In the Booth

Am shifting gears this week to focus on a PB poetry collection in development. I’m doing some additional work on the voices, which basically means, family and friends find me mumbling a lot, or pausing mid-whatever-it-is-I’m-doing (gardening, laundry, etc.), with a far-away look, punctuated by a laugh and me saying, “oh, that might be funny.” And there’s the jotting down of odd thoughts, but in ALL CAPS, which means we might be on to something …

With school wrapping soon, I’m digging in big time right now, so away from blogging. But I did want to offer a quick word of thanks to the fab writer/blogger Heather Kelly over at Edited to Within an Inch of My Life for inviting me to participate in last week’s WIBIJ (Where in the Blogosphere is Jon?) cyber race/scavenger hunt (my blog was one of the stops). Very fun and a great chance to meet some other folks in our writing community. So thanks for that!

The peonies are opening! Love their fragrance!

Starting the Week Inspired

Do dentists, home-appliance manufacturers, or zoologists leave their conferences as energized as I feel from this weekend’s New England SCBWI gathering? Possibly zoologists if, say, during the course of the conference, someone successfully resuscitates a koala or brings along evidence of a whole new subspecies of squid, but I doubt it. I’m so glad I’m in the profession I’m in and can go to conferences like the one this past weekend in Fitchburg. The tremendous creative talent that was there … opportunities at every turn to talk to others who write and illustrate … and, perhaps best of all, the chance to see old friends and make new connections. Fun!

 

With my awesome writing friends Nandini Bajpai and Francine Puckly. Photo from NB.

 

Allyn Johnston and Marla Frazee’s talk on their picture-book work together, followed by Allyn’s PB workshop, were superb! (And left me nostalgic for the days when we lived on the Southern California coast.) I agree, picture books are a form of high art. And getting that ending just right—well, getting the whole story just right, the pacing, the language, each page turn leading to that ending …  Sunday’s PB intensive with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen was also excellent, filled with amazing insights on structure and some funny asides, too.  Today, while I’ll be gutting my current PB project, I do so inspired!

But my gosh, so many other great workshops and discussions. I mean, we had the amazing Cynthia Leitich Smith with us for two days—her keynote address on Saturday, full of wisdom and wit, plus a great interview with Melissa Stewart on Sunday.  Jo Knowles, Kate Messner and Carrie Jones offered a fab presentation on blogging, which will definitely help me as I look to bump this space to the next level. Kelly Fineman’s session on free verse, no surprise, terrific!

I loved having chance to hang with my Holliston group members, though Marilyn, Shirley and Jean are due some real hang time, given the tremendous effort they put in as part of the team that kept the show running all weekend. Judy from my online poetry group, so nice to finally meet face to face!

Nandini and Heather, I’m proposing some regularly scheduled Natick face time to talk writing!

Much more to say, but I’m committed to getting to work this morning! Thank you, Anindita, Greg and all of the conference committee members and volunteers!!

Hope to keep up with everyone through the blog world, Twitter, etc.!

Spring Push

Had a back-on-pace, things-are-crystallizing kind of writing session today–huzzah! Not that I haven’t been productive lately, but what I’ve been producing just hasn’t been cutting it for me (in hindsight, more in the bin of prewriting I think). And lately, throw in some family travel, freelance commitments, lots of reading, visitors, community events, and other springtime activities … hooh, boy … but still keeping that writing focus.

Taking a break from blogging for a spell until I get this draft in the shape I want it. Looking forward to the New England SCBWI conference the weekend of May 15, a great opportunity to catch up with my writing peeps—in person!!

Recent art infusion at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh. Yep, sure beats TV.