Focus

I’ve been feeling a lot of personal pressure to get my manuscript published.  And I think this is because both at FP-NC and HC so many of the authors I (or the agents or editors) work with are so young.  There’s Kody Keplinger (The DUFF and upcoming Luststruck), Veronica Roth (the upcoming and going-to-be-huge Divergent), Hannah Moskowizt (Break, the upcoming Invincible Summer and several others) and Courtney Allison Moulton (Angelfire).  They’re under the age of 25 and have wonderfully successful books under their belt.  I obviously still haven’t entirely grown out of selfish-teenager-mode because I. Want. That. Too.  NOW.

I have to stand back and remind myself that that isn’t right for me.  I just started my fantastic dream job.  I love it, but it’s new and I’m still learning the ropes.  As I mentioned last week, it’s beginning to take up even more of my time.  Add that on top of finding and settling into my new apartment, I’ve been busy, and my focus needs to be on that fantastic job and becoming the best editorial assistant I can be.

Querying is also a full time job.  While I have an advantage of knowing the industry, it’s very fledgling knowledge, and like all (good) writers, I need to research which agents would be a best fit for my manuscript.  Just like my 9-to-5 job I want to be able to put in 100% when querying.  This means I have come to the decision to wait on querying my manuscript.  My original goal had been to start the first of this year, but I haven’t yet received all the feedback I was waiting on, so I pushed that goal back.  Now, with some more revision under my belt, I’ve still decided it’s still better to wait until the time is right for me, not anyone else.

This isn’t to say I won’t be writing- this weekend I finally got the chance to start working on my New Years Resolution (yes, I am aware that it is the beginning of February and not January, but I knew that going into the New Year my resolution would start a month late).  It felt so good to write!  And I will continue with that good writing feeling until I am more settled in my job and have found a way to balance full time job and writing career. 

Any advice on how to do so?

Confession

Here is a confession and a resolution wrapped into one: I have not written or edited a single word in any story of mine since the second weekend in November.   *GASP*

No, seriously, this is bad.  Life got in the way.  And granted, I’ve accomplished a lot and I can be very grateful for that this year: I’ve gotten both a job and an apartment, plus traveled to CT/NH for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I’ve been busy and understandably so. 

Understandable, yes.  Acceptable, no. 

Why? Because it’s SOOOOO easy to make up excuses as to why you can’t get something done.  This applies to everyone and anything: it could be doing the laundry, going to the gym, or calling a long lost friend.   But I cannot let life and excuses get in my way of writing.  I will not.

When I have a routine (like I did over the summer and part of the fall), my writing went wonderfully.  It was more fun than work.  I was productive and creative and I looked forward to my moments I had set aside to write.  I respected this time just as if it was written in my planner and unrescheduleable. I wouldn’t schedule a doctor’s or hair appointment in the morning.  My family respected this time too; my mom knew that I couldn’t go shopping with her before noon on the weekend because I was writing; I made plans around my designated writing time.  This worked.  Really well. 

So, my resolution for 2011 is to set up a special writing time again and not let anything- social events, my boyfriend making me a three course meal (*hint* starting and ending with dessert, please *hint*), napping, etc. - to get in the way.  I know that with a full time job I won’t have as much time to write as I did when I was basically doing nothing over the summer, but…

Starting January 1^st, I WILL WRITE REGULARLY.  

Got it? I hope you guys will help keep me on track ;-) 

First Day

Today I had my first day of work as the Employed Book Lover at HarperCollins…and it went really well.  I couldn’t be happier!

The day started off with some important questions like: If I wore my best two outfits to my two interviews, what do I wear on my first day? The best answer, of course, is to go shopping…which I will absolutely do in due time…but today I wore an old standard.  Looking the part is important!

Thus dressed and a bit sleepy (having had my nerves wake me up at 4am), I headed to the office to arrive at 9am for an orientation.  Learning about the history of the company, some of the benefits and many systems, a fellow newly hired employee and I were able to go to our respective departments.

Sarah and Anne, the two editors whom I am working for, were lovely.  When they showed me my (surprisingly large) desk, there was a card, beautiful tulips, and a lamp they selected for me as my cubicle is a bit on the dark side.  There were also fifteen or so books that Sarah and Anne have worked on awaiting my read.  They promised me a bookshelf, which I know will get filled very quickly!  I also received Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom from the senior vice president, as a welcome to the company gift.  Ursula Nordstrom is a legendary editor who directed Harper’s Department of Books for Boys and Girls from 1940-1973.

After settling in, I met with Sarah and Anne separately to discuss the books that they’re working on, what needs to be done in the near future, and what tasks I should be performing.  I already have two books to read and one manuscript to read from Sarah, plus one book to read so I can write up a new copy for the reissue and another manuscript to copyedit while reading for Anne!  They’re going to keep me busy, which isn’t a bad thing at all!  I also spent my afternoon doing a few administrative tasks like compiling a calendar with all the important dates, delivering a galley to the managing editorial department, and learning how to use a program which tracks all the books published by HarperCollins.  It was a bit of an information dump- but I know I’ll pick it up soon!

Anne and Sarah also took me out to lunch, which was so sweet…and such a nice welcome to the team.  The others I’ve met in the group- Katherine, Claudia, Molly, and Jen- also seem like the nicest people ever.  I feel very fortunate to not only have landed my dream job in the editorial dept. of a great children’s publishing house, but also to work with smart, kind people.  *Happy dance*

I’ll let you know how the rest of the week and such go!

Q. What Do You Do With a B.A. in Creative Writing? A. Publishing!

What do you do with a B.A. in English?

What is my life going to be?

Four years of college,

And plenty of knowledge,

Have earned me this useless degree!

I can't pay the bills yet,

‘Cause I have no skills yet,

The world is a big scary place!

But somehow I can't shake,

The feeling I might make,

A difference to the human race!

These lines, from the satiric musical Avenue Q, kind of summed up my life these past few (alright, many) months.  The job hunt is depressing and frustrating, especially in this economy…but I KNEW I was meant to be in publishing.  I KNEW that it had to be children’s books so that I could help inspire kids to love reading.  And I KNEW it was worth the wait- because, ya know, maybe I will be able to make a difference. 

So I am VERY pleased to announce that I am now the Unemployed Book Lover, who has achieved her Book Lover Goal #1.  Yesterday I was hired as editorial assistant for Sarah Shumway and Anne Hoppe at Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins Children’s Books.  I am beyond happy!

More information will be forthcoming as I figure out all the details.  And when I start November 29^th!  YAY!

Mid-Month Update

This month has been a busy, crazy one...and it’s only half over!  Here’s an update on where I stand in completing my Book Lover Goals:

Book Lover Goal #1: Editorial Assistant at a Children’s Book Publishing House

I had TWO interviews last week…my first interviews since August.  Needless to say, I was thrilled.  And they’re both editorial assistant positions; exactly what I’m looking for.  The first was at Random House, working at Knopf Children’s Books.  The second was at HarperCollins, working at Katherine Tegen.  Both positions gave me a take-home writing test in which I need to read a manuscript/short story and provide a reader’s report and flap copy.   That being turned in, I’m anxiously waiting to hear whether I get a second interview…keep your fingers crossed!  Each interview, though, brings me closer and closer to achieving my first Book Lover Goal.

Book Lover Goal #2: Author of MG and YA Novels

I finished writing The Rose of Coracus, which is now in the hands of my trusted readers for their comments.  I’m hoping to revise once more based on their notes and then begin querying after the New Year (AHH!). In the meantime, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo on my new novel, The Lady and the Unicorn’s Lover (I couldn’t resist playing with the title of the famous tapestry).  NaNoWriMo started off great; I wrote 5,000 words in the first three days, keeping on par with the 1667 words a day goal.  I am currently at 5,000 words.  Life aka interviews got in the way of my writing at such a rapid pace.  And although I would have loved to come out of November with a 50,000 word manuscript, I know that The Lady and the Unicorn’s Lover WILL get written eventually…and if I come out of November with a job, it will be even better.

Book Lover Goal #3: Owner of a Bookstore and Bakery

This goal is the one that’s most in the future right now.  I’m okay with that.  Goals #1 and #2 are plenty to focus on right now.  I have been doing quite a bit of baking, though (as always!), and would like to share this seasonally appropriate recipe.  It’s a family favorite and a crowd pleaser.

Pecan Pumpkin Delight

15 oz    canned pumpkin (without spices)

12 oz    evaporated milk

1 c       sugar

3          eggs

1 t        vanilla

1 box    yellow cake mix

1 c        butter, melted

1 ½ c    pecans, slightly chopped

            whipped cream, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9x13 pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper.  Set aside.   In large bowl, combine pumpkin, milk and sugar.  Beat in eggs and vanilla. Pour in prepared pan.  Sprinkle with dry cake mix and drizzle with butter.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Invert onto a large serving platter.  Carefully remove paper or foil. Top with whipped cream if desired.  Enjoy!

So, there we have it…my crazy first couple weeks of November.   We’ll see what the next two bring; sleep and a bit of relaxing, hopefully…and a phone call with a job offer! (Remember: Book Lovers ALWAYS have hope!)

National Novel Writing Month

This November I am going to participate in National Novel Writing Month.  NaNoWriMo entails pledging to write a full 50,000 word manuscript in one month, from 11/1-11/30.   Does that sound crazy? YES YES YES.

It’s 1,666⅔ words a day.  And that doesn’t even include days when you’re too busy to write (most days I work and holidays when I’m with family).  But that’s the point.  NaNoWritMo encourages writers to find time to write, no matter what.  They have a quite humorous ‘advice column’: “Suggest to your housemates that if they take care of chores during November, you'll cover the following two months. Make sure you're not signed up for soccer game snack-duty, volunteering in the neighborhood—any helpful or productive task that isn't writing your novel—until November is past.”

They also suggest you just write, not edit.  How could you find time to write 50,000 words and then edit them to 50,000 quality words? The point is quantity, over quality.  After all, they tell you December is for editing.  Luckily for me, this part of the deal won’t be difficult to adjust to.  Normally I do write first, edit later.  But the sheer quantity before editing?  I normally do a couple chapters at a time, not the whole manuscript. We shall see.

The whole concept of NaNoWriMo is ridiculous.  I’ve heard of it before and have always scoffed.  Yet…why not participate in an event that will encourage me to write as much as humanly possible?  I’m at the perfect writing point to participate: I just gave The Rose of Coracus away for reader’s critiques, so I need to let it go for the time being.  No need to nitpick before receiving feedback.  So, in order to take my mind away from that manuscript and move on, I need to start another one.  What better way to begin a manuscript than by working on it as much as possible this month?

Will I reach 50,000 words?  I’m not sure.  I don’t think it really matters if I do.  What matters is that this upcoming month I’m going to be writing, writing, writing and hopefully getting one step closer to achieving Book Lover Goal #2. 

And if the dishes pile up in the sink or if I’m wearing three-week-old laundry, I’m sorry.  December is the month for cleanliness and hygiene.  And editing.  

Rainy Day

Some days are just meant to be spent wrapping in a blanket, with a cup of tea and a good book.  Today is one of those days.  So, in honor of my Book Lover Goal #3: To Own a Bookstore and Bakery, I would like to share one of my favorite cookie recipes that goes perfectly with a cup of tea.   So, bake, enjoy, and stay in bed until you read your favorite book cover to cover.  Okay, so I know that may not be a realistic plan for 99% of the world, but hey, we can dream, right?

Almond Cookies

2 ¾ c flour

1 c sugar

½ t baking soda

½ t salt

1 c lard

1 egg

2 T milk

1 t almond extract

48 whole almonds

In mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.  Cut in lard until mixture resembles cornmeal.  Combine egg, milk and almond extract.  Mix well.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  Place an almond atop each cookie and press to flatten slightly.  Bake at 325° for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on rack.  Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy! 

A Bit About My Writing

So I’ve been babbling for the past few weeks about books I love and various other book related topics.  Today I’d like to go back to those Book Lover goals…and not the (should be relatively easy but isn’t in this economy) goal of getting a job…the harder goal of becoming a published author.

Gah- I said it again! I’m already a writer, but I want to be an AUTHOR too.  In face-to-face conversation, this statement is nearly always followed by a bashful smile.  But then when someone asks me what I’m writing about, the shyness disappears.  Why? Because I LOVE what I’m writing.  I’m passionate about it.  And that why I can call myself a Book Lover.

So, a bit about what I’m writing, how I’ve gotten here, and where I’m going…

The Rose of Coracus is a YA novel that takes place in the quasi-medieval fantastical kingdom of Harren, where Shayna, a dancer and talented seamstress of a hated ethnic group, meets the Crown Prince in disguise, Johnathan, who is trying to learn more about his future kingdom.  Add betraying best friends, potential suitors, pressure from parents and a building rebellion into the mix, all while Johnathan and Shayna are trying to figure out their place in the world.  You can see where this is going (so you think!)…but I’m going to make you wait to find out the ending until you can buy the book in stores! 

I’ve been working on this story seriously for the past eight months or so, when I decided I would do it for my senior project at Hamilton.  This summer I did a series of revisions (and learned the importance of setting a rigid schedule for yourself), including adding all of Johnathan’s perspective…I NEVER thought I’d be able to write from a male point of view, but I think (and have been told by my faithful reader, Heather) it works.  In August, just when I thought I was being close to finished, my friend read the beginning and came up with a GENIUS addition to the plot, which meant I needed to do major rewriting…and I wouldn’t be finished for a few more months (geez, thanks a lot, Heather!).  In reality, though, I’ve been working on this story much longer.  After being influenced by Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books in middle school, I began writing my Harren stories during the summer between eighth and ninth grade.  Called Shayna’s Story until recently, it was envisioned to be the third in a series.  In early high school, my friends and I formed an informal writer’s group.  This novel was the only one I ever finished…finished in the eyes of a sixteen year old.  Which is why, five years later, when I had the opportunity to work on the story again and make it MUCH stronger through my senior creative writing class, I eagerly did so.  And now, clocking in at 71,000 words with a few chapters still to be added and one more round of polishing, I’m just about done…done in the eyes of a twenty two year old.  I know there’s SO much work still to be done, but I’m super proud of what I’ve accomplished and sure that, with all that hard work, perseverance and other Book Lover values I’ve picked up along the way, this story is going to be something.  Someday.  Hopefully someday soon?

In another month or so I’m going to begin the second, and probably even harder, step of trying to get an agent to represent me.  I’m lucky, because of my background in publishing, I know more than the average writer about what I’m supposed to do and not do.  I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes, but I also know that lots of writers try to get their not-so-good manuscripts published (I’ve read and rejected more than I can count).  Mine is WAY better than a lot of manuscripts I’ve read interning at Bloomsbury and FinePrint/Nancy Coffey.  And if those potential authors think their manuscript deserves a chance, mine sure does, too!  Probably, some intern will reject my manuscript, like so many others.  But then again, maybe one intern will like it.  And pass it on to her boss.  And she’ll like it, too.  It only takes one.

I’ll keep you updated! 

Why Children's Books?

My Book Lover Life Goal #1 is to work at a children’s book company.  Currently, I’m aiming at an entry-level editorial assistant job.   I can’t tell you (but I’m sure I will at some point) about the countless number of contacts, mostly Hamilton alums, that I’ve met with hoping to hear advice, gain knowledge about the publishing industry, and get my name out there.  There’s one thing I have to say about those who work in the publishing industry more than anything else: they are the nicest, most helpful people!  The only problem is, despite those meetings and hours of research online, there aren’t many jobs.  There are editorial assistant jobs working for academic publishers or marketing jobs at children’s book companies.   But that isn’t what I want (and, in full disclosure, if I’m still the very unemployed book lover in 3 more months I might try one of those to get my foot in the door…more on that later).  I want a job as an editorial assistant at a children’s book company.

But why children’s?

This one question is so key to what I want to accomplish in my life, and has impacted all my book lover goals.  You see, I wasn’t always a book lover.  In fact, I was a book hater. The turning point occurred when my third grade teacher, Mrs. Moore, handed me a choose-your-own-adventure book.  Until that time not only did I dislike reading, but I was a lower-level reader despite the many efforts of my mom and teachers.  Mrs. Moore changed all that with her ‘genre a month’ project, and for some reason, the choose-your-own-adventure book opened up the possibilities of reading for me.  Perhaps the format of choose-your-own-adventure books is what this very imaginative child needed to enjoy reading; I’m not quite sure what did it.  But by the end of the year I had devoured the choose-your-own-adventure selection in the school and public libraries, moved on to historical fiction and mystery books thanks to Mrs. Moore’s ‘genre a month’ project, had written more short stories than were assigned, and had moved from one of the lowest reading level groups to the highest by fourth grade.  For Halloween in fourth grade I was a book that I had written and illustrated myself, my little sister tagging along as Timothy the Tiger, the main character of my story.

One book changed my life.  Looking back, it wasn’t a great book.  Not an award winner by any means.  But it didn’t need to be.  It just took one book to spark my imagination and show me how wonderful the world of books could be.  I was a book lover from that day in the third grade, and I continue to be one.  I devour books, I majored in writing books, I picked extracurriculars that helped bring books alive for children, I volunteered at a literacy camp and a library in the children’s section.  And I want to work at a children’s book company.  I want to help find and publish books that will inspire children, just like that choose-your-own-adventure book did for me.  I am the Unemployed Book Lover, and the most frustrating thing of all, is until I become employed, my means to share my love of books and spread the joy of reading with children is limited.  A book can change a child’s life.  And that’s not just me being a dreamer.  It happened to me.

Welcome to my blog

It has been three months since I graduated from college.  Three l-o-n-g months at home in a small Connecticut town with little to do.   Most of my friends went to grad school; they don’t have to worry about finding a job in this bad-but-improving economy.  But I do.   And it’s frustrating!  So, what better way to spend my unemployed free time by telling you what books I LOVE and why, why it’s worth the wait to find a job involving books, and all the things I’m going to do because of my love for books.  Stay tuned.

A little about me:

I graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY with a degree in Creative Writing.  I was a good student, but I was also a ‘bad’ English major: I can’t spell (and love my new spell-check everywhere MacBook Pro), my comma usage is shaky, and I despise literary criticism.  I had trouble with most of my creative writing workshop classes until senior year because of those little details.  This past year, however, I was able to pursue a senior project and because it was of my own choosing and my classmates had to accept that, I feel as if I came into my own and really grew.  More on that later.  All in all, Hamilton was a great school that served me well during my four years.  Case in point (pay attention because this is a key step to where I am now): sophomore year I decided I wanted to pursue a summer internship in book publishing.  I wound up at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, my direct supervisor was a wonderful Hamilton alum, and my living expenses paid for by a generous scholarship given by Hamilton alums and the Hamilton Career Center.  Hamilton took care of me very well.

But I’ve graduated.  Hamilton is a part of my life, but because I’m an alumna, it’s mostly the past.  Where am I now?  That’s right…an unemployed book lover.  For the record, I’m not quite unemployed.  I’m working hard, just lacking a paying job.  For the summer I volunteered in the children’s section of my small town library and I’m about to begin an unpaid internship at a literary agency in Manhattan.  And I’ve been pounding the pavement.  Hard.  I can count at least twenty meetings with everyone (mostly Hamilton alums) from editorial assistant to publicity directors to HR managers from small publishing houses to the Big 5.  And I’ve had two interviews, but no job. Hopefully the internship (which I’m thrilled about) will help me achieve…

 Book Lover Goal

 #1: Editorial assistant position at a children’s publishing house.

My other two book lover goals are scarier to write about. They are the type of dreams you don’t talk about, unless you’re sure you’ll be successful because otherwise your naysayers will know of your ‘failure’.   But I’ll tell you what they are anyways:

More Book Lover Goals:

#2: Author of Middle Grade and YA Novels

#3: Owner of a bookstore (and bakery!)

Talking about my dreams, and getting feedback from friends and family, allows me to get advice on how to actually make those dreams come true.  Part of being a book lover means that you have a vivid imagination and you do dream.  That also might be why book lovers are constantly ‘unemployed’; they’re always searching for the next big thing, the next book or job or hobby that they can be passionate about.  I may be unemployed in the traditional and untraditional sense right now, and that part of being a book lover (as opposed to being a in-demand IT or medical professional) isn’t hot, but the tools I’ve learned from the books I’ve loved: hope, perseverance, hard work, and most importantly, to never stop dreaming, that’s the very best part. 

Okay, I’m done being cheesy.

Welcome to my blog (and remember, book lovers always keep reading for a bit before forming an opinion...so stick around for my next couple posts, too.)