Cynthia Chapman Willis's Blog, page 13

Quotes from the 2010 SCBWI Summer Conference

I'm back from another amazing SCBWI Summer Conference. My head is spinning (in a good way) from all the information, inspiration, and insights that I soaked up over the long weekend. This actually trumps the jet lag and exhaustion. Sort of amazing, really. Who needs aspirin?

Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes from the weekend.

Regarding writing advice: "Don't believe everything you hear…" Jon Scieszka (He went on to say, by the way, that this advice included what he...

Ready or Not: SCBWI Summer Conference

In just three short days I'll be settled (hopefully) on a plane, jetting across the country to Los Angeles, California. Yup, it's time for the annual Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference. If you've never been, and you are a writer and, or, illustrator of books for children, this is a conference to keep in mind. It's a blast. Seriously. Great speakers, workshops, a Saturday night party by the pool, and the Golden Kite Award lunch, to name a few of the scheduled...

Ten Ways to Procrastinate

Read. This is probably the best way to put off facing the work in progress. However, if you've completed War and Peace, Atlas Shrugged, and The Complete Works of Shakespeare, it's probably time to address the question of what, exactly, you are trying to avoid. Blog. This is not a bad way to procrastinate. At least you are still writing. Go ahead and guess why I am putting together this post. Clean the toilets (only if you're really, really desperate). Trim your own hair. You'll do it...

Who Versus Whom

When to use who and when to use whom have always frustrated me. I don't always keep the usage rules and regulations for these two straight. I'm considering tattoos--one on each of my inner forearms. If I ink the definition of when to use who on my left arm and the definition of when to use whom on my right arm, my writing may improve. Plus, these tats might look hot. Or, umm, not.

Am I the only one who muddles who and whom? In case I am not the only one, and before I commit to the...

One of My Favorites

The holiday weekend is behind us, like it or not. I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th. Anyway, it's time for me to get back into my writing. As a kick start, I picked up one of my favorite books on the art of novel writing. Since I think this book is truly fabulous, I thought that I'd share it with you.

If I really love a book, whether it be fiction or nonfiction, it sits on my desk, within reach. The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose, and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great by Donald...

Full moons. Did You Know. . . ?

Did you notice the full moon this past weekend? I love full moons. Did you know that the full moon in June is called the Strawberry Moon? This is because, according to the Farmers' Almanac, June is the month of the strawberry. That works. And yum, by the way.

This year's Strawberry Moon included a partial lunar eclipse, meaning that half of it was obscured as it crossed through the southern portion of the Earth's shadow. Due to funky positioning, people on or near the Pacific Ocean had a...

Stick to What You Know

Yesterday morning I hit a writing wall. Full on. Head first. It happens. Usually I start writing about plot or setting or a character when my work in progress and I are not getting along. Not yesterday, though. I wasn't in the mood to write anything. So, I decided to bake an angel food cake as a little break from work. And I decided to bake it from scratch (mistake number one). People were coming over to celebrate Father's Day. Why not impress them? (Thinking I'd be impressing anyone with...

Once upon a dream

The other night, smack in the middle of it, I awoke with the perfect story in my head. A full-fledged plot from the explosive beginning to the twist, to the satisfying ending. And what characters--fully developed and fascinating in every way. Yes, this story was a gift. Finally! I mean, I've heard of writers dreaming their novels, but this has never happened to me. So, when this new story smacked me between the eyes (think Tooth Fairy with attitude), I grabbed a pen and as quick as a half...

Oh, Deer

People sometimes ask me why I wrote a novel that involved deer when I'm not a hunter. Well, I live among lots of deer. LOTS of deer. This is usually wonderful. Except when they munch on my pretty growing things as if they were potato chips. But also, when Mother Nature shows her dark side.

A week ago, on Memorial Day, I discovered a tiny fawn curled up under our back porch. This little creature was adorable. Seriously adorable. Since I know that mommy deer hide their precious bundles in...

Rituals and Routines

Do you have any rituals or habits? I heard a writer at a conference talk about how he never completed a sentence when it was time for him to stop writing for the day. He always left an incomplete line to finish when he returned to his story. He felt that this got him back into the swing of the story. I get this, but it would never work for me. I'd be stuck for hours (or days) trying to remember what I'd wanted to write. Still, I find it interesting how different people work.

I know another...