Matthew Dicks's Blog, page 728
November 6, 2009
My hometown
Tomorrow I will be heading to my hometown of Blackstone, MA to join local author Stacy Juba in a joint appearance at the Blackstone Public Library and Renaissance Books in Uxbridge, MA.
If you'd like to stop by, we'll be at the Blackstone Public Library from 12:30-2:00, speaking, reading, answering questions, and signing books. Then we'll be down the road in Uxbridge at 3:00 for another appearance at the local bookstore.
My sister lives one town over from our hometown, so I...
Editor at all hours
I know I've said it before, but after working on copy edits and report cards until after midnight and then writing a quick post for this blog, it's remarkably reassuring knowing that there is someone in Europe, still awake, ready to read, and willing to send me an email in the middle of the night highlighting the two typos in the post.
I've made some very good friends since publishing my book.
November 5, 2009
Admitting my failure
I've been reviewing the copy edits to UNEXPECTEDLY, MILO this week, and as I reach the halfway point in the manuscript, allow me to share some of my more frequent mistakes have been brought to light thanks to this process. The list so far includes:
1. A failure to realize that there are two different spelling for the words vice and vise, depending on the meaning. I always thought that vice was the only correct spelling for both definitions. I didn't even know that vise existed as a...
November 4, 2009
Briarwood and Beyond, but no coffee, please.
A couple nights ago, when I wasn't hacking up a lung, I attended the Briarwood and Beyond Book Club meeting where SOMETHING MISSING was the book being discussed. I've attended several bookclubs over the past few months and this one was especially fun. About a dozen enthusiastic women, some of whom I already knew, anxious to talk about the book, the publishing industry, the writing process, and more. The members had written down questions prior to my arrival, but even with the cards in hand...
November 3, 2009
Loving me some new vocabulary
A friend of mine introduced me to a new word today: sprezzatura.
I was explaining to her how I have always treated my post-high school education like a competition. All of my classmates versus me in a battle to determine who was best. Receiving an exceptional grade was great, but knowing that I was on top was even better.
As such, I would routinely find ways to demoralize my classmates on my climb to the top. Finishing tests as quickly as possible. Casually displaying high marks...
AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com
Two things:
1. I can picture any number of the characters from my books appearing on this blog someday.
2. If I am ever in need of a writing prompt, an idea for a story, or just the impetus for a new character, could there be anything more inspiring than photographs like these?
November 2, 2009
November 1, 2009
Honesty translates into respect
One of the most surprising remarks I hear from readers is one that I heard twice last week. In both instances, readers thanked me for handling Martin, the obsessive-compulsive protagonist of SOMETHING MISSING, with "gentleness and respect" and "great decency" when writing about him.
To be honest, I'm not even sure if Martin is truly obsessive-compulsive. When I was writing the book, I thought that Martin's methodical nature was merely a slightly elevated depiction of my own personal...
October 31, 2009
Physical description unnecessary in real life
As a teacher, I abide by a simple and unusual rule in my classroom:
No compliments based upon physical appearance.
I do not comment on a student's wardrobe, hairstyle, shoes or anything else related to the student's image, even if he or she asks.
Student: Mr. Dicks! What do you think of my new haircut?
Me: I think your memorization of the multiplication tables is outstanding!
Some think this policy a bit extreme, but having grown up wearing hand-me-down clothing and the cheapest...
October 30, 2009
Promoting sexism, maybe. But will anyone care?
BOYS ARE DOGS is the YA title by author Leslie Margolis that will be featured in my school's Scholastic book fair next month. I'm waiting for the book fair to purchase a copy, but Amazon's product description is this:
"Middle-school boys act like wild animals.
That's what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle's life are totally different now...
