop" to be just as amazing and inspiring as our past retreats. 

The staff was warm and friendly and made us feel right at home.  I knew I was in for a great visit when I saw the welcome sign on my cabin.

Since the "Unworkshops" don't have a structured schedule (apart from meal times--but who would want to skip those?), that leaves ample time for writing and wandering the neighboring woods.  My cabin had a comfy desk with ample room for all my tools and a lovely view.  

 

It was so nice to have space to write and illustrate while being inspired by squirrels skittering across my porch.  Or listening to crickets chirping outside my window late at night, since I often work looooong after everyone else has gone to bed.  (Which I probably shouldn't, since this often happens:)

I'm happy to say it was quite a productive few days!  (Erm, apart from that that late-night gibberish...)  The past year has been very busy, and my manuscripts have been pushed to the back burner.  If you've been following my blog, you'll know the loss of my furry ferret muses, Link and Butters, has also made it difficult to work on my novel, "Pirate Ferret."  It was great to reacquaint myself with my stories and characters, and remember why I love writing.  I was even inspired to draw some ferrety sketches.

The food was just as delicious as my past visits, and we were all excited to see what sort of yummy dishes each meal would bring.  (Zucchini Fritters?  Yes, please!)  Meals were shared with the other "Unworkshoppers," and it's always a treat to meet new writers.  There's never a dull moment when creative folk get together, from chats on craft to lengthy discussions on zombie turkeys!

Of course, the best part of the trip was catching up with my old writing buddies.  We had a blast, if you couldn't tell from our giddy faces below.

The "Unworkshop" was over all too soon, but I very much hope to return to Highlights again the future.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I only need five to summarize my experience:

Photos are (c) me, Kathryn Powers.  You can learn more about the Highlights Foundation and all their amazing workshops at: www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Highlights Bound 2014

All writers are welcomed warmly at the Barn at Boyds Mills!

 

This weekend, I'll be packing up my laptop and heading off to the woods for an "Unworkshop" at the Highlights Foundation.  I was very fortunate to attend two fantasy workshops at Highlights in the past led by authors Laura Ruby and Anne Ursu.  (You can find all the blog posts I wrote chronicling those workshops here and here.)  Those experiences were nothing short of magical with outstanding faculty, plenty of time to write, a peaceful environment, and some of the most delicious food I've eaten in my entire life.

 

This is my first time attending an "Unworkshop."  Instead of a structured workshop with faculty, the "Unworkshops" are simply an opportunity to hide away in a cabin for a few days with fellow writers and write 'til your fingers fall off.  (Which essentially equates to "Writers' Heaven!")  At the prior workshops I attended, I met many other wonderful fantasy writers, and several of us are using this "Unworkshop" as an opportunity for a mini-reunion.  I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends, and meeting lots of new writers, too.

 

Since this isn't a structured workshop, I won't be posting daily summaries of my time at Highlights as I did in the past.  I'm just going to enjoy the quiet, eat (and eat, and eat some more), and spend some long-overdue, quality time with my manuscripts.

 

See you when I get back!

Note: Picture is from the Highlights Foundation website at http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/.

COSCBWI Meeting July 2014: Book Promotion 101

This month's COSCBWI Writer Meeting featured YA author, Jody Casella.  Casella's debut novel, Thin Space, came out in 2013, but it was many years in the making.  During those years, she attended workshops, honed her craft, practiced writing query letters, and learned the many (many) skills it takes to get published.  But she also discovered the importance of self-promotion, from pre-publication to the book launch and beyond.

Casella shared her wealth of self-promotion advice with the group.  While many writers and illustrators don't think promotion is important until a book is ready to come out, Casella argued that it is never too early to start promoting yourself and your work.  If you don't like tooting your own horn, you will need to become comfortable doing so in order to champion your book and win over your audience.  And the best time to practice is now before you're in the spotlight!

Long before you snag your first book deal, Casella said that it's wise to start planting the seeds of promotion.  One way to do so is by creating an address list of everyone you know who might ultimately be interested in your work or career.  This could be family, neighbors, long-lost high school friends, and even your postman and dog groomer.  While these people probably won't set up a blog tour for you when your book launches, they may buy a copy or pass along your info to someone else.  You never know what small ripples may lead to, like a new connection with a librarian or teacher, or someone who knows J. K. Rowling!

Casella also stressed the importance of online social media for self-promotion. There are countless ways to get involved online, including Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram.  Blogs and websites are popular, too.  Becoming active online has many benefits.  It can connect you to other writers and illustrators, and give your work more exposure.  It can also help you build your audience gradually, so when your book comes out, you'll already have people eager to read it.  Nowadays, most editors and agents expect you to have a professional online presence (even if it's just a small one), and they will Google you.  When they find your name associated with a budding blog or active Twitter account, they'll be impressed that you're already taking strides to become involved in the online community. 

Casella cautioned about becoming overwhelmed by social media, though.  Don't feel like you need to be involved in everything, but pick one or two sites to try out.  Don't expect a billion followers in your first week, and test the waters slowly.  Hanging back and observing can help you understand the social etiquette for a site, as well as let you practice with the technology.  (And wouldn't you rather make a silly mistake now than during the week of your book launch?)  Once you feel comfortable with a site, stay active on it.  An agent doesn't want to find that your blog hasn't had a new post since 2011.  Lastly, remember to post carefully.  Anything you say or do on social media could come back to haunt you, so be kind, be considerate, and don't say anything that would make your mother cringe.

If you follow this advice and do the best you can, you'll be a self-promotion pro by the time your book is published!  (And if you want more writing tips and wisdom from Casella, be sure to check out her blog at www.jodycasella.com.)

You can find out more about COSCBWI at http://ohiocensouth.scbwi.org/.  Be sure to "like" the group on Facebook, too!  I hope to see you at the August meeting!

Note: Cover image for Thin Space is from www.jodycasella.com.

Summer Update

I feel like it's been a little quiet around here recently!  Apart from my regular COSCBWI meeting summary posts, I haven't had much time for blogging this summer.  Travel and showers and weddings have kept me busy, with lots more to come!  I've also been hard at work wrapping up a few projects, and am starting to get my portfolio and manuscript ready for the upcoming Northern Ohio SCBWI conference in September.  (Phew--I feel like I could use a nap just thinking about all that!)

I am very happy that I can finally share some finished projects with you today!

If you've been following my COSCBWI posts, then you'll know the group has been working on a fairy tale/nursery rhyme/folk tale project.  The goal was to create a portfolio piece by putting a unique spin on a well-known story.  I chose "Hey Diddle Diddle."

"Shoot for the Moooon"

Unlike the actual nursery rhyme, my poor cow didn't quite make it over the moon...

If you've been hanging around this blog for a while, you may remember that I sketched this illustration during a similar COSCBWI project in 2013.  I've wanted to paint that sketch for over a year now, and this seemed like the perfect time to do so.  I had a lot of fun playing around with textures in this illustration, and trying my hand at a whimsical style for the background.  It was an udderly good time!

My other big project was creating concept art for my dear writing friend, Rick Morrison.  He's writing a very cool fantasy series that has some fascinating creatures.  One of these creatures is called a "Horgon."

It's a half-horse, half-dragon, super-awesome monster.  (I don't think I'd want to meet one in real life, though!)  Since most of my portfolio consists of cute and smiley critters, this dark beast was a fun challenge.

Now that these projects are done, it's time to jump into a bunch of new ones!  Between my writing, illustrating, and travel, this blog will probably stay quiet for another month or two.  But rest assured, I'll be toiling away in the background!  I can't wait to share my next batch of illustrations with you!

I hope all my readers are having a very lovely summer and enjoying a bit of sun!  Does anyone have fun travel plans or projects they're working on? 

Art is (c) me, Kathryn Powers.