Question of the Week: What Have You Learned?

Lori asks, “What have you learned?”

Writing was an early interest of mine, one that I let go of over time only to rediscover about a decade ago. In the past ten years, I’ve come to realize just how difficult and wonderful the pursuit of writing can be. But that discovery really was a case of re-learning something I already knew.

What I have truly and newly learned is this: for me, the most satisfying moments of The Writing Life are the people moments.

Reading aloud something I’ve written, and seeing the reaction of kids and their parents. Gathering with other writers to share and discuss manuscripts. Even just hanging out with other writerly people.

For words are the writing. But people make the words matter.

And for an introvert, that's been one heckuva revelation!

Q of the Week: What Have You Learned?

by Ann

This is a difficult question because most of what I know about writing and marketing I've learned from this group. There is one gem that stands out, though.

I come from a goal-directed family, and as a former scientist, I'm the product of an extremely goal-directed culture. The most important lesson I've learned from this group is the process is more important than the goal.

YAYApalooza

What an extraordinary opportunity I had this past week. When I attended a gathering at Brilliance Audio that’s been dubbed YAYApalooza, I had a number of fascinating experiences.

Let’s start with what it’s like to finally meet in person the disembodied voice you’ve been talking to for nearly a year, one that has negotiated contracts for you, and encouraged you when you thought you weren’t going to make it through the next round of revisions. This person is otherwise known as “your agent.”

How wonderful it truly was to meet Josh Adams—who, until last week, I had only known through tools of technology (email and phone). I’m so glad that I have the chance to work with all the people at Adams Literary. They are tireless advocates.

Meeting the many people at Brilliance Audio who participate in the making of an audio book was another awesome part of YAYApalooza. Tim Ditlow, who acquires the novels that will be a part of the children’s line of Brilliance Audio, is such a friendly and fun guy. Then there were studio managers, plant managers, sound engineers, an entire sales force…everyone there contributed to my wonderful experience learning about how audio books are made.

I also got to meet Tavia Gilbert, who is the narrator of The Everafter. Her voice is perfect—at least it is when you can hear it. The day I was there to meet her, she had laryngitis, but the book’s director made sure I got to hear some of the book’s recording session from the day before. This is why I know she has the perfect voice to be the narrator of Madison Stanton. She’s also just a marvelous person and fun to converse with.

As far as I’m concerned, there are never enough opportunities in life to talk about engaging books with people who are widely read in YA literature, but YAYApalooza was a bookworm’s heaven. Talking with Cindy Dobrenz, Lynn Rutan, Mary Burkey and Ed Spicer (all fantastic bloggers) gave me quite the fix. Walter Mayes is a fabulous storyteller, and an expert on young adult literature. Much to my delight, I had the opportunity to meet him, too.

Meeting Mike Winerip of the Adam Canfield series was another great part of this trip. Any time I can meet a fellow author, I’m ecstatic. Mike is fun to talk to and his enthusiasm is contagious. Oh, and it helps that he writes for the New York Times and I’m a fan of that newspaper.

I’m so thankful I had this awesome opportunity!

Q of the Week: What Have You Learned?

I guess because I'm going back to school I'm sorta focused on learning right now. Anyway, our group has been on this journey together now for at least six or seven years, a few of us more. In that time four of us have successfully published--and published well.

We've written poems, picture books and novels. Letters, proposals and queries. Math games and silly song lyrics. Fiction and non-fiction. We've gone on retreats and met monthly for writing exercises. We've submitted. We've been rejected. We've made lifelong friendships, of course.

But here's what I'd like to know: What have you learned? About writing mainly, although you can feel free to digress (like we need permission to do this!)

What have you learned about this process? About yourself? Those who are published, what has that process taught you?

It doesn't need to be deep and philosophical, although you can do that if you want to. One thing I've learned from this group is that I no longer have to put two spaces after a period (though my thumb disagrees).

I've also learned that I have a bit of a persistence disorder. This requires me to step back and gain new perspective a lot and often.

More later from me. What about you??