Anne Laurel Carter's Blog

New Digs, New Walk

I just moved to Ward’s Island, a short ferry ride away from downtown Toronto.[image error]
My husband and I first began dreaming of living and raising our four children on the island when they were little. We paid our annual dues and were on the purchaser’s list for twenty-three years before we got the phone call. That’s a long time to wait for a dream.
In the last six years whenever the renewal form arrived we’d reconsider staying on the list. We’d moan, “We’re getting older.” Then we’d laugh. “So what!”...

Ten Tips to Guide a Novel Revision

Sketchbook and pens.

I recently gave a workshop on novel revision at CANSCAIP’s annual PYI conference.I am currently following my own advice: I put my novel aside for 2 months andhave beenenjoying right brain activities, notably art, in whichI play with colourand images witha Buddhist attitude of detachment (no ego, no ambitions).

Last week I began to read through a hard copy of my novel, making notes,seeing with fresh eyes the weaknesses and strengths of mystory, and gatheringthe energyto di...

After Submission, Surviving The Wait

It’s been eightyears since I submitted a novel for publication. Another era, when weheard back in 3-4 weeks. Because I attendCANSCAIP andSCBWI conferences, readwriters’ blogs and posts at Query Tracker, and network with other novelists. I knowa currentsubmission will take longer.
One thing however holdstrue. To survive the wait, a writer must engage in otherprojects. I’ve been writingpicture books. Playing piano. Visitingdeserts (photo is thelittlestlibrary in Arizona).Best of all, I’ve bee...

Fantasy – all the way to Maroochydore!

Weta Studio, Wellington, NZ

In the last sixyears,I’ve felt a strong need for high fantasy,a genre I loveto read and amwritingfor the first time.My last novel (contemporary, realistic) was published in 2008. Since then the challenges facing me feltunusuallybeyond-my control. Parents withAlzheimers. Children turnedadults. Health. At my desk, being able to resolve my heroine’s struggleinanotherworldbecame a source of immense satisfaction.

Road sign, NZ

Whyfantasy more than other genres? Partly p...

Writing the YA Novel and Procrastination

Michael Martchenko once gave a hilarious and informative presentation at one of our free monthly CANSCAIPmeetings in Toronto. He showed numerous photos of himself procrastinating (at the fridge, on the sofa, and back to the kitchen) and I realized: illustrators do it too. We all do it. Whatever our endeavour, no matter how much we love it, the mind has creativefun sabotaging the work. I shouldn’tshame myself by disclosing the myriad ways I find to procrastinate but that’s the point of this po...

Breathing life into a chase scene

Camel riding in Rajashtan Desert

Myhero getschased across adesert and has to command

some bad-tempered camels. If I’m going to write it,

Ilike totry it myself. (They didn’t listen to me.)

As if I needed areason to visit India.

And since she loves reptiles, what about a sidewindingsnake?

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To plot or not to plot

After five years working on myepic YA fantasy (a new genre for me) I got into serious trouble with plotting.Plotting was much easier when I could rely on history, research, and interviews to fuel the key incidents.In a fantasy, I hadto make it all up.
For help, I attended workshops lead by three Hollywood screenwriting gurus: Robert McKee, Chris Vogler, and John Truby. All were good, McKee’s rather expensive, and if I had to pick only one, hands down, it would be John Truby’s 3 day Masterclas...

Did you miss Inspire?

Theycertainly got the name right. I attended all three days of Toronto’s brand new International Book Fair. Upstairs at the convention centre I was surrounded by book people and (is there a better word?) inspired by icons like Chris Hadfield,Dav Pilkey, and Margaret Atwood. I unexpectedly criedwhen I saw Chris Hadfield, perhaps because he represented the overarching message of the fair in his humble way: find a way to express what you really care even if you’re aSpace Oddity.When you do itin...

Research helps fantasy worldbuilding

Condors over Colca Canyon

Vivid writing is all about details and a good fantasy demands a believable new world. Because we’rein a fluctuating imaginative state when we write, we can easily and unconsciously usewhat I calldefault details – unoriginal bits ourbrains have stored from previously read or viewed material. The unique combining of unusualcharacteristics helps our individual brains create something new. For me, a research trip has always opened doors (and closed bank accounts) when I n...

Research to create unique fantasy world-building

Condors over Colca Canyon

Vivid writing is all about details and a good fantasy demands a believable new world. Because we’rein a fluctuating imaginative state when we write, we can easily and unconsciously usewhat I calldefault details – unoriginal bits ourbrains have stored from previously read or viewed material. The unique combining of unusualcharacteristics helps our individual brains create something new. For me, a research trip has always opened doors (and closed bank accounts) when I n...