Old People Writing for Teens (Version 2)

houndrat · Mar 25, 2010

Yay Char--glad your little one is feeling better!

charlotte49ers · Mar 25, 2010

Me too! I was beginning to think it was never going to happen.

Epiphany · Mar 25, 2010

charlotte49ers said:
Nothing on the CL tweet front? I've been trying to pay attention, but I'm kind of failing since I have to…well…teach sometimes.

All Quiet on the Western Front.

*hated that book*

charlotte49ers · Mar 25, 2010

Me, too! I think the only ones I liked in high school were In Cold Blood and The Good Earth.

We read some book (name is escaping me) and our teacher talked about how one of the characters was a nympho. Scarred me for life (I was such a goody two shoes). I think it had 'sun' in the title?

Sage · Mar 25, 2010

Vero said:
I turn 30 in May... So I'll be falling apart shortly after...

I turn 30 in May too, but I've already started falling apart, so maybe I can skip it.

Rebecca_Rogers said:
I think if I got a call from any agent, I'd probably die a happy person.

So when I got call from my former agent, I was too stressed out about my 15-hr drive home and getting on a ferry to be that level of excitement that I expected, lol. And then when I talked to agent 2 on the phone, I was terrified to call, and then once we spoke, I was instantly at ease (which was amazing), but sadly she wasn't offering.

Epiphany said:
Yes, but you need to feel like it's your best work before it ever gets to them. It's needs to be as flawless as you can get it, and when it's to that phase, they'll help you perfecting it.

Unlike the novel I am reading, which still feels like a bad first draft and is published by Simon Pulse *grumble grumble*

Amen to this (different book) <grumbles too>

Epiphany said:
I just hope that she hasn't made this two day thing definite, because the worst thing ever is when agents want to finish outstanding mss within a certain time period, which means less consideration and more of a chance to get R'd.

Yeah, I've thought about that too.

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

Vero said:
I turn 30 in May... So I'll be falling apart shortly after...

I'll make sure to save my walker for you. I'm a fossil at 34.

Vero · Mar 25, 2010

You know you're really into what you're reading when you look outside and are shocked that it's not snowing (because it is in the MS you're reading)

No Nature, it does not mean that I want you to snow!!

Epiphany · Mar 25, 2010

Vero said:
You know you're really into what you're reading when you look outside and are shocked that it's not snowing (because it is in the MS you're reading)

No Nature, it does not mean that I want you to snow!!

What book?

Vero · Mar 25, 2010

Epiphany said:
All Quiet on the Western Front.

*hated that book*

So as much as I was totally psyching myself for a rejection, I'm starting to feel that no news is good news (I know! I know! How stupid of me!)

But lets say you have a bunch of MS that you read so far. If you don't like them it's easy to reject on the spot. (Because she uses form) But... let's say you like one or two (let's say two because then it's happiness all around hehe) wouldn't you wait, see if the story stuck with you and then contact the people you want to talk to and maybe offer representation to? You wouldn't do it when you still have a bunch to read...

Now that being said, mine is probably one that is the bunch to read and that's the only reason I didn't get a rejection yet.

*Beats on optimism with a baseball bat* This is one case where I DO NOT need you, you silly optimism!!!

Vero · Mar 25, 2010

Epiphany said:
What book?

Summer Hill (Dawn's MS)

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

It's official. I am the worse biz owner ever. I've left my employees to their own evil devices and hoped they'd get something done while I snuck off to write.

I have too much faith in them.

So, if anyone wants to help me load pictures and copy of 20 new handbags and 30 belts, I'm looking for volunteers.

I don't want to do it but now I have to.

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

Vero said:
Summer Hill (Dawn's MS)

Awww...thanks! I hope you're not reading the crappy unedited chapters

Vero · Mar 25, 2010

dawn miller said:
Awww...thanks! I hope you're not reading the crappy unedited chapters

hehe I'm on chapter 6 still.

I deleted the unedited chapters so I wouldn't be tempted to get ahead.

~*Kate*~ · Mar 25, 2010

charlotte49ers said:
Me, too! I think the only ones I liked in high school were In Cold Blood and The Good Earth.

We read some book (name is escaping me) and our teacher talked about how one of the characters was a nympho. Scarred me for life (I was such a goody two shoes). I think it had 'sun' in the title?

The Sun Also Rises? I don't know about nympho, but one of the characters is impotent. That got some giggles in HS.

Epiphany · Mar 25, 2010

Vero said:
So as much as I was totally psyching myself for a rejection, I'm starting to feel that no news is good news (I know! I know! How stupid of me!)

But lets say you have a bunch of MS that you read so far. If you don't like them it's easy to reject on the spot. (Because she uses form) But... let's say you like one or two (let's say two because then it's happiness all around hehe) wouldn't you wait, see if the story stuck with you and then contact the people you want to talk to and maybe offer representation to? You wouldn't do it when you still have a bunch to read...

Now that being said, mine is probably one that is the bunch to read and that's the only reason I didn't get a rejection yet.

*Beats on optimism with a baseball bat* This is one case where I DO NOT need you, you silly optimism!!!

Hehe.

Well, darling, we are in the same boat. I know wyntermoon has an MS out with her too according to B&BC and I don't think she's heard anything either. Maybe she'll sign all of us.

*kicks self in head for wishful thinking*

Sunshine13 · Mar 25, 2010

charlotte49ers said:
Me too! I was beginning to think it was never going to happen.

Yay for kiddos feeling better!

Vero said:
You know you're really into what you're reading when you look outside and are shocked that it's not snowing (because it is in the MS you're reading)

No Nature, it does not mean that I want you to snow!!

Oh I love that, yes. Of course, my entire family gets neglected when I'm that into a book lol.

Speaking of neglect, I posted my Good News Thursday blog instead of doing algebra homework, and now the baby is up from nap. So much for doing school!

houndrat · Mar 25, 2010

Oooh, I love The Sun Also Rises...one of my fave Hemingway books. It's why hubs and I are planning to go to Pamplona next year.

A Raisin in the Sun? (I can't recall what the heck that one was about, just that it has Sun in the title)

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

Anyone have good YA book recs? I'm on the prowl...

Epiphany · Mar 25, 2010

dawn miller said:
Anyone have good YA book recs? I'm on the prowl...

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Graceling/Fire by Kristin Cashore, Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin...

I could go on.

houndrat · Mar 25, 2010

Dawn--I loved Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, and also really enjoyed Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Both deal with girl bullying to differing extents and in different ways.

houndrat · Mar 25, 2010

I also just read Flash Burnout by LK Madigan--it was a Printz winner or honorary mention, I believe.

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

Epiphany said:
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Graceling/Fire by Kristin Cashore, Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin...

I could go on.

Just bought Handcuffs for the Kindle

E. S. Lark · Mar 25, 2010

I'm reading Hate List right now by Jennifer Brown and really like it.

I also just reworked the opening to my first chapter - again . . . yeah. I like it more now, even though it's a lot longer.

Sage · Mar 25, 2010

Epiphany said:
If you want a book comparable to HG, read Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. Even though I didn't think it was AS good, it's still an incredible read.

So I'm looking at that now (I'm in Borders), and I can already tell it's better than the one I'm reading. In fact, it might be what the one I'm reading could have been (the blurb sounds very very similar), but just reading the first page, I can tell it's written better (and the MC knows what's going on, which is a plus)

Dawn Schaefer · Mar 25, 2010

houndrat said:
I also just read Flash Burnout by LK Madigan--it was a Printz winner or honorary mention, I believe.

Thanks for the recs - I read so fast I'll probably burn through this list in a week.

I love stories with strong female characters - even if it takes them awhile to get there.

Old People Writing for Teens (Version 2)

Pulsating Whatnots Queen

let it snow

Don't kill the bar, Dude.

let it snow

Our Lady of Parentheticals

practical experience, FTW

I want one!

Don't kill the bar, Dude.

I want one!

I want one!

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW

I want one!

brings the random.

Don't kill the bar, Dude.

Mom by day, writer by night!

Pulsating Whatnots Queen

practical experience, FTW

Don't kill the bar, Dude.

Pulsating Whatnots Queen

Pulsating Whatnots Queen

practical experience, FTW

Editing all the time

Our Lady of Parentheticals

practical experience, FTW