Big fun in PA, and a writer’s confession
Actually, a couple of confessions. And I’m sure certain friends of mine will wince that I’m saying this stuff out loud, but how are we all going to know that we’re not alone in these thoughts if someone won’t actually say them in public? So here goes:
1. I don’t want to be the kind of writer who cares about awards and competitions. I just want to write the best books I can, put them out there, and go on to the next book and keep doing my best, la dee da. But I’ll admit I do care, and on days like yesterday when nominations for some award or another are announced, there is that secret part of me that wishes I were on the list. And when I’m not, there may be some chocolate consumed. That’s all I’m saying.
2. I got my editorial letter yesterday on the new book, and my first impulse was to say, “Never mind, too much work, I’d rather write a new book, thank you.” I’ve felt that way before, and I know it will pass, but it’s amazing how strong the desire is to just throw away what you’ve got and start all over again. Sigh. I think I’ll just run away from it all for a few days.
3. Which brings me to the fun stuff: I’m heading to Pennsylvania this morning for a jam-packed couple of days that will include school visits, a booksigning, and an event kicking off Teen Read Week at the Guthrie Memorial Library in Hanover, PA.
The Associate Director of the Guthrie Memorial Library, Molly Krichten, put together something so incredible I can barely stand it: she rustled up the funding to do “One Book, Every Freshman” in her town, and then she ordered 500 copies of my book to hand out to all of the freshmen at the local high schools. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? So not only did she set up school visits for me, but I’ll actually be walking into auditoriums (auditoria?) where a huge proportion of those students will have read my book. Fantastic!!!
As if that’s not enough, she also managed to set up a presentation at a high school in Dover, PA–Dover, as in the town that had the big knock-down-drag-out lawsuit two years ago over teaching intelligent design in the high school. The expert I used in researching Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature, Dr. Kenneth Miller, was the lead expert witness in that Dover trial. So this is one of those full-circle things that just fills my heart with glee. I’m really looking forward to meeting the wonderful teachers and students (and maybe some parents?) from that town.
Plus–and tell me if you don’t think this is just entirely awesome–the drama department there is adapting part of the book to perform for me! I just can’t believe it. It’s all too wonderful.
So what was I whining about in those first two items? Sheesh. Get a grip and enjoy the amazingly cool parts of a writer’s life, why don’t you?
Anyway, all of this means I’ll be a little out of touch for a few days, although maybe this time I’ll remember to post the Friday List on Friday instead of Sunday. No promises, though.
Hope you all have a great weekend, and that I haven’t made a mistake by sharing with you my petty little thoughts about contests and awards and revisions. I wish I could say I were entirely zen about all of it, but apparently I’m not there yet. Perfection continues to elude me . . .
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Authors, Author Tours, Guthrie Memorial Library, Kenneth R. Miller
October 11th, 2007 at 5:52 am
Way cool about PA. I hope you have a fantastic time.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Robin,
We are really looking forward to seeing you in PA.
La Liseuse
Possibly the newest kidlitosphere blogger!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Well, I know how you feel about revising…I’m not published, yet. My agent wants me to revise for the 3rd time, but I’ve moved on.
And you are a rock star in your own right! Awards Schmoards.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Your #2: I with you on the editorial letters, Robin. My blog was filled with metaphors of battles for days. My only advice is: get a new toy. The only way I made myself do the work was to download a cool new piece of software called Scrivener. (Funny story: I downloaded it right after I read that Lisa Yee used it and nearly killed her entire manuscript…that shows how dumb/brave I am. But I really like it now.) Or you could just go buy some pretty colored notecards and shuffle them around. Bribery: IT WORKS.
As to number #1: No Zen is required. Of course, we all want to be on that list. We’d be suspect if we denied it.
For #3: OK, now you’re on a list that I’m not: authors invited to Teen Read Week. Authors whose books are bought in 500 copy sets. But you know, I’m happy for you, I am. Really. It’s just that tiny little bit about your book being brought to the stage that I have a problem with. Sigh. That would be SO awesome.
I’ll be sending good thoughts toward PA: All Zen. No Ven (om.) I promise!
October 11th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Robin, you should try powering through that editorial letter, then getting a new editor and a new editorial letter. If I didn’t like the new editor’s notes so much, I’d be very downtrodden. And yes, I will officially stop whining about it because it makes me sound like an ingrate.
Your school visits sound fun, and how great that the students will have read your book!
October 11th, 2007 at 8:09 am
I get to meet Robin! Woo hoo!
Last name is spelled Krichten, by the way, not that the newspaper (see article about Robin and our impending shenanigans in Dover and central PA) http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_7094139 got it right either!
October 11th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Robin, I didn’t even write a book and I want to be on that list.;) Seriously, though, the co-writer of The Artist’s Way explained something to me (and others) years ago that’s stuck with me: the more successful you become, the more sophisticated the critic in your brain becomes. I’m guessing that before Evolution was accepted for publication, the critic in your brain was jeering, “Tha’s great, but you’re not published.” And when you got published, the critic said, “Well, that’s nice, but…”
And so on and so forth. I forget what you’re supposed to do with that critic– probably LOOOOOOOOOOVE your critic and soothe it. Chocolate sounds good to me.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Wow, Robin! Sounds like those folks in PA are super-excited to have you. (As they completely should be!) I’m sure you will have a terrific weekend.
But seriously, you prefer writing a first draft of a completely new book to revising one that’s already written?
Really?
I am in awe! For me, writing first drafts are the hardest part…revising is the reward I get once I’ve finished!
It’s so interesting to get glimpses into how other’s processes are different from my own. Good luck revising!
October 11th, 2007 at 11:48 am
That PA trip sounds absolutely fab-oo. You enjoy that and don’t get your panties in a bunch about awards or editorial comments. I loved what alkelda said about always raising the bar for your inner critic. That’s so true for so many of us. (However, if it makes you feel better, there’s one book on that list that I’ve never heard of AND my huge library system hadn’t bought)
October 11th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Yes, I say, eat chocolate and concentrate on wild and crazy fun in PA.
I had the exact same feeling when I got the revision letter for the homeschooling book, of course, and consumed amazing amounts of ice cream while putting off doing the revisions. Then when I sat down and finally decided to do the revisions, it took me two days. That’s it. A lot of my life proceeds in this fashion.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Ditto what Adrienne said: “eat chocolate and concentrate on wild and crazy fun in PA.” That thing about the 500 copies of your book for all the high school freshman? Way, way cool!
Funny, I’m crazing chocolate now.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Congrats on the PA fun, Robin! Everything sounds amazing. You’ll definitely have to post about your experiences. I’m sure those high schoolers are going to be thrilled to meet you. I would have loved that as a freshman.
What an awesome person you are, Molly! I think it’s neat that you’re helping young people connect even what they read in fiction with real-life events.
Robin, as far as awards go, I guess there’s something to be said for them. Before I came here and got some fabulous book suggestions, I used the awards lists as reading sources. Most of the time, they were indeed great books, but not always. At least in my opinion. And there you have it: awards are subjective, even when those who give them have certain criteria to evaluate.
I’m still at the bottom of the ladder, having not yet finished my manuscript, much less ventured into the intimidating world of submitting it. And here you are…published and getting interviewed and meeting all sorts of other authors! Alkelda is right. Those of us who always strive to do our best will always find goals we haven’t yet met. I don’t think that’s so bad. It’s what kept me working for straight A’s in school. It’s what makes me intent on doing well in my editing work. It’s what feeds my hunger to get a book finished.
So keep striving, and have a little chocolate now and then!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Robin! That sounds AWESOME!!! As for the first two, I KNOW. Well, not that I expected nominations, fantasy being the red-haired stepchild and all, but still. Best to put my head in a hole and not know when nominations are imminent (I did not). Can I add a 3rd thing after those 2? How about jealousy of other writers who get to do such AWESOME stuff?? Seriously, the whole PA thing sounds so fantastic. Have a fabulous time and tell us all about it!! And say hi to Barry if you’re seeing him in PA!
October 11th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Okay, first of all, the Wisdom of Alkelda. Seriously–will you please be Yoda for all of us? Because you are SO right.
Second, Molly, I’m such a twit for misspelling your name! Aarrgg! I’ve fixed it, but still. Thanks for correcting me–I really hate getting people’s names wrong.
Third, Jenny, I had to laugh at what you said, because this once again shows that there are no set rules for how any of us do or should write–it’s all a matter of personal preference. Yes, I love the shiny new toy of a new story. I suffer with my rewrites. I know they make my stories so much better–especially because my editor happens to be BRILLIANT and sees things I wish I could see–but man, I just want to skip right over the doing part and just be done with it. But this is where the writing job is actually a job, and whining is so unattractive. Just do it.
Fourth and so on, I love that you all are willing to share your own pettiness and angst and preferences here and with me in general. That’s what makes this my watering hole. Thanks to Sara and Katie and Kelley and Stephanie and Laini and Adrienne and Mother Reader on the awards and revisions part, and to Heather and Jen the rest of you on the PA part. I’m up here right now, in my hotel room, just had soup at the restaurant next door, and I’m ready for bed.
La Liseuse, welcome to the kidlitosphere, and I’m looking forward to meeting you while I’m up here! Come introduce yourself!
Seriously, guys, thanks for all that you wrote. I’m feeling a little lonely because it’s my birthday and I’m away from home (wah!), but it makes me feel so much better to tune in here and see my friends chatting away!
I’ll write more tomorrow after all the school appearances. Yahoo!
October 11th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Yay for the stage adaptation!
October 11th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
AW Robin that’s awsome! And don’t worry about your next book and don’t give up! I’m sure it’s going to be so great and I bet it wont be as hard as you think! Keep trying!
October 11th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I mean, call me crazy but I’m thinking that your words being brought to life by a bunch of high-school dramatists IS a prize. Y’know? Let them love you up so that you can face that freakin’ letter when you come home…
You deserve it
October 12th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Liz, you couldn’t be more right. And that’s why I hate that I care even a little about any of the other stuff, when it’s the personal gifts, like these school visits and the interaction with the kids and the teachers, that really matter to me. I just finished one school visit right now, and I’m flying. SO much fun. I can’t believe I was whining about anything at all yesterday. Ah, the power of the internet to record us at our low points. Erase, erase . . .
Thank you, Dylan. That’s exactly the kind of encouragement we writers need to give each other.
Jules, I know! I can’t wait! It’s this afternoon!
October 12th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Dude, happy late birthday! That’s, like, license to eat chocolate–and, better, ice cream cake! Mmmmmmmm.
October 12th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Did you just sneak in a mention of your birthday like it was no big deal? I think you did.
Happy Just-Past Birthday.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
October 13th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Actually, having 500 copies of your book given out to real readers sounds much better than some stuffy award! That’s great–congratulations.