Tuesday, January 17, 2012

An SCBWI Conference and A Blog Award


When a good friend suggested that I join her at the Miami SCBWI conference (it had an Alice in Wonderland theme), my first thought was of palm trees and sunshine. I could almost smell coconut oil. However, this fabulous conference turned out to be a lot more than warm temps, oranges, and alligators. Amazing speakers, workshops, critiques, intensives, and people made this conference one of the best I’ve attended. As a bonus, I got to meet a blogging buddy--Medeia Sharif http://www.medeiasharif.com/. It’s always fun to meet blog and Twitter pals in person.


As with most conferences, I left with enough information and inspiration to fill multiple suitcases, but here are a few gems I can share with you:


An amazing book: SECOND SIGHT: An Editor’s Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing
Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl Klein, Executive Editor at Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic.

I am in the middle of this amazing book, but I also heard Cheryl Klein speak on character and plot this past weekend. She is brilliant. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak, go for it. In the meanwhile, I recommend her book.


A book that writers were gushing over: Plot Versus Character: A Balanced Approach to Writing Great Fiction by Jeff Gerke

I have ordered this, so I can’t write much else about it yet.


A series of YouTube videos by Martha Alderson, a.k.a. The Plot Whisperer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESfT2Lh1cWo

These were recommended by the agent and author team who taught a novel intensive. I’ll be logging onto YouTube as soon as possible.


Are you familiar with any of these?


* * *


In other news, I’ve been granted a blog award by Carol at http://carolriggs.blogspot.com/ Thank you, Carol! From what I understand, this is for regular and/or great blog comments, and I am to pass it on to 20 fabulous blog buddies—folks I’ve had the pleasure to “meet” by way of their wonderful comments and blogs. Here are my twenty picks in no particular order:


http://ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/

http://getbusywriting.blogspot.com/

http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/

http://gypsyjulesinmysoul.blogspot.com/

http://janetsumnerjohnson.blogspot.com/

http://www.karen-strong.com/blog/

http://paranormalpointofview.blogspot.com/

http://bish-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/

http://lisalregan.blogspot.com/

http://lydiakang.blogspot.com/

http://marciahoehne.blogspot.com/

http://kpolark.blogspot.com/

http://doubtingwriter.blogspot.com/

http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/

http://nancysthompson.blogspot.com/

http://peggyeddleman.blogspot.com/

http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/

http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com/

http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com/

http://underthetikihut.blogspot.com/


There are more than twenty wonderful people who generously comment on my blog and have amazing blogs, but the rules said only name twenty. And who needs a bloggy slap on the wrist for not following the rules? Not me.


Happy reading, writing, revising, and blogging to you all!

61 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for the award! I appreciate your thinking of me.
    Oh, and the videos by The Plot Whisperer are a must see for all fiction writers. They're incredibly helpful!

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    1. You are most welcome, Emily! Good to know you like The Plot Whisperer clips.

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  2. I'm dying to read Second Sight, and I'm equally dying to hear Cheryl Klein speak. I've heard so many amazing things about her, and read a lot of her amazing advice on her blog. But watch me gush . . .

    Anyway, congrats on the award, and thanks for choosing me among your 20! I've got a warm little fuzzy. :)

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    1. Oh yes, do read Second Sight, Janet. Gushing is aloud and probably encouraged. ; )

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  3. Thank you so much for the award, I very much appreciate it! Your conference sounds wonderful, can't wait to hear more about your experiences!

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  4. Sounds like you had a most inspired and wonderfully writerly time at your conference! And you met Medeia Sharif - she's lovely! Yay!!

    Huge congrats with your award too!! and thank you for nominating my silly blog! Awwww!

    Take care
    x

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    1. I love your blog, Old Kitty! And yes, Medeia is lovely. It was so great to meet her in person.

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  5. Thanks for the award, Cynthia. Glad you had a fun and productive conference!

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  6. Congratualations on you award. I have not seen this one. It sounds like you had an amazing time at the conference. I am going to attend my first writer's conference this year and I am so excited.

    I have read Plot vs Character and it is an amazing and helpful book. I cannot recommend the you tube videos by Martha Alderson enough. She is the absolute best. I have read her books, the latest one, The Plot Whisperer changed the way I write. She is a remarkable writer and teacher. I am currently signed up for plot consultations with her and I have learned so much about structure and the dynamics of plotting that my writing has drastically improved.I signed on for more on-going plot consultations and I can finally see the light at the end and expect my book to be ready for me to begin the query process very soon. She is worth every penny I have spent. If you have an opportunity to watch her videos or better yet schedule personal plot consults with her, I would not pass up this opportunity. Sorry I went on for so long, but she has helped me more than any combination of every other avenue I have tried.

    Oh, btw. I am hosting my first blogfest and one of the prizes is a two hour plot consultation with Martha Alderson. If you are interested in working with her, I encourage you to visit my blogfest.

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    1. Hi Melissa. Thank you so much for sharing about Martha Alderson's books and plot consultations. I had no idea that she offered consultations. How cool. And I will check out your blogfest. Aren't you generous! Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Thanks for all the recommendations. Looks like I have some books to read and some videos to watch.

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  8. Oh boy! New books! (Nope haven't heard of any of them.)
    And thanks for the award, Cynthia, you are a peach!

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  9. The Plot Whisperer? That is hilarious. I love it. The first one sounds like a must-read. Thanks for sharing. I hope to attend my first conference this year. Thanks for the shout-out!

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    1. You are welcome, Lisa. And I know what you mean about The Plot Whisperer sounding hilarious.

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  10. Thank you, thank you! And congrats on your award too!
    That book looks great, I'm going to have to check it out.

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  11. I haven't read Cheryl's book, but I've heard her speak and you're right. She's excellent.
    Good to hear that the conference was so wonderful and recharging for you.

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  12. I have yet to be to a conference. Hopefully soon. Sounds like you had a great time.

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    1. It was a great time, Patti. The right conference can be invigorating.

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  13. Congrats on your award, and thanks for including me when you passed it on :)

    Glad you enjoyed the conference.

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  14. Aren't conferences awesome? I learn so much! And it's awesome when you recognize people from their blog pictures.

    Congrats on the award. Now I'm going to go check out youtube. Thanks for the link.

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  15. You will love the Youtube tutorials. I order Alderson's book as well and did a review of it on my blog. It's wonderful.

    Thanks for the other titles. I'll check them out. And thanks for commenting on my blog and following me.

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    1. You are most welcome, Elizabeth. Nice to "meet" you. I'll have to check out your review of Alderson's book.

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  16. It was great meeting you, Cynthia. I'd also love to go to a SCBWI conference in your neck of the woods.

    I was bummed that Second Sight sold out so soon and I wasn't able to get a copy. I hope to eventually get it.

    Congrats on the award.

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry you weren't able to get a copy of Second Sight, Medeia. But you're right, you can always order it. So great to meet you.

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  17. New follower here, it's nice to meet you. Sounds like you had a wonderful conference experience.

    I purchased Second Sight a couple of weeks ago with a Christmas gift card. And I love, love, love Martha Alderson's Plot Whisperer YouTube series. I've gone through it twice now and have learned so much from her.

    Congratulations on the blog award!

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    1. Welcome! Nice to "meet" you, too. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Great to know Martha Alderson's series is worthwhile, too. : )

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  18. Wish I could have been there at the conference.
    Congrats on your award and thanks so much for passing it on!

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  19. I saw your picture over at Medeia's blog when I visited today. Sounds like you learned a lot at the conference.

    Thanks for the award. I'm sooo bad with passing these on.

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  20. I've heard great things about the conference. I'm jealous.

    I couldn't find the Second Sight listed for Canada's major book chain. :(

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    1. If you're interested, Stina, you can buy the book from Cheryl Klein's site: http://cherylklein.com/second-sight/

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  21. Conferences are so wonderful to catch up with writing pals and to get inspired!

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  22. Thanks for visiting my blog - nice to find yours & your list of blogs you like.

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    1. Sharon, I was ever so happy to find you blog. I LOVE your novels. I frequently reread Walk Two Moons. Such an amazing novel.

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  23. Thanks for the shout-out :) Ugh! I hate that I missed this year's conference. We could have met in person! I love FL SCBWI! I also have all three of those craft books and they are great!

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    1. Oh, Karen, I didn't realize FL SCBWI is one of your favorites. It would have been fun to meet. Maybe next year.

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  24. I'm glad you had a great time at the Miami conference--I was in serious envy because Becca got to go to it and she was able to meet my agent! Ahh, the downfall of living in Canada.

    Martha (The Plot Whisperer) is pure awesome and has so much great advice to share!

    Angela

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    1. Becca was there??? I didn't know. I would have loved to meet her in person. Rats.

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  25. Oh wow congrats on the award!

    How amazing that you got to go to a writing conference AND meet the lovely Medeia too.

    I've followed Martha Anderson and have her book and will check out the other links now.

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    1. Thanks, Madeleine! I'm reading such wonderful endorsements about Martha Alderson.

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  26. Congratulations on your blog award!
    Its funny, I met Medeia at last year's SCBWI Summer Conference as well. That girl is flying all over the place (i'm kinda jealous). :)

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  27. Wow, thanks CYnthia. I saw the picture of you and Medeia on Medeia's blog. I heard Cheryl K speak in October and also bought her book. Yes, she is great!

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  28. I hope you're enjoying (or enjoyed) Cheryl Klein's book, Marica. I am loving it.

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  29. A good conference is always ....well... Good!
    I opened the YouTube... But had to pause it... They look great. Thanks for all the info youve passed on.
    Congrats on the award.
    Xx

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. I keep hearing how great the Martha Alderson videos are. I hope you (and I) get back to them. : )

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  30. Sounds like an awesome conference!! I might have to pick up the Cheryl Klein book. :D Thanks for the tip.

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  31. It's a great read, Lisa. You're welcome. ; )

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  32. I see my name up there - thanks so much for passing on the award to me! I've heard Cheryl Klein speak at a conference and took a webinar she taught - she really is fantastic!

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  33. I agree with you about SECOND SIGHT. My copy has been highlighted in bright orange. Congrats on the blog award!

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  34. You are most welcome for the award, Susan. And I bet that webinar was great.

    Thanks, Shannon. My copy of SECOND SIGHT is highlighted in pink. ; )

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  35. Hi, I found your blog via The Tiki Hut. I also write for children. How great that you got to attend the Miami SCBWI conference!

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