Mel is Mel Boring, moderator of this chat with Kristi Holl and web editor of the ICL site.

Pink shows the user names of the people who are asking questions of Kristi.

Mel: Hello to ALL you children's writers, and a warm WELCOME to the ICL Chat Room! Tonight I can relax, because the chat is in GOOD hands--those of Kristi Holl, who first built this web site, then edited it for four years. So it's very easy for this moderator to moderate tonight. Kristi will help get our just-begun 2003 off to a bang-up, write-up start. She has wise advice about setting goals that are attainable, reading books that will keep the inspire fires burning, finding a writing mentor who can multiply your efforts, why you may need to find a critique group, how to market your writing more assertively, and getting yourself motivated.

WELCOME BACK to the ICL Chat Room, my friend and mentor, Kristi Holl!

Kristi: It's so good to be back here with Mel and all of you! Thanks for having me back!

Mel: First of all, when you got married and moved across the country recently (and gave up web editing), did you find it at all difficult to motivate yourself to write?

Kristi: I found it difficult for a reason I never expected. I found that I was afraid that I had somehow "lost it" where my writing was concerned. For several years, I had been writing almost daily, for the web and other adult publications, but it was a different kind of writing. I wrote for adults, short nonfiction. When I stopped web editing and returned to my first love, writing middle grade novels, I realized that several years away from it had left me rusty. I sent a recent novel to three writing friends, for example, and the critiques (while kind) were very daunting. I had trouble in all areas of plot, characterization, pacing, motivation, and such. I felt rather panicky at first, that maybe I had been away from fiction writing too long. But once I decided I could relearn whatever I had forgotten and I just needed to dive in, the fun of the writing kind of took over and then motivation wasn't really a problem anymore.

Mel: What kinds of activities did you use to stir up your desire to write again?

Kristi: It wasn't really that hard. First, I began reading all kinds of good books--I had really missed having the time to read these past few years. Then I joined a local reading group called Friends of the Library and met quite a few people who really enjoyed reading unusual books and discussing them. I joined a few critique groups, and I also began doing a lot of journaling.

Mel: How do you motivate yourself to actually write each day--or do you?

Kristi: I belong to enough critique groups right now that I almost have to write daily in order to have something to show next time! I did on purpose create some accountability so I would have people I respected asking me about the writing.

Mel: What about goals? Should we even set them? Aren't they like New Year's Resolutions that no one keeps?

Kristi: Unfortunately, many times people DO set goals that turn out to be nothing more than half-hearted resolutions that are forgotten within a week or two. It shouldn't be that way, though. And if you set up your goals correctly, they won't be as easy to forget or ignore as your New Year's Resolutions. They need to be well thought out, they need to fit your personal situation, and there is no one-size-fits-all goal for all writers. We want different things. We live in different situations that can dictate the size of the goals we can set, and we have differing abilities. But yes, I definitely think you need to set good writing goals for 2003!

mrspigglewiggle: Can you find those critique groups through the "Friends of the Library"?

Kristi: I don't know if you can or not. I never asked, but I do know that the other writer in my town is on the Friends board and she heads the discussion group too, so if I hadn't already met her through SCBWI, I would have met her at the Friends meetings.

thecloudwriter: Have you ever just had a creative spark and written something you would not want to change except for critiques?

Kristi: I had one book like that actually. I dreamed almost the whole thing--it was a mystery--and I pretty much wrote it just like I dreamed it. It never happened again, either, but it was a fun one to do!

Mel: Kristi, ccollier wanted me to pass along this, that isn't it NICE now you're in Florida, that you don't have to worry about an ice storm ending the Open Forum short!

Kristi: Yes! Christine remembers my Iowa winters well and those chat room bouncers!

Mel: What are the components of a good, workable goal?

Kristi: Part of the reason our goals don't work for us is that we don't have all the necessary parts. I have read this in a number of places, but it is a term for goal setting called the SMART approach. Each letter stands for something specific that you need in your goal and it makes a good checklist for you when you're writing your goals.

S is for specific. They need to be focused instead of general. They need to be specific enough so that another person could tell if you met your goal. A goal of "I want to write better" is too general. A specific goal of "I am going to write one hour six days per week" is better.

M is for measurable. They need to be made in quantities. Can your goal be stated in a number (like "I want to sell FOUR articles this year") or a percentage (like "I want to sell to 25% more magazine pieces this year")?

A is for Action-oriented. Goals need to specify the action that needs to be taken to produce results. Is there an action verb in your goal? (Like "I want to SELL three stories" or "I will MARKET my novel to four publishers" or "I will JOURNAL every day.")

R is for Realistic. If you have four toddlers and live with your in-laws, a realistic goal would not be to write three new novels this year (probably). You want to have a challenging goal, but not so challenging that you feel defeated before you even start. Look at your home life, your other income, ages of your kids, etc. Then create realistic goals for the year. And last...

T is for Time-limited: Goals need to have deadlines. Open-ended goals are too easy to put off till another day. Deadlines set by editors seem to work the most magic, but you can set your own deadlines, and for most of your career, will probably need to. For 2003, focus on the goals you believe you could achieve by the end of this year if you applied yourself.

Mel: Do you make long-term goals, short-term goals, or both? Why?

Kristi: I think you need both if you want to meet your goal. If you're independently wealthy or writing is only a so-so hobby, that's one thing. But if you really want to write for a career or a part-time career, you need both long and short-term goals. The long-term goal is your finishing line--the final product you are aiming for. But like anyone trying to lose 50 pounds, you know you need to break it up into manageable chunks (with rewards for achieving each part), or the whole goal is too daunting. You feel like quitting before you really get started.. But with short-term goals (what I need to accomplish...this month, this week, today), you can bite off smaller pieces and, as they say, eat the whole elephant one bite at a time.

red2: I'm motivated this new year. I am planning a series and was wondering, when querying for a series of books do you have to have them all written when you query?

Kristi: No, you certainly don't. And in fact, it would not help you at all to write the whole series first. Generally speaking, editors just want to see the first book anyway, and if it sells well then they will consider a series. However, if you're wanting to propose a whole series, you can submit the first book plus VERY SHORT synopses of the other books, like just a summary paragraph for each of the other books if you want to do that. But primarily the editor wants to see if you can write the first book first. Once you have some publishing credits and have shown you can write books, then that's another story. Oftentimes you don't have to even write the first book when proposing a series--you just need the ideas--but that's quite a ways down the road.

thecloudwriter: Is there a set time during the day that's best to write?

Kristi: It so much depends on your own energy and your lifestyle. Many, many writers, when given the chance, write first thing in the morning when they are fresh, but some people are DEAD first thing in the morning, and they come alive late in the day, so that's THEIR best time to write. Also, when I started writing, my best time to write was right after lunch during the kids' naptimes, even though I was pooped by then because it was the only time it was quiet. So experiment, if you have some choices about when to write, and see what works best for you and go with your own biorhythms, if at all possible.

dide: This advice is all well and good, and appreciated, but we live in a busy, busy world. Making time for the job and family, and the writing, is nearly an impossible task. Even with goals, life takes over, the day-to-day family obligations, it is harder than I imagined to actually sit, clear my mind, then write.

Kristi: Boy, you are singing my song! Actually, that is where the ICL web site was born, out of the frustrations you just described. When I was building my writing career, the four kids were very small, I was teaching fulltime most of the time, we had life intruding constantly with moving, illnesses, surgeries, etc. And I found myself writing and selling articles on these subjects as I was learning how to write amid the hubbub myself. And then I approached the Institute about a web site where some of these issues could be addressed and people could support each other because, like you said, it is so very hard to actually sit down and implement. I think the most helpful books and articles to me during that time dealt with people issues, like being able to set boundaries, being able to carve out time for the writing without letting family make me feel guilty, and issues such as these. And the book First Aid for Writers, which will soon be in paperback, is a collection of the most popular articles on this subject. But yes, you have to bite the bullet almost every day, it seems, in order to write.

Honkifyoulovejesus: (not a question) What a wonderful idea, Kristi! Thanks for this website. It is the best thing that is a part of ICL--aside from the course.

Mel: AMEN to that from Mel!

Kristi: Thank you for sharing that. I sort of did it for myself too, I have to admit. I was very lonely at home and with teaching fulltime then, I didn't get out or talk to other writers at all, it seemed. And when I proposed this web site, and proposed that I get to have chat rooms and interviews etc, it was quite honestly a selfish desire of my own to connect with other struggling writers so I didn't feel so alone. I'm very glad if it also meets others' needs.

Mel: What is one necessary key in goal setting that often determines whether they are met?

Kristi: I'm not sure what the magic in this is, but writing the goals down and putting them where you see them almost daily seems to be the deciding factor most often. No matter how well thought out they are, if you put your goals away in your desk drawer or the back of your planner where you never see them, it is much more unlikely that you'll meet your goals. You need to keep them in front of you every day. I write mine on a big poster board or put them on a bulletin board right by my desk so I have to see them every day. It works too! .

marty: Have you ever written a How-to book for writers?

Kristi: No, not really. I've had someone ask me to write a how-to on writing children's mysteries after seeing my "mystery lessons" on my web site, but I doubt if I will do that.

Mel: . Do you find that certain books helped inspire you in jump-starting your writing?

Kristi: Yes, but it depended on the block or problem I was having at the time. Different books help for different things. A newly released novel by a children's writer can inspire me to get going. A daily inspirational book can ignite my interest and get me past the "I don't know what to write about today" syndrome. If I'm dealing with personal issues that are troubling me and keeping me from writing, then I'll reach for a recovery-type writing book.

paulplqn: I think support is a key factor to sustaining motivation.

Kristi: Yes, I absolutely agree about the support. And if you can't get it from your family members, seek it out elsewhere.

tia: How do you get family members to take you seriously.

Kristi: I did discover that my family didn't take me seriously until I took myself seriously and stopped treating my writing like a hobby. When I started setting small boundaries and carving out the time to write, and setting up a writing desk in the corner of the dining room, they started to pay attention. But to be honest, some family members never did give me any support, even after I was making steady sales. You will, unfortunately, run into jealousy issues at home sometimes, or other reasons that your family doesn't take you seriously. I won't say that it doesn't hurt because it DOES, but sometimes you have to accept the fact that, for whatever reason, that particular person can't be supportive, and go find support elsewhere. I had to do that for years and years, by the way. I know exactly what you're talking about!

dide: I think the toughest thing is to get that first piece published, whether it is a small ditty or a huge story. Once we see that we can do it, and someone really LIKES it, the postive feeling feeds on itself, and pushes us to do more. We have had some recognition, and it feels good. Is that low self esteem we feel or reality, when we just don't feel like we are good enough or have something good to offer until someone tells us they really like it?

Kristi: I don't know, dide, if it's the self-esteem thing or not, but you're sooooo right! I recall after selling my first article for a whopping ten bucks to Children's Playmate that I felt like "I had arrived" so to speak. Some editor "out there" had actually PAID me for some writing! And later when I saw the byline and put the magazine up on my office wall (my walk-in closet painted orange, actually) and I stared at my byline every day, it DID inspire me to get moving and keep moving. Bylines can be addictive, I think! It's too bad we still have that feeling that unless someone pays for it, we aren't really writers, but that is still something most of us deal with.

Mel: Do you have some kind of program you follow in order to get your reading done?

Kristi: All those books I mentioned? I should have! No, but I need to develop one, now that I have the time for reading. I have developed a bad habit of beginning a great book, but never finishing it. I have at least eight books that I have started and not finished. I will work on that next!

mbvoelker: I find marketing very intimidating. Can you give some advice about sorting through all the confusion and help me make sense of matching stories and articles to likely magazines? If I don't learn that, then everything I've learned about writing is going to waste.

Kristi: I do believe I found the marketing the most daunting too, in the beginning, and it is still my least favorite part of writing. For matching stories and articles to market, I always relied heavily on the subject indexes in the backs of the market guides by ICL or the index, or the table of contents in the Writer's Market book. After a while, I started doing a bit of market research before the actual writing. I would find five or six magazines, for example, that bought family stories in the range of 800-1200 words and the readership covered girls ages 10-14 or so. I would then write my story, whatever the plot happened to be that had inspired me, to fill those general guidelines. Then I knew I would have several magazines when I got done that would fit my story, in case it got rejected a few times. But I did rely heavily on the subject indexes in the marketing books to try to place my stories and articles in appropriate magazines.

mrspigglewiggle: The whole process seems so daunting, how do you cope, wind down?

Kristi: If you mean the whole writing process, I don't really have to wind down anymore. Maybe it's age or experience, or tiredness, but I don't get that wound up anymore! But in the early years, I did find the whole thing exhausting and I would be so darned tired at the end of a writing episode that I would collapse in front of the TV or eat chocolate or both. I had difficulty back then getting my mind to shut down too. But as the years went on, that ceased to be a problem. I didn't get too excited before I started writing or too tired during the process, so there was nothing to wind down from.

Mel: Can you give us some titles to read for daily quotes or inspiration?

Kristi: I've always liked Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers by Susan Shaughnessy, and Judy Reeves' book, A Writer's Book of Days. I'm sure there are other ones. I also subscribe online to a few free daily inspirational quote places for writers.

mrspigglewiggle: I agree, A Writer's Book of Days by Judy Reeves really helps me get going.

Kristi: Me too, it has such a nice mix of advice and writing prompts.

navarrejudy: Is a five-year plan too "far out"?

Kristi: A five year plan is NOT too far out. I applaud you for thinking that far ahead. Experts say that most people far OVERestimate what they can accomplish in a year, but far UNDERestimate what they could accomplish in five years, and experts recommend that you make five year goals.

Mel: How about books for writers needing help with personal issues or recovery issues or setting boundaries?

Kristi: Sure, I like Julia Cameron's books for this, like The Right to Write, The Artist's Way, and the sequel to that called Walking in This World. She helps lots of writers in workshops to deal with recovery issues and problems with people in your life that keep you from writing for various reasons. Eric Maisel also writes some great books on creativity, and he's a psychologist who helps creative people (artists, writers, painters) get the help to get their work done. I don't personally hold the New Age beliefs that these writers hold, but they have great advice on dealing with things like setting boundaries so you can write.

susana: Do you have suggestions for where else to find other writers groups?

Kristi: When I moved, I contacted my SCBWI group right off their website, and I asked the regional adviser for a list of groups anywhere in the state. She e-mailed me a huge list and one was right in my hometown here. And she gave me e-mail addresses of the group leaders. That was the easiest way. I know that the gal here in town runs an ad in the local paper every spring and fall, and says she is starting a writing group and tells the time and her home address, and she pulls in writers that way--I hadn't thought to check the paper! You can ask your librarian and they often know all the writers in town and can give you contact info. If you live in a larger city with a Barnes and Noble store, you can attend the signings and workshops they have and find other writers.

oscar: When you're stuck, how do you become creative again?

Kristi: Sometimes it means that I have to get outside and take a walk. I haven't found anything better than walking a dog to unstick my subconscious. It really depends on why you're stuck. If you're exhausted, you need a rest. If you haven't gotten out of the house in a week, you need a break. If you don't have all the information you need for a particular section of your book, you need to do more research. If you don't have a particular skill (like writing snappy dialogue) you might need to study a book on dialogue to break your block. So first, when you're stuck, try to diagnose the problem, or else you'll apply the wrong solution, like applying a Band-Aid to your forehead if you have a headache.

dide: A great comment, Kristi! Chocolate to soothe the soul.

morningswing: How do you give yourself the energy to write, say after a long day of work? Or early in the morning when you have to get to work in an hour?

Kristi: When I was writing very early in the morning before going to a dental receptionist job, I had to give in and start going to bed an hour earlier or I just couldn't get up. When I wrote at the end of a long day, like after the kids got down for bed, sometimes I would take ten or fifteen minutes first, turn out the lights in my office and light a candle, and just breathe deeply and not think about anything for a minute. Whenever I wrote, though, I tried to have the story ready to go when I sat down. I did "prethinking" the plot while fixing supper or doing dishes or taking my morning shower so that when I got to the typewriter I knew what I was going to be working on and didn't waste time sitting there blankly. But there's no getting around the fact that writing when you have a job or small children is a monumental task. It certainly can be done, but it's about the hardest kind of writing!.

thecloudwriter: How many hours a day do you spend writing? Is there a set amount that is best?

Kristi: No, it depends on your situation and your other responsibilities, but I've had over 20 years of daydreaming about what my IDEAL writing life would look like, and that's pretty much what I have right now. I start out by journaling in my software LifeJournal, which is password protected and easy to save. I then do some kind of warm-up exercise, like in the Reeves book we talked about earlier, and then I make sure the answering machine is on and I start writing. I might be able to last 3 or 4 hours on a good day, but I take many mini-breaks throughout because of my bad back and neck. If I don't have other obligations that day, I might also be able to do some writing-related activities, like querying or reading the latest Writer's Digest or something like that.

Mel: Do you study "technique" books too? Are they helpful?

Kristi: I do study them, but usually just when I have a specific problem to tackle. For example, when several critiques pointed out my one-dimensional stereotype characters in my newest novel manuscript. I got out Elaine Marie Alphin's book Creating Characters Kids Will Love because I knew the book's exercises would be very helpful. When my opening got tagged as "slow," I got out Nancy Kress' book on Beginnings, Middles and Ends and studied that till I figured out where my problem was and some things I could do about it. I also have FictionMaster, which is software for developing and revising fiction by Sol Stein. I don't use that as much though--books are just easier for me to find things in.

marty: When I try to choose from so many markets, I end up confused, looking at a multitude of sources. Any suggestions?

Kristi: I do think sometimes we can have too MANY choices. I finally had to narrow my search down to one or two market guides instead of several books, magazines, online market sites, etc. because it was all too confusing. I chose finally to just use my www.writersmarket.com online because it is updated every week, so I don't have to keep track of market changes and editors who move around. And it has a search facility, where you can type in what kinds of magazines or publishers you're looking for and it does a search for you and tells you the information and websites, if they have one. So basically, that's what I do--choose my favorite market guide or two and forget the rest because it overwhelms me.

mbvoelker: What do you think might be reasonable for a new writer to accomplish in the first five years? Assuming that, like you, that writer had family responsibilities and couldn't work full-time?

Kristi: I guess all I can say is what I did personally, with raising four kids under the age of six. In year ONE, I took the ICL course and graduated and sold a couple of the lessons later. In year TWO, I sold about eight more stories or articles to children's magazines. In year THREE I sold about 15 stories/articles. In year FOUR I stopped writing short material and switched to books, at the advice of my former ICL instructor. And at the end of year FOUR I sold my first novel. By the end of year FIVE I had sold three middle-grade novels to Atheneum. I pretty consistently wrote two hours per day all during that time, even when pregnant and having babies, even when the two hours was split into eight or ten pieces. So maybe that can give you some idea. Everyone is so individual though--I know writers who sold much more than I did in five years.

Mel: Let's talk about mentors for a moment. First, what exactly IS a mentor?

Kristi: A mentor is someone who has been where you're going, who has met the challenges you see ahead for yourself, someone whose work (and maybe their life) you want to learn from. A mentor is a role model and a trusted adviser. A mentor can offer sympathy when you get rejections and bad reviews and harsh critiques. A mentor can also hold you accountable and give you a much needed shove when you stall. A mentor isn't chummy like a friend. It's more personal, though, than a student-teacher relationship. A mentor offers insight and wisdom.

thecloudwriter: For new writers, is it better to get started with submitting to magazines first?

Kristi: Generally speaking, I would have to say yes. It's a great way to get some publishing credits so you can list them when submitting to editors, and you can learn faster. If you plot poorly, it's faster to find it out by writing 12 stories in a year instead of one book that flops. I know that my first book editor did say she gave my book a chance because she saw my magazine credits with reputable magazines, so I know it does make a difference.

Mel: Getting back to mentors. What are a mentor's duties? (And what aren't?)

Kristi: A mentor's duties or the role of a mentor include things like sharing war stories with you. A mentor might help you network and meet people, give you pep talks, maybe offer insider tips, give career advice or advice on how to deal with editors, things like that. On the other hand, you should NOT expect a mentor to teach you how to write, or to read and edit your work. There are classes and critique groups for that. You also should NOT expect a mentor to get you published or do promotion for you. A mentor is NOT your parent or your agent or your psychiatrist.

Mel: Where can you find someone to mentor you, if this is something you think would be helpful?

Kristi: Well some organizations have mentoring programs, like SCBWI sometimes. I served as a mentor for a new writer for a year, and it was a really productive experience. Mentors ARE hard to find, because you want a successful author as a mentor and they're going to be busy people. Also, you're basically asking for a one-way relationship, where the mentor gives time to you. But many writers do enjoy mentoring. I found it very rewarding. A writing teacher or workshop leader or conference speaker might be willing to be a mentor. Local writers can sometimes also be asked to be your mentor. Ask your librarian or local bookstore people who in your town writes. Go to book signings and Friends of the Library events to meet writers.

Mel: Do you yourself have a mentor?

Kristi: Yes, I do, and she fulfills all the above qualifications, but it's not someone you'd expect. After I read the description of a mentor in a recent writing magazine, I decided there were two people I wanted to copy or be like. One was C.S. Lewis, who is dead. The other was Madeleine L'Engle whom I have always admired, both personally and professionally. Of course, I had no intention of asking someone that famous--nor did I have a chance of getting her! (I found on her website that she had had a stroke last year that she was recovering from, too.) But I ordered several of her nonfiction books, and decided to get my "mentoring" that way. One is an excellent book called Madeleine L'Engle [Herself], one is called A Circle of Quiet (where it talks about her TEN long years of rejection slips AFTER publishing Newbery winner A Wrinkle in Time) and Two-Part Invention, the story of her marriage to an actor. I also found a 30-minute video about her, where she discusses her writing and her life and the lessons she's learned. From the books and video, I get the mentoring I want--and from a famous person--without actually taking any of her time. It works for me!

destinyspen: Is it a good thing to write goals down and read them daily?

Kristi: Writing them down seems to be a big key, and yes, seeing them daily is very important. The more we have them imprinted on our little brains, the better!

walkinggrl: Do you work on one or several projects at a time?

Kristi: Right now I am working on a couple, but they are unrelated. One project is a middle grade mystery and the other has to do with a web site. I tried working on two fiction projects at the same time and got myself so confused that I gave that up!

paige: Hi, Kristi. Good to see you again. Happy New Year!

Kristi: Thanks! You too!

marty: What are your feelings about entering writing contests?

Kristi: I wish I had ever won one! I think they're a great way to get exposure if you win. And I think there is a trick to it or something, because I know that some writers consistently win. But I never won a contest, so I can't personally say they did me a lot of good. Just don't get so busy entering contests that you neglect to write the stories that your heart longs to write.

dide: What is this new fad, journaling? I have read some things about it. Seems a lot of people like it. Is it a personal web site?

Kristi: No, and it's pretty old actually. I have always journaled in cheap, narrow lined notebooks, just writing stream of consciousness stuff in the mornings. But now you can also get journaling software if you want to. I enjoy it because it's easy to take along in my laptop when I go places, and it solves forever the problem of writing sensitive material that you don't want anyone to see. If you go to your favorite search engine and type in "journals" or "journaling" you will find many journaling websites with ideas for journaling. It's a good way to keep track of writing ideas and a good place to dump the frustrations that may be keeping you from writing.

spudsie: You had early and prolific success; did that inspire you?

Kristi: I guess so--I had never thought of it as early or prolific. But I lived on an isolated Iowa farm the first fourteen years of my writing career, so I didn't really know how anyone else was doing. I think keeping the wolf from the door when we lost our farm did more inspiring than anything. At that point, it was make a success of the writing or put my babies in daycare and get a "real job." Now THAT was inspiring.

passion: I joined SCBWI. What is your opinion about that?

Kristi: I think it's great! You'll be terribly glad. It's a great way to meet writers, to have events to attend where you meet editors and agents and learn about writing. And their Bulletins are excellent, as well as the other pamphlets and brochures and publications you can order from them.

jim: How strictly do you adhere to your start-up outline?

Kristi: Fairly strictly, at least in the beginning, but sometimes in the middle I digress because by then I have added characters that weren't in the original outline, for example. But I am a goal-oriented, control-freak kind of person, so outlines appeal to me whereas they really turn off other writers. It's a very personal thing, but there's no "right" or "wrong" to it.

spudsie: What is SCBWI? What does that stand for?

Kristi: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Their web site is www.scbwi.org. You don't have to be published to join, either.

passion: When writing children's STORIES, is it best to submit them to MAGAZINES?

Kristi: Yes, stories are short, so they go to magazines. Articles also go to magazines. The exception would be if your short story is intended to be a picture book. In that case, you would submit it to a book publisher.

passion: What is best when writing long-winded childrens stories?

Kristi: Cut them! Sorry if that sounded blunt, but truly that is my answer. 8-)

Mel: Now that you have more time to write, have you joined a critique group?

Kristi: Oh boy, have I! Yes, I went a bit nuts when I finally had the time to write, and I joined five critique groups. I am thinking of dropping one of the monthly meetings that I find the least helpful. But I have three types of critique groups now: groups ranging from 5 to 20 people that meet once per month, a one-on-one critique partner that I meet with locally once a week, and an online critique group with three other writers.

Mel: What did you look for in a good group?

Kristi: I looked for people easy to get along with! I looked for groups where no one was allowed to take over and control the group and do all the talking. I looked for groups where there were a few writers as published as I am so that I didn't spend all my time teaching. I looked for people who could be honest and hard-hitting without being harsh. I have been extremely fortunate to find such groups here. There are so MANY writers here, and it's been wonderful.

gvl: Do you have any advice for the person who puts off writing because she is afraid that what she writes won't turn out how she wants it to, and waits until she has all the pieces of the story in her mind before even writing the first sentence?

Kristi: Boy, you are describing so many of us with that statement! I think one of the best things I ever read and tried was from Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird (try to find a used copy if you can). She talks about this perfectionistic tendency and how to get ourselves to jump in and write very small portions of the story. She also has a chapter called (pardon her french) "Writing Shitty Rough Drafts." The whole idea there was in giving yourself permission to write really bad first drafts of your stories and just have the goal to get the words on the paper, and expect them to be bad, that you're successful if you just have the shi--- words on the paper. I'm not explaining her concept very well here, but do try to find her book. She says it well, and it helped me to overcome the very thing you described.

dide: Kristi, tell us, what is your interpretation of your IDEAL writing life. Give us some hope for our ideal writing lives.

Kristi: I would imagine that this is very personal to each of us. And I'm afraid it was a long time in arriving! I've been writing now for 23 years, but to me, the ideal writing life is being able to write when you want to, as long as you want to without interruption, and to write WHAT you want to without having to worry about selling it to pay the rent. Writing without pressure has been so fun. My my personal ideal is still to sit by the fireplace (which I no longer have here in FL) and sip hot chocolate and write longhand. Some daydreams die hard!

marty: When will your next book be out?

Kristi: The Institute tells me very soon. They are the ones doing the trade paperback of First Aid for Writers, which is undergoing a title change, and then they can finish the cover and get it printed and for sale. It was supposed to be out last summer, so any month now!

thecloudwriter: Does setting up a website help you get noticed as a writer?

Kristi: No, probably not. I think it only helps after you already have some publishing experience and something to promote.

destinyspen: Do you have a quote that inspires you?

Kristi: "Keep on starting and the writing will take care of itself."

dide: A comment: You are so sensible, Kristi, good advice.

Kristi: Thank you. Good horse sense was always a good commodity on the farm. 8-)

destinyspen: What was the best advice you received when you first started?

Kristi: My ICL instructor once told me to remember that nothing I had written was so bad it couldn't be rewritten. I have remembered that advice often over the years after crying after reading some BAD first drafts.

spudsie: How do you obtain a mentor?

Kristi: Go to the places I mentioned earlier, and then you have to screw up your courage and ask. It might be after attending someone's lecture or sitting in someone's writing workshop. Do show some interest in the mentor and let her/him know that you admire their work. But mostly, you have to ask, either in person or in a note.

Mel: Kristi, there are MANY more questions, and I dread saying goodbye, but our short two hours are up. THANK YOU to ALL you children's writers for being here tonight! And THANKS AGAIN to you, Kristi, for your enthusiastic writing inspiration! We will ALL write better in 2003 for having visited with you tonight.

Kristi: It was such a pleasure, Mel. And thank you to everyone for the warm reception and good wishes you've sent through my website. It was GREAT to be back!

Mel: I hope you'll come back two weeks from tonight, January 23, when Judy Bradbury will be returning to chat with us about what children's books we children's writers should be reading. You may remember last October 17 when Judy first visited us. We were all kicked out of the chat room after only a half hour of chat, because of technical problems! So Judy is coming back to finish what began as a very lively chat. We'll start Judy off with the same question she was answering when "the lights went out" last October 17. So come back, and hear Judy Bradbury finish her chat on Thursday evening, January 23.

Mel: Thanks again, Kristi, for coming and sharing tonight! Good night, everyone, and a CONTINUING HAPPY 2003!