Catherine Knutsson's Blog, page 7

My Favourite Things: The Friday Edition

I've been toying with the idea of having a regular Friday post, featuring some of my favourite things, because I like to share! And also, some days, when all one hears is bad news, it's nice to have a little moment of something beautiful or special or funny or weird.

So, without further ado, here is my first Friday Favourite: À Chloris by Reynaldo Hahn, one of my favourite composers, performed by Susan Graham.

Happy Friday!

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Friday Favourites

My revision supervisor

Supervisor cat is keeping an eye on me, making sure I'm working hard. Needless to say, I'm knee-deep in revisions right now.

This pleases supervisor cat. And like the hokey pokey, that's what it's all about.

In the meantime, should anyone need me for anything, contact supervisor cat…

Filed under: Photography, Writing Craft

Guest Post on Adventures in YA & Children's Publishing!

So, my very first guest post is up on Adventures in YA & Children's Publishing, a little essay I wrote about patience, and editing, and heart, and most importantly, stew!

I'd love it if you'd give it a read and/or comment. Find it here!

And just because I haven't said it before, happy spring! Here's a little spring picture for this lovely Wednesday, a brand new bracket emerging from the forest floor:

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Of Sea Lions and Herring

At this time of the year, the waters hereabouts turn turquoise as the herring come close to shore to spawn. Following them are massive herds of Steller sea lions, and tonight, as I was heading home, I stopped to take a photo of one of those herds:

And a close up:

Look at all those flippers and tails! Just hanging around, arfing, after a long day snacking on herring. And that's only one of many herds that were in and about my area – an amazing sight, an amazing sound (sea lions are loud!), and with all that herring, well, an amazing smell!

Filed under: Photography

Pants, Plots, and….Mullets

Pants, Plots, and….Mullets

So, in the world of writing, there are plotters, and there are pantsers. Plotters are those diligent individuals who sit down and draft a synopsis, or an outline, or a general road map of a novel before they begin writing a story. Sometimes, those outlines are extremely detailed, as evidenced by exhibit A (being a sample of how J.K. Rowling outlines):

Then, there are those who are the antithesis of the plotters: the pantsers, or, those who write by the seat of their pants. While wearing pants. Hopefully. These are the lovely folks who insert their butt into their writing chairs and say "GO!" (in my mind, they do this loudly and with great aplomb. Also in my mind, I cheer them on).

So, what to do, what to do, what to do when one doesn't fit into either category? Egads!

This is me. I sometimes plot, but sporadically and not very well. I sometimes pant (err, that sounds a bit wrong, doesn't it?), but usually end up tossing the pantsing work, only to begin again.

My method of madness? I mull. Or back-brain. Or soft write. Whatever the term (see next paragraph for my suggestion), I need time to let things roll around in the space where my brain ought to me. Steep. Stew. Chew. Ponder. Ruminate. Mull.

And, hence, my suggestion: like-minded folk, may I offer up the term "mullet". Now, I could have said "I am a muller!", but why do that when I can proclaim loudly – from the tree tops, even – "I am a mullet! I am a MULLET!"

So. There you have it. I am a mullet, a strange breed of writer ( strange in my own mind) who spends as much time writing about the book I'm writing as actually writing the book I'm writing. Back when I was in university, I had a terrible problem with deadlines because I needed to ruminate and mull and construct my papers in my mind before I could set them down on the page, and sometimes, that process didn't line up with, um, the deadline. Most of the time, I got those papers in, but the thing was, if I wrote in the, erm, normal way, rather than the mullet way, I almost always got lower grades. And, besides, this is how Mozart worked, I am told, and who am I to argue with Mozart's methods?

So. Mullet it is. In writing terms, at least. But not the haircut. Never the haircut…

Filed under: Writing Craft

To those who clap: a shout out

So, I was thinking about being a creative type today, and how creative types need support, and how that support comes in strange and interesting forms, sometimes. And, I got to thinking about my music school days.

Back in music school, a lovely thing happened. You see, music students perform a lot. There are masterclasses, and workshops, and recitals of every type, and festivals, and competitions, and full-on staged performances. That's a lot of being on stage and hoping against hope that someone will be in the audience watching, because it's pretty dismal if you're performing and there ain't nobody there to listen. At my music school (and I think this is pretty standard for most music programs), we'd try to go to each other's performances, and there was something so wonderful knowing that when you walked on stage, even if no one else came, some of your fellow students would be there to cheer you on and applaud. I tried to go as much as I could (I mean, it's impossible to get to everything), and I think my classmates appreciated that and reciprocated. And sure, sometimes the music being performed wasn't always my taste, and some performances were stellar and some were still works-in-progress, but we went. Because it was the body in the seat, clapping, that was important. I know I appreciated it– tons — and VCM peeps, in case I never said it, thanks so much.

And you know, I think the writing community is a lot like that. There's a lot of support out there, and I really, really appreciate those who take a moment out of their busy days to tweet me a "go you!" or a "yay!" or even just post a smiley to a FB status update. Because goodness knows there are so many days when the going's bleak, ya know? Writing's not easy, and it's harder still when there are so many ways a writer can get knocked down – a rejection, a bad review, a tough critique, a harsh comment.

And then, someone offers up virtual cupcakes, or a smile or some kick-ass support and witty banter, and the day improves and I do my weeble-wobble thing (weebles wobble but they don't fall down!) and I'm back up again. Cuz, on rough days, it's nice to know someone out there is thinking good thoughts for me. It helps. It really does.

So, this is a shout out to my writerly friends, some of whom I've never met in person but can't imagine walking this writerly road without, and many of whom I have met and share tea with and laugh with and appreciate so much. This is shout out to the bloggers who do so much good work getting the word out about our books. This is a shout out to the agents and editors who work so tirelessly on our books, helping us shape our stories into magical creations, and on educating writers in general. This is a general shout out to anyone who supports a creative type in any form…families and kids and sisters and husbands and nieces and nephews…

Have I missed anyone? Ah yes…

Last but not least, a shout out to people who love books and buy books and read books, because that's the literary equivalent of being the body in the seat, clapping.

Thanks, everyone. Means a ton.

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A Brief Thought about Critiques

Or, really, how to decipher and parse them after you get them.

This is what I've figured out works for me ('cuz your mileage may vary). Feedback that's useful and applicable to the work in question always gets my brain churning with new ideas and new possibilities and new ways to tell the story. Feedback that's useful leaves me feeling ready to work, and excited to work. I love that.

And that is most recent writerly epiphany. Just figured I'd share, in case it helps anyone out.

And, as a bonus, because my mind is thinking about heading into the wilderness this summer, here's a photo from one of my favorite wild spots, San Jo Bay, up on the tip of Vancouver Island:

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This is just to say…

Okay. No plums here. And, if you don't know what I'm talking about, well, google the title of this post. All will be made clear (it's a great poem – one of my favs!).

Anyhow, this is just to say that I don't understand why writing some manuscripts makes me question my very existence, and why others leave me breathless and excited and full of a sense of direction.

I recently finished a big revision on the former type, and at some point, I know I'll be going back to it. The thing is, I love the manuscript. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the setting, and I love what I'm trying to do with it. But it's torture. Every single moment of working on it has been painful and terrible and so damn difficult!

So, I've got to wonder: what's different about the manuscript I'm working on now? On the new one, I feel like I know where I'm going, what I need to do, and how to get there…so does that mean it's somehow less?

Or just different?

I've decided I'm going with different. Yep. Different. Sort of like mint ice cream and chocolate pudding. Both desserts. But only one gives you a brain freeze.

And also, in lieu of plums, I would be remiss if I didn't say: happy birthday to WHEN THE SEA IS RISING RED, debuting today! The author is my long-time writing friend, Catherine Hellisen, and though I haven't read her book YET (hurray up, mailperson!), I've read her short fiction and know she's a fantabulous writer. Happy birthday, lovely book! And please consider supporting my friend and her wonderful debut book!

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Win a SHADOWS CAST BY STARS Arc and help someone out at the same time!

The lovely Marissa Meyer, who I met at the BC Bookseller's Festival last week, is running a mini-auction on her blog to help out a friend in need. Since it looks like SHADOWS Arcs are going to be scarce, this is a great chance to get your hands on one, and help someone out at the same time! A win/win – how 'bout that?

So, if you're interested, pop on by Marissa's blog and bid!

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Post Holiday Round-Up, and My First Author Event!

So. I arrived back from holidays last week only to be knocked down by a killer cold-flu thing. Four days of fever, followed by several days of feeling like I was no longer attached to my body. Today's the first day I've had any real energy, and wow, do I ever have a lot to catch up on!

Anyhow, the holiday was fantastic – time with family, my first 5km run (through Disneyland at night, no less!), and even a trip to the beach. Beautiful! And, more importantly, I dealt with a major fear of mine: flying. I can't say I'll ever be comfortable with flying, but I did it, and survived, and am glad to tell the tale. Hopefully, the next flight I take will be even easier!

Then, it was onto the cold-flu, and thankfully, it let up enough for me to attend my first author event this past weekend. I attended the BC Book Fair, which is the semi-annual fair for independent booksellers in my province. I was shown around by Kate Saunders of Simon and Schuster, and got to meet all sorts of lovely book people. Then, Monday morning, I participated in an author breakfast, where I presented SHADOWS CAST BY STARS for the first time. Cue the nerves! But, it seemed to go well, and I also got to meet Marissa Meyer, lovely author of CINDER.

Anyhow, it's now back to work for me – I have a middle grade novel that requires finishing post-haste, and two YA novels that are begging for my attention. Plus, March is shaping up to be a really busy month, with a writing retreat and a Reiki retreat and lots of pre-planning for the launch of SHADOWS. All of this makes me very happy – a busy me is a happy me!

And on that note, I should away, but not before posting a picture of me, snapped by my husband, at Manhattan Beach in California!

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