Deborah Halverson's Blog, page 8

Excited about Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conf. in L.A. Oct 28-30, 2016

Even as I strive to keep up with work during my sons’ two-week Fall Break, I’m looking ahead. An exciting thing on my horizon is the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference October 28-30 in LA. There, writers in all categories of novels can expand their skills regarding Craft, Storytelling, Character, Genre Studies, Getting an Agent, Getting Published and Revision. I think it’ll be great fun! I’ll get to focus on novels for teens, tweens, and new adults in my sessions: “Crafting a Youthful Narrative Voice and Authentic Dialogue for Young Adult Fiction”, “Writing Riveting New Adult Fiction,” and “Panel: Connecting With Middle-Grade and Young Adult Readers.”

 

Deborah at B&N YA Author Panel June 11 Santee, CA

Summer is starting out with a lot of fun writing-related activity for me, that’s for sure. First Revision Week on DearEditor.com last week, and now a panel this coming weekend at Santee Barnes & Nobel (Sat., June 11, 2pm). The panel is “Writing a Book Is Like Riding a Roller Coaster!” My fellow panelists—fabulous YA writers—and I will share stories of our writing ups and downs, and answer questions about writing and publishing. Check out my panel buds:

 Debra Driza, MILO 2.0 series
 Barrie Summy, I SO DON’T DO series, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMILY H.
Karri Thompson, MIRROR X, ASCENDENCY
Matthew Ward, THE FANTASTIC FAMILY WHIPPLE, THE WAR OF THE WORLD RECORDS

Come chat with us! (Feel free to share. The more, the merrier!)

Marie Force Talks Revision for the Revision Week Grand Finale

Here we are, Revision Week’s grand finale. The stunning author who’ll share her revision process on this big day is Marie Force, the New York Times bestselling author of over fifty contemporary romances. Her books have sold millions of copies around the world. Marie is amazing in her work ethic as well as with her storytelling. She publishes with traditional publishers as well as self-publishes, and she’s active on social media. What an honor that she took the time to talk about revision for Revision Week.

Part of Marie’s secret to productivity and storytelling that rivets readers? “If a scene I want to write doesn’t move character X’s story forward in a meaningful way, it doesn’t get written. I’m pretty ruthless when it comes to getting rid of the bloat and keeping my story zipping forward.”

As part of the grand finale festivities, today’s giveaway is a FULL Manuscript Edit by the Editor. Please jump over to DearEditor.com to read how Marie revises her novels and to enter the giveaway.

Revision Week Interview with Celebrated Jane Yolen

Oh boy! Here we go with Day 4 of Revision Week… which means the Jane Yolen, celebrated author of over 300 picture books, novels, and poetry collections for young people. Yeah, that’s right: 300. She’s prolific, praised, and above all talented.  With Jane having so many projects in various stage of drafting, revising, reviewing, and approving, I wondered about how she knows what to work on each day—and boy, does she work each day! She told me, “Literary multitasking keeps me on my toes and keeps me from getting stale.” 

Please stop by DearEditor.com to read her full interview. And while you’re there, enter to win the final “FREE PARTIAL EDIT BY THE EDITOR” giveaway of this year’s Revision Week.

 

Loving Revision Week! Today, Chanel Cleeton

It’s Day 3 of DearEditor.com’s Revision Week already? I absolutely love hearing about other authors’ writing processes, so these interviews make me so happy. Today’s interview is withChanel Cleeton, popular author of thriller and contemporary romance series: “I ALWAYS edit once on my computer, once on a printed draft, and once on an e-reader because changing formats always helps me to catch new things.”

 

Plus I’m giving way another Free Partial Edit along with the interview. Pop over, check out the interview, and enter the giveaway. Loving Revision Week!

 

Interview with Salina Yoon, book giveaway, free partial edit giveaway

Revision Week continues over at my writer’s advice blog DearEditor.com with Salina Yoon, the tremendous author/illustrator of more than 160 books including Penguin and Pinecone and the other adorable Penguin books. Salina says, “I approach writing a story like solving a puzzle. Each piece is critical in telling the story.” In her interview, she shares her sketches and stories of working toward final books using both words and images.

You can jump over to DearEditor.com to read Salina’s interview and enter to win a signed copy of her new book DUCK, DUCK, PORCUPINE. You can also enter to win FREE PARTIAL EDIT from me.

Interview with Newbery Honor Author Pam Munoz Ryan

If you follow my DearEditor.com writing advice blog, you know each spring I host a special event called Revision Week, which showcases interviews with prolific, best-selling authors that give us a peek into their revision processes and tons of useful insights into how we can go about revising our own writing. It’s now time for DearEditor.com’s 4th annual Revision Week, featuring five best-selling and award-winning authors with 598 books among them: Jane Yolen, Marie Force, Salina Yoon, Chanel Cleeton, and Pam Munoz Ryan.  In addition to a new interview each day, there are daily ‘Free Partial Edit by the Editor’ giveaways and one grand finale ‘Free Full Manuscript Edit by the Editor’ giveaway.

It all kicks off today with Newbery Honor author Pam Munoz Ryan. She’s written picture books, beginning readers series, and middle grade novels, many of which are taught in schools nationwide, including one of The Editor’s favorites, Esperanza Rising. Please pop over to DearEditor.com to enjoy Pam’s interview, and enter to win today’s “Free Partial Edit by The Editor” 

Summer Fun: Deborah at SCBWI Summer Conference

I’m so pleased to be joining the faculty of SCBWI’s 2016 Summer Conference in Los Angeles July 29-31 (there’s an optional craft intensive a on Aug 1). I love this conference and am honored to be a part of it this year. I’ll be presenting “An Up-to-the-Minute Market Report” on the main stage on Sunday, the 1-hour breakout “Crafting Swoon-Worthy Young Adult Romantic Relationships” on Friday, and the craft intensive “Crafting Plots that Push, Pull, and Provoke Characters… and Readers, Too” on the optional extra Monday.

I especially love that I’ll be doing one-on-one manuscript critiques throughout the conference. It’s great fun to sit with an author and get into the nitty gritty of his/her project.

If you’re a writer or illustrator of books for young people, you really should check out this conference. I’m not exaggerating when I say there are dozens of amazing writers, illustrators, editors, agents, designers, art directors, and other industry experts at this event, sharing their insights and techniques. Here’s the link for more info.

The Fabulous Insights of Carter Higgins

It’s one thing to know you need to make changes to your story, it’s another to figure out how to go about implementing those changes. Trying to wrap your head around the logistics of doing a BIG revision can be downright overwhelming. Where do you even begin? I got a question about that at DearEditor.com, and I knew author Carter Higgins had a brilliant take on how to tackle such a revision. Carter is the author of the middle grade novel A Rambler Steals Home and the picture book Everything You Need for a Treehouse (2017). She agreed to share her smart insights today as Guest Editor at DearEditor.com. Her advice begins with allowing yourself to acknowledge those feelings of being overwhelmed (which, yes, may involve tears…and for me, chocolate) and ends with the word “done.” Spot on!

Here’s the question. For Carter’s answer, pop over to DearEditor.com.

Dear Editor…

From a practical (logistical) standpoint, do you have any advice for how to tackle a large revision of a manuscript I haven’t read in over a year? I’ve just had it professionally edited. I’m thinking I’ll read through those edits, then print out the manuscript and read the whole thing. And make changes as I go? Or read it through once and then go through again and make changes? Or read it electronically and then make changes and then print it out? I just can’t decide quite how to approach it.

Sincerely,

J.

3 Big Cheers for 3 Writers (and a wee one for me)

I don’t always post my cheers when writers I’ve worked with as an editor reach their goals because I don’t want to look like I’m trying to take credit for their hard work and talent. As an editorial consultant I point out strengths and weaknesses, and I make suggestions about opportunities and guide when writers need clarity. I help writers see the forest for the trees and step forward with confidence. Notably, I’m usually just one of the many people that contribute to their journeys. But heck, when people I’ve worked with have great turns in their career, I’m happy for them. I want to high five them. I want to CHEER!!!  So… how about if I do that without naming names? That works for me, so that’s what I’ll do today. Today, I cheer three people who have had fabulous career turns since the new year: two writers I’ve worked with have been offered agent representation, and another has landed a book contract. Huzzah three times over!

And heck, while I’m at it, I’ll dare to cheer for myself a little bit because it turns out an excerpt from WRITING NEW ADULT FICTION is going to included in a writing craft anthology later this year. Huzzah, too!

I’m liking 2016 so far.