Dawn Metcalf's Blog, page 39

The Difference Between Writing for Yourself and Writing for Publication ala Monty Python

Carry on. #amwriting.

Pay It Forward ARC Giveaway Contest Update!

Yesterday marked 2 months til LUMINOUS.

2 MONTHS TIL LUMINOUS!?!

2 MONTHS TIL LUMINOUS!!!

O_o

Right. So there goes any sort of stoic professionalism or calm, cool collected-ness and since I'm terrible at surprises anyway, (it may be due to all that jumping up and down in anticipatory glee that does it), I figured in honor of this momentous, uh, moment, I'd give-in and tell you what the "secret bonus surprise" is going to be for next week's drawing for the Pay It Forward ARC Giveaway Contest happening right now:


It looks suspiciously something exactly like this right here.

Yes! It's DREAMLAND SOCIAL CLUB! This is one of the ARCs that blew me away while I was flying across the continent! I was completely enthralled by the main character, Jane, as she returns to her childhood home on Coney Island, chasing mermaids, half-forgotten memories, and a Tattooed Boy under the inherited infamy of her mother and grandfather (aka "Preemie") all the while trying *not* to be a "Looky Lou" at her new school. DREAMLAND SOCIAL CLUB was written by the incredibly talented Tara Altebrando, my pub house sibling and fellow winner of the "Coolest Cover" shout-out by *the* Betsy Bird!

And now YOU can read us both! Just enter for a chance to win!

***The Pay It Forward ARC Giveaway Contest!***

Once Again, Official-Type Rules:

1) Embed the creeptastic LUMINOUS book trailer (complete with full 3D animated action!) on your blog, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. and link to Twitter between April 25th-May 7th to share it with your friends. Easy Code: http://youtu.be/zXdSrToaSbw
2) Include your email & where you linked it in the Comments section so you can be entered to win!
3) "Like" it on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or join me as a Friend, Subscriber, or Follower if you want more of my kind of madness. (This isn't a requirement, it's just nice to share!)
4) Please note: this contest is open to US residents only. Stay tuned for more international contests in the countdown to launch!

A random drawing will take place on Monday, May 9th and one YOU might be the one to win a signed ARC of LUMINOUS *and* an ARC of DREAMLAND SOCIAL CLUB!


Don't they look pretty? I bet they'd look even prettier ON YOUR SHELF!

Yeah...never put me in charge of surprise parties. Just giveaways! ;-)

Good luck! Pass it on!

What I Learned from Old Cartoons

I have always loved cartoons. I would get up early on a Saturday morning just for the chance to lie down in front of the TV, snuggled under an afghan tucked up to my chin, and watch cartoons until noon. It was a major indulgence, fueled by Frosted Flakes and ironclad willpower. One would think that all that television would have friend my brain cells and squashed my imagination and creativity with a giant Mattel stamp, but not so: the idea of puppets, drawing, entertainment and technology were a lot of what fueled my imagination and those of my contemporaries being raised on Muppet values and Warner Brothers' commercialism. But there is one thing that I learned from cartoons that I still use as a writer: Show, Don't Tell.

This truism is hailed over and over by writers everywhere, a mantra against over-explaining or falling into the pit of cliché where "rolling the eyes" happens when you're exasperated or "biting the lip" when you're nervous. (P.S. Don't ever do these.) Don't tell us that the uncle is mean, the party is rocking, the headache hurts or the kitchen's a mess, show us. Specific examples, creative comparisons, and using all five senses to make the image come alive without depending on the obvious takes us into the scene, into the moment, and into your character's POV.

All I need to do is remember the Big Bad Wolf's gigantic eyes upon seeing a rather shapely Red Riding Hood to keep me in check. Certainly, these things were shown, but never told. (And probably why they took those old cartoons off the air!) ;-)



A somewhat updated version of the original. *wink*

If that's not enough the full, uncut, completely non-P.C. Little Red Hot Riding Hood toon is here. And here's a similar one starring Cinderella as Rosie the Rooter moonlighting as a swing singer. Don't tell me you can't tell what the wolf is thinking (or what his date feels about it) despite neither of them saying a word!

I include these purely for your edification as writers. Honest.

Official Book Trailer & ARC Contest!

You've been waiting for it.
I've been waiting for it.
Inigo Montoya *hated* waiting for it.
And now it's here... The Official Book Trailer for Luminous!

*drum roll, please*



This original 3D-animated book trailer was created by talented artists Jesse Cabrera, Michael Jaso, Alicia Samela & Ali Phelps under the direction of Jason Wiser. I am thrilled to share it with you & invite YOU to share it with everyone else. Hence:

***The Pay It Forward ARC Giveaway Contest!***
To celebrate the launch of my trailer, I'm giving away a signed ARC of LUMINOUS to one lucky reader who Pays It Forward!

Official-Type Rules:

1) Embed the book trailer on your blog, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. and link to Twitter between April 25th-May 7th to share it with your friends. Easy Code: http://youtu.be/zXdSrToaSbw
2) Include your email & where you linked it in the Comments section below so you can be entered to win!
3) "Like" it on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or join me as a Friend, Subscriber, or Follower if you want more of my kind of madness. (This isn't a requirement, it's just nice to share!)
4) Please note: this contest is open to US residents only. Stay tuned for more international contests in the countdown to launch!

A random drawing will take place on Monday, May 9th and one YOU might be the one to win a signed ARC of LUMINOUS! (And an extra little extra surprise, because I love surprises.) *wink*



Watch! Enter! Win! GO!

Good luck!

Steampunk War Horse!

My brain is always thirsty for inspiration (as opposed to hungry for it, which would be zombie behavior* and then must be hit repeatedly with a titanium crowbar). One of my favorite activities is to wander around a dollar store or Home Depot and reimagine things like kites into superhero wings or flag brackets into ray guns. Still, for me, there's nothing quite like automatons, puppets, and other life-like theatrical brouhaha to really get me gobsmacked. And if I can add bronze and brackets, a few gears and knobs, some hydraulics and puffs of smoke...we're in steampunk territory!

So I offer up to you other epiphany-craving enthusiasts this Ted talk from the geniuses at Handspring Puppet Co. showing off their full-sized horse puppet for the production War Horse. When I saw it,** I think there were actual sparks.

My brain: O_O Horse! Puppet! Horse! Steampunk! WHOA.

And if that's not a ringing endorsement, check your pulse. I may have to hit you with a crowbar.

I know this vid is long, but trust me: it is totally worth it! The moment it steps on stage, there is an almost audible hush of awe that sweeps the room, the sort of divine quiet that exists in the face of utter brilliance. Don't believe me? Click and watch.




...

***I KNOW!!!***


Now: go be inspired, make great art, and come back on Monday, April 25th for the Official Book Trailer and a chance to win a signed ARC of LUMINOUS!!!


* Zombie Survival Guide. Don't be caught dead without it!
** Thanks once again to divinebird for sharing this bit of awesome!

Roar!

Last night on #yalitchat we were talking pitches and I was inspired anew by a lot of ideas described in 140 characters or less! As is the most sane approach when participating in one of these things, I RTed a couple of great ones and started conversations with people, laughing at the keyboard and considering thought-provoking points. One person wrote how she could pitch her work on paper, but if she ever had to do it live, she'd die. This struck me as ridiculous as her idea was golden and so I replied:

"You never know. You're a writer! You are capable of unimaginable, unstoppable brilliance."

Whoa.

The room ate that up and she tweeted back that she felt like pumping her fist and roaring so virtually did (I can't say whether she actually did, but wouldn't THAT have been cool?!) and it struck me how often we doubt ourselves, downplay ourselves, apologize, worry, fret and otherwise psychically wring ourselves out like wet towels and hang ourselves out to dry, dripping sadly on the floor. It's hardly an empowering image. I'm the absolutely last person to say that everything is rosy and give false platitudes like "everything will work out for the best" or "there's always a bright side to everything", but I *can* offer this wake-up call: writers are anything but powerless!

The pen is mightier than the sword, remember and even if it's just in our own corner of the universe (page, journal, blog, cyberspace, whatever) we can create worlds full of people, feelings, thoughts, dreams, imagination, action, consequences, and memories in the making. We make the impossible possible, change the ordinary to our whim, invent things that never happened before and circumstances that might have been full of people and places we'd like to share with more strangers than we will ever meet in person. We can reach out across time and space and touch someone with our words. We create a common language (Muggles, anyone?) and spark ideas about a possible future (dystopians, anyone?). How can anyone who wields such incredible power feel powerless? Because of criticism? Piles of rejections? Writer's block? Obstacles in the industry? The evolution of publishing? Queries? Pitches? Hooks? The truth is that these things can only make you better: your art can only continue to thrive if there's resistance, pushing you to improve, forcing you to try harder. BUT YOU CANNOT LET IT GET YOU DOWN! You are a writer because you can't *not* write, right? Hold onto that and onto the gifts of epiphany that fuel you. (And if you haven't seen that linked TED talk with Elizabeth Gilbert, go back and click it!)

So if you're feeling ragged, take a moment to rediscover your awesome power because surrounding yourself in a community of like-minded creative people can be essential to survive as a writer (or artist, or human being). Check out SCBWI or another national organization forum, Verla Kay's Blueboards, tune into #yalitchat, #kidlitchat, or create an online critique group of your own to turn to when things are rough (and when things are FANTASTIC).

You're a writer. You are capable of unimaginable, unstoppable brilliance.

Upcoming Book Trailer & Contest

If you were expecting the Official Luminous Book Trailer and ARC Contest today, I hate to disappoint but I am currently being plagued by a rain of frogs (albeit plastic ones) and assorted hail, locusts, rivers of blood, darkness, cattle sickness, boils, lice, wild beasts, and imminent death of a first-born puppet; such is the holidays. Therefore, I figure I would announce the contest details for next week so that there would be some recompense:

1) Watch the 3D animated book trailer created by talented artists Jesse Cabrera, Michael Jaso, Alicia Samela & Ali Phelps under the direction of Jason Wiser. (Hint: Scissors!)
2) Embed the trailer into your blog, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter feed, etc. to share it with your friends.
3) Point to where you linked in the comments section so you can be entered to win!
4) If you want, "like" it on YouTube, GoodReads, Facebook, or associated fan pages. (This isn't a requirement, it's just nice to share!)

One lucky person will win a signed ARC of LUMINOUS! (And perhaps a little extra surprise, because I love surprises.)

So tune in next week: same Bat-time, same Bat-channel for your chance to win!

Me, I'll be over here reclining.

In Case Anyone's Wondering Why I'm Not Getting Any Writing Done...

This is not a staged photo.

This is merely my son's newest playtime routine while I'm attempting to get work done.

Translation: "Mommy, please stop typing and come play with me now. Now. NOW!"




My new pen name: "Jungle Jim"

Carry on.

Getting into FOCUS

Everyone has a different high school experience, but mine was often filmed. It was the 80's and our area became a favorite of some big names in movies, an expose on the perils of the relentless pursuit of success* and one of the very first reality TV shows (then known as documentaries) put out by FOX. Yes, my alma mater has a very long, very rich history in the arts, but my favorite thing about going there was FOCUS on the Arts.

Imagine if you will that for one week, every-other year, the public high school voluntarily suspends your regularly-scheduled schedule of academic classes and instead offers everyone to sign up for arts electives instead.** This year, "Imagine the Possibilities" has a 96-page booklet outlining all the offerings from musicians, writers, actors, dancers, producers, sculptors, painters, kinetic artists, comedians, talent scouts, editors, improv artists, choreographers, photographers, singers...the list goes on and on. Three nights highlight Music, Dance, and Visual Arts for both student displays and professional performances, open to the public. It is simply, mind-blowingly brilliant.

And this year, I get to be a part of it!

I'll be on the Creative Writing track, one of the speakers who get to talk to high school teens about writing YA literature. Part of me wants to tell them all the things I wish I had known about the publishing business when I was sitting in one of those desks, but I think I'd rather let them write, listen to one another, and talk about prompts, unique voice, and powerful hooks. Because they're probably as eager to share with me as I am to share with them. I hope we can meet in the middle and watch sparks happen!

So it's back to Chicagoland revisiting memories of brick walls, painted lockers, film crews, and the cafeteria. But this time I'm looking forward to meeting my student host, Alex, the incredible staff of volunteers, enjoy my seat during Dance Night's performance, have a great time with HPHS students, and (if I'm lucky) get my copy of THE THREE INCESTUOUS SISTERS signed by one of my literary heroines, Audrey Niffenegger!

Wish me luck! This is a huge personal "success" dream come true.



* Ironically enough, written by Sarah Lawrence-Lightfoot, my academic mentor at Harvard.
** This is, quite possibly, my #1 reason that I never accept the excuse "We're just a public school" as viable. Incredible things can happen if you are dedicated to making it so. Be blown away by clicking here:

It Looks Like This

I did it!!!

I'm a second degree black belt! A Nidan in Shaolin Kempo Karate! Aside from feeling sore and utterly exhausted, I feel FANTASTIC! (which looks something like this:)


Not really, but something like. Shiny, shiny, shiny!

So what have I learned from this experience that can be applied to writing?

1. Decide to do it. Then sit down (or stand up) and do it. End of excuses.
2. Once you decide, believe it or not, the universe moves to allow you to succeed.
3. It isn't easy, but even the pain along the way is totally worth it.
4. Rejections or delays are just one more thing to weather on your way to success. They are not stop signs.
5. There is no way around "bird by bird" -- one word at a time, one punch at a time.
6. While your friends and family will be cheering you on, the only one who can do this is Y-O-U.
7. There is nothing quite like the feeling of "I did this."
8. You are a powerful, inspirational, unstoppable force in the universe. And so is the person next to you.
9. There is no timeline for being awesome.
10. As Julie Strauss-Gabel once told me, "The stars *will* align." And they did.

Happy writing, everyone! #Blackbeltwriters, all!