Christa Avampato's Blog, page 34

Audiograms for the JoyProject podcast

I started making audiograms for the JoyProject podcast that launches on Tuesday, May 3rd. They are easy to make with Headliner.com and provide a fun way to get a bit of conversation out into the world. This is the trailer that tells you what the podcast is all about. What do you think? All the details about the podcast are available at https://christaavampato.com/joyproject

The JoyProject podcast launches in 1 week on 5/3/22

One week from today on Tuesday, May 3rd, the JoyProject podcast will launch with the first interview and a Joyful News segment! I start each conversation by asking people “what brings you joy?” There will be a new episode every other week on Tuesday mornings. The trailer is live now at https://christaavampato.com/joyproject

Ashley Semrick will be our first guest on May 3rd and it’s a joy-filled episode that celebrates history.

After 2 years of thinking about this exploration of joy, I can’t wait to share it with everyone. You can get all the details and listen to episodes at https://christaavampato.com/joyproject

My sustainability interview series for InnoLead is live for Earth Day

Photo by Photo Boards on Unsplash

Happy Earth Day!

For the next two months, a sustainability series I’m writing for the site InnoLead will be published and we’re kicking it off today with an interview I did with Shannon Carroll, Assistant Vice President of Global Environmental Sustainability, for AT&T. We talked about how to structure a sustainability team within a large company, stretch goals, and building for resiliency in an ever-changing world. I’d love to know what you think!

Here’s the link: https://www.innovationleader.com/strategy-and-governance/how-atandt-is-setting-sustainability-stretch-goals-and-driving-progress/1933.article

This blog is also a podcast

Photo by Will Francis on Unsplash

WordPress and Anchor make it easy to turn a blog into a podcast so I did it! Curating a Creative Life is now available on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, Castbox, RadioPublic, and Stitcher.

I wanted to expand this distribution to make this blog more accessible to more people in more places. From the blog, you can click the “listen on Spotify” icon at the top of the posts that are on the podcast, go to the links above or search “Curating a Creative Life Through Writing” on any of the platforms where it’s available, or go to this website for all of the direct links: https://anchor.fm/christa-avampato.

If you’d like to turn your WordPress blog into a podcast, here are the step-by-step instructions. Happy listening!

Write down your writing accountability goals

[image error] Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Many times people ask me how to write a book. What they really mean is how do I make time to write. It’s not easy. There is always something else I could do. There are a million reasons not to write and only one reason to write: because it matters to me. I have lots of tools that I use to keep my writing organized. There’s one that I use to hold myself accountable: concrete, actionable goals.

Each week, I write down specific writing goals for that week. I make them specific, actionable, and time-sensitive. Then I take those weekly goals and turn them into daily goals that when added up get me to that cumulative weekly goal. Each weekly goal folds into a larger goal—a book, a screenplay, adding to my writing portfolio, pitching more of my work, etc.

Writing down my writing goals makes them real. Once I write them down, I have to do them. There’s magic in motivation we can see.

Storytelling resources

Pixar’s 22 rules of storytelling

This weekend I had the honor of giving a graduate student class at the Bronx Zoo about how biomimicry and storytelling can inform social change. One of the students asked about storytelling resources I recommend and I thought I would share my go-to resources here with you:

Pixar
I take a lot of inspiration from Pixar’s work. This Khan Academy class is free, helpful, and created by the Pixar team: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar/storytelling
Additionally, this is a great infographic created by a story artist from Pixar and depicts their 22 rules for storytelling: https://mastersreview.com/tips-pixars-22-rules-of-storytelling/

Storyteller and Mythologist John Bucher
John Bucher is my close personal friend and writing mentor. He’s a phenomenal storyteller and he has a lot of resources on his website, a newsletter, a podcast, and several books on the art of storytelling. He’s had an enormous impact on my work and life.
https://www.tellingabetterstory.com/

Story Gatherings
Story Gatherings is a community I belong to. They have a conference about storytelling every year that happens online and in-person in Nashville. https://storygatherings.com/

The query letter that helped me attract a publisher

I believe in generously sharing my journey, especially when it comes to my writing. People often ask me, “how did you get a book published?” When Emerson was first published, I had been querying agents without much success. Most never responded and any others that did respond were rejections. My favorite rejection was a response I received 5 minutes after I sent my query letter, and it had just two letters: “No”. That was the entire response. I am a pro in rejection.

I eventually found my first publisher by live pitching the book to them at an event I attended when I lived in D.C.

My new publisher that will republish my first novel and the other two books in the trilogy I got via query letter. I didn’t know anyone there. I’d never met them, they didn’t know my work prior to my query, and I sent it to the general submissions inbox that was listed on their website. The query process is often harrowing (or at least it was for me!) but it does work.

Here is the timeline from query to contract with my publisher:

October 29th – sent queryNovember 16th – I got a request for the full manuscriptFebruary 1st – I was invited to a meeting to talk about possible publication.February 11th – Met the acquiring editor via ZoomFebruary 14th – They made an offer to publish the whole Emerson Page trilogy

In the spirit of generosity, I wanted to share the letter I wrote that led to my publisher requesting the full manuscript. I hope as you’re crafting your query letters, this letter will help you!

Dear Editors,
My novel, EMERSON PAGE AND WHERE THE LIGHT LEADS, is a young adult adventure novel that draws inspiration from Greek and Celtic mythology. Given your interest in publishing stories that push the boundaries, I thought Emerson’s story would be a fit. Per your submission guidelines, please find a brief synopsis and my bio below. 

Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Emerson Page is committed to fulfilling her mother’s legacy— gain access to a fantastical underworld hidden below Dublin, Ireland where an ancient book authored by the Greek muses is being held hostage. A world-renowned anthropologist, her mother gave her life to protect this book because it contains the secrets to unlimited human creativity. In the hands of someone who wants to build a better world, this book is a priceless gift. In the hands of someone who seeks to control humanity, it’s a dangerous weapon.

With her two best friends and her service dog, Friday, Emerson sets out from her home in New York City in a race against a formidable enemy—a former family friend turned traitor with powerful gifts of his own who seeks the book for himself. Emerson and her friends face near-impossible physical, mental, and emotional struggles on their journey that push every limit they have. All the while, the clock is ticking. The window between this ancient world and their home is only open for twenty-four hours.

Publishing history
This is my second novel. Thumbkin Prints published my first novel, EMERSON PAGE AND WHERE THE LIGHT ENTERS, in 2017. It received strong reviews and was featured by Kirkus Reviews and Midwest Book Review among others. It won several awards including: 2017 Nautilus Book Award for Young Adult Fiction (Silver), 2018 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal in Young Adult Adventure and the Wind Dancer Films Award, was one of 25 finalists out of 1,200 submissions the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition, winner of TopShelf Magazine Award for young adult mythology / fairy tale, was #1 on Coverfly’s THE RED LIST for 2019 Adventure Book Manuscripts, and remains at #5 on THE RED LIST two years later. I was also chosen as a featured speaker at the Virginia Festival of the Book in 2018. Unfortunately, Thumbkin Prints closed its doors due to recent financial hardship. Thankfully, all rights for my novel reverted back to me when they closed.

Bio
I write stories about women and girls who are underestimated and determined to rise. I have a career and life that melds my passion for storytelling, business, and scientific research in the field of biomimicry. A proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, the Darden School at the University of Virginia, and Arizona State University, my work focuses on collaboratively building products, services, and experiences that create a better world. I also have a deep love for discovering history’s hidden narratives, secrets, and perspectives.

I’ve been an invited speaker at SXSW, Games for Change, New York University, Columbia University, Cornell Tech, City University of New York, the Brooklyn Brainery, and Wildlife Conservation Society. My non-fiction writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Royal Media Partners publications, Pipeline Artists, The Biomimicry Institute’s Ask Nature, The Henry Ford magazine, Inside History, and Natural History Magazine. I was a producer for the PBS television series Live at 9:30 and am now a producer for Carnegie Hall’s digital media initiatives.

I began my career managing Broadway shows and national theater tours. I spent over a decade as a product leader in the technology industry. Now I’m the Founder of Double or Nothing Media, a company that provides product development services and the business strategies to bring those products to life. Powered by joy and curiosity, I live in New York City with my rescue dog, Phineas, and am equally inspired by ancient wisdom and modern technology. I share my never-ending curiosity on Twitter @christanyc, Instagram @christarosenyc, and my personal website, Curating a Creative Life, at christaavampato.com.  

Thank you for your time and consideration of my work. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely yours, 

Christa Avampato

A Publisher Bought My YA Novel Trilogy—Here’s Everything I Did Wrong

A month ago, I sold not one book but three! I signed a contract with a publisher for my Emerson Page trilogy. This is an especially sweet personal triumph for me because:

· The first book, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was previously published in 2017 by an independent publisher that went out of business

· I’ve sent out 77 queries for the second book over the last 2 years and 5 months

· I only have a working title and logline for the third book — not even an outline much less a manuscript

· I don’t have an agent

By conventional publishing wisdom, I did many things wrong in this latest query process. And still, the story won in the end. The acquisitions editor had an immediate connection with me, Emerson, and her story. I want to share this story with all authors in every stage of their careers, people in the business of publishing, and book lovers who wonder how this process unfolded for me. I’m just one specific example, and I think it can help others on their journey to know how this happened.

These are the pieces of advice I received many times over that made me doubt myself. I’m glad I bet on myself, Emerson, and readers, and that I kept going.

1. “You cannot query agents and independent publishers at the same time.”
I did. I received some kind rejections from agents and publishers who accept direct queries, a few discouraging rejections, and radio silence from the majority of them. I would have loved to get an agent from this process. I thought the success of the first book might help with that. It didn’t. In the fall of 2021, I decided to look at independent publishers one more time to see if there were any others that might be a fit for me and Emerson. I’m so glad I did. That’s how I found with my new publisher.

2. “Since the first book in the series was already published, no one else will pick it up, much less the other two books in the series.”
In my query letter for the second book, I mentioned Emerson’s first book, the awards it won, and the reviews it received but I was very careful to explain that the second book could stand on its own. This was a delicate balance because I wanted those I was querying to know about my publishing experience but I didn’t want to sink the property with a previous publication.

In a wonderful turn of events, the publisher asked if I was interested in finding a home for the first book as well. If so, they wanted to consider acquiring it along with the second book.

3. “The first book came out in 2017. That’s too long ago. Move on.”
I heard this a lot, and it hurt. Due to the pandemic and my health issues last year, I felt like I missed my chance and that this one novel was all that would ever see the light of day. When I wrote Emerson’s first book, I always saw the series as a trilogy. It’s how the book is built. It’s in the DNA of the story architecture. There are a lot of Easter eggs planted that come to life in the second two books. You don’t need any of the other books to enjoy any one of them, but together they do create a complete, rich world that’s hopeful and places an emphasis on the power of creativity, two themes that we need now more than ever.

4. “You’ve been querying for this second book for over two years. Shelve it and move on.”
This was another common refrain I heard. In October 2021, I almost believed it. I decided I’d send out one more round of queries. If that didn’t yield anything, I’d have to accept that this book just wasn’t meant to be. Maybe someday the rest of her story would be sent out into the world, but now was not the time. That last round of queries included my new publisher. As Anne Lamott said, don’t quit before the miracle.

5. “Publishers don’t want YA books with magic in them.”
This advice is everywhere and yet there are so many books and television series that defy this and that audiences love. This world could do with more magic and light, especially in these dark times.

6. “Do not pitch a book you haven’t written.”
At my meeting with the publisher, I explained that I saw this as a trilogy. I told them my working title for the third book, its logline, and how it completes Emerson’s arc in her coming of age story. I was very honest that I hadn’t even outlined the book much less written it. That didn’t phase them one bit. The offer I received was for the entire trilogy.

7. “If you really want this story to get out into the world, you’re going to have to self-publish and do everything yourself. And don’t expect too much to come from it. That’s the only option for this story at this point.”
I know a lot of people who have had success with self-publishing and enjoyed that process. In my gut, I knew that route wasn’t the right thing for Emerson. That’s why I kept querying. I wanted to find a partner who loves her and her story as much as I do. Having that partner to help make her story shine as bright as possible was important to me, and I found that partner with my new publisher.

This is not a story that tells you to never give up and to keep pushing through no matter what. I knew what I needed and wanted to do with this particular story and character. There are plenty of projects that I’ve shelved. Some I pick up again and some I don’t. There is no one way to get a story out into the world, and I’m so glad there will be much more from Emerson Page in the near future. Stay tuned and receive updates by signing up for my email list.

I’m baaaaaack…

Oh, hi! I know I said I would be retiring this blog in pursuit of other projects. And I did just that. Since January 2021, I:

Beat early-stage breast cancer and learned that my health is my number one priorityStarted recording episodes for the JoyProject podcastSold my Emerson Page young adult novel series to a publisherApplied to and been accepted into the graduate program in Sustainability Leadership at University of CambridgeWorked closely with Carnegie Hall to help launch Carnegie Hall+, a new streaming service for classical music, dance, and music-based films

Now I’m coming out of retirementThe world is in a strange and difficult place, from where I sit and around the globe. The war in Ukraine. The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued and accelerating climate change. My long-term medical treatment to make sure I maintain the health I fought so hard to restore.

I’m still grieving what’s been lost since 2019. Trying to find joy each and every day. Looking forward with hope for the future. We contain multitudes, and we hold bundles of disparate emotions all at once.

What’s remained constant for me:

daily writingliving in New York and my deep love for this citymy sweet dog, Phineasmy fierce loyalty to my friends

And so I return to this blog now with a focus on writing—the craft, the joy it brings, the relief it provides, and the connections it makes across time and geographies. I’m here to share my writing life with you, to support writers, and to give a peek behind-the-scenes into my creative life.

I’m glad you’re here. I’m grateful I’m here. Take my hand. Let’s see what we can find, together. Ask me anything. Let’s go.

Retiring this blog

In my efforts to focus on health and healing in every aspect of my life this year, I’ve decided to retire from this blog. When I started it 14 years ago, we didn’t have all of the content and social media platforms we have today. My original reason for starting it was to become a better writer. I reasoned that if I made a commitment to write and publish something every day, that practice would make me a skilled writer.

At this point in my career and life, I’m a published award-winning author, a freelance journalist, and a content creator in many different mediums. This blog did its job, and I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met through it. Thank you for being here all these years. It’s been an absolute honor.

Just because I’m retiring this blog doesn’t mean the conversation ends. It’s just moving to platforms where I now spend more time. I would love to connect with you in any and all of these ways:

Twitter – @christanyc
Instagram – @christarosenyc
Medium – christaavampato

This website will continue to stay active, the archive of posts will be available to anyone, and I’ll keep updating the various sections such as my writing portfolio as it goes through a site redesign process.

Be good to each other, kind to the planet, and loving toward yourself. The world needs all of us at our best.

With much love and gratitude,
Christa
xo