Teen Writing Workshop #2

Tonight I'll be doing another writing workshop. Yay! This time, we're focusing on character development and then wrapping up the class with a writing prompt about secrets. (Ooooh....secrets....)

I'll tell you all about it when I get back, and I hope to have some pics or videos of the class.

We are showing two YouTube videos from Jackson Pearce to spice things up a bit. Her videos are the BEST EVER. Here they are:

This one is about using the Disney process in your writing:


This one is about revising...it's like cake:


Hope to have a fun evening. After this, it's all work, work, work. I got my revision letter from my agent, and so I'll be just a bit busy the next several weeks. I've got so much to do, not to mention the revision! I have to basically re-write my book, get the house ready for baby Henry (due in about 6 weeks), potty train my Dinosaur, and finish unpacking from our move. And all of this I want done by Halloween because I'll be full-term then, ready to pop (or unable to move).

Speaking of which, last night I had the honor of having the baby head-butt me in my spine/tailbone. It was not so fun. The sensation was something akin to having an alien trying to come out through my back.

Good Day for Me!!

I got the call today from an agent. When all's official, I'll let you know who it is.

Funny thing (sorta) was that I was at the library with Elizabeth, so the whole time I was on the phone, I was trying to keep her from running around like a crazy wild thing. She was loud, she spit on a little boy, and she was pulling books off shelves. Thank goodness we were in the children's section.

Update on the teen writing workshop: it's been moved to October 6th. If you're a local teen, and you want to work on your writing talent and meet others with the same vibe, join us!

Teen Writing Workshop

As the sign says (if you can read it), I taught a writing workshop to teens last night at the library. :-)



Aren't they wonderful? They're not all in the photo, as some had escaped before I remembered my camera.

We started right away with a writing exercise and then did the introductions. Then we went over "show vs. tell," in which I went through the latest draft of my novel looking for an example of telling. (Sadly, I found one on page four.) After that, we spoke a bit about using the five senses in narrative to bring the writing alive to the reader. After that, we wrote the same paragraph again, but everyone had to use at least three of the five senses. Most of the young adults then graciously offered to read both of their paragraphs out loud to the class so we could hear the differences. (Brave souls!)

I don't know about them, but I had a great time. :-) Who doesn't when surrounded by writing friends, talking about great books and the craft of writing?

Oh, and the library asked me today if I'd be willing to do it again in October, to start out their Teen Reading Week. I'm honored--it's like being the opening speaker!