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In our continuing effort to keep you inspired we’d like to tell you about this really fun online course that will walk you through the steps necessary to take your character illustrations to the next level.
In this class Matt Kaufenberg will take you through his process of illustrating a character, starting with the concept, then moving into Illustrator to create the shapes, and finally, rendering it in Photoshop.
While making notes for Salli’s upcoming class – BUILD A FREELANCE ILLUSTRATION BUSINESS – she realized that one topic was worthy of it’s own session: Creative Playgrounds, which Salli and her brother/business partner Nate Padavick believe can energize your career. What IS a Creative Playground and why are they so important? Join us for the FREE webinar August 10th at 4:00 EST (or watch any time after the live class).
Take it from Albert Einstein “Play is the highest form of research.”
0 Comments on FREE Webinar: Creative Playgrounds as of 7/30/2015 6:51:00 AM
Lucky you--you arrived just in time for another episode in TeachingAuthor's 5-Starseries,
to binge-read all of our WWWs, click on the menu button above, "Writing Workouts"
Today's WWW is brought to you by Paul B. Janeczko (who visited our blog last week), author of--gasp!--50 books, including his latest, The Death of the Hat--which you could WIN--yes, you--your very own autographed copy--simply enter our book-giveaway which runs until April 22, 2015 (details at the end of last week's post)!
Okie dokie--welcome back, PBJ! Would you elaborate on the writing exercise you talked briefly about last Friday?
What I said last Friday was that it was more an approach than an exercise. I like to use poetry models when I work with young readers. I try to show them poems by published poets, but also poems by their peers. When you’re in the 4th grade, Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost may not impress you, but reading a poem by another 4th grader may be just the motivation that you need. And before I turn the kids loose to write, we read the poem, and I give them the chance to talk about what they notice in it. Then we do something a group rough draft so they can begin to see the writing process in action. Then it’s time for them to write.
One of the poems I use is based an an English street poem called “I’d Rather Be.” Here are a few lines:
I’d rather be hands than feet. I’d rather be honest than cheat. I’d rather be a bed that a seat. I’d rather be a blanket than a sheet.
I give the kids a copy of this poem, which runs about 20 lines.
I break it into 3 parts and have a different student read each part. (Part of every workshop is reading aloud!)
I then ask the students if they detected any pattern in the poem. Rhyming poems generally follow a pattern.
The kids can identify 3 ingredients of the pattern: end rhyme, repetition of “I’d rather be” at the start of each line, a comparison or opposite in each line.
Taken together, these 3 ingredients give the 4 part of that pattern: rhythm.
Before I turn the kids loose to write 3-4 lines of their own “I’d Rather Be,” we try to create an example of 4 lines out loud. The kids are usually quick to get the hang of it.
Just to make sure, we try another 4 lines with a different end sound.
Then they are ready to read.
After 10-15 minutes of writing, it’s time to read examples aloud. Usually, there are many takers.
This is one poem that they will have the chance to continue and complete with their teacher.
The kids write stuff like this:
I’d rather be wood than concrete I’d rather be huge that petite
I’d rather be gloves than a hat I’d rather be a ball than a bat
I’d rather be hands than toes I’d rather be a finger than a nose
I’d rather be love than hate I’d rather be alone than a mate
Sounds like an exercise that I can take directly to the classroom--and one that packs a lot of punch, Paul. Thanks again for dropping by! (AND surely that English street song is the origin of Paul Simon's El Condor Pasa (If I Could)...)
Readers, here's a preview from Candlewick about Paul's latest collaboration with illustrator Chris Rashchka (for a chance to win an autographed copy, see our latest Give-Away which ends 4/22/15...enter at the end of last week's post):
A celebrated duo reunites for a look at poems through history inspired by objects—earthly and celestial—reflecting the time in which each poet lived.
A book-eating moth in the early Middle Ages. A peach blossom during the Renaissance. A haunted palace in the Victorian era. A lament for the hat in contemporary times...In The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects, award-winning anthologist Paul B. Janeczko presents his fiftieth book, offering young readers a quick tour of poets through the ages. Breathing bright life into each selection is Chris Raschka’s witty, imaginative art.
Thank you for reading this today.
posted with affection by April Halprin Wayland and Eli (who--at this very minute is ripping apart his beloved stuffed animal, Rabbit)
You'll find my poems, posted each day of Poetry Month 2015, here.
0 Comments on 2 Paul Janeczko Freebies: a Book Give-Away & a Poetry Writing Exercise as of 4/8/2015 4:31:00 AM
Last fall I took a class with Virtual Animators (http://www.virtualanimators.com/) taught by James Lopez. I’ve had quite a few questions from the internets about what I thought, so I thought I’d write a note about my experience.
About the class: Character Design with Disney Artist & Animator James Lopez is a 12 week course taught online. See his IMDB here or amazing work here. The class is viewed through Adobe connect once per week for 12 (12!) weeks. You log in and the VA team, James and your classmates are online. You can ask questions via a chat box, and the VA team does a great job keeping track of the chat and bringing questions to James. The class is not structured, giving James the freedom to teach the class to the group’s skill level. You are also invited to send it work weekly to have it reviewed by James online.
What I thought:
1. The cost: usually where I’d start when considering a class. I didn’t have to consider the class cost here, since I won this class in a contest, but even if I hadn’t it would be a great deal. (As a note: this is not an endorsed post, haha). All of these courses are so affordable- This one was $250, which is really a couple of trips to the grocery store. For 12 weeks, that breaks down to $20/ class- for an experienced teacher at James, who teaches at Cal Arts… it’s beyond a bargain.
2. The class size: SMALL. There were under ten people in our class, which allows for everyone to ask questions and see James visually explain the answer. You can send emails with questions and receive individual attention.
3. The talent & experience of the instructors: I’ve only taken one class with VA (I am planning on another class this spring/ summer) and the instructors are so experienced and knowledgeable it’s unreal to have this sort of individualized attention. James is a friendly and giving individual who really cares about paying it forward and working with artists of all skill levels. He’s got so much knowledge and information it’s a thrill to see him visually work out problems and review your work.
4. The Virtual Animators team: Usually I wouldn’t touch on the “customer service” aspect in this sort of thing, but it was so amazing it needs to be mentioned. The small group who runs this online class system are probably the most genuine and friendly team ever. They’re focused around making a good experience for everyone involved, and keep up with their students. If I had a question or concern I would have an email back super quick. Also, as I mentioned above, they are in the classes with you running the sessions and keep on top of questions for the instructor.
5. Work Review: You send in your work, it gets a review online that week or the next. James was thorough and incredibly professional when reviewing work- it sort of felt like I was working with him at a studio! I learned a lot in such a small amount of time.
6. Recorded Classes: Classes are recored and posted on vimeo so you can watch later, or if you miss a class you can catch up. This was really helpful to me, watching in the midwest where the class time was late. Also, if you miss something, you can re-watch the class too!
7. A Personal Connection to the industry: As I mentioned above, I’m located in the midwest. It’s sort of like being on my own island, far away from the sunshine and talent network of California. Being involved in this class allowed me to connect at CTNX to the VA team, including founder Bill Recinos (who has an impressive IMDB himself), meet James Lopez and be involved in the community.
Ok, so, that’s a lot of writing. I guess you can see that I really loved the class. Negatives include the regular things of online classes- difficult to connect to classmates, really late live class times because of the time difference- but the benefits far outweigh these small points. I’m going to be completely honest, if you’ve ever thought of taking an online class, don’t think twice about this one, or any with these guys. This class is definitely the best online class I’ve taken based on the personal attention, small class size and the amount of information I learned in a short period of time.
I have had several conversations lately about the state of homeschooling in our lovely state of NC. And as a homeschooling mom, I am more than glad to discuss this issue with anyone who asks. Here are a few things to help answer any questions in case more folks want to know: 1. I homeschool […]
6 Comments on For Anyone Concerned About Homeschooling in NC, last added: 9/8/2013
Donna,
Such passion! Such drive! Such lucky children! You’re definitely on a mission and you should feel very good about it. Thanks for sharing your take on homeschooling and general information about its accountability piece.
Jean Hall said, on 9/6/2013 1:40:00 PM
I say “ditto” to everything Linda says. You are equipping those kids to be the people God wants them to be.
Jean
Sheri Muma said, on 9/7/2013 12:51:00 PM
Thanks for sharing! We are now in our 18th year of homeschooling in NC and still loving it! While there are many misconceptions about homeschooling (especially the old socialization thing), I think that today there are fewer misconceptions by the general public than there used to be. Homeschooling is going mainstream! When we first started and would go out to the park or store during the day, we’d often be questioned as to why the kids weren’t in school. I’d say it’s been about 10 years now since we’ve had anyone question us while we were out during a school day. I remember our relatives expressing concern early on and we tried to honestly and sincerely answer their questions. They had our kids’ best interests at heart and so did we; they deserved thoughtful answers. I always thought to myself, “The proof is in the pudding.” Once our two oldest graduated from college (one with a 4.0, triple majoring in engineering) they didn’t ask anymore questions! BUT, the high academic standards were not the main reason we chose to home school. We chose homeschooling because we thought it was the best way we knew to teach them what God tells us to teach them.
Donna Earnhardt said, on 9/8/2013 8:52:00 AM
I really appreciate you — you’re such an encourager!
Donna Earnhardt said, on 9/8/2013 8:52:00 AM
thank you for sharing, too! The proof is in the pudding… I like that!
Donna Earnhardt said, on 9/8/2013 8:52:00 AM
Thank you, my friend. I am trusting in His provision and grace!
Pixar Story artist and creator, Louis Gonzales (The Iron Giant, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo) is offering Gesture Drawing classes in Vancouver in January.
0 Comments on Pixar Story artist and creator, Louis Gonzales (The Iron Giant,... as of 11/30/2012 7:13:00 PM
Often point-of-view (POV) is discussed when talking about writing fiction. However, writing nonfiction using first person POV can help you write a piece/blog that can help you connect to your reader, to become "one of them."
If you've not heard the term before, first person point-of-view is how you narrate your "story." You talk directly to the reader and use words such as "I" or "mine." Although most magazines prefer you to use second person point-of-view (you, yours, etc.), first person is ideal for writing your blog. It allows you to directly tell your reader what you did, how you overcame problems, and give helpful hints and tips you have discovered. For example, in the second person you would write:
"To make your necklace you will need to gather together the following materials..."
In the first person this becomes:
"To make my necklace I gathered together the following materials..."
Hopefully you can see how different the two sentences feel. How someone reading your blog will feel you are talking to them. They will feel they have some connection with you. In this way, they will hopefully feel they can trust the information you are giving because you are writing from your own experiences.
So, if you've never written using first person point-of-view, why not give it a go. You might just find a narration style that suits you, and you never know it might gain your blog additional followers.
***
Lynne Garner has been a freelance writer and author since 1998. Since that time she has written for a large number of magazines both in the UK and the US, having over 300 features printed. She has 21 books published; these include 10 craft-related how-to books, working with both publishers and packagers. Lynne designed, produced copy, and photographed many of the craft projects featured on The Craft Ark.
Join Lynne in the WOW! Women On Writing Classroom and get crafty with her latest class, How to Write a Craft Book! The next session starts August 4th.
***
1 Comments on Connecting with Your Reader, last added: 7/19/2012
My post here is simply to point you toward three responses among the many, many, many that the post has drawn. Excerpts are here merely to entice you to read more, not to suggest that they are the only things you need to read from these excellent writers.
All too often, Straight White Men do not see that their setting is easier, and they assume that those struggling against bigger challenges are simply poorer players. At first this is innocent — the Straight White Men are focused on surviving the game themselves, after all. They didn’t design it. But the “easy” setting’s invisibility breeds arrogance, not the humility necessary to acknowledge that you’re “winning” the game because a. the game is easier for you and b. the game itself is designed to benefit you most. The fact that privilege robs us of empathy and humility is nearly as poisonous as the advantages it brings, because humble, empathetic people would not gleefully skip through difficulty while leaving others to suffer.
What I’d like to add to John’s and Meghan’s furthering of Life on the Lowest Setting, the metaphor of privilege as a function of how easy or difficult life is based on character aspects, is that class does indeed count. If you’re a highborn mage instead of a lowly farmer’s son who happens to have a small knack for casting magic, you’ll receive all the best teachers, all the best training in the arcane arts, will have access to all of the materials you might need to cast a spell, which can be quite expensive. Or likewise, if you’re a highborn knight, you’ll receive all the best armor and weaponry and training in arms and defense, whereas the pub master’s kid will mainly know how to throw a punch and will swing wild without any really access to training.
Those are material considerations–the wealth aspect, or knowledge resources–to which a person of a certain socioeconomic identity generally has little access.
But class cultural considerations can also severely restrict some people, by learning your place, by taking direction because that’s what you were rewarded for, rather than learning to plan and set goals, rather than being among peopl
I asked all the students in my writing classes to make their weekly assignment notebooks special in some way. I wanted them to make it an enjoyable book to write in and also be quickly identifiable so they will be easier to hand back. One of my favorites is Maureen’s. I will definitely never mistake it for anyone else’s.
By Lucy Delap
Downton Abbey specialises in dramatic twists and love affairs at all social levels. The world of domestic service provides an ideal backdrop for thwarted passions and sexual machinations of all sorts.
0 Comments on Downton Abbey: a national love affair? as of 1/1/1900
What can I say except, “I survived third semester, and all I got was this lousy underarm chafing from sweating so damn much and having to work in deadly heat all day for six days straight.”
Actually I got out of it easy. The majority of the the teachers, including Becky, got sick from the heat during the week. Anyway, the stupid, pointless and much-loathed “Third Semester: English Camp” is now over, but I made sure it wasn’t a total loss. I did make a splash (oy, bad joke).
Because it is so hot I started a tradition last year of including water in my third semester class. Last year I brought a water gun to class and anyone who did not participate, or got the wrong answer during trivia, or complained, or generally annoyed me, got squirted. This year it was water balloons. I played a game at the end of class that had absolutely nothing to do with English and was only about how soaked I could make a few students. But on the last day a lot of students were going directly to the bus to go home after class, so I didn’t want to get them wet. I turned the game around and let the winning team of students try to soak me. They were very hesitant to do so (the whole teacher respect thing) but they eventually gleefully got into it. I retaliated a little but only at their feet. It was fun and a student hiding in the doorway got some pictures for me.
Luckily third semester has now been cancelled for future school years, so my tradition was short lived.
Eileen Robinson attended the New Jersey SCBWI June Conference. Some of you probably had a workhsop or critique with her or managed to get a few minutes to talk to her at the Mix and Mingle or lunch. She is also going to be out in LA for the 40th Anniversary Conference in August. Eileen heads her own company Fr1st Pages, which help writers hone their manuscripts.
I thought you might like to know that if you have started to write children’s books and want to learn the basics, you can join this former executive editor of Scholastic children’s publishing and discover what you need to know to write for children. It is an online class given through www.ed2go.com and from what she tells me it is highly interactive, hands-on course. You’ll take pen to paper and begin work on your first fiction or nonfiction manuscript. In the process, you’ll explore the changing world of children’s literature and understand the various formats, whether it’s early readers, picture books, chapter books, middle grade or young adult novels. You’ll get insights from publishing professionals to gain a better understanding of the needs of today’s market.
She says, “By the time you finish this course, you’ll have all the tools and resources you’ll need to begin navigating the world of children’s publishing and to continue growing as a writer for children.
I introduced my Art Club group to egg decorating this week in honor of Easter. Most of them didn’t really know about egg decorating and no one had ever thought to try it before, yet they all were excellent at it. I consider myself a pretty decent egg decoration type guy, but many of these first timers blew me away. I think part of it was that they had no preconceived notions of what an “Easter Egg” was supposed to be like. Here are some pics of students and their eggs on a stick.
I took an awesome 1 day claymation puppet workshop with Brad Pattullo at my local library. In 5 hours, we were able to build a clay puppet and play around with istopMotion.
My husband came along and he made the dinosaur while I made the duck. There wasn't much time left but we managed to play around and made this.
It definitely wet my appetite for more. Now all I can think of is to build more puppets.
7 Comments on Claymation Puppet Workshop, last added: 7/22/2010
I was very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. translation services company.
Mo loves Fox Street but she especially loves it in the summertime.Sure she has to look after little sister Dottie, aka The Wild Child, but it was also the time of year that Mercedes comes to stay with her grandmother Da across the street.Mo cannot wait til Merce gets to Fox Street so they can hang out in “The Den” and drink Tahitian Treats together.
But this year, something has changed with Mercedes.She looks very grown up for one thing, what with her shaved head and her designer clothes. Mo knew that Mercedes had a new step father, but she didn’t know that they were “comfortable”. When Mercedes tells Mo that she’s starting to notice how run down Fox Street looks, and how even Da’s house isn’t what it used to be, Mo feels a distinct shift.And that is not a good thing.
Mo does not like change.
So when she takes a special delivery envelope for her Daddy one day, instead of passing it on like she promises she will, she opens it. It’s an offer on their house. Mo knows that her Daddy doesn’t like his city job, and she knows full well of his restaurant dream, and there’s no way she’s going to let him get this letter!
But no matter how much Mo wants things to stay the same, Fox Street is bound to change.Her Daddy’s dream is mighty big, neighbors may not be who Mo thinks they are, and her own sorrow about her mother is a shifting think in her chest.
Tricia Springstubb has written so much more than a simple story of growing up.She has written a whole neighbourhood full of folks so real readers will feel like they know them. Strong women like Da and Mrs. Steinbott bring the history of the street to life. The crazy Baggott boys bring vitality and movement. Mercedes brings progress and Mo herself is one of those kids that comes along every now and again who makes folks say, “she’s got an old soul”.
With hints of magical realism, and extraordinary turns of phrase that will give readers pause, What Happened on Fox Street is sure to generate buzz this year. There is something magical about this little book that will have readers looking for a flash of red in the ravines of their own lives.
0 Comments on What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb as of 1/1/1900
Stonefly Lodge, Ashton, Idaho on May 1, 2010. Yes! Snow on May Day!
Several participants from the Idaho Novel Revision Retreat have blogged about the weekend. And here are pictures of some of the great writers who were there.
So I am literally currently sitting in the main room at Stonefly Lodge in Ashton, ID. The wall-length and -width windows look directly over the Snake River with a farm on the opposite bank. The drizzly, gray sky mutes the small copses of trees scattered on the land.
And I have yet to step outside.
I am participating in a retreat presented by Darcy Pattison all about . . . More
The key to writing a chapter for good novel is not to think of it as part of a book at all, but rather a short story meant to stand upon its own merits. If it cannot stand up by itself then it will not support the book and the reader will be inclined to put the entire work down. View the chapter as you would a scene in a play. It extends from moment the curtain rises until it descends. If you don’t want the reader toss your book away, then I would like to give you some tips that will aid you in the future as an aspiring author. I will also be pointing you to examples elsewhere on Author’s Den.
A chapter needs a protagonist and an antagonist, as does any story. These may or may not be the protagonist and antagonist of the entire work, but there must be a conflict of some sort to keep the reader emotionally invested and interested. It may be a battle, a love scene, a betrayed trust, or even the final showdown. Any way you cut it, a chapter must contain the elements of a story, for it must have structure: a beginning, middle, and an end.
The protagonist of the chapter does not need to be a good guy, though if the story is about good versus evil, you may find it beneficial to write at least one chapter of the book with the good guy in mind. He may very well be a despicable, self-centered lout who sees things through his warped sense of morality. He could be an evil wizard, a rising politician, or drug dealer. What makes him the protagonist is his ownership of the arc of the story, whether the outcome is to his benefit or not. The antagonist doesn’t own the arc, but instead stands in opposition to the protagonist. You ask yourself, does this apply to various genres beside the obvious, like fantasy and science fiction? For mystery, it is the unseen and the hidden that plays the role of the antagonist, but it must be palpable and real to the reader. For suspense, it may be a mixture of the unseen mystery and a real individual or group who stands in opposition. For romance you may wonder, how can there be either, since it is the pairing or division of two or more love interests. Ah, there lies the greatest conflict of all -- and you have the protagonist and antagonist all present. Would it be anything more than pornography if the characters in the scene found it easy to come together? Maybe there is a husband or cuckolded king in the scene. Romeo and Juliet are fine examples of romance gone wrong and demonstrate the offstage antagonists as feuding families.
Another point I should make is that you needn’t stay within your genre for the chapter. A mystery can have chapter which is a romance, as long as your readers have come to expect this sort of thing from you. A science fiction can jump into fantasy, something which certain authors like Terry Goodkind have done very well. There are genres that are not compatible, but I will leave that as an exercise of common sense and decency to the writer. Remember that you warn the reader with foreshadowing that you may switch genres or they may not only put the book down but run shrieking out of the room. If you were writing a romance book, and introduced raw direct horror, for instance, your average romance reader may be just a little put off. Your agent may suggest reclassifying you novel when they start getting complaints in the mail.
The conflict is easier to imagine. We have conflicts every day of our lives. Change the stage and you can take any mundane conflict and turn it into an epic battle. How many times have you known a coworker who has taken credit for your work and you are helpless to oppose them? Transfer that motivation to the apprentice of the king’s magician and you have what could be the source of some fine conflict. A switched up potion or a faulty spell, and “shazam!” you have action!
As for structure, the beginning sets the stage for the drama to follow and prepares the reader for the yarn you are about to spin. It describes the players, builds the scene, and identifies the conflict. The middle is where the bulk of the action occurs. It contains the rising arc of the characters in the story and builds the tension to a crescendo. It may be as small as a single paragraph or as large as needed to grow the arc. It must take the protagonist somewhere physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, that they weren’t before. It must also prepare them for the end of the scene. The end often is the hardest of all to write, but I have a little trick you might want to remember. Treat the ending like a link in a chain that connects one chapter to the next. It helps on occasion to skip the end of a chapter and write the next chapter’s beginning first and then come back and write the ending of the previous chapter. In some cases, you might want to write the beginning and ends of all of the chapters as a story in its own right, leaving out the fat and juicy middles. This is a very good practice, since it essentially yields the synopsis you will present to an agent and makes a fine instrument to construct a book.
Overall, keep in mind the arc of the book and motivations of your characters, large and small, important or insignificant, at the chapter level and in your book as whole, must agree in the end. If you neglect the motivations of these characters as they transform on their journey, the reader will neglect your book as well.
0 Comments on The Anatomy of a Chapter as of 1/1/1900
I'm going to be teaching mystery and thriller writing again this fall in Portland. With two books a year (one adult and one YA) for the foreseeable future, this will probably be the last time I do this for a while. I've got two spots left if you're interested.
The 10-week class will be begin Sunday, September 13, at Annie Blooms Books. Email me if you are interested in learning more. aprilhenrymysteries (at) yahoo (dot) com.
"Sometimes I wonder if my mom is BRAIN DEAD. Then there are days when I know she is. Like today." So begins the diary of Nikki Maxwell, 8th grade, Westchester Country Day School.
Nikki's mom just doesn't understand that Nikki needs an iPhone, and entry into the CCP (Cute, Cool & Popular) group...not a diary. Unfortunately, the closest Nikki is getting to entry into the CCP, is having her locker next to uber popular Mackenzie Hollister. Mackenzie is a classic mean girl who wields her lip-gloss, and shoots off zingers about everyone else's fashion faux pas. School is a bit tortuous for Nikki, who cannot afford designer duds, techie gadgets, and fab vacations.
So Nikki is excited when she sees signs for the Random Acts of Avant-Garde Art contest. She is an artist, and the $500 prize could be used for her phone! But when Nikki hears that Mackenzie is entering the contest, she freaks out and ends up signing up to be a LSA (library shelving assistant) instead. Why bother competing against Mackenzie? She always wins.
What Nikki doesn't expect, is to make 2 great friends in the LSA program. Chloe and Zoey are book fiends who are geeked about having the chance to get to NYC to attend National Library Week. Maybe Nikki's artistic talent can help her new friends out.
Readers will *love* Nikki's illustrations in this diary format book. With a slight manga style, pictures of everyday school life are hilarious and engaging. Nikki has a fresh voice, and while I was reading Dork Diaries, I couldn't help but hear the voice of Six from the show Blossom! There is plenty of current slang, name dropping of celebs, and techno speak. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes in the final product especially in regards to a certain celebrity who is in a bit of legal trouble!
Today's tweens will eat this one up! The combo of illustrations and diary format is sure to please . In this age of Wimpy Kid, the format is a winner, and Nikki is so entertaining. A perfect beach read.
There used to be a middle class, strong and upwardly mobile, many house holds only needed one bread winner and divisions between the classes were blurred most times.
This system did many things good for our nation, it gave the poorest of our people a thought that there was a way forward and out of their poverty by degrees. The fact that they may not be instantly rich was tempered by the fact the a comfortable life was attainable and they didn’t have to be a Basketball star or drug dealer ( these days one in the same some times) to get out of the slums and grip of poverty. With no middle class the view from the bottom seems imposable unless you go for the only channels left for you to advance in with no middle resting place. Greed will, it seems , always be with us and lead to gang mentality among the rich as well as the poor if there is no buffer. Them or us leads to gangs on one side and hired mercenaries on the other for protection, neither of which is a healthy way to live, just ask them in Iraq or Afghanistan, Mexico, you name the country.
With no middle class there becomes a giant pool of potential soldiers with no other options and a dangerous environment.
Creating and maintaining a large and stable middle class is the best way to stabilize societies in my view. Giving them enough wealth so that one person in the partnership can physically stay with the children and raise them in communities where all the parents have a say and control of their lives and know that values are taught not from the school where you send them but at home with a parent there to provide support and strength when children go astray. A society where it doesn’t matter if God is taught in school because he is taught at home by parents who have the time to watch their children and instill the values they want their children to have. Schools need more wood shops, home economics classes, metal shops , all the classes that teach ways to work. They need art and athletics as well to keep their students well rounded and give more opportunities for them to find things that they like and do well in that are constructive.
Government needs to stop the well-fair state mentality and start the work ethics again. Stop regulating safety and make it the responsibility of the people as individuals. We may have some stupid mistakes made and innocent people hurt now and then but we will not have to have a camera on every corner or prisons overflowing with poor that had no place to advance. Government will naturally shrink with no need to legislate rules when the people are given adequate room to live lives that have meaning and attainable realistic goals.
Just my thoughts.
1 Comments on Used to be is the reason …, last added: 4/16/2009
Finishing a novel is hard, but getting through that draft, no matter how flawed, is an essential part of the writing process.
Reaching THE END provides recognition. It offers proof positive of accomplishment (so you can tell that friend in the post office that you just finished your novel).
Sometimes, to get there...I need a little extra help. Above and beyond my trusted friends and readers...
Sometimes, I have to spend some money.
No, I don't mean shopping, although buying those red peep toe pumps with the red soles (You know the ones) would be a perfect reward for finishing.
And I don’t mean A LOT of money either. In the publishing world right now, I know there are many ways to spend a lot of money. I am not suggesting that that should be the answer to finishing....
But a small investment in yourself can go a long way in terms of meetingDEADLINES.
So if you are having trouble finishing, TAKE A CLASS!!!!
Twice in the last year, I have participated in Uma Krishnaswami’s Manuscript Critique Class on writers.com.
(In fact, she is handing me the reigns—but won’t be disappearing—this August.)
This class—the deadlines—and more important, the other people that take it—have helped me finish one novel and get it into shape. They have also helped me find the energy and confidence in the new novel. And that confidence--that you have a story and a character worth reading about--goes a long way for me.
Signing up for a class can:
Give you NEW eyes.
And that small fee—that makes me feel obligated to get the butt in the chair and make my posts.
Just like that so called angry alarm clock....
(now that's better!)
A class with deadlines--and especially one where you have made an investment in yourself as a writer....can be EMPOWERING!!!
ENCOURAGING!!!
It can make the difference!!!
There are many online and in person events that happen throughout the year. Check out writers.com. Or events like the Vermont College Novel Writing Retreat! That was another great event to help writers meet their deadlines…..and get inspiration. If you have gone to a great class, let us know!!!! BSP, baby!!!
Keep Writing, happy Passover, and Enjoy the rest of the week!!!!
Lynn Hazen and I are taking our Social Media show on the road!
I'm happy to announce that SCBWI is sponsoring our full day Hands-On Social Media Intensive for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators:
When: Sat. June 6 Time: 10:00-3:30 Where: Fort Mason in San Francisco Cost: $50. SCBWI members (without in-class internet access) $55. SCBWI members (with internet access--bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord) $70. non-SCBWI members (without internet access) $75. non-SCBWI members (with in-class internet access--bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord)
A Bring-Your-Own-Laptop Adventure into the Land of Social Media for Children's & YA Authors & Illustrators. Join Lynn E. Hazen and Susan Taylor Brown as we explore Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LinkedIn, You Tube, Red Room and so much more. We'll have internet access, so bring your laptop (optional) and we'll have time for you to click along, ask questions and participate in Web. 2.0. As publishers expect more and more from authors and illustrators (before during and after you've published), come learn how to juggle your promotion efforts, social websites & online personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE !
Lynn E. Hazen, M.A., M.F.A., writes books filled with humor, heart and hope. Kirkus praised her young adult novel, SHIFTY, as "a realistic story that resonates.” SHIFTY was chosen as VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction, a CCBC Choice, and a Smithsonian Notable. Lynn’s younger books include: MERMAID MARY MARGARET (a middle grade novel), CINDER RABBIT, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, and BUZZ BUMBLE. Lynn gives writing workshops and author talks at schools, libraries and conferences, and teaches writing classes at Stanford Continuing Studiess. www.LynnHazen.com and www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com
Susan Taylor Brown is the author of the middle grade verse novel Hugging the Rock, which was named an ALA Notable Children's Book, an NCTE Notable Children's Book, VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, and a Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year Selection. Susan's other books include picture books Oliver’s Must-Do List and Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? and the non-fiction book Robert Smalls Sails to Freedom. Susan leads writing and creativity workshops for writers and readers of all ages and conducts online workshops on the use of social media for authors. http://www.susantaylorbrown.com and http://susanwrites.livejournal.com Pre-registration required. We expect this workshop to sell out quickly.
I mentioned my class in my last post but it was a long post and I know not everyone reads to the end. Forgive the repost.
Since this is the first time I've offered an online class, any help spreading the word to the various other author boards/groups would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR THE BUSY WRITER How to Blog, Tweet, and Friend (and Still Have Time to Write)
Need help navigating all the online promotion possibilities on the web?
Want to increase your web presence but unsure what to do next?
Reluctant to add one more item to your to-do list?
Do you have the Twitter Jitters?
Then this 4-day ONLINE introductory class to Social Media is for you.
This class is conducted entirely online.
We'll cover an overview of many of the current online social media platforms such as Blogs, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Amazon Connect, JacketFlap, Linkedin (and more) and how authors are using them. You’ll learn why “friend” has become a verb, how to “tweet” for research experts, and what you can do about managing your time with all this new online activity. You will set up new social media platforms and learn how to enrich the ones you do have.
Yesterday was one of those days. One of those GREAT kind of days where everything seems to come together and I realize what a fabulous life I have and how it is populated with amazing and talented people.
What brought this about?
I'm so glad you asked.
I was asked to teach a class for SCBWI called Beyond Websites -- Facebook, Blogs & Twitter -- Oh MY! How to Juggle Your Promotion Efforts, Social Websites & Online Personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE. Quite a mouthful, eh? :)
Thanks to Jill Ann Cooke for making the lovely collage of our event. You can check out more of Jill's artwork at her beautiful website.
I was lucky enough to co-teach it with Lynn E. Hazen. Lynn and I are related in a couple of publishing families - we are both published with Tricycle Press and we are both represented by the wonderful Jodi Reamer.
Thanks to Keely Parrack for taking the picture and thanks to Lynn for remembering "product placement" for us.
As my great, great auntie Louella used to say, anyway. . .
We had a record turn out of attendess. How cool is that? I kept watching people come in and wondering if we were going to have to set up another table. Although this was the first time Lynn and I had presented together, it felt easy and comfortable, as though we had been doing it for years. I hope to get the chance to present with her again.
It was a hard topic to condense into just a 2 hour session and we warned folks that they would be stuffed with info until their eyes glazed over. But Lynn and I split things into easy chunks so no one hit information overload. I did the tech talk for a bit and then Lynn would talk everyone down and give them a breather with some time management tips.The group had fabulous energy which I was able to feed off of as I spoke. They asked great questions. There is so much to learn about online social networking and using it for book promotion that I think we could have just answered questions for 2 hours. Thanks to Keely for arranging for us to be able to stay a little later and talk a little longer.
The responses to the session both via evals and emails I've been receiving have been overwhelmingly positive. What a thrill to know that we were able to help dispel the intimidation factor that often accompanies the idea of getting involved with social networking. It was nice to know that all the weeks of time Lynn and I put into preparing for this were worth it. Thank you, Lynn. It was great fun!
Here are a few snippets of praise from the evaluations:
"Blogspicational!" Chad Cameron
"Great information on the various tech sites told in a user friendly fashion." Marya Ashworth
"Lynn and Susan took the mystery out of Twitter for me." Carma Dutra
"A great introductiion to Web 2.0 for Kidlit mavens. Lynn and Susan make the world of social networking seem accessible no matter how busy you are." Dashka Slater
"Susan Taylor Brown and Lynn E. Hazen paint realistic website and blogging panoramas. Practically focused, their energetic presenting made a believer out of me." Lyndsey Davis
"I've been a web developer for 14 years and I learned so much!" Marik Bergits
For those of you who attended the class and are looking for some of those details we promised you, read on. If I promised you more info on something but forgot to list, please leave me a comment.
Blogging platforms. Here are some free ones for you to take a look at: Livejournal.com (which is where you are now. My blog is hosted by LiveJournal.) Blogger.com (that's where Lynn Hazen has her blog. There's also WordPress.com .beckylevine does something neat with her WordPress blog - she has made it her website and blog all in one. (Incidently, if you're new to my blog and you see the little person icon next to Becky's name, that means she's on Livejournal too and you can "friend" her by clicking through to her Livejournal blog. Yes, she has two blogs.)
Blogging tip for newbies - this post is an example (albeit a LONG one) of what I was talking about when I mentioned linking to other blogs/websites in your post.
Here are a few illustrators who blog for those who asked: (if you're an illustrator with a blog reading this, please leave your blog in the comments so I can add you to my master list.)
I'm a pretty decent guy. I've got my faults of course; I'm sort of boring, kind of shy, sometimes I don't shower into well after one in the afternoon, but overall I like to think that the pros heavily outweigh the cons when it comes to your friendly neighborhood Steven. I'm sort of funny sometimes, there are a few people out there worse looking than me, I'm patient, understanding, and if you can manage to get past the Alcatraz-like that I tend wall that I put up, I'm a pretty good friend as well.
That's right, go me! NERD HIGH FIVE!
It's because of one of these good things that I agreed to take five or six hours out of my day last Saturday and put together the six logos above for my wife. The kids in her class at school came up with table names (some of them pretty creative) and she asked me if I would make a logo for each table.
I of course pretended like it was going to be a pain in the rear end of the highest order...you know...to make her more appreciative of the efforts, but in all honesty it was kind of fun. There were some pretty creative names in there, that sparked a lot of ideas, so I can't complain all that much.
Some of them actually came out looking pretty good.
That's right, go me! NERD HIGH FIVE AGAIN!
(I really should stop with the nerd high five thing...I'm starting to look like a nerd).
Steve
0 Comments on Pretty Decent Guy = Me as of 1/1/1900
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Eileen Robinson attended the New Jersey SCBWI June Conference. Some of you probably had a workhsop or critique with her or managed to get a few minutes to talk to her at the Mix and Mingle or lunch. She is also going to be out in LA for the 40th Anniversary Conference in August. Eileen heads her own company Fr1st Pages, which help writers hone their manuscripts.
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Donna,
Such passion! Such drive! Such lucky children! You’re definitely on a mission and you should feel very good about it. Thanks for sharing your take on homeschooling and general information about its accountability piece.
I say “ditto” to everything Linda says. You are equipping those kids to be the people God wants them to be.
Jean
Thanks for sharing! We are now in our 18th year of homeschooling in NC and still loving it! While there are many misconceptions about homeschooling (especially the old socialization thing), I think that today there are fewer misconceptions by the general public than there used to be. Homeschooling is going mainstream! When we first started and would go out to the park or store during the day, we’d often be questioned as to why the kids weren’t in school. I’d say it’s been about 10 years now since we’ve had anyone question us while we were out during a school day. I remember our relatives expressing concern early on and we tried to honestly and sincerely answer their questions. They had our kids’ best interests at heart and so did we; they deserved thoughtful answers. I always thought to myself, “The proof is in the pudding.” Once our two oldest graduated from college (one with a 4.0, triple majoring in engineering) they didn’t ask anymore questions! BUT, the high academic standards were not the main reason we chose to home school. We chose homeschooling because we thought it was the best way we knew to teach them what God tells us to teach them.
I really appreciate you — you’re such an encourager!
thank you for sharing, too! The proof is in the pudding… I like that!
Thank you, my friend. I am trusting in His provision and grace!