| janfields |
Join us tonight in the
AUDITORIUM-Scheduled Events Room for an open forum with Web Editor,
Jan Fields. Tonight we're flying without a topic, so feel free to
ask anything related to writing or the writing life. Open Forum
begins in five minutes.
|
| janfields |
Tonight's open forum
will begin shortly. While you wait for chat to begin, feel free to
use your ASK A QUESTION button RIGHT BETWEEN THE YELLOW “MAP” AND
THE RED QUESTION MARK IN ICHAT to post some questions on getting
idea, getting organized, getting published...any area that's giving
you trouble. Chat will begin two minutes from now.
|
| janfields |
Hi, and welcome to open
forum. I'm your host/moderator, Jan Fields -- and I'll be answering
questions from more than 20 years experience as a freelance writer.
If you want to ask a question and be sure I see it...you'll need to
use either the "ask a question" button on the bar across the middle
of your screen. OR type a backslash / followed immediately by the
word ask...then space once and type your question. That passes the
question to me and I can post it for everyone here and in the
transcript. So...let's get going.
|
| janfields |
This is our last open
topic open forum for night chat...
|
| janfields |
Next Friday we will be
chatting on the topic of AGE TARGETING
|
| janfields |
But this week...it's a
potpourri.
|
| janfields |
Thanks...actually we
get a lot of questions about age targeting...
|
| janfields |
as
instructors...
|
| janfields |
it's a tough thing for
folks to get a handle on.
|
| janfields |
And it's something I
see in discussion boards...
|
| janfields |
folks write 'I just
wrote a children's story -- where do I send it?'
|
| janfields |
As if children only
come in one size.
|
| janfields |
And stories are
one-size fits all.
|
| janfields |
Heck, the doesn't even
work in t-shirts.
|
| janfields |
I have two older
questions to clean up so we'll start off tonight with
those...
|
| janfields |
ritrbiz: What kinds of
character creation tools do you use?
|
| janfields |
I don't use character
creation tools...
|
| janfields |
I know folks who
"interview" a character...
|
| janfields |
picturing the character
in their mind...
|
| janfields |
and asking the
character questions and listening for the answer.
|
| janfields |
I tried that once and
pretty much just felt silly.
|
| janfields |
I know other folks who
use character sheets...
|
| janfields |
with questions like:
"what's your character's favorite tv show?"
|
| janfields |
And "what's your
character's favorite color?"
|
| janfields |
Honestly, I don't know
those kinds of answers.
|
| janfields |
If I needed them for
the story to work...I could "find" the answers inside me where
characters come from...
|
| janfields |
but when I don't need
to know-- those kinds of things seem like time better spent
writing.
|
| janfields |
But they do encourage
you to think about your characters as if they were real
people.
|
| janfields |
And that will help you
write 3-dimensional characters.
|
| janfields |
So they may be worth a
try if you're having trouble with characters being too
flat.
|
| janfields |
ritrbiz: How often do
your stories come out of something that happened in your real
life?
|
| janfields |
I've never written a
story directly from my life.
|
| janfields |
I have used fragments
of things that I've seen and heard.
|
| janfields |
But it's more like
stained glass...lots of little bits that don't look like much seen
by themselves.
|
| janfields |
I'm working on a YA
(young adult) novel right now...
|
| janfields |
And the main characters
become super heros (of a sort)...
|
| janfields |
the story actually grew
out of some of my feelings after my mother died.
|
| janfields |
But no one's mother
dies in the story.
|
| janfields |
And really no one dies
at all...but one character begins the story with cancer...and she's
clearly going to die soon.
|
| janfields |
That's about all that's
left of the original impetus...but it really weaves in and out in
several spots.
|
| omalizzie |
How good are writing
programs like "Writer's Block"?
|
| janfields |
I know some folks who
enjoy things like that.
|
| janfields |
Some who enjoy them A
LOT...
|
| janfields |
but most of the writers
I know who produce a lot of work...don't play with writing
programs.
|
| janfields |
To me...they are a bit
like...say some of the philosophical artistic writing
books...
|
| janfields |
that help you get in
touch with your artist's soul.
|
| janfields |
I find that sort of
thing a nice way to avoid the work of writing...
|
| janfields |
but for me, it's not
productive.
|
| janfields |
But for other
writers...it can be great.
|
| janfields |
Sure...Angela77 -- you
mean the autobiographical letter for the courses?
|
| janfields |
As an instructor, I can
tell you what I like to see in them...
|
| janfields |
I like to see some of
the student;s personality...so relax when you write
it.
|
| janfields |
If anything really cool
ever happened to you...I like to see that...
|
| janfields |
so I can brow-beat you
into using some of the experience in a story or
article.
|
| janfields |
I've had students who
...like...broke codes for the CIA...
|
| janfields |
and I want to
say...HEY...something in that would be EXTREMLY cool to
kids.
|
| janfields |
And the folks write
about the life cycle of the nasal maggot.
|
| janfields |
So...if you have cool
stuff you've done -- slip it in.
|
| janfields |
And if you have a
specific kind of book you always read -- romance, mystery, how-to,
biography...I like that too.
|
| janfields |
Whatever helps your
instructor know you better...that's what they like to
see.
|
| janfields |
They just want to know
what you want from the course...so they can help you get
it.
|
| janfields |
So...it doesn't have to
be a "I was born in a hospital at 8:40pm on August 17,
1961...
|
| janfields |
Because that doesn't
give me as much ...YOU...as I would like.
|
| janfields |
So just get
loose.
|
| janfields |
You can also just type
/ followed by ask...and then a space and your
question.
|
| dori_c |
Do you think the trend
for 'angst' YA novels will end soon?
|
| janfields |
I think angst will
always be "in"
|
| janfields |
Because, for some kids,
it's something they really want.
|
| janfields |
I mean...I personally
hate movies that make me cry...but some folks love
it.
|
| janfields |
But I don't think it's
going to dominate.
|
| janfields |
We're seeing the
passing of the "problem novel"
|
| janfields |
And a lot more humor in
the problems
|
| janfields |
A lot more hope,
overall...while still carrying a kind of cynical
edge.
|
| janfields |
And I think that's very
realistic...most teens would rather be pollyanna than be waiting for
the world to end.
|
| janfields |
But it's not cool to be
cheery about the future.
|
| janfields |
I think we're going to
see more action...I dislike the really violent teen novels I've
read
|
| janfields |
But they are reaching
an audience that wants more action
|
| janfields |
and more physicality in
a novel
|
| janfields |
And less moping and
navel gazing.
|
| janfields |
So I think the boom in
YA is going to translate into a lot more types.
|
| coloradokate |
Going back to the
discussion about name-calling being frowned-upon--if an editor
really liked a story otherwise, wouldn't she ask you to take out the
name-calling rather than just rejecting the story? (I'm really
trying to use name-calling as my excuse for rejections, but it's not
working.)
|
| janfields |
If the story was
wall-to-wall name calling...an editor would just reject
it.
|
| janfields |
But if the editor LOVED
it, but didn't like one character calling the other one
DOOFUS...
|
| janfields |
she would just ask you
to change it.
|
| janfields |
But ... overall, I
think time contrainsts are becoming even tighter in magazine
offices.
|
| janfields |
So I suspect we're
seeing some rejections...
|
| janfields |
that...in the
past...would have been guarded revision requests.
|
| janfields |
Because editors are
under so much pressure -- time wise -- they are passing rather than
ask for change when there is more than one issue.
|
| caq |
Do you agree with the
statement I read recently in a magazie, write what you know? What is
wrong with writing about something that interests you and dig to
find the info and become knowledgeable about it then
write?
|
| janfields |
I OFTEN write about
what interest me...
|
| janfields |
even when it requires a
lot of research...
|
| janfields |
because I don't know
jack about it.
|
| janfields |
I wrote an article --
for example -- on carnivorous caterpillars...
|
| janfields |
because I saw a passing
reference to them...
|
| janfields |
in a science article
about a totally different topic...
|
| janfields |
and I thought...WOW...I
want to know about that.
|
| janfields |
So I researched it and
found a lot of conflicting informations...seems they haven't been
researched much.
|
| janfields |
Then I found a guy who
is researching them at YALE
|
| janfields |
Right in my
state.
|
| janfields |
So I did interviews and
he pointed me to some very scholarly stuff
|
| janfields |
And I ended up with an
article for Cricket.
|
| janfields |
So it wasn't what I
knew...but it was something I wanted to know about.
|
| janfields |
I used to call
it...making my nosiness pay off.
|
| lilyphenix |
I have a story to submit
but am afraid of messing up
|
| lilyphenix |
the query letter. The
editor is waiting for it...
|
| lilyphenix |
what is the average size
for a YA?
|
| janfields |
Did that all go
together, Lilyphenix?
|
| janfields |
Ahhhh...so the YA size
is separate?
|
| janfields |
I think a YA can be
from 40,000 words (rare) up to ...honestly...the
sky.
|
| janfields |
I see a lot of them
around 50,000 words...YA readers can be a tiny bit short on
attention span.
|
| janfields |
So I see a lot of short
ones.
|
| janfields |
But I've also seen some
whoppers in fantasy genre
|
| janfields |
SCBWI did a poll, as I
remember.
|
| janfields |
And it seemed the
average YA manuscript sold was about 100 manuscript
pages...
|
| janfields |
which is pretty
short.
|
| janfields |
But that wasn't a
recent poll so...things change constantly with YA.
|
| janfields |
Now...what scared you
about the PB query?
|
| janfields |
Ahh...first queries are
scary by definition...but it's great you already have some
interest!!
|
| janfields |
Have you written the
PB?
|
| janfields |
Awww...pshaw...some of
the big houses have the nicest editors.
|
| janfields |
Are the editors looking
for the whole manuscript...or just a query?
|
| janfields |
If you are sending a
letter with the manuscript, it's a cover.
|
| janfields |
And really...the key is
mostly to be short.
|
| janfields |
Because the manuscript
is all they REALLY care about at this point.
|
| janfields |
My cover letters were
usually just a couple paragraphs long.
|
| janfields |
I basically start of by
reaquainting the editor with me..."I really enjoyed your
presentation on the SCBWI conference and the chat we had
afterwards"
|
| janfields |
that kind of
thing.
|
| janfields |
Then I mention...this
is the picture book we talked about...
|
| janfields |
And I boil the picture
book down to one sentence.
|
| janfields |
That conveys the heart
of it...but really...
|
| janfields |
they're gonna read it
just because they said they were interested.
|
| janfields |
Even if you wrote the
cover letter in sanskrit, if they're expecting it...they just push
the letter aside and look at the manuscript.
|
| janfields |
I know some editors who
don't even READ the cover letters.
|
| janfields |
They skim the
manuscript and if they like it...they go back and read the
letter.
|
| janfields |
So, don't let the
letter scare you...reallly.
|
| janfields |
You already did the
hard part...you wrote a picture book on a topic that catches
interest
|
| janfields |
Since you have made
contact with the editors...you need to present that
contact.
|
| janfields |
But
editors...well...they don't REALLY...truly...care about you...they
want your product.
|
| janfields |
In their business
capacity anyway.
|
| janfields |
In their personal
capacity...I've never met an editor I didn't like.
|
| janfields |
Though I had an agent
once who gave me SUCH headaches.
|
| t-bone |
After graduating from the
course, how do you get your foot in the door?
|
| janfields |
Write
well.
|
| janfields |
Honestly...the most
important thing you can do is write well.
|
| janfields |
Beyond that...you could
take a decade off and build a huge career as a rock star -- that
helps.
|
| janfields |
But if you want to skip
that step...write well.
|
| janfields |
Read
|
| janfields |
Read all the
time.
|
| janfields |
Read everything you can
possibly get your hands on in the genre you want to
write.
|
| janfields |
And then keep working
on the writing.
|
| janfields |
Yes, I get that a lot,
t-bone.
|
| janfields |
And there is no such
thing as a rejection that thrills my heart.
|
| janfields |
And honestly I once got
a rejection that made me laugh for like ten
minutes...
|
| janfields |
it said, "I can't
believe I'm rejecting Jan Fields." -- clearly she didn't know how
very rejectable I am.
|
| janfields |
But we all get
rejections.
|
| janfields |
Jane Yolen gets
rejections and she's brilliant.
|
| janfields |
But selling doesn't
mean your foot is in the door...it just means you've had practice
selling.
|
| janfields |
Because when you try to
make the next sale...
|
| janfields |
it's going to come down
to the writing.
|
| janfields |
Well..until you get the
rock star career thing going.
|
| caq |
I wrote an article for
lesson 9 and had a hard time finding new books on the topic and
absolutley no new children's books on the animal, would that maybe
be a good topic for a chldren's book?
|
| janfields |
It could
be.
|
| janfields |
Children's nonfiction
can sometimes follow trends
|
| janfields |
So an editor might not
think it warrents a book.
|
| janfields |
I tried ot interest
publishers in a book on possums.
|
| janfields |
Which I think are
extremely cool.
|
| janfields |
They are the only
marsupial in North America
|
| janfields |
They have the most
teeth of any mammal ... I think anywhere.
|
| janfields |
And they make such
attractive highway decorations.
|
| janfields |
But no sale...editors
said kids don't care about opposums.
|
| janfields |
But...an
under-represented area can also be an opportunity.
|
| janfields |
So don't let me rain
out your parade.
|
| cheryls |
Should new book authors
pursue finding an agent?
|
| janfields |
If you're writing
YA...you almost certainly should find an agent when your book is
done and polished.
|
| janfields |
It's tough to sell
young adult books without an agent.
|
| janfields |
If you're writing
middle grade...it's a bit easier but it's still do-able to snag an
agent on the basis of a good middle grade novel.
|
| janfields |
And agents do make like
easier in many ways.
|
| janfields |
If you're writing
picture books...you probably won't be able to snag an
agent
|
| janfields |
in today's publishing
climate..
|
| janfields |
unless your book is
something really terrific and...
|
| janfields |
combines the covets
aspects of "exactly like what's selling" but "totally new and
unique."
|
| janfields |
But luckily, it is
still well possible to sell picture books without an
agent.
|
| janfields |
If you're really
writing magazine stuff -- you don't want an agent.
|
| janfields |
and they don't want you
because magazine wages can't support two people.
|
| janfields |
Ahh...we have more
comfort for Lilyphenix's fears...
|
| caq |
Maybe this will put
lilyphenix's mind at ease, At that winter conference in NYC the
editors said they really don't pay much attention to the
coverletter. It is the manuscript and they said to stop worrying
about the cover letters so much.
|
| janfields |
Cheryl...yup...submitting to an agent is much like
submitting to an editor.
|
| janfields |
If the agent has a
website, you get a bonus
|
| janfields |
because you can read
the guidelines.
|
| lilyphenix |
How fast can you expect
an answer when you submit
|
| lilyphenix |
to a
magazine?
|
| janfields |
Most magazines have
stated response times...
|
| janfields |
you can find them
(usually) in the market guides....
|
| janfields |
just add a month or so
to those...
|
| janfields |
If you've sold to the
magazine in the past,
|
| janfields |
or have "name
recognition" with the editor...it might be a little quicker...more
like AT the response times.
|
| janfields |
But it can also
backfire on you...
|
| janfields |
since I edit
KidMagWriters -- which is an industry ezine...
|
| janfields |
some of the editors
seem uncomfortable with rejecting me.
|
| janfields |
So if they don't like
the piece...they sometimes sit on it for a long, long
time.
|
| janfields |
I don't know if they
think it'll get better or what...
|
| janfields |
but I get nice
apologestic rejection letters.
|
| lilyphenix |
When a magazine pay on
acceptance, will they
|
| lilyphenix |
pay you as soon as they
have accepted the article?
|
| janfields |
Sort
of.
|
| janfields |
They will accept
you.
|
| janfields |
They will send a
contract (most of the time)
|
| janfields |
Then they will invoice
inside the magazine...
|
| janfields |
and you'll get your
check eventually.
|
| janfields |
Sometimes pretty
quick...sometimes it's actually a couple weeks after
acceptance.
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...more good advice
from our beloved CAQ...
|
| caq |
I would whole-heartedly
suggest that anyone who possibly can, attend one of the large SCBWI
conferences, at least the NYC one where they have agents and editors
on stage talking to you, and in groups in rooms (editors in that
scenerio - no agents in rooms). They tell yo the market trends, what
they want, the agetns tell you what they want and expect. Attending
at least one will really let you in on what is
needed.
|
| caq |
If you have an agent, are
you obligated to send every book you write through the agent, or can
you submit a book now and then on your own? Or would that be covered
in your contract?
|
| janfields |
It depends on the
agent.
|
| janfields |
And you should discuss
that upfront.
|
| janfields |
The agent I had
insisted that NOTHING get sent out unless he sent
it.
|
| janfields |
Well...other than
magazine stuff...
|
| janfields |
and he kept asking me
to stop writing THAT
|
| janfields |
So, if he didn't like a
book...
|
| janfields |
and I loved
it.
|
| janfields |
I needed to either get
rid of him or the book.
|
| janfields |
Other agents are more
open to a writer shopping around a manuscript outside the agent's
expertise...
|
| janfields |
So...one size doesn't
fit all there either.
|
| janfields |
Okay...that wraps up an
hour of listening to Jan babble.
|
| janfields |
I want to do a couple
announcement thingies.
|
| janfields |
Again...NEXT FRIDAY
night is Age Targeting.
|
| janfields |
Then our next Friday
chat after that will be on April 21st, and will be on
poetry.
|
| janfields |
I'm not an expert, but
I've sold a dozen poems or so...
|
| janfields |
And I know REAL poets
;-)
|
| janfields |
Our next guest speaker
chat will be April 13th with the brillioant Dori
Chaconas.
|
| janfields |
Whom some of y'all
know.
|
| janfields |
Plus, the chat on the
27th will be with Magazine Editor Becky Ances of Moo Cow Fan
Club.
|
| janfields |
So April will be tons
of fun.
|
| janfields |
Next Tuesday afternoon
-- we're talking plot.
|
| janfields |
Thanks for
coming.
|
| janfields |
It'll get very thick in
her, caq
|
| janfields |
here
|
| janfields |
not
her.
|
