Jane Yolen's Blog, page 6

Wednesday Q & J: March 22, 2023

Q: What books did you like the most as a child?

J:  My two favorites were the stories about King Arthur and the two ALICE IN WONDERLAND. I can still (at the drop of a hat or the drop of a strophe) recite The Jabberwocky poem!

Q: Follow up Question: Didn’t your parents let you read anything you wanted? How did that affect your reading? How did it inform your writing?

J: They let me browse in their books, most of which were well over my understanding, but it showed me early on that books create worlds within worlds, something that has always stuck with me. It also let me know that some things I needed to re-read over and over….or ask questions…if I did not understand.  Something I still do!

Wednesday Q & J: March 15, 2023

Q: What’s the best thing about collaborating with your grown children and now 2 of your grandchildren?

J: Getting closer to them, teaching them something, sharing half the money.

Q: Follow up Question: How have these collaborations worked? What’s the process like?

J:  Sometimes a child or grandchild has sent me the start of something or an idea…and I come on board. We talk about it, massage the idea.  Sometimes I send one of them an opening of a book  and say, “Wanna play?”  Twice, all three of my children worked with me on books. The process is different for each collaboration. Sometimes I do the majority of the work, sometimes the child or grandchild does it.  I do like go over it last. Age has some privileges.

Wednesday Q & J: March 8, 2023

Q: You have been in a writer’s group (critique group) for how many years? And you meet almost every week. Why has that been important to you in your career?

J: My critique group began over 50 years ago and was for published writers from the start.  We critique from a very professional stance. But I know other groups where people range from beginners to well-published writers. Often this can cause a problem, in that the professional(s)  “becomes” teacher rather than compatriot.  I have learned much from other published writers, often about editors who are wonderful, or those to stay away from. When editors are looking for a particular kind of book, that sort of thing.  Sharing such information is key.  

Wednesday Q & J: March 1, 2023

Q: What is your first advice for pre-published writers? I mean, after they join SCBWI. What should the do after that?

J: Remember first this is both an art form and a business.  You have two big learning curves here.

If you want to write a book of poems, a novel, a graphic novel, a picture book, a middle grade novel, non-fiction, an easy reader, etc. be aware that they all have different parameters. Learn them!!!  Because you cannot break the mold until you know the mold!!!But publishing is also a business. You need to know who is publishing the kind of thing you are writing. Who are the editors? Do you have an agent? Will the editors look at new writers, will they look at un-agented writers? What is a cover letter? Do you know how to read a publishing contract?  And much much more.

Wednesday Q & J: February 22, 2023

Q: HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH REJECTION?

J: Every author I know has to (or had to) deal with ejection some time along the way. Even the best known authors have had those moments.  But sometimes the book rejected goes on to find its proper place. MY book OWL MOON was rejected as too quiet by five editors I was already working with. But the sixth editor, who was brand new, said yes and she was the only one who knew illustrator John Schoenherr’s work and he won the Caldecott Medal for OWL MOON.  Sometimes the magic works. But an editor turns down a book for many reasons–they may have a similar one on the way, they may hate books about owls or dogs or whatever your main character is. They may simply not do that kind of book. (Do your homework!) The problem is, we write books out of love, the editor needs to buy a book that will make the company money. My feeling is–if someone turns something down, I am allowed one swear word, one moment of grief, a walk outside to cool off, and then I re-read the book to see if I still love it–and then I send it on. Do not confuse business with love.

Wednesday Q & J: February 15, 2023

Q: Do you write every day?

J: Unless I am sick in bed, YES.  I have been writing professionally since the early 1960’s when I sold my first book and my first poems, so it is part of my breathing, and if I am not working on something (or somethings) I feel like a slacker. I don’t write in my jammies. I actually get out of bed and dress as if I’m going to work. It reminds me that I am a professional, and that writing IS my work.

Wednesday Q & J: February 8, 2023

Q: What’s your favorite part about being an author?

J: Finishing a book and being happy about it. Or getting a love letter from someone (often a child) who has read it.

Q: Follow up question: What about your favorite part of the process? Do you prefer writing or revising?

J:  While that initial idea is always a great light in the head, in the heart, a book really all comes together in the revision stage. I LOVE revising! 

Scarlet Circus about to hit shelves!

Read a preview HERE.

Wednesday Q & J: February 1, 2023

Q: From From Cindy Dobrez:

Does Jane eat Wheaties or where does she get her indefatigable energy? She accomplishes more in a day than most of us in a month/year.J: I haven’t eaten Wheaties for years and years. But I always eat breakfast. My usual is cottage cheese (Lactaid) with some kinds of fruit–usually–berries and or bananas and raisins, plus applesauce all mixed together. But whether that fuels my writing, I can’t say. Actually I think dark chocolate has more to do with that! However, it is important for me to get fully dressed and go to my office which  is clearly a place for work. And that’s what keeps me going!

Wednesday Q & J, January 25, 2023

Q: What is B.I.C.?

J: Haha–a joke and yet not a joke. It stands for (another joke) Butt In Chair. It means that if you want to be a writer, you have to have a lot of butt in chair time, hands on the keys time, close and quiet, long hours doing the work. A book does not write itself. Even a less -than 500 word children’s picture books need you to sit down and write. One of my latest books –ELEFANTASY has only 22 words more than half of which I made up. It took me approximately 17 weeks to write it.  And more than that to re-write it! Butt in chair indeed.

 

Bonus Q from Reader Jeannette Suhr

Q: What would be different about the advice you would give to a new writer today as opposed to 10, 20 or 30+ years ago?J: Keep a careful eye (through Horn Book or ALA stuff or a subscription to Publisher’s Weekly) for new small children’s publishing houses  or editors starting their own imprint. Plus definitely try to get an agent. Through SCBWI you can find lists of agents.  But, what doesn’t change is my advice to keep writing……